Shekha Bird Sanctuary Aligarh

Echo tourism spot inaugrated by Mrs Aditi Sharma, CF, Aligarh at Sheekha bird sanctuary on the occasion of World wetland Day 2023

Sheikha Jheel selected as "One District, One Distination" (ODOD) scheme.

International Yoga Day
Ganga Aarti at Ganga ghat,Sakra Atrauli range Aligarh

International Yoga Day
Yoga with Shri Ravendra Pal Singh Hon'able MLA Chharra at Shekha Lake, Aligarh

Uprooting of Water Hyacinth in Shekha Jheel.

World Environment Day Celebration.

INDIAN BUSHLARK:
A relatively lean-looking, pale brown bushlark with streaking on the upperparts and spots on the breast. The white eyebrow goes all the way around the ears and encloses the cheeks. Similar to other bushlarks, but it appears more slender and has a longer tail, longer legs, and a smaller bill. Some birds show a distinctive reddish tinge to the wings. It inhabits dry, open areas with rocks, scrub, and grassland. Calls include a pleasant mix of rising and descending whistles and series of trills.

INDIAN CUCKOO:
Sleek and slender gray-and-white cuckoo. Loud, far-carrying song is unique: four hooting notes, often likened to “onemore-boh-tul!” or “crossword-puh-zuhl.” Adult is similar in size and coloration to Oriental, Himalayan, and Common Cuckoos, but note dark eyes and darker back and wings. Juvenile patchy-looking, often showing a whitish crown and collar and white edging to the wing feathers. Favors forests, forest edges, and parklands. Lays its eggs in the nests of a wide range of birds, including magpies, shrikes, and drongos.

SPOTTED REDSHANK:
Elegant wader with a long fine bill and long reddish legs (dark on breeding adults). Striking breeding plumage dark overall. Nonbreeding plumage is paler and grayer than smaller and chunkier Common Redshank. In flight often appears dark overall with narrow white oval up middle of back. Breeds in arctic bogs and swamps; migrants occur in varied wetland habitats. Usually seen as singles or small groups, though will sometimes congregate in large flocks, especially on wintering grounds. Feeds mainly by wading in fairly deep water, probing and picking with its bill, at times swimming.

TAWNY EAGLE:
A medium-large, highly variable eagle that can range in overall color from whitish or creamy dull rufous to grayish-brown, and rarely dark brown. It has a moderately long gape line that stops at the center of the eye and slit-shaped nostrils. Legs are short and heavily feathered, with baggy “trousers.” Juveniles are generally paler than adults, while older immatures can have a dark hood and pale body. Mostly a bird of plains and open scrub; rarely seen over water, and avoids forests. Overall not as heavy looking as the Steppe Eagle, and never has a rich brown color tone.

ISABELLINE WHEATER:
A large pale wheatear. Gray-brown above with warm orangish tones on white underparts and a pale white eyebrow. Tail is predominantly black with white edges and it contrasts sharply with its snow-white rump. Somewhat similar in coloration to a toned-down female Northern Wheatear, but visibly larger, shorter-tailed, and longer-billed (all of which are accentuated by the typically tall, erect posture). Inhabits flat, open areas, often at middle to high elevations. Remarkable song has a tumbling quality that includes long ringing whistles, chattering, and imitations of other sounds in the surrounding environment. Calls include shorter whistles and hard “chak’s,” like rocks being struck together.

KENTISH PLOVER:
Small, pale plover with broken black collar, sandy upperparts, grayish legs, and rather fine black bill. Breeding plumage has black mask and black tabs at sides of breast (not a complete band). Nonbreeding plumages have black replaced by brown. Mainly coastal, on sandy beaches, dry mudflats, and at salt ponds, usually near water; also locally inland. Migrants will join with flocks of other shorebirds.

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW:
Brightly-colored swallow with a deeply forked tail, pale orangish rump, black squared-off undertail coverts, and an incomplete orange collar. Varies significantly across range: European and African birds have clean whitish or orangish underparts, while Asian birds are extensively streaked below; compare carefully with other “Cecropis” species where range overlaps occur. Juveniles average paler and lack extensive orangish tones; may resemble house-martins but note deeply forked tail. Typically glides on stiff, flat wings, flying quite languidly with shallow wingbeats. Builds mud nests in mountains, sea cliffs and on buildings and other structures. Forages over open areas. Frequently gives a short, sparrow-like “twi’wit.”

ASHY- CROWNED SPARROW LARK:
A small, stocky bird with a heavy, finch-like bill. Males have a gray head that contrasts with a black eye-stripe, and black on the collar, throat, and underparts. Females are pale brown with weak streaks on the head, back, and underparts. Similar to Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, but Ashy-crowned males are told apart by the gray on the head. Females are difficult to distinguish. Inhabits dry scrub, fields, and rocky country. The song is often given in display flight, and consists of monotone whistles interspersed with buzzy notes.

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK:
Fairly small, long-tailed hawk with broad, rounded wings (not pointed like kestrels). Soars occasionally, but more often seen in quick hunting flight chasing small birds, or perched quietly in shade. Note golden-yellow eyes, barred underparts (barring grayish on female, rusty on male). Juvenile brownish above through first year. Smaller and much less bulky than Northern Goshawk, and with horizontally barred instead of vertically striped underparts. Occurs in woodland, forest, farmland, and urban areas with hedges and wooded patches; sometimes hunts in gardens.

ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET:
Large and long-tailed green parakeet with a bright red beak. Female lacks male’s pink-and-black ring around the neck. Note the very long tail. Similar to significantly smaller Rose-ringed Parakeet; note Alexandrine’s dark red shoulder patches and larger bill. Raucous and loud; gives piercing screeches and screams. Found in both dry and wet forest, typically in lowlands but occasionally in foothills. Native to South and Southeast Asia, introduced to parts of Europe and Hong Kong.

BENGAL BUSHLARK:
Small, stocky brown terrestrial bird with a relatively short tail. Note stout bill with slightly downcurved upper edge; also streaky back, speckled chest, buffy-pale underparts, and rufous panel in the wing. May be confused with other bushlarks with which it overlaps in range; averages darker, with less contrast between upperparts and underparts. Inhabits open plains and fields, sometimes with scattered shrubs and bushes. Gives buzzy repetitive song in flight, on the ground, or from a perch.

SHORT-EARED OWL:
Medium-sized owl, more frequently seen in the daytime than other owls. Especially active around dawn and dusk, when it flies lazily over open fields or marshes in search of small mammals. Varies across a wide range, with Galapagos birds being the darkest. Brown overall, palest on belly, with streaks and spots on wings and chest. Large pale patch near the wingtips easily visible in flight. Rarely heard vocalizing away from breeding grounds, where it makes a low series of hoots and a variety of harsh barking noises.

BLACK BITTERN:
Medium-sized heron of forested and vegetated wetlands, ponds, and lakes. All ages and plumages have dark upperparts and orange, yellow, and reddish striping on the neck and breast. Female and immature average browner with weaker contrast than males. Typically hides and hunts in vegetation similar to other bitterns but occasionally perches visibly on trees and bushes.

WESTERN CROWNED WARBLER:
Distinctive leaf warbler with two wingbars, green upperparts often contrasting with the gray head and the striking white underparts, a distinct crown stripe, and a long pale bill. Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Breeds in the western and central Himalayas. Winters primarily in southern India. Only leaf warbler other than Tickell’s Leaf Warbler to regularly participate in mixed-species foraging flocks in southern India. Similar to Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, but is less yellow and can be distinguished by its paler crown, more elongated appearance, and song.

BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK:
A common, “small-billed” golden-backed woodpecker with four toes. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Associated with every lowland wooded habitat except dense tropical forest, it often follows degradation into higher elevations. Separated from all other flamebacks except Red-backed by dark throat, lack of a contrasting black horizontal stripe below the cheek, and four toes. Separated from Red-backed by golden back and black shoulder. Often detected by its loud “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki,” which steadily increases in pace and ends in a trill.

ASHY DRONGO:
A slim, medium-sized drongo with bright red eyes and gray plumage that is almost black in the western parts of its range and quite pale in the eastern parts of its range; eastern birds also often have an oval-shaped pale facial patch. It has a long slim tail with a deep fork. Common in wooded habitats where it sallies for insects and aggressively chases other birds that may compete for food or nectar. Most birds migrate south every winter. Similar to Black Drongo, but slimmer and usually in different habitats. Calls include harsh and sweet notes, and can mimic some bird species poorly.

EURASIAN WRYNECK:
Bizarre and unmistakable small gray woodpecker. Note broad black stripe down middle of crown and back. Cryptic plumage and sluggish habits make it easily overlooked. Favors open country with scattered trees, orchards, farmland; nests in tree cavities. Feeds mostly on the ground, probing with its long tongue for ants; hops with deliberate, rather jerky motions, often twitching its tail and turning its head. Song is a rising series of high, piercing notes, similar to that of a falcon.

ROSY PIPIT:
An elegant, well-marked pipit that breeds in montane regions,but descends down into meadows and agricultural fields in the winter. Breeding adult is unmistakable with a soft pink throat and breast. Nonbreeding adults and immature birds lack the pink breast, but have a thick creamy white brow and mustache stripe, as well as thick blotchy streaking on the breast. Buff-bellied and Red-throated Pipits are also strongly marked on the breast, but both have much weaker brow patterns than Rosy Pipit. Gives a squeaky “tseep!”. Sings repetitive high-pitched song from the ground and while in the air.

GREATER FLAMINGO:
Distributed from Africa and southern Europe through West Asia to South Asia. Very large, with long, "coat hanger" neck, big kinked bill, and very long pinkish legs. Plumage at rest whitish with pale pink blush and some deep pink often visible on closed wings. Flies with long neck and legs extended, when deep pink-and-black wing pattern striking.

BROWN-HEADED GULL:
The pale button eyes of this gull give it a somewhat fearsome appearance. Breeding adult’s head is the color of milk chocolate, lightening towards the bill. Non-breeding and first-winter birds have a dark ear patch and faint traces of the dark hood. All plumages may be confused with smaller Black-headed Gull, but note pale eyes and more extensive black on the primaries in all plumages. Breeds on high-altitude lakes on the Tibetan Plateau and winters on marshes, estuaries, lakes and rivers, most often in coastal areas.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE:
Medium-sized goose with extensive range across the Northern Hemisphere. On adults note bright orange legs, white face, and variable amount of black splotching on belly. Bill color varies from orange to pinkish. Immatures lack white face and black on belly and have duller orange legs and bill. Superficially similar to domestic barnyard geese but smaller without the enormous pot-bellied appearance of domestic birds. Bill color is helpful to separate from both species of Bean-Goose and Pink-footed Goose. Also compare with very similar Lesser White-fronted Goose in Europe and Asia, which is smaller and more compact, and has a stubby bill and yellow eyering. Breeds in tundra and taiga habitats; winters in fields, agricultural areas, and wetlands. Usually found in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of geese.

ROSY STARLING:
Adult is unique, a vision in glossy black and pale pink. Juvenile is brown with an orange bill. Breeds in colonies on steppes and winters in open and wooded habitats. Gathers in huge numbers to roost, often mixing with other species at roost sites. Flocking birds keep up a constant cacophony of dry chattering calls.

CRESTED LARK:
Separated from the range-restricted Thekla's Lark by longer bill with straight lower mandible and usually longer and spikier crest. Lots of variation in plumage color, which matches local soil types, but usually grayer and darker than Eurasian Skylark. Short tail and rust-tinged underwings obvious in flight. Found in dry areas with scarce vegetation, especially agricultural land and at roadsides. Song is an often magnificently long and highly impressive series of varied jumbled twitters, trills, warbles, and slurred notes. Often gives a plaintive “ch’wee.”

STRIATED GRASSBIRD:
Streaky brown bird of fields, scrubby edge, and dense thickets. This large but retiring warbler is most often seen as a flash of chestnut rump and long, trailing tail as it flushes from close proximity. Occasionally perches out into the open, sometimes even on telephone lines. Warm brown with black streaking all over; size, shape, and habitat distinguish this species from similarly-colored cisticolas, prinias, and babblers. Song usually starts off with a few sharp introductory notes, then descends into jumbled, rich warbling. Gives “piht” calls, often repetitively.