I had visited Dahod Water Reservoir near Mandideep, Bhopal along with Dr Sangeeta Rajgir and Md Khalique of Bhopal Birds to watch Saras Crane in the month of May 2016.
We went there early in the morning. it was really a hot day. The reservoir was more or less dry with few patches of water in few places.
We came across this bird while ambling through the dry reservoir bed in search of Saras Crane.
I am seeing this bird for the first time in my life.
I read that the Oriental Pratincole catches its insect prey on the wing. It also feeds on the ground.
These birds are said to be birds of open country and are often seen near water.
These birds have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails. The back and head are brown. Its wings are brown with black flight feathers. The belly is white. The underwings are chestnut.
These Pratincoles are found in warmer parts of south and east Asia. Its breeding areas are said to be in North Pakistan, Kashmir and China.
It lays about 2–3 eggs on the ground. It migrates to, wintering in both India and Pakistan in winter.
I guess that the said specimen might have overstayed or stayed back for breeding as Oriental Pratincole is said to be winter visitor in India.
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