Nashik: A Mumbai-based bird watcher, Ronit Dutta, recently spotted five birds who visited the Nandur Madhyameshwar Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time.According to BNHS, some of the birds have been spotted for the first time in the state. The five birds that were sighted are White-tailed eagle, Moustached Warbler, Rosy Pipit, Water Rail and White Tailed Lapwing.Dutta came to the sanctuary with other bird watchers to get a glimpse of the rare White Tailed Eagle and stumbled upon two other rare birds. He was accompanied by assistant director centre for environment education Raju Kasambe who is also part of India Bird Conservation Network and BNHS.Kasambe had also spotted some rare birds prior to his visit with Dutta. “I had come to see the White Tailed Eagle and spotted rarities like the Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) and the Rosy Pipit (Anthus roseatus). Both these birds are mainly seen in Northern regions of India and have been recorded for the first time in Maharashtra. I have got confirmation of this from BNHS. The birds were sighted near the fourth and second watch towers of the sanctuary,” Dutta said.Describing the Moustached Warbler, he said that it is a small brown bird that is usually seen in the northern regions of India while the Rosy Pipit is a member of the family Motacillidae and is usually found around water bodies in the north.“The birds are usually found in reeds and shrubs near water bodies and swamp habitats. But due to lack of water and severe drought in northern regions, the birds are moving to favourable habitats in south,” he said.Kasambe, while confirming Dutta’s sighting, said he was on the spot with the group of birders.“We saw four Moustached Warblers on January 26 and January 27. It is a very rare bird in Maharashtra. In fact, it could be the first record in the state. I have also spotted one Water Rail Bird that is a first in Nandur Madhyameshwar. On January 19 and 20, the BNHS team found another rare bird in Maharashtra — White Tailed Eagle. It is a juvenile eagle. We also spotted White Tailed Lapwing which is again a first for Nandur Madhyameshwar. Rosy Pipit is also a rare bird,” Kasambe said.He added that bird watchers from Pune and Mumbai are flocking the sanctuary to see these rare birds.

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