Monsoon Bird Walk at Surajpur Bird Sanctuary: A Wetland Paradise
Trip Report: Delhi Earth Walk – Rain Songs & Bird Calls
Date:10th August 2025
Venue: Surajpur Bird Sanctuary Outskirts, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Walk Leader: Deepak Kumar
Participants: 8 Adults
On 10th August 2025, the week’s Delhi Earth Walk took us to the scenic outskirts of Surajpur Bird Sanctuary, located in Greater Noida. The theme for the morning, Rain Songs & Bird Calls, perfectly matched the monsoon atmosphere, with the lush wetlands and surrounding fields alive with seasonal activity.
The walk was led by Deepak Kumar, a passionate bird guide with deep expertise in avian life, habitats, and conservation. Having grown up amidst Delhi’s natural ecosystems, Deepak brings both scientific knowledge and engaging storytelling to his walks, inspiring participants to connect with nature more deeply.
Start of the Walk:
Participants assembled at 6:45 AM at the sanctuary gate, the scheduled reporting time. Following a short introduction to the habitat of Surajpur and an update on the upcoming Global Wildlife Fair (10–12 October, Constitution Club of India, Delhi), we began our walk at 7:00 AM.
Our very first welcome came from a Plain Prinia, soon joined by other early sightings like Ashy Prinia, Black-breasted Weaver (Bengal Weaver), Brown Rock Chat, Tricoloured Munia (Black-headed Munia), Indian Thick-knee, and the star bird of the day—the Bristled Grassbird, a notable monsoon migrant for this region.
By the end of the walk, we had recorded an impressive 56 bird species (full list below).
Walk Highlights & Learnings:
Deepak Kumar enriched the experience with detailed explanations about migration patterns, breeding behavior, habitat preferences, and ecological roles of the birds we observed.
A special highlight was the sighting of an Isabelline Shrike—remarkably early for the season, as this species typically arrives in the region only by September.
Our exploration also included sightings beyond birds:
Butterflies: Plain Tiger, Peacock Pansy, Danaid Eggfly, Cabbage White, Grass Yellow, Common Emigrant, and more
Other Fauna: Various bugs, dragonflies, and spiders
Memorable Moments: Spotting a Golden Jackal and watching a Signature Spider finish its breakfast with Jewel Bugs.
Closing:
The walk concluded at 9:15 AM with participants leaving not only with a checklist of species but also with a deeper appreciation for the complex web of life in the Surajpur wetlands. The session offered valuable insights into the monsoon ecology of the area and proved especially rewarding for those keen to observe seasonal bird movements.
Bird Species Recorded (56)
- Lesser Whistling-Duck
- Indian Peafowl
- Grey Francolin
- Black Francolin
- Feral Pigeon
- Collared Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Greater Coucal
- Asian Koel
- White-breasted Waterhen
- Indian Thick-knee
- Red-wattled Lapwing
- Barred Buttonquail
- Little Cormorant
- Glossy Ibis
- Black-headed Ibis
- Red-naped Ibis
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Little Egret
- Indian Pond Heron
- Eastern Cattle Egret
- Great White Egret
- Medium Egret
- Grey Heron
- Purple Heron
- Shikra
- Asian Green Bee-eater
- White-throated Kingfisher
- Coppersmith Barbet
- Alexandrine Parakeet
- Ring-necked Parakeet
- Black Drongo
- Rufous Treepie
- Common Tailorbird
- Yellow-bellied Prinia
- Ashy Prinia
- Plain Prinia
- Zitting Cisticola
- Bristled Grassbird
- Wire-tailed Swallow
- Red-whiskered Bulbul
- Red-vented Bulbul
- Striated Babbler
- Indian Pied Starling
- Bank Myna
- Indian Robin
- Oriental Magpie-Robin
- Pied Bushchat
- Brown Rock Chat
- Purple Sunbird
- Black-breasted Weaver
- Baya Weaver
- Indian Silverbill
- Scaly-breasted Munia
- Tricoloured Munia
- Red Avadavat