Sunday 20 February 2022

Local pe Vocal Birding

 
Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well. The season of birding has already started and got great news all around which includes visits of birds in the city area as well. Since the impact of COVID is declining, we can grab this opportunity to visit local nature trails. I have started visiting nearby places in Mumbai and trust me the experience is wonderful. 

I know you got the hint for today’s topic, it is nothing but birding within Mumbai/Thane area. I would say this is nothing but local pe vocal, our PM’s vision is to promote locals to buy things similarly, I would like to extend this thought to promote and conserve wildlife/nature trails of our local area. 

We should be vocal about our local area to promote and conserve these places otherwise it will be silently be transferred into commercial/residential or luxury usages. Off let, I have observed disturbance to such places, people are targeting these places in name of development, but thanks to some vigilant people it is not that easy to destruct. It is like “Nazar Hati Durgatna Gati”. Considering the motive to save our lovely nature I am publishing today’s blog on local birding. 

Aaj ki Taza Khabar

After a long time got an opportunity to visit Bhandup Pumping, station (BPS) thanks to Mumbai Travelers who regularly arrange such nature trails. BPS is like home ground because the journey of nature got started with BPS around 7/8 years back. Visiting this place is always fun. 

Earlier this place was free of cost for visitors but since its recognition as a Flamingo sanctuary, the department has started charging nominal fees. It is a good move because it helps to control nuisance. 

Almost after 2 years, I could manage to visit this place and got an opportunity to meet old friends as well. The trail was fantastic with countless sightings guided by young leader Rajesh; we learned a lot from him and got to see a lot of species.

The lucky list I remember is as below 

Flamingo, Painted Stork, Spoonbills, Egret, Pond heron, Wood sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Stilt, Garganey duck, Kites, Marsh harrier, Greater coucal, Asian Koel, Eurasian golden oriole, Sunbirds, Long-tailed shrike, Rosy starling, Night Heron, Booted Warbler and many more.

This was update on BPS now let me update you on another local visit in the next section

Bhopar update 

Similar to BPS couple of weeks back I tried birding at Bhopar, which is located at Dombivali and offers wetland birds and opportunities for Raptors, here also we got the same wetland birds but added with Red Munia and Blue Throat which was a surprise factor. 

What more?

Therefore, to answer what more let me update you on places which you can easily plan nearby Mumbai.  

Green Park valley – Here last week rare bird “Eyebrowed thrush was recorded in addition to this you can find a lot of birds, a lovely place located at Belapur New Mumbai. 

T S Chanakya/Talawe wetland – Flamingo is a star here, the sanctuary in making I would say, apart from Flamingo this place offers Mongoose, King Fisher, Harrier, and all other wetland birds. Located at Seawoods new Mumbai.

Haji Malang - Place well known for raptors like eagle/Owls, etc, located near Kalyan 

Tansa lake - Place for rate bird Forest Owlet, located at Atgaon
 
Lonavala – For Amur Falcon and lesser kestrel 

SGNP – Sanjay Gandhi National Park Borivali, it is a National park so you can sight anything and everything here

More we evaluate more we can find, I would love to guide you in case you want to plan any local or any wildlife tour.
 
Once again, let me remind you to be “Local Pe Vocal”  keep blessing and keep motivating me to deliver unique stuff, do let me know your feedback on btwildart@gmail.com

BT Wild Art

DSLR Section

                                                                            Marsh Harrier
                                                                Long-Tailed Shrike
                Asian Koel Female
                        Asian Koel Male
                        Pond Heron 
                    Eurasian Golden Oriole
                        Wood Sandpiper 
                        Garganey Duck
                            Flamingo 
                            Spoonbill
                        Night Heron
                            Sunbird 
                    Blue Throat At Bhopar
                        Red Munia At Bhopar 
                     Stonechat