Bird Watching in Uttarakhand India

The swamp at Asan Barrage, is located close to the convergence of two recurrent rivers Asan
and Yamuna. The lake attracts a quite large amount of waterfowl, both waders and divers.
The birds listed as worldwide endangered species and in the IUCN Red Data Book have been
observed at Asan. Though it may not be outsized, the absolute plenty of Avi fauna makes
it a perfect place for bird lovers, Ornithologists and Naturalists alike, who can take a trip
easily up to the site, and see thousands of birds who have traveled miles to be there.
To watch a mallard or a red crested pochard, gently swimming a few hundred
yards in wilderness is to be sure a memorable sight.

Asan Barrage serves as a winter passageway for trans-Himalayan migratory
birds. These birds are marked here on their way to southern India
(October-November) and again on their way back (late February-March).
By the end of October the Asan witnesses the arrival of migrants from Pale
arctic region. The first to arrive is the shoveller followed by ruddy shelduck,
mallard, coot, cormorant, egrets, wagtails, pond heron to name a few.

Birds of prey like pallas fishing eagle, marsh harrier, greater spotted eagle,
osprey and steppe eagle include to this grand diversity. Asan has the privilege
of hosting a more than thirty year old nesting site of the Pallas Fishing Eagle, which it reconstructs every winter. While, rest of the year this nest is shared by other birds of prey. During winter months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the following 11 migratory species, namely brahminy duck, pintail, red crested pochard, gadwall, common pochard, mallard, coot, wigeon, common teal, tufted duck, shoveller.

Winters might be the most exciting season for the bird lovers, but for the serious birdwatcher the other months of the year (early May to September end) offer just as exhilarating opportunities to see local migrants like painted stork, open billed stork, night heron. A flock of 25- 40 painted storks can be seen in these months every year.

Facts
The Asan lake is a small man-made wetland of 4 sq km area, situated 40 km west of Dehradun, on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it is situated between latitude 30° 24’-30° 28’ N and longitude 77° 40’-77° 44’ E, near the meeting of the rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is 287.5 m long, the river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum and maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m.

The Asan lake exists throughout the year and is fed from the river Asan and the discharge channel of Yamuna through Dhalipur power house. While the water level is controlled, it often goes down, and wet islands in the middle become visible, attracting a variety of marsh-loving birds like egrets, herons and lapwings etc.

Climate
North Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.

Temp :
Summers : max.38° C, min. 14° C;
Winters : max. 21° C, min. 2° C;
Average Rainfall : 250 cm;

Monsoons during June to September.