Bund Baretha

Or Bund Baretta as it's pronounced, and following a tip from one of the Bharatpur guides, set off into the Pampas swamp downstream from the dam, following the map that he had drawn for me precisely and hey presto – Indian Hyena ! But it didn't hang around long enough for any photos. Also in the Pampas swamp were loads of Red Avadavats and Common Rosefinch feeding on the seedheads, plus a couple of groups of Yellow-eyed Babblers.

The small stand of Banyans below the dam held a couple of Olive-backed Pipits, an Orange-headed Thrush and lots of Large-billed Leaf Warblers with a few Tickell's Leaf Warblers thrown in, and a large roost of Indian Flying Fox.

The reservoir itself had some large rafts of duck on it, but, as they were duck I couldn't be bothered going through them.

As the day wore on and became hotter, several Raptors started soaring above the ridge – 2 Booted Eagles, a Shikra, 2 Indian Spotted Eagles and 7 Indian Vultures (one even landing on a ledge on the ridge). It's good to see that the Vultures in this part of India are making a small comeback at least.

Indian Flying Fox

Large-billed Leaf Warbler

Comb Ducks

Yellow-eyed Babbler

Indian Vultures

Plum-headed Parakeet

White-throated Kingfisher

Red Avadavat

Shikra

 

Thrushes

Back inside Bharatpur again and still looking for the more elusive species. First stop was the nursery for some Thrushes, a good plan that went awry when I flushed two Dusky Eagle Owls from a nearby Kadam tree but, despite best efforts, I couldn't get anywhere near them without re-flushing them. But, back to Thrushes and a bit of a wait until Tickell's Thrush gave itself up by a leaking water pipe closely followed by an Orange-headed Thrush and another Tickell's.

Next up was Siberian Rubythroat, one had been spending much of it's time in a gully by the checkpost but was really elusive, I was going to give a bit of time to this but there was no need as it showed itself after a few minutes (speaking to another birder later who had spent 4 hours there and still hadn't seen it !), plus the added bonus of a roosting Collared Scops' Owl in the same area.

It was now time to head for the Temple tea stall, not for anything in particular, I was just running low on water. I couldn't resist a few shots of a very showy Red-breasted Flycatcher on the way. Water bought and tea drank and time to check the drainage channel for the unlikely chance of a Bittern or two and bingo.... juv Black Bittern about 10 feet away.

And that was the day over, with the addition of a few jaunts into the Acacia scrub and more open areas (mainly for photos of Indian Jackal).

Black Bittern

Bank Myna

Indian Jackal

Orange-headed Thrush

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Red Avadavat

Siberian Rubythroat

Tickell's Thrush

White-eared Bulbul