Urban Nomads in Search of Exotic Wildlife

Photograph courtesy my brother, Sanjay Lal

It is often said that one should find joy in all the things of life, even the smaller ones. One cannot beat the sensation of hearing the wind whistle in one's ears as you rush past trees along narrow paths abutted by huge expanses of water—yes, and you get all of those as you drive out of Gurugram! And then you stop, excited, even as you spot a greater Flamingo, or possibly, an Egret, a Cormorant with a fish in its beak, or even a rare visitor from far away. The possibilities are unlimited!

Spotting a Grey Heron, or perhaps even a Pond Heron, can be a joy if you can get close enough without disturbing them. They are commonly spotted native species of birds but can be eye-catching. Moreover capturing an image of a Yellow-backed Woodpecker playing peek-a-boo can be most fulfilling! The bright red crest contrasts with the golden back making the bird particularly distinct from the Hoopoe.

Baya Weaver birds are cute! It can be engrossing to spot parents feeding an infant. I was able to spot Baya Weaver birds feeding their offspring. Baya Weaver birds look like house sparrows, but few people in Gurgaon have seen sparrows. Sparrows have disappeared from Gurgaon completely.

Pied Bush chats have the sweetest songs, almost plaintive in nature. They are also difficult to photograph because of the dark colour of their feathers.

The Indian Black-winged Kite is an impressive bird that looks particularly distinctive. It is a predatory bird that feeds on rodents and other small creatures. It is a diurnal bird of prey native to Eurasia, Africa, and India.

My partner in crime is often my brother, Sanjay Irwin Lal. He is a very discerning fellow who clicks photographs that speak volumes about our nomadic excursions to the Sultanpur National Park and the numerous journeys we make on my bike, craters and bumps notwithstanding. He tells me to avoid the bumps and craters that appear without announcement. 

Sometimes, if you are lucky, you might spot Greater Flamingos at the Najfgarh Lake. I have been following three of them for quite some time. This time however, I was able to spot only one. Greater Flamingos are a common sight at the Najafgarh Lake. They could be spotted in the now defunct Basai Wetland.

Of course, during our wanderings, we encounter some scenes that amaze us. The dog in the photograph my brothers took exemplifies our relationship with animals.

Photograph courtesy Sanjay Lal my brother.

The fact is that all of our game reserves and national parks have been taken over by domesticated animals. Ramsar sites are now full of domesticated animals allowed access to these dedicated sites.