Chirps & clicks: Gurgaon birders spot feathered friends

Time of India

a day ago

Gurgaon's birding community is out and about, with cameras in hand and eyes on the greens. Sarus cranes in the fields, pittas mid-flight and paradise flycatchers that live up to their name – here's a look at summer through the lens of the city's avid birdwatchers.
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Summer breeding birds like Indian paradise flycatcher spotted at Bhondsi Nature Park (Pic: Mohit Mehta/ @indian_pitta on X)
'Nesting birds can be spotted during the summer months'
About the birds that can be easily spotted during summer months, birder and avian photographer Mohit Mehta says, 'Indian pitta and Indian paradise flycatchers are summer-breeding birds which come to Bhondsi Nature Park for nesting. The male flycatchers have a long tail, making them beautiful to photograph. Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse camouflage themselves in agricultural fields and Jhanjhrola grassland is the best place to spot them.
The tallest flying cranes – sarus crane – breed in Gurgaon and can be spotted in Chandu Budhera. It is also a good time to spot resident birds like the red avadavat.'
Yellow-crowned woodpecker, a resident bird, can be spotted at Bhondsi Nature Park, Sultanpur National Park and Sakatpur; Sarus cranes are seen at Chandu Budhera (Pics: @indian_pitta on X)
Nineteen-year-old birder Gurnoor Dhillon, who hosts bird walks in Gurgaon, says, 'The black-headed cuckooshrike's singing in the Aravalli region is a treat for bird enthusiasts. Three bee-eater species also arrive in NCR. The blue-tailed bee-eater are commonly spotted in Bhondsi and Mangar (Faridabad).
The blue-cheeked bee-eater is seen along the water bodies like Najafgarh Jheel, Chandu, Surajpur. Jungle prinias start calling in summer and can be seen in Gurgaon's green belts.
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Indian golden oriole, Crested bunting, cuckoo shrike can be spotted these days (Pics: Gurnoor Dhillon)
'Birders should wear a cap and opt for light clothes to stay safe from the heat'
Summer is a great time for birdwatching, but birders should take precautions to stay safe from the heat, says Pankaj Gupta, who is leading the Delhi Bird Atlas initiative. He says, 'Many resident birds are breeding now, and they look their best with bright and colourful feathers. Some summer visitors like the Indian paradise flycatcher, golden oriole and Indian pitta also arrive to breed. They are very beautiful and a photographers' muse.
But, in order to remain safe from the heat, birders should wear a cap, opt for light clothes and stay hydrated.'
Birder Ramveer recommends early morning birding, given the heat (Pics: @ramveer4019)
Birding spots in Gurgaon
Bhondsi Nature Park
Chandu Budhera
Aravalli Biodiversity Park
Basai Wetland
Damdama Lake
Sultanpur National Park
Sakatpur
Birds spotted by Aaran Sharma