JAMNAGAR - Effortless Birding Experience (26th to 30th Nov,2009)

Date: 26th Nov'09 evening 17:35 to 30th Nov'09 mor. 5:30 (travel days included). The bookings for Jamnagar / Khijadia / Narara bird-watching trip are on…..book your seats now (see the details at the end).....Birdwatch in one of the most Bird-rich areas with Nature India... where thousands of birds can be seen at ease .

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JAMNAGAR - Effortless Birding

Jamnagar the Jewel of Kathiawar, is on the coast of "Gulf of Kutch" in the state of Gujarat, India. It has unspoilt Islands & Beaches, Hills, Temples, Palaces, Forest, Fantastic Bird life in the Bird & Marine Sanctuaries and Fascinating Corals along the coast…..

Jamnagar is the oldest city in Saurashtra. This city was also known as "Halar" in olden days, later it came to known as "Nawanagar". Modern Jamnagar city was built in 1920 AD by Maharaja Shri Ranjitsinhji. The city has army, navy and air force installation as it has strategic geographical location. In last few years Jamnagar has emerged as a Petro Giant. India's largest private company Reliance has established the world's largest grass root level refinery near Jamnagar, Essar Oil too has a refinery in Jamnagar district.

Dotted by numerous water bodies and the hospitable people around, Jamnagar is well-known for its incredible birdlife that is so easy to spot and observe that it wont be an exaggeration if the birding in Jamnagar area is termed as “Effortless Birding”…..And hence this region is also a favorite haunt of Bird photographers. As this bird heaven is strategically located on the flyway of the migratory route, in winter it turns into a prime area for the birds and the bird-watchers as well.

Several migratory birds make Jamnagar their home during the winter months. Bird watchers flock to different places like the Sanctuaries, Coastal regions, Salt pans, rivers & water reservoirs of Jamnagar. The checklist shows more than 400 species.... Thanks to the varied habitat…....

Places like Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Lakota Lake right in the heart of the city, Narara beach, Bedi Bunder and the water reservoirs surrounding the town offer excellent place to view & photograph birds. Almost every water body in and around the town is dotted by remarkable species of birds which are now accustomed to the friendly neighborhood.

If you are arriving in Jamnagar by train, especially in winter, you are sure to see wonderful birds right near the station, as you step down from the train.

Please go through some of these links to know more about birding in Jamnagar.

http://vijaycavale.blogspot.com/2008/01/jamanagar-must-for-any-bird-lover.html

http://www.indiatravelite.com/gujarat/jamnagarthebirdwatchersparadise.htm

http://www.indiatravelite.com/gujarat/jamnagarthebirdwatchersparadise.htm

Nature India announces an exclusive and effortless bird-watching trip to this wonderland from 26th to 30th Nov, 2009…. The details are given at the end. Amongst the places that we intend to cover are Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Narara beach, Lakhota Lake & Bedi Bunder Area.

KHIJADIA BIRD SANCTUARY

Just less than an hour’s drive from the town (12 kms) is a renowned Khijadia Bird Sanctuary which many city dwellers are unaware of.

This protected area packs in an incredible diversity of ecosystems into the relatively small area of 6 sq.km. The sanctuary, created over the 1920s and '30s, is formed from two man-made dykes that separate fresh water from sea water, creating the opportunity to simultaneously observe species that belong to each ecosystem, and some that share both.

Along with the marine and fresh water habitats, there are also marshy lands, mangroves, Prosopis areas, mudflats, salt pans, creeks, forest scrub, sandy beaches, and even farmlands bordering the area. This provides a haven for more than 220 species of resident and migratory birds, including globally threatened species such as Dalmatian pelican, Asian open bill stork, Black-necked stork, Darter, Black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, and Indian skimmer, and provides birdwatchers with a delightful chance to sight rare birds in large numbers.

Watching the arrival of the Cranes during sunset for roosting is a fantastic experience. You can spot thousands of wintering Common and Demoiselle cranes, and other water birds including Flamingos, Pelicans, Gulls, Ducks, Storks, Waders, Geese and the endangered Indian Skimmers. The Black-necked stork nesting can also be seen here. Method of Birdwatching is to walk along the dam. It is a refreshing change from riding in jeeps.

LAKOTA LAKE

Lakhota Lake is a smallish waterbody in the middle of Jamnagar with the Lakhota Palace as its center. Next to Lakhota lake there are smaller lakes. This area is quite a revelation for any birdwatcher. You may have never seen so many birds inside a busy city before!

Walking in the early mornings especially in the winter months & sitting under the beautiful domes allows you to experience nature with the birds... Just sit along the periphery wall of the lake and you can easily watch several species of ducks, Pelicans, Gulls, Terns etc at close quarters. More than 75 species of birds (both migratory and resident) have been recorded from this smallish lake making it one of the most productive “Lake” in the heart of a busy city anywhere in India…..

NARARA BEACH

This beach is a part of Marine National Park which is easily accessible by road. One just has to drive down to Narara Edge about 60 kms from Jamnagar. Here one should reach just before the tide starts, when the tide comes in, it brings the birds closer to land, making it easier for the bird watchers to watch from quite close.

Narara beach is acclaimed as one of the only place in India where one can watch the rare Crab Plovers in large numbers and a variety of waders at close range.

It is one of the cleanest beach where live corals still exist and easy to explore on foot. As you walk in shallow waters during the low tide, you are often surrounded by Star fish, Sea cucumbers, Brain corals, Crabs, Sponges, Sea anemones etc…..walking along and exploring the corals along with birding is a unique experience indeed.

DHICHDA / BEDI BUNDER

Dhichda is also an excellent birding area, with lots of water bodies. Dhichda can be reached by taking a derour after the village of Bedi from the road turning left before the entry road of Bedi Port.
The entire stretch offers excellent birding from roadside....another effortless experience. Here the Lesser and Greater flamingos can be seen at close qaurters.

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TRIP DETAILS

Date: 26th Nov 2009 eve. 17:35 pm to 30th Nov 2009 mor. 05.30 am (travel days included)

Mode of Travel: Train uptil Jamnagar and local travel by Jeeps.

Overnight train travel can be booked from Mumbai..... however since it is a busy sector, the train bookings should be done soon to get the desired train and class .... there are just a couple of trains available for Jamnagar from Mumbai....Nature India can ASSIST in bookings if required.

Tour Iterinary:

1) Thrusday 26th Nov’09: Departure from Mumbai by Saurashtra Janata Express train at 17:35 pm

2) Friday 27th Nov, 2009: Arrive at Jamnagar at 09:35 - Checkin hotel & Refresh / Breakfast (really fast) – Visit Lakhota Lake for a relaxing birding – Lunch – Visit Khijadia Bird Sanctuary – Return - Revision & Discussion of day's sightings – Dinner and stay at Jamnagar.

3) Saturday 28th Nov, 2009: Early morning Birdwatching in Khijadia WLS – Visit Ranjitsagar Dam – return for Lunch – Visit Narara beach for Corals and sighting Crab Plovers, Oysterctachers and Other waders – Return - Revision & Discussion of day's sightings – Dinner and stay at Jamnagar.

4) Sunday 29th Nov, 2009: Morn. Birding at Bedi Bunder/Dhichda and INS Valsura area - early lunch - checkout and board train back to Mumbai at 13:35

5) Monday 30th Nov, 2009: Reach Mumbai early morning at 05:30 am

More details on the iterinary will be given to those who register.....

Trip charges: Rs.5400/- (Jamnagar to Jamnagar)....

Includes Stay in Hotel at Jamnagar on a twin sharing basis in non-A/C rooms, Local transport by Jeeps or Tempo traveller, Park entry charges, Local guide charges, egetarian food, Articles on Khijadia and Jamnagar Birding, Bird checklist, on board mineral water and snacks……

This does not include train travel from Mumbai to Jamnagar & Back or any other charges and also any individual camera charges ....Individuals will have to pay additional charges if any to the forest dept. as per the rules.


Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.3000/-

(The seats will only be confirmed after recieving the advance amount) …..the remaining amount will be collected in train on the day of travel.......Please Register soon to get the confirmed train bookings and the desired class of travel. We can assist you for train bookings.

Resource Persons: Mr.Kunal Joshi (Local expert) Mr.Adesh Shivkar & Mr.Mandar Khadilkar

Mode of Payment: You can either

1) Transfer the advance money directly to my HDFC A/c : (please call me for my A/c no.) .... please mention your name, date and other details….
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.3000/- to the following address
Name: Mr.Adesh Shivkar
Address: D/8, The Adi Janata Society, Behind HP Petrolpump, Opp. Hotel Shangrila, Sion(East), Mumbai-400022

Please Note:
1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 3000/- is strictly non-refunadable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours

Please contact us, in case you need any clarification …..

For any other queries we are available on 9321463362 / 9820455713 (Adesh) or 9967518665 (Mandar) or natureindiatours@gmail.com

Also sign up on http://natureindia.ning.com/ to get regular updates on our trips, photos & articles....

Hope to see you for this wonderful trip !!

Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve

Birding in Little Rann of Kutch & Thol - 18th to 22nd Nov'09

Date: 18th Nov'09 morning 06.00 am to 22nd Nov'09 eve 8.00 pm (travel days excluded). The bookings for Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) & Thol bird sanctuary bird-watching trip are on…..book your seats now (see the details at the end).....Birdwatch in one of the highly recommended birding hot-spots in India with Nature India.

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Thol Bird Sanctuary - A Birdwatching Surprise

Thol Sanctuary is located 40 kms northwest of Ahmedabad, in Mehsana District. Thol lake, created in 1912, covers 7 sq. kms of mostly open water. There are small marshes at the edges and some scrub forest on the sides of the high embankments.

Thol is in fact a man-constructed artificial tank utilized mainly for irrigation purposes that possesses 1450 hectares of command plot and 153 square kilometers of catchment plot.

Thol promises a memorable birding experience and offers an incredible array of bird species, both resident and migratory. It is home to large nos. of visiting Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes and variety of waterfowls. One can even see some rare species like Mallard, Gray-lag Goose, Ferrugenius Pochard, Red-crested Pochard etc. It become particularly known last year when the critically endangered Sociable Plover were seen here regularly.

A visit to this lesser known paradise is a must for all the enthusiastic birders and photographers alike. It is now slowly becoming a very popular birding destinations of India.

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LRK - Birding Unlimited in the Little Rann

Ask someone who has been here......and you wont have to think twice to decide where you want to head next. This Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch of the Gujarat State in India. It covers an area of 4954 km². The Sanctuary is named after a sub species of wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), the last population of which it harbours. The Rann is one of the most remarkable and unique landscapes of its kind in the entire world. It is a vast expanse of desiccated, unbroken bare surface of dark silt, encrusted with salts which transforms into a spectacular coastal wetland after the rains. And in these wetlands occur one of the most breathtaking variety of avi-fauna that is rivalled by few other spots in India.

A geographically unique landform, the Little Rann of Kutch is a saline desert wilderness offering exciting cross-desert safaris, superb wildlife viewing opportunities and colourful villages along the edge of the desert. The Little Rann of Kutch or LRK, as it is often called, is a charismatic birding paradise and has been declared a Ramsar Site. The marshes in the Rann, and nearby lakes like Nawa Talao and Vanod Saran, attract huge flocks of water birds. Flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, ducks etc can be seen in large numbers. LRK is home to some very rare species like Macqueen's Bustard, Sociable Lapwing, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Merlin, Saker Falcon etc...

The Little Rann of Kutch is also a Wild-life photographers paradise as it offers innumerable opportunities to capture birds and wildlife at close quarters. Last year the Gujarat photographers literally had a feast photographing the falcons, buzzards, eagles, bustards, desert foxes, Wild Ass etc.

Kachchh (also spelled as Kutch) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,612 km², it is the largest district in the state of Gujarat and the second largest district of India after Leh. Kachchh literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry; large part of this district known as Rann of Kachchh is shallow wet-land which submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same word "Kuchchh" is also used in Sanskrit for a tortoise and garments to be worn while having a bath.

Kachchh District is surrounded by the Gulf of Kachchh and the Arabian Sea in south and west, while northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Little Rann (seasonal wetlands) of Kachchh. When there were not many dams built on its rivers, the Rann of Kachchh remained wetlands for a large part of the year. Even today, the region remains wet for a significant part of year.

Nature India has organized an exclusive Birdwatching trip to this paradise from 18th-22nd November 2009 (travel days excluded). We shall cover Thol Bird Sanctuary, Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Savna Wetland, Bajan Wetland, Nandawala Wetland, Handiwala Wetland ....virtually almost all the hotspots.

Some of the places that we will cover during our trip are as follows:

1. Thol Bird Sanctuary

One of the finest places to see and photograph large variety of waterfowls and other birds, both resident as well as migrant. Also on the way while going towards Thol we can see a place fnow wellknown for the critically endangered vultures, where 4-5 species of vultures can be seen at a close range. This sanctuary has now become one of the most sort after places for bird photographers of India.

Thol wetland is home to birds like Great White Pelican, Sarus Cranes, Common Cranes, Wigeons, Gargeneys, Shovellers, Teals, Gray-lag Goose, Ruddy Shell Duck, Red-crested Pochard...and enormous range and numbers of waders. If we are lucky, then we might also chance upon yet another rare and critically endangered Sociable Plover.

2. Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch

Little Rann of Kutch of which most of the part constitutes Asiatic Wild Ass Sanctuary. It is theonly place in the world, to see Asiatic Wild Ass in wild. Other mammals to look out for are Wolf, Blue Bull, Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Hedge Hog, Chinkara etc.

The sanctuary known for not only Wild Ass but also for numerous wetlands it has around and high nos. of Waterfowls. Also the dry unending desert is known for species like Hoopoe Lark, Greater Short-toed Larks, Desert Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Hen Harrier, Montegue's Harrier, Merlin, Saker Falcon, Laggar Falcon, Imeprial Eagle, Macqueen's Bustard, Short-eared Owl, Sociable Lapwing etc...

















Have a look at a couple of photoblogs on LRK & Thol Sanctuary
http://picasaweb.google.com/shaileshkar/TholeSanctuaryAndLittleRannOfKutch#

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lraleigh/youarehere./1173972660/tpod.html

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Tour Iterinary:

Date: 18^th Nov, 2009 morning 6.00 am to 22nd Nov, 2009 eve 8.00 pm (travel days excluded)

Mode of Travel : Minibus (Thol) / Mahindra jeeps (LRK)

Overnight train travel can be booked from Mumbai..... however since it is a busy sector, the train bookings should be done soon to get the desired train and class .... there are several trains available for Ahmedabad from Mumbai....Nature India can ASSIST in bookings if required.

Rough Tour Iterinary:

17th Nov'09 : Departure from Mumbai to Ahmedabad by 9143 Lokshakti Express. or any other train according to your convenience.

18th Nov'09 : Arrival in Ahmedabad (6.30am) - Hotel check-in - Breakfast - Birdwatching at Thol Bird Sanctuary - Lunch - Birdwatching in Thol - Return for dinner and Stay at Hotel in Ahmedabad

19th Nov'09 : Morning bird watching in Thol Bird Sanctuary - return to hotel for lunch - leave for Jogad village (LRK) - Stay at Eco Tour Camp, Jogad.

20th Nov'09 : Early morning Birdwatching in Savda Wetland - Lunch - bird watching at Bajana wetland. - Stay at Eco Tour Camp, Jogad.

21st Nov'09 : Early morning leave for Nandawala wetland by crossing the Rann - Lunch - Evening bird watching at island. - Stay at Eco Tour Camp, Jogad.

22ndNov'09 : Early morning Birdwatching at Handiwala Wetlands – Checkout & Departure for Ahmedabad

23rd Nov'09 : Early morning arrival in Mumbai

Trip charges :

Option 1 - Stay in Huts on Twin sharing basis (10 seats)
Charges: Rs.8800- only (Includes non- A/C stay in simple "Kooba" huts at Eco Tour Camp, Jogad, on twin sharing basis with attached toilet, Local travel by minibus/ jeeps, Park entry charges, vegetarian food , Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water)…….

Option 2 - Stay in Tents on Twin sharing basis (4 seats)
Charges: Rs.8200/- only (Includes non- A/C stay in Tents at Eco Tour Camp, Jogad, on twin sharing basis with common toilet, Local travel by minibus/ jeeps, Park entry charges, vegetarian food , Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water)…….

This does not include travel charges from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and Back, Photography fees or any charges other than the above.

Note: As the no. of Huts are limited, the Option 1 will be given on first come-first serve basis.

Group Size: Max.14 persons only

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmation mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.4000/- …..The remaining amount will be collected on the day of travel.

Kindly register soon as the train bookings are not easily available in Gujarat.

Stay Arrangement:












Eco Tour Camp, Jogad is a good and clean place to stay. The Stay arrangement is on a twin sharing basis and non-A/c accommodation in "Kooba Huts" / Tents. The food is mouth watering and we have kept a special arrangement for non-oily Kutchee food.

Resource Person: Mr.Adesh Shivkar, Mr.Mandar Khadilkar & (local expert)

Mode of Payment: You can either

1) Transfer the advance money directly to the HDFC A/c (Please send a mail for details).. please mention your name, date and other details….
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.4000/- as advance amount to the following address

Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar

Address: B/702, Neha Apartments, Ashish Complex, Dahisar (East), Mumbai-400022

Please Note:

1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 4000/- is strictly non-refunadable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours

Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification …..

For any other queries we are available on 9321463362 or 9820455713 (Adesh) or 9967518665 (Mandar) or sign up on http://natureindia.ning.com/ to know more of Nature India.

Thanks for your patience.

Looking forward for a very rewarding trip with you all !!


Warm Regards,
Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect and Conserve