Birding in National Parks - Part 1 Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

 

Lake at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

The year 2011 started on a good birding note. The second Sunday of the year, saw us heading towards Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Harayana. Our family planned to visit the bird sanctuary to see the migratory bird that nested there during winter season. While researching the routes to reach Sultanpur, we were surprised to find out that it was about 35 kilometers from our home by road. Traveling through Najafgarh and other villages on Delhi Rawta border was estimated to take us around an hour to reach the place.

Black Winged Stilt

Sunday, 9th January dawned as a cold, foggy and rainy day. Chances of viewing birds, migratory or resident, seemed too bleak. However, our heart was set on visiting the place and we drove off towards Harayana, after breakfast. Weather gods were benevolent after the early morning drizzle; soon the sky cleared up and the rain had stopped.

 

Cattle egrets

The outing looked promising in spite of the late start. The modern day traffic gods played truant as usual. Delhi traffic showed its colours after drive of 5-6 kilometers from our home. Our car had to crawl  for an hour, through dense traffic, which started from main Najafgarh road up to Khaira village crossing. Thankfully, traffic and noisy human habitats ended beyond this point. We enjoyed rest of the drive through fields and fruit orchards along the Delhi- Harayana border.

 

Teals, Lapwings, Moorhens



Common coot

On the way we found vendors selling fresh guavas and bought 4 to 5 kilos of the delicious green fruit. We reached Sultanpur around lunch time. After quick snacking on guavas and sandwiches, we entered the bird sanctuary to explore.

Grey heron

 Storks, herons, moorhens, teals and ducks were enjoying the warm afternoon sun. Painted stork families were nesting and were noisiest of all. Peacock, kingfishers, parrots were some of the more common birds that we saw.

The Sultanpur lake had been replenished by the abundant monsoon rains, hence many species of  birds were visible this year.  We stayed for short while, pledging to return later for lengthier exploratory visit.



Painted Stork in Flight



Quotes displayed near Sultanpur national Park Gates

Everyone wants to understand painting. Why is there no attempt to understand the song of the birds? (Quote by - Pablo Picasso)

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)