Vadodara: In a rare sighting, a steppe eagle was seen recently at the Timbi Lake on the outskirts of the city by two birders. This eagle is usually seen in the Kutch region, but not many birders have spotted it in the central Gujarat region. "We were looking for some other birds when our eyes fell on the steppe eagle.
Initially, we thought that it was a greater spotted eagle. But as we got closer, we realised that it was a steppe eagle," said Rachit Shah, who photographed it along with Ravi Kelkar. "Unlike some other eagles, this eagle wasn't spotted much at the Timbi Lake," Shah told TOI.
Usually seen near wetlands during winters, the steppe eagle is believed to be a solitary bird that is seen in groups during the migratory season. It survives on small birds, reptiles and frogs. The Timbi Lake has become one of the favourite jaunts for the birders in the city as rare and exotic birds have been spotted here for the last few years.
A few days ago, a Laggar falcon was spotted for the first time near this lake by another birder, Rajvi Parikh. The Timbi Lake provides an ideal environment for the birds to roost, and hence it attracts the raptors too. It's an irrigation pond, but the locals ensure that the birds aren't disturbed during the migratory season.
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