Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary April Valleys of Himachal May Corbett & Pangot
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Vol. 6, Issue 6 BI-MONTHLY PROGRAMMES NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2018 INDEX ONE DAY PROGRAMME 11th Nov Shilonda Trail 18th Nov Migrant Watch 23rd Dec Karnala Bird Sanctuary 29th & 30th Dec Bird Identification Workshop NATIONAL CAMPS December Little Rann of Kutch January Bera & Mount Abu Golden Triangle February Lakhshadweep March Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary April Valleys of Himachal May Corbett & Pangot INTERNATIONAL CAMP March Tanzania Indian Skimmers at Chambal during BNHS camp: Golden Triangle Asif Khan ► ► ONE DAY CAMPS 11th November, Sunday Shilonda Trail at Sanjay Gandhi National Park Join BNHS for a morning at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to see myriad small life forms like large mammals like Spotted Deer and Sambar, and birds like White-browed Bulbul, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and Black-rumped Flameback. The trail leads through a fine forest dominated by bamboo and ends at the first stream. Grade: Easy (Easy walk of 1.3 km each way, but the walk from the main gate to the trail is about 2 km.) Charges: Rs. 400/- for members and Rs. 500/- for Asif N Khan others (Cost includes forest depaartment charges and BNHS expertise). Reporting: Members to meet inside SGNP, beyond the Ticket Counter under the large map of SGNP at 07:30 a.m. Group leaders: Mr Asif Khan (9969798447) Registration*: E-mail us at [email protected] or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). Please carry adequate water and hat/cap. www.bnhs.org 18th November, Sunday Migrant Watch During winter the city plays host to a plethora of migratory birds. Join us at Nerul to learn about these travellers of the bird world. The Nerul Wetland is a wonderful site to watch see and study these cryptic birds like Lesser Sand Plover, Little Ring Plover, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Terek, Common, Curlew and Broad- billed Sandpiper; Little Stint, and Temminck’s Stint. Among them are also threatened birds like Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork and Black-tailed Godwit; and waterfowls like Northern Shoveller, Common Teal, Garganey, and Northern Pintail. Asif N Khan If we are lucky Lesser and Greater Flamingos can also be seen here. Charges: Rs. 400/- for member and Rs. 500/ for non-member. Reporting: At 8:00 a.m. at the main gate of Seawood Estates. Group leader: Mr Asif Khan (9969798447) Registration*: E-mail us at [email protected] or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). The programme will conclude by 9:30 a.m. 23rd December, Sunday Karnala Bird Sanctuary Take an enjoyable walk through the moist deciduous base forest of Karnala Bird Sanctuary. As winter is the perfect season to see both resident and migrant birds like Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Sulphur- bellied Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Small Sunbird, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Rufous and Heart-spotted Woodpecker, White-bellied, Greater Racket-tailed and Bronzed Drongo, Crested Hawk-eagle, Crested Serpent-eagle, and Gold- fronted Leafbird. Camp Charges: Rs. 1000/- for BNHS members and Rs. 1,200/- for others. Grade: Easy (2–3 km undulating walk) Reporting: Bus will leave from Dadar T.T. (near Chandu Halwai) at 06:00 a.m., Chembur (near Diamond Garden) at 06:20 a.m., and Vashi (Vashi Jn) at 06:40 a.m. Group leaders: Mr Asif Khan (9969798447) Registration*: E-mail us at bnhs.programmes@gmail. com or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). www.bnhs.org 29th & 30th December, Saturday & Sunday Bird Identification Workshop This two-day workshop is for beginners to bird watching. The workshop will include an audio- visual talk by an expert on basic bird identification, followed by a demonstration of preserved bird specimens from the BNHS Collections. The workshop will also include a field trip where participants will be introduced to field techniques for bird identification. Highlights: The highlight of the workshop is the study of preserved bird specimens. Participants will get an opportunity to learn field techniques, like bird identification through calls, bird photography tips. Level: Basic Asif N Khan Expert: Asif N Khan Workshop Charges: Rs.1,800/- for Members and Rs. 2,000/- for others. Reporting: Saturday, 29th Dec: At 3:30 p.m. at Hornbill House, Dr Sálim Ali Chowk, Opp. Lion Gate, near Kalaghoda, Mumbai 400001. The programme will conclude by 7:00 p.m. Sunday, 30th Dec: Dadar at 6:30 a.m. Registration*: E-mail us at [email protected] or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). www.bnhs.org ► ► NATIONAL CAMPS DECEMBER, 2018 LITTLE RANN OF KUTCH Known for being the last refuge for the Indian Wild Ass, Little Rann of Kutch is a large salt marsh situated in Gujarat. The Little Rann of Kutch is a Ramsar Site and birding paradise. Birding at the lakes and marshes in the rann is very rewarding. In winter, Demoiselle and Common Crane are seen in large numbers. Flamingos, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbill, a variety of ducks and other waterfowl are also seen. The Rann is also the hunting ground of raptors like Short-toed Eagle, buzzards, Aquila eagles, six species of falcon, and three species of harriers. It is one of the few places where hundreds of harriers can be seen roosting on open ground at night. And of course, it is the perfect place to see the Indian Wild Ass. The main carnivores of the Little Rann are the Indian Wolf, Desert Fox, Indian Fox, Jackal, Desert and Jungle Cat, and Striped Hyena. The elegant Blackbuck, Nilgai or Blue Bull, and Chinkara are the other mammals seen. Dates: 14th –17th December 2018 Grade: Easy Charges: Rs. 22,900/- for members, and Rs. 24,400/- for others (ex-Ahmedabad) Accommodation: Twin sharing at Rann Riders Reporting: Ahmedabad railway station at 07:00 a.m. on Day One. Drop off at Ahmedabad at 05:00 p.m. on Last Day Registration*: E-mail us at [email protected] or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). www.bnhs.org Asif N Khan Asif N Khan Vandan Jhaveri JANUARY, 2019 LEOPARD COUNTRY – BERA AND MOUNT ABU Bera: Bera is a small town situated in Rajasthan, with a considerable leopard population. Bera has in recent years developed a reputation for being one of the best places to see and photograph leopards, and it is aptly known as “Leopard Country”. Situated in the Aravalli Hills near the River Jawai, Bera offers great landscapes as well. Besides the “Prince of the Jungle” the leopard, Bera also offers sightings of Sloth Bear, Hyena, and Marsh Crocodile. Mount Abu: Famous as a hill station in Rajasthan, the forest surrounding Mount Abu is rich with an array of endemic birds. The most famous perhaps is the Green Avadavat, a vulnerable and endemic munia, and Abu is one of the best places to spot it. Mount Abu is also home to birds like Indian Pygmy Woodpecker, Indian Blackbird, Indian Yellow Tit, Tawny-bellied Babbler, and White-bellied Drongo. Dates: 12th – 16th January 2019 Grade: Easy Charges: Rs. 36,700/- for members, and Rs. 38,200/- for others (ex-Ahmedabad) Group Leader: Mr Asif Khan Reporting: Ahmedabad railway station at 06:30 a.m. on Day One. Drop off at Ahmedabad at 05:00 p.m. on the last day Registration*: E-mail us at [email protected] or call at +91-9969798447 (Mon-Fri 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.). www.bnhs.org Asif N Khan Vandan Jhaveri Rajat Bhargava Vandan Jhaveri Vandan Jhaveri GOLDEN TRIANGLE – Ranthambore, Keoladeo and Chambal 26th – 31st January 2019 Ranthambore National Park: Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in northern India. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat. Tigers can be easily spotted even in the daytime. Other major wild animals include Leopard, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Sambar, Hyaena, Sloth Bear and Chital. The Park is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest Banyan trees in India. Asif N Khan Asif N Khan Asif N Khan Keoladeo National Park: Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Keoladeo is a paradise for birds and birdwatchers alike. It is listed as an IBA (Important Bird Area) and is a World Heritage Site. Although small (29 sq. km), it is home to almost 400 species of birds, out of which more than 132 species breed inside the National Park. Birding here is a rewarding experience, with sightings like Siberian Rubythroat, Bluethroat, Greater White-fronted Goose, Comb Duck, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Spotted Crake, Water Rail, Painted Snipe, Oriental Darter, Lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane and Common Crane, Greater Spotted Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Red- headed Falcon, and Brown Fish-owl. Asif N Khan Chambal river, a tributary of the Yamuna river, flows northwards through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Chambal is one of the best places to see threatened wildlife; such as the Critically Endangered Gavial or Gharial, Vulnerable Indian Skimmer, Pallas’s Fish-eagle and Smooth-coated Otter, Endangered Black-bellied Tern and Gangetic Dolphin, and Near-Threatened Laggar Falcon. Camp fees: Rs. 32,000/- BNHS members and Rs. 33,500/- others. (ex-Delhi) Group Leader: Mr Vandan Jhaveri Reporting: Pick up from New Delhi Railway Station at 6:00 a.m. and drop to New Delhi Railway Station at 7:30 p.m.