Kolkata: A rare wader, the Asian dowitcher, has been recorded in Bengal for the first time, with birders photographing the elusive migratory species at a bheri near Gopalpur in Haroa, North 24 Parganas, recently. The sighting has generated considerable interest among birdwatchers, as the species — considered ‘near-threatened’ on IUCN Red List — is rarely recorded along India’s eastern coastline.The bird was spotted at a bheri where the water has almost dried up, amid a mixed flock of waders, including marsh sandpipers, common greenshanks, spotted redshanks, pied avocets, little stints and wood sandpipers.Birder Sujoy Mondal, who was there along with fellow birders Arnab Ray, Saikat De and Tirthankar Saha, said the dowitcher was initially noticed among a flock of marsh sandpipers on Nov 6. “It was among a group of marsh sandpipers. The flock remained in the water for barely a couple of minutes. The dowitcher was with them and flew away along with the flock,” he said.The photograph was taken in an area adjoining Gopalpur, under Haroa PS limits. The record is particularly significant because, although the Asian dowitcher is a known winter visitor and passage migrant to parts of South and Southeast Asia, sightings along India’s eastern seaboard remain uncommon.“Though a winter visitor to India, the species is not commonly found everywhere. With a global wild population estimated at 25,000-30,000, both the bird and its sighting at Haroa are significant. The bheri offers the kind of habitat it needs, similar to coastal mudflats along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which they use for medium- to long-range migration. Such wetlands must be conserved to protect these migratory birds,” said Santanab Majumdar of Birdwatchers’ Society (BWS).The Asian dowitcher breeds in freshwater wetlands across the Siberian steppe, Mongolia and northeastern China. It migrates southwards during winter, travelling to parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Java and Sumatra, with its range extending as far as Australia.Measuring around 33-36 cm, the bird is a relatively large, chunky wader with a long, distinctive bill. Its appearance at Haroa adds an important record to Bengal’s birding history and underlines the significance of the state’s wetlands as stopover habitats for migratory birds.“Flamingos were earlier recorded in similar bheris at Basirhat’s Andulpota in 2020 and 2021. This belt is an important birding zone that needs regular monitoring and public awareness,” said Kanad Baidya of BWS.
