Sunday, March 19, 2017

Photo Galleries Thol Bird Sanctuary revisited 14 March 2017 mountabubirds.blogspot.com

Sunrise at Thol Birding Sanctuary.

"I looked at the placid Thol lake and spoke to it, "Speak to me of Nature" and the lake erupted with a hundred hues of colours. Damn, why hadn't I made a trip earlier? Instead of seeing hundreds, I would have got to see thousands.

I was to make a trip to mid-January to Thol soon after my birding trip with Eddie to Pareij wetlands, but my anxiety about walking the few kilometres needed to cover some area around the lake acted as a roadblock and I kept putting off my going and denying my passion from photographing the migratory birds that were there in the thousands. I have realized that on many an occasion because of my physical anxiety of not being able to walk the last mile, I have repeatedly put off going by anticipating the worst scenarios of putting others into inconveniences blaw, blaw... But in reality, I feared leaving my comfort zone.
I would probably not have made this trip but a student of mine had landed up and was keen to try out the new camera she had just bought, she being a keen birder I made a trip to Thol the closest destination from my place here in Chandkheda. I made the arrangements, and we reached the sanctuary at sunrise. Flocks of birds flew past with the rising sun. It represented an exhilarating moment for all of us to witness nature in its glorious surroundings.
Having walked for about 2 kilometres along the embankment at a snail's space. I experienced the strain on my arm and my fractured hip. I motioned to the others to pursue, and I made myself comfortable by sitting on a stump protruding by the side of the embankment. From there, I made my way down to the water's edge to photograph the birds that flew over or settled down to forage there. I have ranted enough. Enjoy the snaps that I took that day.

Embankment surrounding the lake

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus   - Adult in flight 

Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa   - Adult

Black Kite Milvus migrans Govinda   - Adult in flight from below 

Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense benghalense   - Male

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus   - Juvenile in flight from below 


Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus   - Juvenile in flight from below 
Great white pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus.



Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus


Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia intermedia 


Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia intermedia 

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala  


Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala  


Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus   - In-flight


Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus   - In-flight


Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus   - My first

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis leucomelanurus   - Hovering 


Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis leucomelanurus   - Hovering 


Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus   - In-flight 

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis 

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus   


Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus  

Common langur followed us for some time and shared a cheese sandwich
before joining his troupe  

I have attached the receipt which is the entry fees and camera fees for anyone planning to go here.



The receipt told me it was 500 bucks for the vehicle and 
300 for the two cameras we had.


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