Sultanpur National Park/Sultanpur Jheel is a small (1.43 km2) wetland bird reserve with scrubland, acacia woodland and some seasonal agricultural land. A jheel is a shallow lake or intermittently flooded wetland with both submerged and emergent vegetation. There is an easy trail around the perimeter of the park. The trail cuts through the scrub and woodland and overlooks the main jheel and some of the agricultural land. Large parts of the trail are on top of a dyke/bank which provides fine visibility for birding. There are a number of high observation towers - I did not use these towers during my visits.
The park is located in the countryside approximately 15km from Gurgaon.
The birding was excellent during both of my visits to Sultanpur. I encountered a few people around the park entrance and no other birders. Once I was out on the perimeter trail I felt like I had the park to myself. The birdlife was plentiful and varied and the birding was challenging and constantly absorbing.
Two visits:
Sunday, 10/4
Duration: A half day afternoon visit from approximately 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Weather: The temperature peaked at about 32°C/90°F. There was a light breeze and it was a little humid with the odd drop of really gentle rain. There was a constant threat of more significant rain which did not materialize while I was at the park.
Friday, 10/9
Duration: A full day visit from approximately 9:00am to 4:00pm
Weather: About as hot as Sunday 10/4 without any noticeable breeze or any sign of rain.
Highlights:
Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Whistling Duck/Indian Whistling Duck, Comb Duck/Knob-billed Duck, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Ferruginous Duck/Pochard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Pied Cuckoo, Green Bee-eater, Hume’s Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris), Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Red Avadavat
Bird of the Trip: Greater Spotted Eagle
Species: 75
Subspecies: 3
Total Records: 75
Also seen:
Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)
Blue Bull/Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) – this is an antelope.
1. Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) 2
Both seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
2. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Abundant
Plenty seen during both visits. There were fewer Great Cormorants than Little Cormorants.
3. Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) Abundant
100’s of cormorants were present during both visits. Without a telescope no attempt was made to study the birds in search of Indian Cormorant.
4. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) 10+
Obvious, familiar and easy to identify.
5. Purple Heron 2
Both seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
6. Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
One seen during first visit.
Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)
Overlooked – whoops! Almost certainly present.
7. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) Abundant
Plenty seen during both visits.
8. Indian Pond Heron/Paddybird (Ardeola grayii) 10+
Seen during both visits, easy to find and identify.
9. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 100’s
Plentiful in local fields.
10. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 8
All seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
11. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) 10+
Seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
12. Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) 1
One seen during Fri. 10/9 visit. A low flyover.
13. Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) 10+
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
14. Lesser Whistling Duck/Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) 6
All seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
15. Comb Duck/Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) 20+
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted. Bigger than I expected, I found they stood out from all of the other waterfowl. The white head, speckled with black was an immediate and obvious identification feature.
16. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) 100+
Easily the most numerous duck present during both visits, not counted. All birds were in adult non-breeding/eclipse plumage.
17. Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha poecilorhyncha) 50
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
18. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 70
Second most numerous duck present during both visits, not counted. All birds were in adult non-breeding/eclipse plumage.
19. Ferruginous Duck/Pochard (Aythya nyroca) 6
All seen during Fri. 10/9 visit. Conspicuous white undertail coverts when swimming and broad, standout white wing bars in flight.
20. Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
21. Black Kite/Pariah/Indian Kite (Milvus migrans govinda) 100’s
Just one seen at Sultanpur. Plentiful in and around New Delhi.
22. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 4
All seen during Fri. 10/9 visit. Nice close-up views.
23. Shikra (Accipiter badius) 3
Three clearly identified. Several other unidentified Accipiters seen.
24. Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) 2
Field Notes:
Habitat – Main jheel area.
Appearance – Sturdy looking with droopy ‘hands’ at wing tips and very long fingers.
Size – Seemed to be approximately 20% larger (body and wing span) than the Marsh Harriers seen on the same day. Did not appear ‘massive’ like a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Color & Patterns – Overall chocolate brown, lighter brown coverts, lighter brown belly and a small pale area at the base of the tail. Back of head was also lighter than the overall color. Dark barred tail (barring only visible close up in good light). Fingers were black, with a dipped in paint look. White spot/’comma’ between the outer and inner wing.
Behavior – Mainly cruised from one tree lookout position to another around the main jheel area. Together the two birds dived bombed a group of Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). This activity appeared to be casual/playful and lacking any real hunting intentions
Voice – Silent.
25. Gray Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) 2
Both seen during Fri. 10/9 visit.
26. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) 1
Noisy and colorful – seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
27. Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) 2
Huge! Seen in the main jheel area during Sun. 10/4 visit.
28. Purple Swamphen/Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) 2
29. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 20+
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
30. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 2
31. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 10
Seen on-route to Sultanpur from Gurgaon.
32. Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) 10+
Just a few at Sultanpur, but seen all over the place during stay in India including the front lawn of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
33. Common Redshank (Tringa tetanus) 4
Seen on-route to Sultanpur from Gurgaon.
34. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Abundant
Easily found at Sultanpur and seen all over the place during stay in India.
35. Eurasian Collard Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Abundant
Easily found at Sultanpur and seen all over the place during stay in India.
36. Red Collard Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica) 6
Seen during both visits, easy to find and identify.
37. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) Common
Easily found at Sultanpur and pretty common in all other areas visited.
38. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) 20+
Easily found at Sultanpur and pretty common in all other areas visited.
39. Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) 1
One pristine bird which conveniently sat still long enough to ensure identification without difficulty. Seen during Sun. 10/4 visit.
40. Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) 3
Many cuckoos seen during both visits, but just three positively identified.
41. Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) 2
Surprisingly inconspicuous for big colorful birds.
42. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) 8
Seen during both visits, easy to find and identify.
43. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) 1
Seen on-route to Sultanpur from Gurgaon.
44. Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 20+
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
45. Indian Roller 8
Seen during both visits, easy to find and identify. Often seen perched in prominent open positions.
46. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 1
It’s always good to see a Hoopoe.
47. Black-rumped Flameback ( 6
Seen during both visits, easy to find and identify.
48. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 1
49. Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 20+
Plenty seen during both visits, not counted, easy to find and identify.
50. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) 1
Supposed to be a really common species, but I only found one!
51. Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) 1
One found while concentrating on Plain Prinia identification.
52. Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) 4
Plenty found and seen, just four 100% identified.
53. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) 1
Obliging and familiar.
54. Hume’s Warbler (Phylloscopus humei) 1
A straightforward identification after the challenges experienced identifying my first Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides).
55. Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) 1
Field notes:
Habitat – Woodland, high in the canopy.
Appearance – Phylloscopus warbler, bill appeared long, but not obviously so.
Size – Not noticeably small or large, ‘Chiffchaff’ size.
Color & Patterns – Heavy dark eye-stripe and long creamy supercilium, one wing bar.
Behavior – Busy.
Voice – Silent.
56. Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) 1
One seen during Fri. 10/9 visit – initially mistaken by tired eyes for another Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris), but further scrutiny quickly confirmed identification as a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva).
57. Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus) 10+
Several seen during both visits, not counted, pretty easy to find and identify.
58. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris) 1
At the time this was a difficult bird to come to terms with. My familiarity with Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis) in Germany proved misleading. Later study and research confirmed this bird to be a female Black Redstart of the rufiventris subspecies (Pamir Black Redstart). The orange (red) tail and the tail twitching should have quickly allowed me to label the bird as a Redstart.
Field notes:
Habitat – Woodland, low down, sometimes on the ground.
Appearance – Resembling Redstart/Flycatcher.
Size – Small, slim Robin sized bird (not plump like a European Robin).
Color & Patterns – Generally gray with plain face head and neck, ‘big’ black eye, orange vent, some white edges to wing feathers at rest, orange tail with black central feathers.
Behavior – Constant tail twitching, unobtrusive.
Voice - –Silent.
59. Common/European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) 6
Seen during both visits in scrubland areas, not counted, easy to find.
60. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) 6
Seen during both visits in scrubland areas, not counted, easy to find and identify.
61. Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradise) 5
White and rufous males and a female. Excellent views.
62. Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi) 14
Field notes:
Habitat – Woodland, often low down, sometimes on the ground.
Appearance – Seemed to be about the same size as a slim American Robin with a long tail that matched the length of the body. The heavy slightly down curved yellow bill and yellow eye with black pupil were immediately obvious and created an aggressive expression.
Size – Bigger than a Black-rumped Flameback which made its self available for a comparison.
Color & Patterns – Generally sandy gray/pale brown, with black lores which extended above eye. Dark chin. A crease of black in the primaries.
Behavior – Found in small active flocks, quite confiding.
Voice – Not recorded.
63. Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) 2
Both seen during Fri. 10/9 visit – Yellow with long down-curved bill, black neck and streak along belly (non-breeding males).
64. Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) 1
One seen during Fri. 10/9 visit.
65. Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) 10+
Several seen during both visits, not counted, pretty easy to find and identify.
66. Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) 4
Seen during both visits in scrubland areas, not counted, easy to find.
67. Southern Gray Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
Seen during Fri. 10/9 visit – Typical shrike behavior, found in scrubland.
68. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) Common
Easily found at Sultanpur and pretty common in all other areas visited. Not counted.
69. House Crow (Corvus splendens) Abundant
Easily found at Sultanpur and seen all over the place during stay in India.
70. Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) 10+
Several seen during both visits, not counted, pretty easy to find and identify.
71. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Abundant
Easily found at Sultanpur and seen all over the place during stay in India.
72. Asian Pied Starling/Myna (Gracupica contra) 6
Seen during both visits, pretty easy to find and identify.
73. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 50+
One large flock found in a scrubland corner of the park.
74. Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) 100+
Several large 30+ sized flocks.
75. Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) 2
Two bright red males with immaculate white spots – unmistakable!