Tal Chhapar (July 15-16th 2006)
Tal Chhapar July 15-16th 2006
Birders: Dr. Reena Mathur, Manish Consul, Gaurav Bhatnagar
The journey to Chhapar by car was quite ornithologically uneventful except for a small Acacia nilotica tree studded with some 25 Baya nests right after Ringus on NH 11. The restrictive view from the car however could only reveal the obvious. Some Indian Rollers, a White-throated Kingfisher, Southern-grey Shrikes and other commoner birds.
We reached Tal Chhapar by 7 PM on the 15th with not much time left for birding. Light was extremely poor with the sky dusty and cloudy. We missed the sunset (always terrific at Tal Chhapar) and most of the birds were gone by then. We were however lucky to see a medium sized raptor roosting in Acacia tortalis at the turn of the road inside. Wings reaching the end of tail, with breast heavily streaked with brown and pale legs. It was identified later from photographs as a Juvenile Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger). The bird is a regular breeder at the sanctuary and the presence of juveniles indicates confirmed breeding. A good sign for this near threatened bird.
Blackbucks as usual in their big groups were socializing and adult males were seen wrestling away their competitors. A large juvenile blackbuck population indicated that last year’s breeding was indeed successful.
Back at the FRH at night, a sand coloured Praying mantis was seen in the night with the help of a flashlight. The night ended with delightful conversations with occasional comments by a screeching Spotted owlet looking for insects under the sodium lamp.
The morning was cool and breezy at 6:15. The entrance of the park is a dove domain. Doves of all three varieties (Red-collared, Eurasian collared and Laughing) were plenty and about. House crows and a pair of Southern-grey Shrikes were photographed amongst the trees. Black Kites, House Sparrows, Bank Mynas, Black Drongo and Large-grey Babblers were seen subsequently. Green Bee-eaters were few but Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were plenty throughout the grassland filling the air with their sweet ‘trilling’.
The first spell of monsoon has been good this year. A second spell would mean enough water and grass for the whole year. 
The new grass was about 6” high and it was for the first time that I have seen Cattle Egrets at Tal Chhapar. One big group of around 50 was observed brandishing their orange breeding plumage. They were following Blackbucks around the fresh green grass quite like the way they follow cattle. After a few months the 2’ tall grass would be too high for the Egrets.
Early migrants had already arrived. A pair of European Rollers in fresh and brilliant colours was seen afar on a tree while a solitary Green Sandpiper which was seen wading near the water. White-eyed Buzzards were the most common raptors and were seen chasing small flocks of Ashy-crowned Finch Lark. They were feeding in pairs, maybe preparing for this years breeding. Several of them were juveniles. Larks were plenty and moved in small groups of about 20.
Towards the western side of the sanctuary, Kair (Capparis decidua) had just started to flower and the familiar murmurings of Rosy Pastor were heard and a small vocal group was seen feeding on the shrub alongwith Red-vented Bulbuls. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse were only seen once with a flypast of 5 overhead. The grass seems too green for their liking. A Tawny Eagle was seen surveying the area with keen eyes overhead probably looking out for some Gerbills who were plenty around the park. 
Common to the grassland, Spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx hardwickii) were seen sitting alert besides their borrows, ready to jump in at the drop of a hat. Two young reptiles were however not that wary and allowed close approach. Amongst insects, A red Velvet mite was seen on the ground and Dung beetles were observed walking backwards and rolling their dung balls as if telling us to head back. Which we did subsequently. A single Rufous-tailed Lark was the only other bird seen that day at the WLS.
The sad part of the trip were the completely missing Egyptian Vultures. Only one individual was seen throughout the journey. Even on the carcasses near the road (Which were plenty) had only crows on them. No vultures at all.
i love my chhapar