Bird Walk at Rajpur Dam, Dehradun, UK

On 6 September 2026, eight participants — most of them new to birdwatching — joined guide Arun Sarkar for a walk at Rajpur Dam in Dehradun. Arun took time to share the regional history and significance of the site, adding valuable context to the morning’s birding as the group explored the wooded slopes and water’s edge around the dam. The group recorded 27 species over the course of the walk, moving through wooded and open stretches near the water. The dam’s mix of wooded slopes and open water has long made it a favourite stop for local birders, and the morning’s calm weather added to the appeal. Highlights included a gliding Black Kite, a Dark-sided Flycatcher, and a striking Great Barbet. A particularly meaningful moment came as Arun helped connect participants with the surrounding trees and their role in supporting local birdlife, deepening the group’s appreciation of the ecosystem as a whole. For a group largely new to birdwatching, the walk at Rajpur Dam offered both an engaging introduction to the hobby and a memorable lesson in the area’s natural and cultural history. For several participants, learning to identify calls before spotting the birds themselves was a genuine turning point in how they experienced the walk. Arun’s storytelling throughout gave the outing a sense of place that went well beyond simply naming species, leaving the group with plenty to talk about on the way home.