Image credit to nature guide, Rachit Singh
Keoladeo National Park | November 14, 2017.
The Great bittern (Botaurus stelleris) was spotted by nature guide, Rachit Singh on 11 November, 2017 in Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. Authorities and sighting records suggested that it is one of the rare birds and sighted almost after 14-15 years back at Keoladeo National Park.
The bird, Great bittern is also known Eurasian bittern, it is a wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. The Eurasian bittern species is distributed in Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Great bittern species are large birds, the male is larger than the female. The male measures 65 to 80 cm in length and weighs 750 to 2,050 grams. The female bittern weighs near about 650 to 1,150 grams. The wingspan of it is 125 to 135 cm. These bittern species have bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars.
Image credit to nature guide, Rachit Singh
Habitat
The Great bittern species usually prefer water bodies with thick fringe vegetation, especially reed beds. They inhabit marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, estuaries, delta marshes, rice fields and flooded grasslands.
These type of bittern species are active in the morning and dusk, feeding on insects, frogs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, snakes, lizards, birds, nestlings and small mammals.
Breeding
The Great bittern species breeding season is from March to July and the males are polygamous. The nests are built on reed beds. The nest may contain 4 to 5 eggs.
Many congratulations to Rachit ji for recording it and sharing. Indeed its great news."
Reference : News sources from Nature guide, Rachit Singh, Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
Navin Kumar on Nov 20, 2017
Last year i also sighted at Bharatpur in Nov. I have many snaps. Posted on Santuary Asia. So it is wrong claimed that it is sighted after 14 years.
Jaideep Singh Rawajat on Nov 16, 2017
Rachit ji great job, congratulation !
Nihal Singh on Nov 15, 2017
Great news from Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. Many many congratulations to Rachit ji, Great gob!
Shard Sharma on Nov 14, 2017
Its really wonderful news from Keoladeo National Park ! Thank Many-many congratulations to Rachit ji for recording it and sharing