Falcated Duck & Collared Pratincole: Valley’s bird photographer captures historic record of rarely sighted birds

Srinagar, Oct 27: A Kashmiri bird photographer, Reyan Sofi, has made an extraordinary discovery in the wetlands of Kashmir, capturing images of two rarely sighted birds: the Falcated Duck and the Collared Pratincole. This marks the first documented sightings of these species in the region, and Sofi’s findings have been published in *Indian Birds*, a prominent bi-monthly ornithology journal.
The Falcated Duck (Mareca falcate) is typically found in eastern Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, and the Kuril Islands, migrating to southern Japan, Korea, eastern China, northern Vietnam, Myanmar, and India during the winter months. Sofi noted that the species is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to significant population declines in China, primarily from hunting.
Sofi recounted his initial encounter on February 15, 2023, while birdwatching at Hokersar Wetland near Zainakote, Srinagar. He observed an unfamiliar duck with a greenish head, white throat, and greyish body, along with elongated black and grey tertials and a yellowish patch bordered by black at the rear. Although he was unable to capture clear images as the duck remained distant from the shore, he managed to spot it again on February 17 and 25. Additionally, a male Falcated Duck was observed on March 13 in Wular Lake, Bandipora District, but it remains unclear if it was the same individual.
The Falcated Duck has not been previously reported in Jammu and Kashmir, making this sighting particularly significant for the region’s ornithological records. In India, the species is primarily found in the northern plains of Punjab and Haryana, the Assam Valley, and parts of southern West Bengal and western Gujarat, but it is rare in the western regions.
In another exciting find, on May 8, while birding in Hokersar, Sofi discovered a flock of Red-wattled Lapwings. Upon closer examination of his photographs, he was delighted to spot a Collared Pratincole among them. Although his initial images were unclear, he returned the following day to capture clearer photographs. Subsequent research confirmed that this is the first documented sighting of the Collared Pratincole in Jammu and Kashmir, as verified by ebird reviewers.