End of Year Birding(2021) at Bhigwan, Pune

by | Dec 26, 2021 | Birding | 4 comments

I find great pleasure in visiting the wetlands around Bhigwan, a village about 100 km from Pune,India because come November and the migrant birds start arriving here for wintering. You get to see a large variety of them around here. The experience is always amazing and de-stressing.

You have boats which you can take you in the backwaters of Ujanni Dam also known as the Yeshwant Sagar. The boatmen also act as guide and are quite knowledgeable about the birds here.

This time it was special as I came looking for a vagrant Tundra bean goose which came in along with a flock of Bar Headed Geese.

Sharing few of my captures.

Bar Headed Geese
Bar headed Goose
Flock of Seagulls giving company to Spoon Billed Storks
Spoon Billed Storks
Black Winged Stilt
Glossy Ibis
Bhigwan has become quite popular with birders and on any given day you will find many boats in the lake so if you are serious about doing some bird photography then I will advice you to visit on a week day.
Grey heron
Glossy Ibis
Black Tailed Godwit
Pond Heron
Painted Storks
Painted Stork
Seagull
Spotted Owlet

The grasslands around Bhigwan are rich in birds and mammals which flock around in this kind of habitat. Sharing few images.

Spotted Owlet
Indian Courser
Pair of Ashy Crowned Larks
Silver Billed Munia
Indian Eagle Owl
Black Winged Kite
Spotted Owlet
Greater Flamingos
Purple Heron
Grey Heron
Pied Bush Chat
Greater Egret
Purple Heron
Northern Shoveller
Tri colored Munia
Tri Colored Munia
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Munias having a conference
Small Pranticole
Northern Pintail
Purple Moor Hen
Common Coot
Seagulls
Osprey
Osprey
River Tern
Seagull
Northern Shoveller
Black headed Ibis
Colony of Indian Cormorants
Indian Cormorant
Common Tern
Black Headed Seagull
Bar Headed Geese
Northern Shoveller
Black Headed Gull
Kites
Small pranticole
Green Bee Eater
Tundra Bean Goose – This is the Vagrant which has migrated in with the flock of Bar Headed Geese and has been the center of attraction through December at Bhigwan.
Tundra Bean Goose in company of Black headed Ibis

This will mark the end of my birding in 2021. Looking for more in 2022. Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2022.

All photos were taken with Fuji XT4 and Fuji 100-400 mm lens.

4 Comments

  1. Junglee Harry
    Junglee Harry on December 26, 2021 at 6:53 am

    Wonderful snaps & fabulous Write up

  2. Satish Wasade
    Satish Wasade on December 26, 2021 at 7:43 am

    Sir, one more chapter of your amazing passion , beautifully captured. Always a great treat to watch and enjoy. Just Superb pics,. . Thanks for sharing. Regards.

  3. COLPR JJoshi,(40NDA)
    COLPR JJoshi,(40NDA) on December 27, 2021 at 3:36 am

    We used to go hunting during NDA days as part of Shkar Club activities(There was no ban then).
    Now I realized what great sights we had of wild life,it was a treat.Of course as a professional and religious shivering our leader(Lt Gen SSChauhan ,my course) ensured NO potshots at Sitting ducks.Only flying targets .to be shot at.⁰

  4. Suhas Sitaram Thakar
    Suhas Sitaram Thakar on December 27, 2021 at 8:45 am

    Wonderful Prashant. I thank you for guiding me to wonderful birding spots around Pune this year as well as various techniques of photography. I admire your passion and have let a little bit of it rub off on me. Rgds