Cream-coloured Courser is a wader found mostly in dry areas. The word courser is defined from the latin word cursor which means runner. These birds run behind their prey and hence the name. They are found in open semi-desert regions of Asia and northern Africa.
I have seen Cream-coloured Courser from Middle East quite a number of times but never seen them in India.
Bimaculated Lark is a large lark normally eastwards from Turkey to Central Asia and can be easily identified in its range. Sometimes these species of birds can be found gathered in 100s if not 1000s.
Bimaculated Lark is an Indian tick for me during the GIBT 2017 – NE trip as I have seen them quite a number of times from Middle East where they are comparatively common. We found them in large flocks while we were in Desert National Park.
Red-headed Vulture is a critically endangered species of Vulture according to the IUCN Red List which are mainly found in the Indian Subcontinent. Red-headed Vulture is also called Asian King Vulture, Indian Black Vulture or Pondicherry Vulture.
Once abundant, one of the main cause of their decline is the use of Diclofenac in Veterinary medicines in India. These species were found in 1000s in most parts of India a few decades back. The species in now listed as Critically endangered in IUCN Red List and is in the brink of extinction.
Even though I have personally seen Red-headed Vulture a few times before, it was the first time I have seen them in such close proximity. I was able to take some photographs during our GIBT 2017 – NI trip while we were in Desert National Park, Jaisalmar, Rajasthan.
This is one species which we are not really sure to see in a decade or two unless strict measures are taken.
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark also known as Black-crowned Finch Lark, White-crested Finch-lark, White-crested Sparrow-lark, White-fronted Finch-lark and White-fronted Sparrow-lark is a species of birds that comes under the larks. It has a wide range from northern Africa from Mauritania through the Middle East to north-western India.
The first time I saw a Black-crowned Sparrow-lark is in 2008 in UAE. During our GIBT 2017 – NI trip we found a good number of them at Desert National Park.
GIBT 2017 – NI was a much awaited tour to see and photograph more birds from India. The trip started on 20th of Dec and ended on 31st Dec. During the trip two states were covered. Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The trip started from Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 20th morning around 10:30. The following route were taken during the trip.
Day 1 : Ahmedabad to Jaisalmar
Day 2 : Jaisalmar
Day 3 : Jaisalmar
Day 4 : Vijaysagar Lake, Khichan
Day 5 : Rann of Kutch
Day 6 : Rann of Kutch
Day 7 : Nalsarovar
Day 8 : Velavader
Day 9 : Nalsarovar