Recently I was at The Westin Sonha Resorts and Spa in National Capital Region of India for an office offsite. One of the main reasons I loved this venue was plenty of birds all around. I knew it and hence I was carrying my camera with me. Birds welcome in small water pond near reception area and there were dozens of Lapwings, Drangos, Babblers, Starlings flying around our breakfast area. During 2 days of stay, I could find out 30-45 mins to walk around the resort to find these winged wonders and hope to visit this part of Delhi-NCR soon and probably some other place apart from The Westin.
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There is a lake maintained by The Westin Sohna Resorts and Spa. Above photograph is clicked around Westin Lake where we saw plenty of birds bird but at a distance which couldn't be captured with the lens I was carrying and unfortunately there is no way to walk around the Westin lake.
Kite is the common name for certain birds of prey in the family. We saw quite a few kites around The Westin Sohna but it was hard to capture them given the height at which they were sitting or flying.
The black kite is a medium-sized bird of prey. Current global population estimates run up to 6 million individuals. Black kites are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are also vociferous with a shrill whinnying call. This kite is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be migratory.
The pied myna or Asian pied starling is a species of starling found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are usually found in small groups mainly on the plains and low foothills. The one you see in above photograph is located around lower Arawali hills in India. They are often seen within cities and villages although they are not as bold as the common myna. Several slight plumage variations exist in the populations and about five subspecies are named.
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These Asian pied Starlings are usual found in small groups, foraging mainly on the ground but perching on trees and buildings. Birds in a group call frequently with whistles, trills, buzzes, clicks, and warbling calls. Young birds taken into captivity have been trained to imitate tunes of other birds.
Above photograph shows red-wattled lapwing, which is an Asian lapwing or large plover. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements.
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Usually red-wattled lapwings are seen in pairs or small groups (please see first photograph of this blogpost again to appreciate this aspect) and usually not far from water they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season. They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily.
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At Westin they were easily found around breakfast area and swimming pool at The Westin Sohna Resorts & Spa.
There are lot of Dronogos around The Westin Sohna Resorts & Spa. There are 29 species in the Drongo family.
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Drongos are mostly black or dark grey, short-legged birds, with an upright stance when perched. They have forked tails and some have elaborate tail decorations. Drongos feed on insects which they catch in flight or on the ground. Some species are accomplished mimics and have a variety of alarm calls, to which other birds and animals often respond.
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The oriental magpie-robin is a small bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously.
The oriental magpie-robin is the national bird of Bangladesh.
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Cold and severe, January is a good time to turn inward and reflect. The thought of spending the day wrapped in your warmest quilt, reading and sipping on hot coffee, sometimes cracking peanuts while lounging in the winter sun, brings back memories from our childhood and that is why we chose the Oriental Turtle Dove as the bird of January 2020. Meditative, quiet, and gentle, doves inspire poetry, love, peace and all things good.
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After the cold January, the earth beneath our feet starts shifting because of tiny life (grass, saplings, worms, ants) that are waking up from their slumber and being reborn. But these signs of life are still invisible. You can see them only if you are looking out for them. Same is the case with the Coppersmith Barbet. Just like you sense the spring in the air before you see the new saplings, this elusive bird announces its presence with the sounds that it makes searching food on trees, before it actually makes an appearance.
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There is also a small zoo maintained by The Westin Sohna Resorts and Spa. Zoo at The Westin Sohna Resorts and Spa has few Turkeys, Goose, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Guinea Fowls, Emus, Goats, Horses, hens etc. These last 2 photographs are clicked inside the zoo and unfortunately these are not the free birds like all others in this blogpost.
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Overall I loved The Westin Sohna Resorts & Spa because of it's bird friendly ecosystem, which certainly makes it a great place to visit/stay and get rejuvenated.
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