Land of Vivid colours and Elusive Bird 'Lesser Florican'

     SHOKLIYA, AJMER,  RAJASTHAN








'Nature India' is the Ultimate and pure experience of Birding. We talk Birds We see Birds , We listen to Birds ,We read Birds and ...eat Birds too.:P
Ajmer Sonkhaliya or actually Shokliya was on my upper shelf of wish list not a desperate must do item, but Rajashree brought that wish down to 'Do it now' list.
As usual first batch was booked and second was about to get full. we were lucky to get seat.
This was my first visit to Rajasthan, Though Ajmer at least this time of the year didn't look arid at all. The town was looking smart with lot of historical structures around. and Outskirts lush green with Bajra, jawar and Moong cultivation  and  But we were not here to explore place but the exclusive elusive and endangered bird species Lesser Florican,which is visible only during breeding season ie Monsoon.
We reached Ajmer one hour late than proposed time. so , with minimum possible time we got fresh and started our journey after quick breakfast.

The first bird we encountered was Rufous-Fronted Prinia
my first lifer of the trip.





Second one was Common Babbler soon after that.

Then came Southern Grey Shrike , my third
lifer , wow what a spectacular plumage ... it was bright white at the belly, grey back and neat black band on eyes like pirates.





Large Grey Babblers were chattering all the day through out , from where ever we passed.

We were at the right place to view parachute flight display of  Indian bush larks... They were going up the sky and leave there wings open and drop down swaying.





 Suddenly Adesh Spotted a Bird of prey sitting on a hump on the ground. it was White-eyed Buzzard.
It kept watching us for a while and as he thought we might cross the safe distance , flew away on a distant perch.


Then there was Rufus-tailed lark and Singing bush lark showcasing themselves to each one of the members separately.

 While strolling on the path we came across a niche where  Baya weavers were busy making their nests. We all were lucky to get nice eye level shots. after some time.







Adesh called us with great excitement in his voice to see a

Black breasted weaver bird pair. Wow ! The male had certain arrogance in his stance.









We had to come on the main road for our lunch and soon after delicious food we headed towards the farms again. This Birding trip is unique terrain wise. All the birding happens in the farms and cultivation , grassland and few wetlands are part of the vast terrain.

Among many usual birds there were some I was keen clicking. Silverbill which I had watched few times , clicked twice but very poor sighting and photos too. I got good chance to click them as I could locate them sitting right at my eye level branch barely 20 feet away.







Francolins and Sandgrouse also were on my wish list.
Amongst them Grey Francolins gave me ample chance to watch and click too. Rock Bush Quails were again generous enough to show up twice in our 2 day trip.







In the later half of the day we were to try our luck to witness that star of the trip' Lesser Florican'. Our Guide, Forest Guard Mr. Rajendra Rathod , Adesh and Mandar had switched on their biological receptors to find it's location. Floricans make a distinct sound during his famous jump which once you associate , can not miss it later. They tried very hard and then Mr. Rathod showed us the location where we could see a black bunch springing up from the grass and falling down . It was very far to get good view of the bird even with binocs. But first day was marked with florican sighting.
During Our search for winged species we were blessed with two slithering Beauties... Black Cobra and Red Sand Boa. So they added in our list of species other than birds , which contained of Blue Bull , Common Grey Mongoose , Monitor Lizard and Painted Grasshopper,

Then came turn of one more Majestic bird , Indian Eagle Owl, we were lucky to find him quickly... as we never had to search much in his territory. It was standing boldly on the ground in open terrain. then it flew and stood at the edge of a ditch which was even better sight for photo. We went on clicking different poses when Large Grey babblers were quarreling and roaming around him without fear.

As the sun was about to set , we moved on , and got our one more interesting bird sighting Eurasian Thick Knee or Stone Curlew as a sum up of first day. This bird looks quite funny, like Stupid... Here he was standing right in front of us with drooping shoulders with half  turned back and blank dumb expressions... ,








Second day was going to be a long one. starting at 5.15 am till 6.15 pm. the first thing to do was to reach at the sight of Floricans. Adesh could locate almost 5 of them at various spots. we saw first one comparatively in open patch walking sideways for long time and jumping in between but again it was very far.
Then we found two more at some distance from each other but more visible to us when they jumped. when I say close is like 40 meters. to capture their image in handheld 600 mm lense was a Herculean task. To have patience , strength and right settings was quite demanding. But great fun to watch their flights and judging their jumps.

All that effort called for some food as hunger was prevalent. While having our packed breakfast we kept listening to their flight sounds which actually sounds like skittering Frogs. Painted Francolin in the meanwhile was bold n vocal on distant leafless tree. holding it's neck high, opening it's beak  widest possible.
After having enough darshan of Floricans we moved to different locations to get some wetland birds and grassland rare species.

Here was my one more lifer Red-collared Dove. pretty pair was down at the ground , flew on the higher perch for a while and then flew further away.






Among the water birds we could sight many. Black -winged stint was graceful as usual , so were others.

for the whole day Adesh kept searching for one particular endangered bird ' Bristled Grassbird' trying to call back , and listening if he gets his call. but no luck. He tried hard till evening and at last he could find him sitting in the grass. He flew on a distant tall tree later and gave us chance to get record shots . only one of us got good view of the Bristled Grassbird while he was sitting on the grass.
This climax almost ended second and last days session.

 A group photo and last glimpses of Grey francolin , rock bush Quail and flying rain Quail were bonus. Last but not the least classic sight of flocks of Birds like rosy Starlings adult and Juvenile, Rose-ringed Parakeets feeding on the Jawar cultivation was unforgettable.

Ajmer was remarkable for one more thing other than birding . our last supper .... aloo tikki with malpoa and thick laasi malai maar ke!!!

__________________________xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx_______________________