Birding North-East India

Wednesday, March 23



BIRD of the DAY: Greater Adjutant



The next few days in Assam would be amazing. The morning started early with Rick and Bill sighting a magnificent pair of Great Hornbills as well as other birds right near our cabins.



Today we would be travelling safari style in open roof jeeps with local drivers. We were off to Kaziranga National Park, starting in the eastern zone just across the road. We passed a rice field and a small village where we saw Swamp Deer, and Indian Elephants. There were some people taking elephant rides but we soon got beyond commercial enterprises and were able to see abundant wildlife in its natural setting.



Reflecting on his visit to the park over two days, Shyam noted: "We had meeting with friends such as Greater One Horned Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant, Wild Buffalo, Smooth-coated Otter, Capped Langur, South Asian River Dolphin, Hoary-bellied Squirrel, Himalayan Striped Squirrel, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, Indian Muntjac and many others." We were combining animal spotting with birding. And sometimes the birds were feeding on the animals backs, so two for one. There was so much to see everywhere. What a morning! We had lots to talk about over lunch.



We went to the central zone of the park in the afternoon. As we drove there, we noticed people in bright clothes, dressed up for the Hindi celebration, Holi, featuring. singing, dancing and face colouring (with powders). In most of India, Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the day after the full moon in March. Shyam described it as a time to celebrate friendship.



Video of Holi Day celebration https://youtu.be/0MQoJYH1AmY

We entered the park looking forward to more good sightings in the extensive wetlands.



A rhino crossing the road: https://youtu.be/uEWa6JpsXuc

A family of wild boar: https://youtu.be/lePBmWiVXs0



The beautiful Eurasian Roller:



A few more sightings and the park was closing... the sun was setting...



On the way back to our lodge, we stopped to shop at a local store. Barbara gave a Canada pencil to a young girl nearby and she painted a "bindi" on Barbara's forehead to celebrate Holi.
A bindi (Hindi: from Sanskrit bindu, meaning"point, drop, dot or small particle") is a red dot worn on the centre of the forehead, commonly by Hindu women.



There was a full moon when we returned to our cabin. Another spectacular day.



Birds in the Photos Today

Greater Adjutant
Great Hornbill
Great Myna
Oriental Magpie Robin
Ashy Woodswallow
Rose-chinned Parakeet
Asian Openbill
Common Hill Myna
Little Cormorant
Bronze-winged Jacana
Lesser Adjutant
Pallas's Fish Eagle
Pied Avocet
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Jungle Myna
Long-tailed Shrike
Common Hoopoe
Eurasian Roller
Spot-billed Pelican
Gray-headed Fish Eagle
Red-headed Vulture
Gray Heron
Oriental Darter
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Crested Serpent Eagle
Citrine Wagtail
Indian Pond Heron
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Spotted Owlet
Green-billed Malkoha
Great Egret
White-throated Kingfisher
Northern Lapwing
Griffon Vulture
Black-necked Stork
Red Junglefowl
Pin-tailed Snipe
White Wagtail
Water Pipit
Alexandrine Parakeet
Red-wattled Lapwing
Red-breasted Parakeet
Cattle Egret
Lineated Barbet
Bar-headed Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Comon Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Ruddy Shelduck
Common Redshank