Thank you Colonel!

This winter I have been fortunate enough to see Sykes's nightjar for the first time. The first was a real surprise as it was found in dry agricultural land outside the park gate at Ranthambhore NP (Rajastan), at a site where I have spent many hours spot-lighting in the past. This photo was taken at a more reliable site in the Little Rann of Kutch in February.

BTW Sykes's was a Colonel in the Bombay Army in the 19th Century. You could tell he was a birder because his first job was to lay siege to Bharatpur in 1805! He described over 50 species from India but the best bird to carry his name is without a doubt the nightjar. Birders who have found rama booted warblers in the UK may beg to differ.