Indian Pitta: Sighting a Rarity(Brambling) in Region

From 2017 , I used to have lot of conversations about Birds of Himachal with my friend Piyush Dogra, who is natively from Dharamshala. So as the plans we use to make with him to see the prime rarities Chaffinch, Common Wood Pigeons and Bramblings around Dharamshala. Finally we could make one plan in Nov-2021 to experience birdwatchin in Dharamshala and surrondings. Though the trip was really good we could see 500-600 Common Wood Pigeon flocks, Chaffinches (Male & Female ) but we had hard luck with Bramblings since they have not arrived yet.

In February I again thought of visiting Dharamshala but could do it so Brambling was still remaining on the list. In last week of February I made plan to visit Kashmir since it was hotspot due to sighting of Eversman's Redstart , Orange Bullfinches, Yellohammer ,Tawny Owl and Long-Eared Owls. Kashmir is another place to see Bramblings in huge numbers . I was able to see this beauty in huge multiple flocks of 50-60 along with Pine Buntings and Yellow Hammer. Basically my target for seeing Brambling was done.

On 14-March morning, I got a call from Kavi Nanda brambling is seen and photographed in Bhondsi Nature Park. I opened my rare-bird alert and checked the Ebird list. I could see a Birder Shivani Sharma has posted this on Ebird. I was able to find her number in Okhla Whatsapp group and contacted her. Came to know during conversation she saw this along with Arushi and Rajagopala. She tried to explain me the directions in best possible way , but since it was her first time so she refered me to Rajagopala. Later in evening I contacted him and got the idea about the location of Brambling. Post getting location me and Kavi made the plan , Nitu S was going to join along with Pankaj G . Since it was working day Kavi told he will return at 8 AM and i could stay till 9 AM.

15-Mar-2022

So the time to reach Bhondsi was 6 AM, but I reached at 5:40 AM in parking. It was quite dark and I

was waiting for Kavi to come so that we can start. He came along with Pankaj and Aditya at 5:55 AM and we start towards Pond Trail at 6:00 AM .Kavi suggested to split up he takes the upper trail with Aditya while myself and Pankaj took the lower trail by the Pond.

We took one round till the end and starting coming back while I got a call from Kavi, telling he has seen Fire-Capped Tits here if you want you can come and see. Bhondsi is hotspot for seeing Fire-Capped Tits in reverse migration from last couple of years. We went towards Kavi and heard Fire-Capped Tits calling and then he decided to go to other side since myself and Pankaj are going to be here at this point.

After 15 Minutes, I told Pankaj "Sir woh rahi Brambling" He said kahan and I told "Wahan" . I was able to see it naked eyes so as he.It was on dried Amla tree and in quite bad light. I clicked 2 record shots, I called Kavi and asked him to come asap. While I clicked few more pictures it flew and sat on another Amla tree behind adjacent to Bougainvillea. Kavi came totally out of breath and told him to look their. He got glimpse of it through Binocs but a Jungle Babbler spoiled the party and it flew.

Kavi went back , myself , Pankaj along with Pritpal and Pushpreet scanned the area for around 1 hour but we could't find it again.

In evening a group went but they couldn't sight it. Still myself, Kavi,Aditya and Hemand decided to go back tommorow and check it out.

16-Mar-2022

This day we reached Parking at 6:45 AM, quite a good day a bit less hot than yesterday. I met Pia she was already their and at 7 AM we started walking towards the point where we sighted yesterday.

Yesterday night I was checking pics of Orange Bullfinch feeding on Wuzia seeds before sleeping .

After reaching the Amla tree(where I spotted yesterday) people were waiting their while I continue moving ahead towards the closed gate looking around. While I was scanning the area, My eyes got stuck at Indian elm Tree (also known as Jungle Cork/Papdi/ Kanju / chilbil) , it was giving me apperance of same Wuzia seeds and I was imagining Orange Bullfinch eating them and suddenly I saw Orange bird their and I told Kavi it's a Brambling . One more thought came in mind which suggested it to be Small Minivet since that is also Orange in color. I picked my Binocs and checked to confirm and it was Brambling.

I called Kavi, Hemant, Aditya and whole group for it. I got couple of shots and then helped others . It stayed in vicinity for 40-50 minutes circling all above us . Everyone got good shots and views of it. Fighting with Bulbuls it flew away after sometime. It was beautiful to see this amazing bird and lot of smiling faces .

After sometime we decided to walk other side and look for Ultramarine Flycatcher , but we could see Brambling drinking water in the Waterhole. So it is same behaviour which I noticed in Kashmir also. They feed on the ground, have water and then sit on the trees. Right side pic has Indian Elm tree where I sighted it for first time.

This was the amazing experience I had sighing it couple of times in the field . Also, sincere thanks to Shivani S, Arushi and Rajagopala for reporting this on time and sharing the information of the location. Otherwise it couldn't have been possible.

The behaviour I noticed Brambling is high altitude bird, even in Dharamshala we get to see when their is snowfall above but usually sighted in huge numbers in Kashmir. It is highly active in mornings and feeds on the ground along with Pine Buntings and Yellow Hammers. In sunlight they are not active , rests on the tall trees along with Pine Buntings and Yellow Hammers in huge flocks. Here in Bhondsi we could see it quite active during 7:15 AM to 8 AM . On second day we found it around waterhole and then it flew away.

Some of the pictures of this rariry in Bhondsi Forest.