Birding trip to Sultanpur and Basai Wetlands

What this tour is about: Two hours drive from Delhi is Sultanpur National Park, a beautiful expanse of marshy wilderness that is home to a huge variety of avian life.

There are about 250 species of birds in Sultanpur, out of which around 100 are migratory. These include the Bar-headed Goose, Sarus Crane, Arctic Tern, Flamingo, Rosy Pelican, Mallard, Plover, Ruddy Shelduck, Demoiselle Crane, Shoveller, Grey Lag, Teal, Pochard and Gadwall.

Some of the permanent residents of Sultanpur are the Common Hoopoe, Paddyfield Pipit, Purple Sunbird, little cormorant, Eurasian Thick-knee, Francolin, Indian Roller, Spot billed Duck, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Black headed Ibis, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Crested Lark, Red vented Bulbul, Rose ringed Parakeet, Red/Yellow wattled Lapwing, Shikra, Eurasian collared Dove, Red collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Owlet, Rock Pigeon, Magpie Robin, Greater Coucal, Weaver Bird, Mynah, and Green Bee Eater.

On the way to Sultanpur are the Basai wetlands, also a great birding destination. We will stop at Basai for an hour and tour the fields on foot.

How this tour works: We will pick you up at 6 am and drive 1.5 hours to Basai, to spend a rewarding hour or so among the water-logged fields. From Basai there is a 30-minute drive to Sultanpur National Park. We will stop for breakfast at the Rosy Pelican government tourist complex at Sultanpur; after which we will walk around the lake to continue our birding. We will provide a knowledgeable birder who will act as your guide.

The actual time spent at both Basai and Sutanpur depends on the quality of sightings, and the extent of photography that you wish to do. If you would like to stay longer, lunch can be had at the Rosy Pelican. If you do not fancy eating at the Rosy Pelican, you could also ask your hotel to pack you food for the day.

Best time to visit: Oct-March (i.e, after the monsoon and before summer)

What to bring: Field guide, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent

Tour Start: From your hotel at 6:00 a.m.

Tour End: At your hotel; end-time varies depending on sighting; but the day is usually not more than 8 hours long.