Bera - The Leopard's Atelier

The leopard is definitely the most elusive and secretive in the cat family. They are extremely difficult to trace and locate in the wild unless you are in Bera, in south-west Rajasthan, India.

Its a land shaped by lava that emerged to the surface millions of years ago. This is one of the reason that makes this place very special. The region is surrounded by granite hills. Mankind and these leopards have been living for years in perfect harmony.

Leopard and its Habitat

Leopards tend to have two or three cubs per gestation. Mothers refrain from wandering their territories after giving birth until their young are capable to come with them.

Female leopard with cub (six months old)

Leopards tend to have distinctive dark spots called rosettes, which create beautiful patterns against their otherwise light fur.

There were about three different locations where we could get good sightings of the Leopard's. Everyone would queue up like good Samaritan's to catch a glimpse.

(Namita, Satya, Santosh, Umesh, Geetha, Maya, Ranjit and Myself) L-R

Leopard

Adaptability has allowed them to survive in various different geographic areas. 

The region is perhaps the only known place that has the highest density of leopards in the world wherein even humans cohabit. The delight was inimitable and obvious from our smiles.

(Santosh, Satya, Ranjit, Geetha, Namita, Maya, Umesh and Myself) L-R

Later in the afternoon we were offered a drive over the hills in open vehicles, the drive had its own charm and overlooking the region.

Drive on the rocky terrain

As night fell, we drove into the land of the predator. The drive was exhilarating and we reached a place that was pitch dark. 

A camp fire was arranged for us and we gathered around it, talking our hearts out and recalling the childhood days.

The night never failed to surprise us, wherein we sighted the many nocturnal species.

Saw-scaled Viper

Jackal

After having an excellent time, we decide to drive back, just as we were nearing another hill heard some sound.

No sooner the search lights came on, could see the predator peep and it silently walked down the hill and disappeared.  

It took some time, before we could trace it sitting under a tree. Surely it had walked out of its Lair. The Leopard Lair's are abundance in this region.

Leopard

Leopard - Under the tree

Leopard

The region also reveals some of the other fascinating avian species as well around the Jawai Lake. Jawai Dam is the largest man made lake in western Rajasthan. The lake now is a lifeline to crocodiles and an incredible array of migratory birds, including the flamingo's.

Jawai Dam

Unique among these are the swallows who make complex mud nests on the cliffs of the Jawai hills.

Red-rumped Swallow

Bird Nests

The Indian eagle-owl, also called the rock eagle-owl was seen roosting in a cavity in the hill, which from a distance was difficult to even distinguish from the surroundings. They are predators by the night and roost during the day.

Rock-eagle Owl

Over enthusiasm took over umesh who took to photographing the species like a pro while the other were busy photographing him!

The Group - (Bird Watching)

Ruddy Shelduck

Blue rock thrush - female

Eurasian Spoonbill

Pied Kingfisher

Small Pratincole

Indian Peafowl

Bera can be reached by rail and by air. The closet airport is Udaipur. However as always, we drove to this hamlet town, situated in the Aravali range in Rajasthan from Mumbai. 

This time we stayed in Castle Bera, which is a heritage hotel in the region. The room are indeed very well designed and hospitality is immaculate. We were friends since school days and this was the first ever trip we made together. The company was superlative. Each session is embedded deep in the mind, be it having meals, playing Uno (a card game) or a drive into the wild.

We surely intend to have another trip soon!

Dates : 23rd March 2016 to 26th March 2016

Happy Birding!

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Birding in Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

Thane Creek is an inlet in the shoreline of the Arabian Sea that isolates the city of Mumbai from the Mainland. The creek has been attracting flamingos in large numbers since 1994. By the month of October - November every year, over 30,000 of these birds, along with their chicks, descend here and occupy the mudflats and the bordering mangroves. This makes a good birding spot for bird lovers visiting Mumbai city. 

The area being refuge to many resident and migratory birds was one of the few reasons, the state government around the month of August of 2015, demarcated and notified approximately 17 sq.km of the creek and named it "Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary"

Location - Source - "Google Maps"

We took the boat ride (on 21st of February 2016) that went around the not so explored, highly polluted creek area between Thane and Navi Mumbai (Vashi). Being my first experience here, was surprised to see large mixed flocks of the near threatened Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos. 

The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of Flamingo, having a beak that is dark red with black tip and the greater flamingo is the largest species of Flamingo, has a beak that is pink with a restrictive black tip.

Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

In our two and half hour boat ride sighted many other birds like , western reef egret, Spot-billed ducks, lesser sand-plovers, curlew sandpiper, black-headed gull, whiskered terns to name a few. 

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Black-headed (Gull Larus ridibundus) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Black-headed (Gull Larus ridibundus) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Garganey (Anas querquedula) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Lesser Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna javanica) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Just as we turned around to return to the starting point, sighted an Osprey that had folded its wings close to its body and started to go down into the water at high-speed. Soon it emerged with its catch.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Image by Aseem Kothiala

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Image by Aseem Kothiala 

Though the creek seemed more like a backyard drain, where could see plastic bottles and bags floating had a good birdlife. Imagine, if it was more clean!

In fact, as we were under the Vashi bridge, could see plastic bags which had flowers and some waste material that were flung into the creek. How does one feel that throwing it here is better than disposing it off responsibly.

Have seen similar activity of throwing waste, into other creeks and water drains, that also wrapped in a plastic bag, which could take ages to decompose and add to the destruction we as humans are doing to this planet. Each individual must get aware and also educate the ones who indulge in this. "Swachh bharat abhiyan" is not just keep our homes and streets clean. Think!

Would like to thank Avinash Bhagat and his team, who organised this boat ride. One needs to carry good amount of water to stay hydrated, in the open boat. Safety is given utmost importance and safety jackets are provided. Hope to do a few more such trips to get closer to birds. 

Wishing all the readers - Happy Birding!

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