Bhigwan Bird watching trip
For a long time I wished to visit some bird sanctuary and fortunately
couple of days before I got message from Bhavesh Rathod about Bhigwan Trip
and without any hesitation I said yes to Bhigwan
trip . So Myself, Bhavesh Rathod, Kuldeep Chaudhri, Prashant patil, sunil &
Dr Rupali kadam decided to bird watch around Bhigwan on 22th Feb’2014 (Thank you very much guys). This was my first major
birding trip and that too with knowledgeable and avid birders.
About Bhigwan Bird sanctuary:
Bhigwan is a small town around 100 kms away from Pune and
is also referred to as the “Bharatpur of Maharashtra”, as it becomes a hotbed
of migratory birds during the winter. Bhigwan is at one end of the huge Yashwant
Sagar reservoir, forming the backwaters of the Ujain dam. One of the main
attractions during the migratory season is the arrival of the pink greater flamingos. During the months of
early jan – late feb, this place is paradise for bird lovers from all over
Maharashtra.
As we had to cover 4-5 hours of total journey so we decided to
leave Mumbai by Friday 10-10.30 PM and reach Bhigwan by 4 am Saturday
so that we could start bird watching at early morning and we managed to leave on time
:). In that 5 hours journey we were continuously taking about the birds ,birds
and bird . It was
very useful warm-up session for me . After 5 hours of long
journey we reached to Bhigwan at 4 am . At the entrance of
village Kumbhargaon we saw address of the place where we are going to stay for next 2 days . Sandeep
Nagare is the house owner, local Bird Watcher/ Guide who gives nice local food,
shelter and boats on very reasonable cost. After 2 hours of power nap we got up at6 am morning
, refreshed up and started first session of bird watching .
Frist day Kumbhargaon :- Our frist boat ride stated around 7.00
am . The morning was misty and chilly with good light.
Yellow-wattled Lapwing
With the hope of
seeing lots of birds our boat sailed, we started spotting many wetland birds like
Gulls, Glossy Ibis, Black headed Ibis, Asian Open bill Stork, purple herons,
River Tern, Painted Stork etc.
Grey Heron
Black headed Ibis ,Open Billed Stork, Black winged Stilt and glossy ibis
Three Idiots - Black Headed Ibis
Little Egret
It is always a treat to watch these beauties at eye level swimming/feeding/relaxing/floating.
After 30 mints sailing and clicking some shots we moved ahead as greater
surprises were waiting for us and fortunately we saw the majestic bird The Greater
Flemigoes. About 80-100 greater flamingoes
having their breakfast in the water. Their pink color looks stunning in bright sunlight.
More flamingoes pics :)
Our boatman told us presence of Bar
headed goose behind Flamingoes’ flock which were hardly visible through
binoculars. We were waited for few mints so that bar headed goose to come closer but no luck ,
so we decided to come back in next boat ride . While returning back to guest
house there was birding activity at bank White wagtails , Paddyfield pipits ,
white wagtail , Yellow-wattled Lapwing, ashy crown sparrow lark, purple sun-bird I tried to capture as many as possible.
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Paddyfield Pipit
Pied Bushchat
Ashy-crowned Sparrow lark
Green Bee Eater
Ashy-crowned Sparrow lark male and female
After having nice breakfast and tea, we continued
our search for better spots to see the water birds near Kumbargaon . Our
boatman suggested us to visit the place 10 mint away from main highway where painted stock
bird colony could be seen . So immediately after breakfast we headed towards
that place .While we were on the way towards another water body we came across a couple of Indian gazelle commonly known as Chinkara.
After travelling 5-10 mints we
reached to another part of water body where large colony of painted stock had arrived . It
was so quite except the sound of all these birds quacking around. Just beside
painted stork colony, there was water body full of ducks . It was treat for eyes . Garment
, northern showler , rudy shelduck , pintail all variety ducks were swimming
in the water. We did not realize how much time we spend watching the birds .The whole
view was worth to watch .
It was almost 2 Pm that we started to go
back to the guest house.
After returning from morning session we were totally tired
exhausted. We were probably the last to have lunch that day. The lunch was
delicious jawar bhakari and traditionally cooked pithala with spicy thecha. After quick
power nap it was time for our evening boating session. I was praying to see bar
headed goose in that session. I don’t know why but I have special respect for bar
headed goose when I learned that this migratory bird is one of the world's
highest extreme altitudes flying birds and apparently seen over Mount Everest – 8,848 m (29,029
ft) really wonderful creature.
Bar-headed Goose
We were sailing towards the end of the water
body to see bar headed goose and after about 30 mints of sailing we saw flock of bar headed
goosse gazing in open green field . The dream came but since it was quite open
area we decided to lay down on land and started Crawling on stomach, painful but best
way to go closer to this amazing bird . After clicking some record pics
suddenly bird realized our existence and flew away . husshhhh.
But still I managed to get
couple of good pics. Above all it was best moment, I had seen this enigmatic
bird at my eye level and that would cherish for longer . Lifer for me. The evening was approaching. Our boatman brought some dead
fish with him on the return journey and each time he throws it in water Gulls, terns,
heron literally snatches the fish from each other .It was fun to see them pretty close
this way .
Whiskered Tern
Brown Headed Gulls
Sun was setting for the day and more and more birds were flying in
flocks over and making some good formations.
Glossy Ibis flocks forming great formation.
It was almost 8.00 pm ,we
refreshed up and settled down. The dinner Manu was as tasty and fulfilling as
afternoon one. After taking dinner we were decided to take a walk in the nearby area to search
Nightjars and Owls. After careful walk and curious watch we returned back with
empty handed no luck :(. Its around 11.00 pm and its time to sleep . Thinking of
the birds I saw throughout the day and dreaming of Bar headed goose, my
delightful first day in Bhigwan lasted . The first day of birding trip was quite peaceful with lots of
moments of bird captured.
Second day Patas:- We got up at 6.00 am and made a plan
for whole day . We had decided to cover Patas lake, Kevadi and sinhagad valley
till 5 PM so that we could start return journey to home. We reached Patas lake around 7.45
am , near to Patas lake there was one hotel with Puneri Misal displayed on it. Without any other thought
we decided to have this puneri delicacy . After 30 mints of break
we entered in lake site , the lake is just opposite to main highway with lots
of people walking around it . I never thought we could see any other bird nearby and
suddenly grey Francolin ran fast and disappeared in bushes. ohh just a glimpse
!! and once we reached to main water body I was completely stunned to quality of birds inside
and outside the lake . Purple Moorhen walking on the bank and simply quacking
around. I just loved their majestic blue color with shades of purple. Just little ahead we
saw knob billed duck, cotton pigmy duck, purple heron, common coots, common
teal and my favorite Ruddy shelduck. It was pretty closely encounter with Ruddy Sheduck . I
was observing each and every moment and very glad to see all these water
beauties. I had clicked somerecord pics of ducks especially Cotton pigmy and knob billed
duck .
River Tern
Pigmy Headed Goose
Pied Wagtail
Ruddy Shelduck
Purple Swamphen
Long Tailed Shrike
Common Coot
White Jakana
Snipe
After spending 2 hours of graceful birding we started our journey
towards Kavadi pat which is famous for Ducks and other water birds .
Kavadi Pat:- Kavadi is about 40 km from Patas . On the way we had
seen many sugarcane juice stalls so decided to refreshed up with sugarcane juice
. The juice was Awesome, sweeter than sugar . After having quick refreshment we
left for Kavadi Pat . We were able to reach at Kavadi within 1 hour .
Beautiful view at Kavadi Path
Our first
bird spotting at Kavadi was glossy Ibis .
Their feathers were shining in bright sunlight
. The water body was again covered by variety of ducks but ducks were far away
from camera reach. So we had decided to hide at some area so that bird could come
close . Our decision worked and we got some beautiful images of passage ducks
floating fearlessly.
Pintail
Gargeney
Common Sandpiper
Northern Shoveller male and Female
Red Napped Glossy Ibis
Wood Sandpiper
Gargeney Female
After spending more than one hour watching and mostly identifying
male and female duck we had decided to go to our last destination that is Sinhagad
valley which is very famous for flycather .
Sinhagad valley- It was pretty late time for birding but we had
heard lot about Sinhagad valley so made our mind to explore the place for a
while . After having a very short break we headed toward sinhagad valley. As
soon as We entered the valley we saw tree pipit , it was completely new for
me.
Tree Pipit
The main stream line is main attraction of sinhagad valley where one could see many rare flycatcher . We were dreaming to see ultramarine flycatcher . As
soon as we entered main stream reason we saw Asian paradise flycatcher sitting
at very close distance. what a beauty .
Asian paradise flycatcher
Before entering my wish list to
see plum headed parakeet and oriental white eye and I saw both of the birds at the
end of trail . Thanks to Bhavesh for showing me plum headed parakeet and
oriental white eye.
Plum Headed Parakeet
Oriental White Eye
Already some birder were already there , hidden behind the
puddle . They had put some different artificial perches here and there inside the
water stream so that they could get nice bird photograph and publish it on
Facebook and get a heap of likes and comments. What a unethical birding !! They are just photographers rather than good
birders . In this way they are just losing birds natural habitat . We were
totally disappointed by their acts.
Yellow Crowned Woodpecker
White Throated Kingfisher
Chestnut Shouldered Petronia Salim Ali Bird
Brown FlyCatcher
Fantail
Indian Robin
Red Breasted FlyCather
The light had already started to fade , we would like to stay
one more day but our next day work commitment redistricted us to do so . We
started our back home journey with heavy hearted with the promise of visiting
this beautiful place once again. For me it was wonderful experience so many
birds with wonderful people.
PS: Thanks for the wonderful company .It was amazing experience
for me . Thank you Bhavesh, Prashant, Kuldeep , Sunil and Rupali for your
passion. Sandeep Nagre ,we were overwhelmed by his hospitality , very nice
person .
Number of the birds seen 104 :):):):):)
