Well, this is something you don’t see every day, is it? Birds have a way of springing surprises on us, and this time it’s the birdwatchers near Warangal who’ve hit the jackpot. A group of eagle-eyed birdwatching enthusiasts from Telangana have spotted something quite extraordinary – an African-Mediterranean wader bird, the Spur-winged lapwing, at Ammavaripet Lake.

Now, get this – it’s the first time this bird, Vanellus spinosus for those who fancy the scientific names, has been spotted in India. Right there near Bhattupalle village. It’s got the twitchers in a right flap, and no mistake. This little traveller, usually at home in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean regions, has never before graced the sub-continent with its presence.

What’s more, it’s not just any bird we’re talking about. This one’s a bit of a standout, with physical features, a call, and a flight mode that set it apart from the more familiar river lapwing. And yes, the experts have given the sighting their seal of approval, so no squabbling there.

It’s a curious case indeed, especially considering it’s not the usual time of year we’d see winter migratory birds around the lakes of Warangal. The Deccan Birders and the Hyderabad Birding Pals are on it, planning a study to get to the bottom of this unusual phenomenon.

And it’s all part of the Hyderabad Bird Race – a 12-hour bird-watching marathon, if you will, organized by the Deccan Birders and HSBC. Teams of birding buffs scouring the skies and, lo and behold, a total of 130 avian species were spotted. But here’s the kicker – Team Rollers, sharp as tacks, clocked up the maximum with 120 species. Not a bad day’s work, ey?

This just goes to show, birds – they’ll always have the last word in unpredictability.