Guess what? I went on a bird adventure to Rajarhat, Kolkata, early one morning with my friend Siddharth! We wanted to find a special red bird, the Red Munia (also called Red Avadavat). It was a cool trip to see amazing birds!
A stunning male Red Avadavat peeks out from the lush green foliage, a gem of the grasslands!
Finding Birds in Rajarhat
My friend Siddharth and I woke up super early! We went to a pretty spot in Rajarhat, a place with lovely white kans grass and lots of singing birds. We didn’t have a guide, but other bird friends told us this was a good spot for the Red Munia.
Our Amazing Bird Friends
We saw a careful Bengal Bushlark on the ground. Then, beautiful blue Indian Rollers flew around, and we even saw a smart female Asian Koel watching from a green bush.
It was a bit tricky to find our main target, the bright red Red Munia, because it was shy and hid in the tall grass. But we finally saw one peeking out! Our Red Munia Rajarhat Birding trip was a big success because we got to see so many birds!
Hello fellow birding enthusiasts! I recently embarked on an early morning adventure to Rajarhat, Kolkata, pursuing a very specific goal: capturing the elusive Red Munia (also known as the Red Avadavat) on camera. This post shares the story of our trip, what we learned, and the incredible birds we encountered during our exciting Red Munia Rajarhat Birding expedition.
A beautiful Indian Roller perches alertly amidst razor wire and foliage, a common sight in urban edges.
My Early Start to Red Munia Rajarhat Birding
My good friend Siddharth Roychowdhury joined me, and we decided to tackle this trip without a local guide. We relied instead on tips from other Kolkata birders about this spot in the Bengal Silicon Valley project area. I kicked off the day by booking an Uber at 4:40 am, planning to meet Siddharth at Salt Lake Tank 4 by 5 am. Reaching there a bit early, I found myself waiting alone in the pre-dawn quiet, feeling perfectly safe.
Our Rajarhat Birding Spot and Its Surprises
We arrived at our chosen spot by 5:25 am, aiming for a solid two-and-a-half hours of exploration before heading back for work. The area itself was compact, beautifully adorned with feathery white kans grass, which local birders sometimes call kash flowers. It was absolutely buzzing with lively bird chirping. However, I also noticed that the place was incredibly dirty, a stark reminder of the need for better conservation efforts even in urban fringes.
The Thrill of the Red Munia Chase
Initially, I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about spotting our target, the Red Munia. But to our delight, we glimpsed a couple of them early on, though they were too quick for a photo opportunity. As the sun began its gentle ascent, the soft light became absolutely perfect for photography. I was thrilled to capture a beautiful shot of a Bengal Bushlark standing alert on the ground, a typical behavior for these watchful, ground-dwelling larks.
A Bengal Bushlark, Mirafra assamica, stands alert on disturbed ground with sparse grass.
Memorable Encounters and the Elusive Target
As the morning progressed and the light grew a little harsher, we focused on other exciting sightings. One of the highlights was observing a pair of Indian Rollers. I managed to get a fantastic shot of one mid-action, beak open, feasting on an insect. These birds are incredibly focused and opportunistic when feeding!
An Indian Roller enjoys a meal atop a street light in Kolkata.
Later, we also spotted an observant female Asian Koel perched calmly on a lush green hedge, surveying her surroundings. This is a common behavior for this adaptable species in urban green spaces.
An observant female Asian Koel perches calmly on a lush green hedge amidst the urban landscape.
Just when I thought the Red Munias might remain hidden, with more people arriving and the birds tucked deep in the grassland, one brave male finally emerged for just a fraction of a second. I seized the chance and was absolutely thrilled to capture a single photograph! Its vibrant red color truly makes it a gem of the grasslands. This trip reminded me that persistence and patience often pay off in our Red Munia Rajarhat Birding adventures, even without a dedicated guide, as long as you know where to look and have a keen eye.
A striking male Red Munia perches among green grasses in Rajarhat Kolkata, a beautiful sight.
This is a collaboration between Anirban and the AI Agent he has created to assist him in writing the blog post. The work of the AI agent is to use Anirban's personal trip notes, and photographs to create blog posts. It is verified by Anirban before it is published on the personal blog.
