This list opens in February 2001 since when regular records have been kept. Although 240 species have been recorded there up to May 2003, the status descriptions are still necessarily provisional. The site, which extends over at least a square kilometre, is just west of the village of Basai on the outskirts of Gurgaon in Haryana State on the Sultanpur road. Being only 8kms from Sultanpur it is covered by the protected status of that Sanctuary.
It begins from the railway line and extends about a kilometre west. At least 100 hectares is permanently under water as a result of seepage from the canal from the Gurguaon Treatment Plant. This area includes a large area of water hyacinth, some typha beds, flooded grassland and reedbeds and pools on either side of the railway (the borrow pits). In addition there are, seasonally, active paddy fields, saline drenched (and thus uncroppable) flats with some scrub growth and other crops, usually wheat and mustard. Near the Temple are permanent and temporary pools. There is a new reservoir behind a brick wall on the left of the road opposite the Ashram.
Access is either from the narrow road that starts just west of the railway crossing and leads to the Temple or half a kilometer further west where the unmade Ashram road leads to the typha beds, the main water hyacinth swamp and the best wader pools.
There are very few trees and the list reflects this in its lack of arboreal species. Note that as water conditions vary so do the numbers and variety of birds. There is considerable interchange with Sultanpur and probably other sites nearby.
The term resident shouldn't be taken to imply breeding (if breeding is known it is mentioned). Resident simply means can be seen at the site in most months of the year. RM means the recent maximum count in the past two years. Please see the introduction to the Bhindawas Checklist for definitions of the other terms used.
1. Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus; common breeding resident
2. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus; scarce breeding resident
3. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix; scarce passage migrant
4. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus; occasional visitor from nearby resident populations
5. Greylag Goose Anser anser; common winter visitor. RM 300
6. Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus; very common winter visitor. RM 1100
7. Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocyna javanica; scarce summer visitor. RM 20
8. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea; common winter visitor. RM 80
9. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna; rare winter visitor. RM 4
10. Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos; scarce visitor. RM 38
11. Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus; rare summer visitor. RM 8
12. Gadwall Anas strepera; common winter visitor. RM 1000
13. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope; common winter visitor. RM 100
14. Mallard Anas platyrynchos; rare winter visitor. RM 2
15. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha; common breeding resident. RM 50
16. Common Teal Anas crecca; common winter visitor and passage migrant RM 2000
17. Garganey Anas querquedula; common passage migrant RM 1000
18. Northern Pintail Anas acuta; common passage migrant and winter visitor RM 300
19. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata; very common passage migrant and winter visitor RM 1500
20. Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris; vagrant. One record 30 April 2003
21. Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina; scarce winter visitor RM 3
22. Common Pochard Aythya ferina; scarce winter visitor. RM 70
23. Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca; scarce winter visitor. RM 4
24. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula; scarce winter visitor RM 30
25. Wryneck Jynx torquilla; Scarce passage migrant
26. Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense; irregular visitor
27. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala; scarce breeding resident
28. Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris; irregular visitor
29. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops; common winter visitor and scarce breeding resident
30. European Roller Coracius garrulus; rare autumn passage migrant
31. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis; common winter visitor and scarce breeding resident
32. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis; rare visitor.
33. White-throated Kingfisher Halycon smyrnensis; common resident
34. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis; scarce visitor
35. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis; common breeding mainly summer visitor
36. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus; common summer visitor. Breeds nearby
37. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus; common summer visitor. Breeds nearby.
38. Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus; scarce summer visitor.
39. Eurasian Cuckoo Culculus canorus; rare passage migrant
40. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis; common breeding resident
41. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria; scarce visitor
42. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri; common breeding resident
43. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba; scarce autumn visitor
44. House Swift Apus affinus; scarce feeding visitor. Breeds locally
45. Spotted Owlet Athene brama; scarce breeding resident
46. Rock Pigeon Columba livia; very common breeding resident
47. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis; scarce resident
48. Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica; scarce breeding resident
49. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto; common breeding resident
50. Sarus Crane Grus antigone; breeding resident. At least 1 pair.
51. Common Crane Grus grus scarce winter visitor. RM 80
52. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus; scarce winter visitor. RM 6
53. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla; scarce winter visitor. May breed. RM 5
54. Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca; irregular visitor. Maybe overlooked.
55. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus; common breeding resident.
56. Watercock Gallicrex cinera; scarce probably breeding summer visitor. RM 8
57. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio; very common breeding resident. RM 300
58. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus; common breeding resident. RM 100
59. Common Coot Fulica atra; common winter visitor. RM 350
60. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus; scarce visitor RM 12
61. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago; common winter visitor. RM 100
62. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura; vagrant. One record 3/03
63. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus; scarce winter visitor RM 6
64. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa; very common passage migrant and winter visitor. Some summer. RM 500
65. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata; scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. RM 15
66. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 200
67. Common Redshank Tringa totanus; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 150
68. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 200
69. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia; common winter visitor. RM 20
70. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus; common winter visitor. RM 10
71. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 1500
72. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos; Scarce winter visitor. RM 3
73. Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semiplatus; vagrant. One record 7/01 (First for Haryana)
74. Little Stint Calidris minuta; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 1000
75. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii; very common passage migrant and common winter visitor. RM 300
76. Dunlin Calidris alpine; rare passage migrant. RM 4
77. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea; scarce passage migrant. RM 34
78. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus ; passage vagrant. One record 5/03 (First for Haryana)
79. Ruff Philomachus pugnax; abundant passage migrant and very common winter visitor. RM 10000
80. Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis; scarce breeding summer visitor. RM 9
81. Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus; scarce probably breeding resident
82. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus; very common winter visitor and common summer breeder. RM 2000
83. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta; common winter visitor. RM 100
84. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus; common breeding summer visitor. RM 50
85. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum; common but irregular breeding summer visitor. RM 90
86. Small Pratincole Glareola lactea; common passage migrant. RM 70
87. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva; scarce passage migrant. RM 4
88. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula; rare visitor. One record 12/02
89. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius; scarce breeding resident and passage migrant. RM 50
90. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus; scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. RM 45.
91. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus; scarce passage migrant RM 11
92. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii; rare passage migrant. 2 11/01 was first record for Haryana.
93. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus; scarce winter visitor. RM 26
94. Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malarbaricus; scarce visitor. Breeds nearby RM 7
95. Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus. One record 3/03
96. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus; very common breeding resident. RM 142
97. White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus; very common winter visitor. RM 50
98. Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans; scarce winter visitor RM 3
99. Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus; rare passage migrant. RM 1
100. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus; rare winter visitor. RM 9
101. Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus; rare winter visitor RM 1
102. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica; scarce passage migrant. RM 8
103. River Tern Sterna aurantia ; rare visitor RM 9
104. Little Tern Sterna albifrons; rare summer visitor RM 3
105. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus; scarce passage migrant. RM 50
106. Osprey Pandion haliaetus; rare passage migrant RM 1
107. Black Kite Milvus migrans; common resident and winter visitor. Breeds locally. RM 22
108. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus; common winter visitor
109. Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus. rare visitor RM 2
110. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus; scarce winter visitor
111. Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus; common winter visitor. RM 15
112. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus; scarce passage migrant.
113. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus; rare passage migrant.
114. Shikra Accipiter badius; common breeding resident.
115. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus; rare passage migrant. One record 10/01
116. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus; scarce visitor. Breeds locally.
117. White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa; scarce autumn visitor. Rare otherwise
118. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo; rare passage migrant.
119. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus; rare winter visitor. RM 1
120. Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata; rare visitor.
121. Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga; common winter visitor. RM 5.
122. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis; scarce winter visitor.
123. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax; rare visitor
124. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca; scarce winter visitor. RM 4
125. Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraatus fasciatus; scarce winter visitor
126. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus; scarce winter visitor
127. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni; rare passage migrant. One 10-11/01
128. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus; scarce winter visitor. RM 2
129. Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera; scarce breeding resident (1 pr).
130. Merlin Falcocolumbarius; rare winter visitor
131. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo; rare passage migrant
132. Pergrine Falcon Falco peregrinus; scarce winter visitor
133. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis; common breeding resident RM 10
134. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis; probably rare winter visitor. 1,,2-3/03
135. Darter Anhinga melanogaster; scarce winter visitor RM 1
136. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger; common resident. RM 40
137. Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis; scarce resident. RM 24
138. Great Cormorant Phalcrocorax carbo; irregular winter visitor. RM 30
139. Little Egret Egretta garzetta; common resident. RM 30
140. Great Egret Casmerodius albus; common resident. RM 50
141. Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia; common resident. RM 50
142. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis; very common breeding resident. RM 1000 + 170 nests
143. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii; common resident. RM 50
144. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea; common resident. RM 15
145. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea; common breeding resident. RM 20 (c 8 nests)
146. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax; common resident. RM 40
147. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis; scarce confirmed breeding summer visitor. RM 4
148. Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus; scarce probably breeding summer visitor. RM 1
149. Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis; scarce probably breeding summer visitor. RM 2
150. Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris; probably rare winter visitor RM 2
151. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber; irregular visitor, sometimes abundant RM 2000
152. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus; common resident. RM 210
153. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus; common resident. RM 220
154. Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa; scarce breeding resident. RM 15
155. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia; scarce resident. RM 30
156. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus; rare visitor. One record 11/01
157. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala; common resident. RM 8
158. Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans; scarce visitor
159. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus; scarce visitor. RM 4
160. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus; breeding resident. 1 pair bred 2001
161. Rufous-tailed Shrike Lanius isabellinus; common winter visitor (two races)
162. Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus; scarce breeding resident
163. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius scach; common breeding resident
164. Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis; common winter visitor
165. House Crow Corvus splendens; common breeding resident
166. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhyncos; scarce visitor
167. Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus; scarce summer visitor
168. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus; rare winter visitor
169. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus; very common breeding resident
170. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica; common winter visitor
171. Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis; scarce breeding resident
172. Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata; common breeding resident
173. Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura; common winter visitor
174. Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata; very common breeding resident
175. Brown Rockchat Cercomela fusca; scarce breeding resident
176. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina; rare winter visitor
177. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti; rare winter visitor
178. Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum; scarce resident
179. Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus; scarce passage migrant
180. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris; common winter visitor
181. Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra; very common breeding resident
182. Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis; very common breeding resident
183. Bank Mynah Acridotheres ginginianus; very common breeding resident.
184. Sand Martin Riparia riparia; scarce autumn passage migrant and possibly winter visitor
185. Plain Martin Riparia paludicola; common resident. Breeds locally
186. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica; common winter visitor
187. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii; scarce breeding resident
188. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica; scarce winter visitor
189. Streak-throated Swallow Hirundo fluvicola; scarce passage migrant
190. White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis; scarce visitor
191. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer; common breeding resident
192. Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris; common breeding resident
193. Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis; common breeding resident
194. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata; common breeding resident
195. Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis; common breeding resident
196. Zitting Cisticola Zisticola juncidis; common breeding resident
197. Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon; common winter visitor. May breed.
198. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola; scarce passage migrant
199. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum; common passage migrant
200. Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus; common breeding resident
201. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata; scarce passage migrant
202. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius; scarce resident
203. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita; common winter visitor
204. Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei; scarce winter visitor
205. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides; scarce passage migrant
206. Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris; scarce breeding resident
207. Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus; common resident
208. Striated Babbler Turdoides earlei; common breeding resident
209. Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcomi; scarce breeding resident
210. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca; scarce winter visitor
211. Rufous-winged Bushlark Mirafra assamica; scarce breeding resident
212. Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix grisea; common breeding summer visitor
213. Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata; common winter visitor
214. Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla; common winter visitor
215. Crested Lark Galerida cristata; very common breeding resident
216. Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis; rare winter visitor. 17 on one date ½
217. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula; very common breeding resident
218. Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica; common resident
219. House Sparrow Passer domesticus; very common breeding resident
220. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis; scarce winter visitor
221. Sind Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus; probably rare visitor. Breeds nearby. 4 trapped 9/02
222. White Wagtail Motacilla alba; very common winter visitor
223. White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis; common breeding resident
224. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola; very common winter visitor
225. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava; very common winter visitor
226. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi; rare visitor. One 12/02
227. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus; very common breeding resident
228. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris; common winter visitor
229. Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii; scarce winter visitor
230. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis; scarce passage migrant
231. Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus; common winter visitor 228 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta; rare passage migrant. One 11/02
232. Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis; very common breeding summer visitor.
233. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar; very common breeding summer visitor
234. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus; common breeding summer visitor
235. Red Avadavat Amandava amandava; common breeding resident
236. Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica; scarce breeding resident
237. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata; scarce resident.
238. Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca; scarce visitor
239. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala; scarce passage migrant.
240. Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps; scarce passage migrant
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