River Terns Spotted at the Sultanpur National Park early in the month

The spotting of quite a few River Terns on the 7th of March, 2025 at the Sultanpur National Park was unusual in itself. I have rarely come across these birds at the Sultanpur National Park, though I have spotted them at the Chandu Budhera canal a few times.

River Terns or the Indian River Terns are Terns belonging to the family of Laridae. It is a resident breeder supposed to be found along inland rivers throughout the Indian subcontinent, according to  an entry in Wikipedia. 

I was able to take a few photographs of the birds, not realising that they were River Terns. As a result, I was not able to take significant care in getting them into the frame. However one question arises and that is, what were these River Terns doing so far away the nearest inland river systems? Well I guess it is all about shifting or shrinking ecosystems in the area.

The River Tern population is declining in numbers and this could be because of shrinking ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots that support riverine birds in India and neighbouring countries. Whatever might be the case, it was a pleasant surprise to spot these birds.

Photographing Wild Life at a National Park - What on Earth Were the Squirrels Doing?

Photographing wildlife can rewarding, especially if you are able to spot a few lesser seen birds and animals. Unfortunately, changing weather patterns and altered migratory patterns have resulted fewer visitors arriving at most of the biodiversity hotspots in Gurgaon. My first visit to the Sultanpur National Park in the year 2025 resulted in a mixed bag. I was not able to spot any migratory birds in the month of January which was disappointing. I could not spot any Bar-headed Geese, nor could I spot Flamingos or even Eurasian Spoonbills.

Perhaps the most amazing photograph that I took at the Sultanpur National Park was that of a column of Squirrels lining a tree-trunk to bask in the winter sun. It was a scene I have never seen before! I was at first surprised to see them in suspended animation but then realized that this was because the warmth of the sun meant a lot to these mammals. 

Among some of the unique birds photographs are those of owls and colourful woodpeckers that are residents at the Sultanpur National Park. The cutest of these was the spotting of a trio of owls huddled together on a branch sunning themselves in the winter sun. What was interesting was to see three of the owls huddled together, enjoying the warmth of the winter sun. Initially at least, all three were together, but then then other two escaped into the hollowed out trunk of the tree while their elder bother remained on the branch, unconcerned by my presence.

Woodpeckers are colourful birds and they draw the attention of all wildlife photographers. The bird that I saw was intent on his breakfast and so gave me enough time to take his photograph! Woodpeckers  are colourful birds and their plumage lights up the photograph with their bright colours.

But then, the Sultanpur National Park is a conundrum! One can find animal species and bird species vying for space along with human beings jogging along the track probably scaring away wildlife. Bovine animals seem to be gabbing on to space meant for wild animals and birds. The very purpose of a wildlife sanctuary is defeated by the very presence of bovine animals, stray dogs and people who visit the National Park for fun and picnics.

And of course my partner in crime is my brother, Sanjay. He has been a constant companion in some of my trysts in my adventures as a wildlife photographer.

And of course that is me in the photograph below. Many a times I am the one behind the lens and so it is opportunity to have one of my photographs taken!

 

 

Photographing Wildlife at a National Park

A Male Asian Antelope stands guard over the Does.

One of the greatest joys of a wildlife photography enthusiast is to get a few good pictures of wildlife that tell a story. Having more than those is like a treasure trove. Recently when I visited the Sultanpur National Park I was the first one inside the whole park. This proved to be a boon for me as I was able to spot a large number of birds and animals.

Spot-billed Ducks take to the air en-mass

Spot-billed Ducks in the air

Knob-billed Ducks attempt a takeoff

Perhaps the best part of having the whole National Park to myself was that I spotted the elusive Asian Golden Jackal. Of course, the Jackal was unaware of my presence as I was hidden in the bushes and the sun's direction helped a lot.

An Asian Golden Jackal on the way to feed its cubs

An Asian Golden Jackal looks at the camera with curiosity.

Photographing birds in flight can be tricky sometimes even having a shutter speed of 1/1200 might not give you the best possible results! That is of course in the case of photographing larger birds. I took these amazing photographs of Sarus Cranes taking off at a much slower shutter speed of 1/200, but then panning the camera and focusing on the birds' eyes gave me an amazing result! You might check out the results yourself.

A Pair of Sarus Cranes attempt a takeoff

It takes a lot of runway for Sarus Cranes to take off!

Sarus Cranes - Amazing Birds of India

In all the years I have been photographing wildlife, I have never been more enthralled than when photographing the rather majestic Sarus Cranes! These majestic birds move around in pairs or with their offspring. What would I not do to get a few good shots of these birds! They are amazing birds that follow amazing courtship rituals. They sing together, fly together, and groom their feathers together.

It is no doubt always a challenge to photograph these majestic birds, more often because the weather is mostly bad with all that smog and fog and haze, and of course, these are rather private birds who like their privacy more than posing for the shutterbugs. The lack of freshwater marshes and wetlands has driven these birds away from the more accessible spots on foot for many photographers. Also, the increased human activity in the outskirts of most urban areas has driven away these birds. Earlier it was possible to spot these birds at what used to be a vibrant wetland known as the Basai Wetland but is now a major construction site!

Sarus Cranes are also known to be the largest flying birds in the world. the same is true for their western cousins, the Sandhill Cranes. These elegant birds stand tall, they have regal scarlet crests on their heads and scarlet collars around their necks. They are a royal sight for those lucky enough to spot them, let alone photograph them!

The male Sarus Crane stands a couple of inches taller than the female partner and is more alert and aggressive, often deciding when to make an aggressive move, a warning trumpet, or a flight into a safer spot.

I photographed this pair of cranes at the Sultanpur National Park today, right at the end of the winter season. It was a clear and bright day with a little bit of haze. I photographed the same pair of Sarus Cranes during the winter season when it was foggy and dark. The photographs I have posted below were taken in December 2023.

Last, I would like to write about how these majestic birds are known for being faithful to each other. They are known to be symbols of faithfulness and integrity. A large number of Hindi poems have been written about these birds. Perhaps, we need to recognize them as National birds of the country. And, yes, Sarus Cranes do fly!

Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer

Last Sunday, when I decided to visit the Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon after a hiatus of about a couple of months, I did not expect the weather to turn for the worse, nor was I aware of a funny encounter I would be having with an Asian Golden Jackal! What had started as a clear morning, at about 5:30 a.m. would become a foggy overcast morning by the time I reached the National Park at 7:00 a.m. After about 25 minutes into my sojourn, it began to drizzle. 

At first, it was the odd sound of raindrops striking the water's surface in the different ponds and pools, and then it really started to pour! Fortunately, I could pack my camera into its case and stand close to the forked trunks of a tree. I was on the track that runs around the park and was literally berating myself for having decided to visit the Park on such a dull morning. In the middle of my thoughts, a sixth sense alerted me to the presence of something, and turning round, I looked through the fork of the tree, and saw to my surprise a young Asian Golden Jackal trotting towards me! I wonder who was more shocked, the Jackal or me! Anyway, the moment the Jackal spotted me, he stopped abruptly and then dashed back the way he had come! I, for one thing, wished I had my camera out and ready, but then one cannot be ready enough when shooting in the wild!

But then that encounter with the Jackal was not the last one and when the rain lessened a bit, I retreated down the path for a hundred meters or so and then stood under another tree with my back to the trunk. This time too, I was alerted by my sixth sense that something was approaching me. Looking beyond the tree trunk I spotted the same Jackal, this time approaching me down a parallel path in a depression. This time the Jackal looked at me fearlessly, even as he turned his head towards me as he passed me. I literally wanted to stamp my feet in frustration as I was helpless, my camera was in its case, it was raining and I was soggy wet. The Jackal, however, was having a grand time, trotting along in the rain. I could imagine the springiness in its feet! The best shots are the missed shots, and they can only be etched in your mind and not in your camera. That, I guess is what drives people to visit the wild, it is not the capture of an image on a digital device, but the experience of being in the wild. I could smell the scents of the mustard flowers wafting in from a plantation nearby and of course the sounds of the wilderness.

The rewards of patience, can, however, exceed expectations at times as I was about to realize. After it stopped raining, the skies opened sporadically as the clouds covered and uncovered the sun and it was during these moments that I was able to spot the Greylag Geese wading in the shallows, rooting for succulent titbits underwater. There were moments when they were literally spotlighted by the beams of the sun as and when they were allowed to pass through the clouds. It was a joy to spot the Northern Shoveller Ducks nesting on huge mounds of dried grass in groups of four or five of them. One particular scene was that of a pair of Shoveller Ducks dozing, with one of them with one eye open looking at me from the distance. What was striking was to see that one eye burning like a beacon in the misty morning!

By the time I returned home, my bike was coated with a thick layer of mud, and my shoes weighed a ton from the mud sticking to it. I was, however, happy with what I had been able to capture despite the bad weather. The moral of the story? Well, I guess, one needs to persevere in one's goal for the the and not let one's negative thoughts ruin the prospects. Moreover, one only sometimes gets good photographs of wild animals and birds in the wild, what matters though is the experience of being connected to nature. A fleeting glance at a wild animal should spice your day.

These photographs might not win accolades, but then they do describe an experience that is genuine and authentic. I have rarely found the best conditions for taking photographs at the Sultanpur National Park for the very reason that the fog and lighting conditions during the winter months are really bad. Nevertheless, I guess my visit to the the Sultanpur National Park on a foggy, rainy day was with it!

Some of my best Wildlife Photography Moments

A Sarus Crane Dances for his Mate

Some of my best wildlife photography moments have mostly taken place unexpectedly. They happened when I was packing up my gear to return home or looking elsewhere and was least prepared! A sudden movement in the bushes to spot a monitor lizard scuttling off, perhaps a warning honk by a male Sarus Crane meant to warn his mate and offspring that I was around. Perhaps even more uncommon would be to spot a Francolin scuttling into the bushes and still be able to photograph it!

A furtive Francolin scurries for cover

The best wildlife photography moments happen on the spur of the moment and you can capture them for you to revisit later on. Wildlife photography requires a lot of persistence, hard work and the ability to accept the possibility of not being able to take a single good photograph worth sharing. I have been photographing Sarus Cranes at the Sultanpur National Park for quite a few years now and I have only been able to photograph them dancing thrice!

Sarus Cranes dancing with each other

One step at a time

The legwork leads to the denouement.

Spotting a Shikra sitting on the boundary wall of my old house at 7:20 a.m. one cold January morning, and being able to get not one but quite a few photographs of it was a moment to relive. What could it have wanted so early in the morning? What if I had not had my camera handy? I guess, some of the best things in life happen for a good reason, and some of them happen by chance! The best of it all is that you were able to witness a moment of magic and you were part of it!

A Shikra Visited me one winter morning!

Who was more surprised, the Shikra, or me?

Spotting Cattle Egrets is not a big deal, but when you spot them all looking in one direction, then you do wonder if the crowd mentality might not just be limited to us human beings! Egrets are gregarious in nature and they do display the herd mentality, rather, the 'flock mentality'. The adage 'safety lies in numbers' or perhaps, 'birds of the same feather flock together' could be edited to read, 'birds of the same feather look in one direction!

These cattle egrets look confused!

The 'One Direction' birds

Of course, spotting Asian Golden Jackals can be a rare one, however, spotting them in close proximity to Asian Antelopes, themselves, herbivorous animals, almost as one unit can be absolutely amazing! I have been noticing a large number of these Jackals at the Sultanpur National Park Post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asian Golden Jackals and Asian Antelopes in close proximity

Jackals and Antelopes feel comfortable with each other!

A lone Jackal looks at me.

But then it is not just Jackals and Antelopes that are comfortable with each other, in fact, Sarus Cranes are comfortable in the company of Painted Storks, and Cormorants are comfortable in the company of Pond Herons, this is what made some of my best wildlife moments!

A Sarus Crane and a few juvenile Painted Storks tolerate each other.

A colourful combination, indeed!

And finally, of course, a little more about me. I don't usually post my photographs on the blog, however, this time I am sharing a selfie of myself that I took while visiting the now-almost vanished Basai Wetland. In the background, you can see a flock of Bar-headed Geese that head to the wetland in the region during the winter months. The birds are not very clear because I was using a mobile phone for the same.

That is me wrapped up for a cold winter morning!