Birdwatching on the first day of the year proved to be quite an exciting affair for an Andheri-based birding enthusiast Akshay Shinde who spotted a Sykes's nightjar at the Bhandup Pumping Station, making it the first documented sighting from Mumbai and adjoining areas in 104 years.
Birdwatching on the first day of the year proved to be quite an exciting affair for an Andheri-based birding enthusiast Akshay Shinde who spotted a Sykes's nightjar at the Bhandup Pumping Station, making it the first documented sighting from Mumbai and adjoining areas in 104 years.
What makes this spotting important and interesting as per renowned ornithologist, photographer and naturalist Sunjoy Monga is the fact that there is just one specimen of Sykes's collected in October 1915 from somewhere in Kalyan area, which is a part of the Bombay Natural History Society's (BNHS) collection.
"There are few unusual bird sightings that are being reported from Mumbai currently and it could be due to cold, unusual weather condition and drought conditions in north-west part of India. Nightjars are nocturnal and very elusive birds and the difference between nightjar species is also very subtle and hence it was a soft flight image that Shinde managed to take helped in tis identification," shared Monga, adding that Sykes's Nightjar is commonly found on the north-west region of the country, including Gujarat and Rajasthan boundaries.
Meanwhile, an excited Shinde said he is still unable to believe that such a rare bird for Mumbai literally came so close to him on Tuesday. He and a friend Hema Sagare began birding since 7am at the Bhandup Pumping Station, considered a birders' paradise and had managed to spot 41 species in nearly two hours, when he hit the 'jackpot'.
"We began exploring the grassland to look for something 'special' but since the pangs of hunger were driving us crazy we decided to turn back. As we were walking on a trail, a small bird walk came close to my feet and flew. Since it was so well camouflaged, we actually realized its presence only when it took off," shared Shinde adding that he realised that it was a nightjar and the images taken by him helped in the identification later.
Sykes's nightjar is also called Sindh nightjar and is distinguished by a white spot on its wings, called flag.
"It was this flag that made me realise that it's a Sykes's nightjar and since i was not completely sure I shared this image on birding groups and consulted expert birders like Monga," informed Shinde who also updated his prized sighting on an ebird portal.
ABOUT THE BIRD
- Sykes’s nightjar is also called Sindh nightjar; are nocturnal
- Commonly found are Indian nightjars, Jerdons nightjars
- Grey-brown, mottled, streaked and barred plumage provide camouflage during day
- Feed on insects moths and beetles, prefer grassland
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Sykes's nightjar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}