Thursday, December 12, 2013

Photo Gallery Banni Grasslands mountabubirds.blogspot.com

Discovering the Banni Grasslands of Kutch, Gujarat


The Banni grasslands, nestled in the Rann of Kutch, are a birder’s paradise, boasting a rich diversity of avifauna. Upon our arrival, the vast savanna landscape stretched, an awe-inspiring sight that felt like stepping into another world. What stood out about the area was its extreme isolation, not just in terms of distance, but also in the lives of the few residents who call this challenging terrain their home. The solitude of their existence was profound. With no access to transportation, fresh produce, or even reliable drinking water, their resilience was a quiet testament to survival in harsh conditions.

To fully embrace the bird life in this area, we highly recommend that birding enthusiasts come during the cooler months when the weather is merciful and the grasslands are teeming with avian activity. Summers are unforgiving, with scorching heat, while the monsoons transform the land into a marshy, impassable swamp. Regrettably, we only had a superficial understanding of what Banni offers, and now we’re eager to go back and delve deeper.

 Look below to view some of the incredible moments I captured during this unforgettable journey.


"Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius pandoo Has Blue-grey plumage, with darker wings.Snap taken in Kutch showing the bird perched on a rock."
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius pandoo
 
"Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus  Female, snapped in the Ran of Kutch."
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus  Female

"Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus hindustan -Male, crouched in the sand at Banni Grass land."
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus hindustan -Male
 
Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   -  in flight  

"Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   - Adult and juvenile seen in the snap at the Rann of Kutch."
Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   - Adult and juvenile

"Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   - Family snap taken in Kutch,"
Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   - Family

Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi   - Flock

"Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi, snap of solitary bird."
Common Crane Grus grus lilfordi  

"Crested Lark Galerida cristata chendoola , snapped in Kutch."
Crested Lark Galerida cristata chendoola 

"Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo bengalensis , snapped in the bushes of the Rann of Kutch."
Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo bengalensis 

"Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo bengalensis , snapped in the bushes of the Rann of Kutch."
Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo bengalensis  

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 

Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus 

Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus  

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus  

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus

Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger  

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)  

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)  

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus   - Female

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus   - Female

Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus 

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe  

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis   - Adult

Swamp Harrier Circus approximans   - In flight

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis

Crested Lark Galerida cristata chendoola

White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis

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