Srinagar, Dec 24: In a significant environmental development a Black-necked Grebe was sighted for the first time at valley’s Hokersar wetland, a Ramsar site, marking the confirmed record of the documenting of Grebe from Jammu and Kashmir.
This discovery by bird photographer Reyan Sofi holds immense significance while the sighting of the bird was published on Monday in Indian Birds, a prominent bi-monthly ornithology journal/newsletter.
Black-necked Grebe is a small gregarious species having a wide distribution from Europe through Asia, wintering in the southwestern Palearctic, east Asia, and east Africa. It has also been found breeding in southern Africa, southwest Canada, western USA, and central Mexico.
Reyan said in India its breeding has been reported from the Union Territory of Ladakh. It winters in western Gangetic Plains, Gujarat, and central Nepal and it is a straggler east to eastern Assam Valley and Bangladesh, south to coastal Orissa and Pune, Maharashtra.
“Here, I along with Ansar Ahmad reported the sighting of a Black-necked Grebe from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The bird was sighted at Hokersar wetland, a perennial protected wetland reserve and a Ramsar site 10 km northwest of Srinagar city in J&K,” mentioned the Indian Birds.
Reyan said that there were reports of sightings of Black-necked Grebe along with common Coots Fulica in the month of March this year however the same was not confirmed. “The bird was in basic plumage and identified based on bright red iris, black top of the head and mantle, neck black on back and grey on front, white breast, rump, and belly,” he said.
Reyan said that the bird was shy and it was not seen again in the subsequent visits to the place. The species was believed to be seen next year on 06 March 2023 at the same place but it was not confirmed.
“It was observed for the next couple of days, after which it was not seen again. Ward No (1907) reported the bird as doubtful for Kashmir. Our sighting is reportedly the first confirmed record from J&K,” he said.
In the surrounding regions, the species has been reported from the Union Territory of Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan (eBird 2023).
