2022 - the birding year that was

The birding year that was - A hat tip to my MNS Backbenchers

A trip to Perumbakkam in early Jan

Wigeons and Shovelers, was how it began.

Kentish plover in February 

at the mouth of the estuary,

The sea shells were not part of the plan. 

Nanmangalam was the highlight in March

When I spied the Jerdon’s Bush lark

Valparai,  in April

Pitta,  Thrush thrills,

And the Flameback hammering at the bark. 

Thiruvanmyur in the heat, all of May

Hellos to those red vented bulbuls, everyday

The koel all through June

matched my mood with its maddening tune

A life’s journey ended that day. 

The TS brought some cheer in July

I watched the beeeaters swoop and fly

Soil, earth - TTUF in August

lapwings shrieked and fussed, 

As though we were there to pry. 

Already it is September

and the pelicans on pylons I remember

Rain-drenched Mishmi in October

That Sultan Tit and Red-headed trogon, not at all sober, 

Those colours!  In my memory forever.

ECR outings and friends in late October

Terns, Whimbrels, pied kingfishers and laughter, still linger, 

marshlands in November

Osprey and Marsh Harrier

My raptor watch attempts I confess were meagre 

While Our fledged offspring took precedence in December

But still, those 3 score Black Kites in Andheri, soared in splendour

And so the year ended, 

My heart will be mended

Wigeons and Shovelers, at the wetlands once more. 

 *****

The first birding year where I have seen 200+ species.  

2022 list

• Rock Dove
• Rose-ringed Parakeet
• Common Myna
• House Crow
• Spot-billed Pelican
• Indian Peafowl
• Garganey
• Northern Shoveler
• Eurasian Wigeon
• Indian Spot-billed Duck
• Northern Pintail
• Jacobin Cuckoo
• Common Moorhen
• Eurasian Coot
• Grey-headed Swamphen
• White-breasted Waterhen
• Little Grebe
• Red-wattled Lapwing
• Pheasant-tailed Jacana
• Bronze-winged Jacana
• Common Sandpiper
• Painted Stork
• Asian Openbill
• Oriental Darter
• Little Cormorant
• Black-headed Ibis
• Black-crowned Night Heron
• Indian Pond Heron
• Eastern Cattle Egret
• Grey Heron
• Purple Heron
• Great Egret
• Intermediate Egret
• Little Egret
• Eastern Marsh Harrier
• White-throated Kingfisher
• Common Kingfisher
• Blue-tailed Bee-eater
• Brown Shrike
• Barn Swallow
• Blyth's Reed Warbler
• Pied Bush Chat
• Purple Sunbird
• Paddyfield Pipit
• Shikra
• Greater Flameback
• Rufous Treepie
• Common Tailorbird
• Yellow-billed Babbler
• Red-vented Bulbul
• Spotted Dove
• Kentish Plover
• Black-tailed Godwit
• Common Redshank
• Common Greenshank
• White-browed Bulbul
• Watercock
• Spotted Redshank
• Caspian Tern
• Whiskered Tern
• Black-winged Stilt
• Grey-headed Lapwing
• Little Stint
• Wood Sandpiper
• Brown-headed Gull
• Pied Kingfisher
• House Sparrow
• Fulvous Whistling Duck
• Ruddy Shelduck
• Eastern Spot-billed Duck
• Grey Francolin
• Greater Coucal
• Common Hawk-Cuckoo
• Ruddy-breasted Crake
• Greater Flamingo
• Pied Avocet
• Ruff
• Common Snipe
• Marsh Sandpiper
• Glossy Ibis
• Eurasian Spoonbill
• Black-winged Kite
• Booted Eagle
• White-eyed Buzzard
• Eurasian Hoopoe
• Peregrine Falcon
• Indian Golden Oriole
• Indian Paradise Flycatcher
• Blyth's Leaf Warbler
• Clamorous Reed Warbler
• Zitting Cisticola
• Plain Prinia
• Oriental Magpie-Robin
• Streaked Weaver
• Indian Silverbill
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Black-throated Munia
• Tricolored Munia
• Western Yellow Wagtail
• Citrine Wagtail
• Blue-faced Malkoha
• Laughing Dove
• Ashy Woodswallow
• Jerdon's Bush Lark
• Red-whiskered Bulbul
• Common Babbler
• Indian Robin
• Forest Wagtail
• Striated Heron
• Indian Pitta
• Malabar Whistling Thrush
• Pale-billed Flowerpecker
• Indian Swiftlet
• Crested Serpent Eagle
• Black Eagle
• Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
• Streak-throated Woodpecker
• Plum-headed Parakeet
• Orange Minivet
• Long-tailed Shrike
• Indian Black-lored Tit
• Black-headed Bulbul
• Indian White-eye
• Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
• Brown-breasted Flycatcher
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow
• Asian Palm Swift
• Crested Honey Buzzard
• Chestnut-tailed Starling
• Eurasian Collared Dove
• Ashy-headed Green Pigeon
• Common Buzzard
• Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
• Common Iora
• Grey-chinned Minivet
• Scarlet Minivet
• White-throated Fantail
• Striated Bulbul
• Golden Babbler
• Yellow-throated Fulvetta
• Small Niltava
• Verditer Flycatcher
• Blue Rock Thrush
• Orange-bellied Leafbird
• Streaked Spiderhunter
• Russet Sparrow
• Grey Wagtail
• Olive-backed Pipit
• Maroon Oriole
• Marsh Babbler
• Grey Bush Chat
• White-rumped Munia
• Whiskered Yuhina
• White-naped Yuhina
• Stripe-throated Yuhina
• Little Forktail
• Plumbeous Water Redstart
• White-capped Redstart
• White-browed Wagtail
• Black Drongo
• Brahminy Starling
• Green-billed Malkoha
• Besra
• Red-headed Trogon
• Great Hornbill
• Blue-eared Barbet
• Rufous Woodpecker
• Pied Falconet
• Large Woodshrike
• Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
• Common Green Magpie
• Sultan Tit
• White-throated Bulbul
• Ashy Bulbul
• Black-crested Bulbul
• Jungle Myna
• Lesser Whistling Duck
• Swamp Francolin
• Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
• Temminck's Stint
• Grey-headed Fish Eagle
• Black-hooded Oriole
• Red-rumped Swallow
• Striated Grassbird
• Siberian Stonechat
• Purple-rumped Sunbird
• Eastern Yellow Wagtail
• Rosy Pipit
• Oriental Pratincole
• Little Ringed Plover
• Asian Green Bee-eater
• Pacific Golden Plover
• Indian Cormorant
• Eurasian Golden Oriole
• Black Kite
• Brahminy Kite
• White-spotted Fantail
• Loten's Sunbird
• Great Cormorant
• Yellow Bittern
• Ashy Prinia