Exciting news has once again emerged from Uttarakhand‘s renowned Corbett landscape. After a long gap of nearly seven years, the rare migratory waterfowl, the Common Shelduck, has been sighted. This significant observation was made in January 2026 at the Tumaria Reservoir, a major water body in the Terai region that serves as a safe haven for hundreds of resident and migratory birds every year.
This bird was sighted during a waterfowl monitoring program conducted by Magpie Corbett. The team observed the Common Shelduck feeding and resting along the reservoir’s edge, alongside a large flock of Ruddy Shelducks. Its identification was confirmed based on its distinctive white body, iridescent dark green head, and red bill base. Clear photographs of the bird were also captured by the team, making this record even more significant.
The Common Shelduck is a migratory waterfowl that typically migrates to India from Europe and Central Asia during the winter months. While there are older records of its presence in the Corbett region, it had not been sighted for several years. Therefore, its return is considered a very positive sign for biodiversity.
During this monitoring program, the team also witnessed other rare and notable sights. Bird experts sighted a Short-eared Owl and also observed Indian Spot-billed Ducks breeding. The ducks were seen with their chicks. It is generally uncommon to see them with chicks at this time of year.
Several bird enthusiasts and experts participated in this bird-watching expedition, including Dipankar Khulbe, Rahul Rautela, Shikha Pandey, Anant Erickson, Samiksha Manral, Deepak Pandey, Jason Coutinho, Sagar Balmiki, Shubham Phulara, and Jagrita Bhatt.
The team stated that these observations highlight the ecological importance of the Tumaria Reservoir and underscore the crucial need for continued conservation efforts, regular monitoring, and protection of natural habitats for migratory birds.
