Breakfast with Birds & Hi-tea too

To soar high, to meet the sky,
To hug the space, to fly beyond the pace.
Are these the words, the birds might be chirping, while they aviate?

Mornings are always mystical, especially misty mornings. Where we try to gauge what lies beneath the layer of that descended fog. For some time we step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes, trying to disclose the secrets hiding below, although we know there’s nothing underneath. But when the mist itself unveils its secrets, no doubt we feel blessed; blessed by some of the most unimaginable creations that give wings to our imagination.

The morning of twenty second January had something like this to offer us. When I, along with two of my friends participated in a Bird Race Program (It’s not running with the birds or behind the birds. It’s all about counting the number of wonderful bird species in your vicinity.), which was organised by NYASS Trust, Dombivli.

The Sun was still sleeping beneath the layers of clouds, when we headed towards Nilje Gaon - a quiet village on the outskirts of Dombivli that houses local Agri community, a mix of cultivated & dry fallow land and a big marshy pond area, which is a breakfast point for a variety of bird species. The village was quiet and so were the birds; seemed everybody kept themselves in a sleeping mode. The silence too, was pronounced.


The region was bathed in a thin fog. But when I cleansed my eyesight, I realised that in between the stratum of fog, different family of waders were wandering; pecking some delicious catch of the day. Our first breakfast guests were a flock Purple Swamphen, dipped in purple colour the chicken sized bird displayed huge feet, bright plumage and red bill, who were having a gala time over the foggy pond.

Photo Courtesy: Flickr
As the time passed-by, the Sun decided to wake up, eventually letting us to revel in the sight of the wings flitting around and in the sky.

The second to join us were the ubiquitous Egret families, viz. the great, the cattle, the intermediate and the little ones, also joined by the Little Cormorant’s family drying its wings in between. It was a perfect chess board pattern. The Asian-pied Starling, Starling Myna, Ibis, White-Throated Kingfisher, Green Bee Eater, Rose-Ringed Parakeets, Black Kites, often gave us a guest appearance. The Swallows family never perched at one place; behaved as if they just exist to stay in the air. But the one that gave us a treat by their sight were the Purple and Grey Herons. Both majestic in their looks and flight patterns, they placed themselves strategically to catch their morning prey.

Photo Courtesy: Naresh Bhalla
When our eyeballs started gazing the big pond table, it kept on increasing in its size with surprises, as the table was huddled by Bronzed Winged Jacanas, Red-Wattled Lapwings, Black Drongos, Pond Herons, Lesser Whistling Ducks and finally paused at Spot-Billed Ducks, floating quietly in one corner of the pond, delighting their companionship. Indeed, a great breakfast moment.

Photo Courtesy: Naresh Bhalla
From there on we moved on to the Malang Gad Road. At first, the path displayed human encroachments shrouded with potholed roads. But as we went on, the real village aura started disclosing its magic; where Laughing Doves and Rufous-winged Bushlarks were relishing their brekky. A little ahead, the brown breasted, blue winged stocky bird - Indian Roller was keeping a watch on its catch while perching on an electric wire.

To complement our delightful experience was the Black Shouldered Kite. The red-eyed raptor with a black mark around its eyes kept wagging his squared tail, while perching on a tree nearby. As we were watching this awe-inspiring raptor, we realised that Common Kestral kept a watch on us and eventually flew-off towards the hills of Malang Gad. We followed him with a hope that we’ll get a closer look of another raptorial bird, but our effort went in vain. As it kept hovering amidst space for some moment and then just vanished beyond the power of our vision.

Photo Courtesy: Naresh Bhalla
After a short meal & a nap back at home, we all three converged again for a Hi-tea at Bhopar. Considered to be a perfect spot for birdwatchers, the village bordering the city of Dombivli is drastically changing its landscape by human settlement. Last year, I had a great chance of watching Oriental Doves and Pied Kingfisher catching its prey, which turned out to be one of those inexplicable moments; defying all words and expressions. This year too, we managed to come across Green Sandpiper, Ashy-Crowned Lark, Scaly Breasted Munia, Indian Magpie Robin and finally ending the day with a Common Kingfisher which is not so common.

While narrating this expedition, I know I’ve missed all those pretty bird families, who’ve made the concrete jungle their home. For some their presence is as good as not being present. But let me tell me you one thing, can we imagine a single day without their existence? Can we’ve mornings without their flight? Can we’ve breakfast without their tweedles?