Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary (2nd-3rd September 2006)

Birders:

Harkirat Singh Sangha, Somendra Singh, Gaurav Bhatnagar

Highlights:

Spotted Flycatcher, c130 Indian Coursers and 10 species of Raptors

Trip Report

September at Tal Chhapar always has something in store. The monsoons have just left and the grass has started to dry up with only a few patches of green. The shallow water bodies are full, Capparis is blooming and most importantly – the grassland is buzzing with insects.

We entered the gates of the sanctuary at about 4:00 PM after a 3 ½ hour drive from Jaipur. The commoners at Tal Chhapar were seen immediately. Southern Grey Shrike, Common Babblers, Large Grey Babblers, Black Drongo, Little Green and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and Bay-backed Shrikes were seen right at the entrance alongwith two large raptors, A Red-headed Vulture and a Tawny Eagle seen soaring ahead in the sky. It was just 50 meters inside the park, a largish pale coloured flycatcher was seen amongst a mixed Acacia tortalis and nilotica stands. It was a Spotted Flycatcher (Musicapa striata), the first highlight of the day, identified by the conspicuous streaking on crown and breast. This is the second time the bird has been reported from Chhapar and is possibly the third record of the bird from Rajasthan. Ashy-crowned Finch-larks were seen in small groups of c30 flying at about 5 feet from the ground. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse were plenty and were perched on the ground in small groups of 10-20, often flushed in rapid wing beats as we cut through the grass to the acacia grove towards the west of the sanctuary. The flowering Capparis decidua around the trees were buzzing with activity with juvenile Rosy Starling and Red-vented Bulbuls. A Tawny Eagle was seen perched in the high vantage of the trees, surveying the area.

We moved on further westwards towards a very big group of Blackbucks. With the help of binoculars we made an informal survey of the population of Blackbuck. We counted some 1200 individuals out of which at least 300 were young ones. It indicates a very healthy breeding this year. White-eyed Buzzards were plenty with most of them immature birds. Among Harriers, Montagu’s were seen in good numbers, and two Eurasian Marsh Harriers were seen both skimming 3’ above the grasses. No Pallid Harrier was seen in this visit, although it is a regular to the park.

While observing a Laggar Falcon, perched on a lonely Acacia nilotica, another small falcon flew past us at terrific speed some 5’ above the grass and made directly towards a group of c50 Greater Short-toed Larks and chased them in flight in a fantastic display of power and skill as the larks tried to dodge it. Although the scene lasted only a few seconds and the raptor could not get his game, it was a sheer delight to witness the Red-headed Falcon (Falco chiquera) in full throttle.

A female Common Stonechat was the last bird to be photographed in the crimson glow of the setting sun as we headed back to the FRH. The day ended with a superb formation flight of c300 juvenile Rosy Starlings over a group of blackbuck.

The weather next morning was excellent with a cool westerly blowing across the park. Birding activity was in full swing and first to be seen were three Black eared Kites (Milvus migrans lineatus) sitting near the entrance of the park. This time we went straight from the road towards the southern side of the sanctuary. This is where all the male Blackbucks congregate in individual bachelor groups. It’s a hard life for younger bucks trying for a place in the male pool and are often beaten, battered and rammed out of territory, a fantastic example of natural selection as the strongest male gets to procreate.

As we came closer, a fantastic group of c130 Indian Coursers was seen on the ground amongst

the antelopes with a good number of Juveniles. This is by far the biggest group I have seen of these beautiful birds.

As we headed back, a greenish warbler was seen in the trees along with a common Chiffchaff, lesser whitethroat and a beautiful Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon.

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• September 17, 2006
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