A visit to Gir/Girnar - the home of Asiatic Lions

Another very important and must visit place of Gujarat. In fact this is the only place where one gets to view wild Asiatic Lions.

Gujarat state government has take great and care of these beasts and brought them back from extinction. There were just 180 left in 1984 and today there are 411+.

I was planning to visit since 2012 and managed to implement the plan this year in May along with a great photographer friend.

Following are the images from the tip:

Standing tall: The Lion King



King trying to get hold of a fly



Taking a dirt bath



Bruised but not broken



Afternoon siesta by lake side



You guys gotta leave me alone




Other than Lion

A type of owl



Master of camouflage: Savana nightjar



Mooted owl



Thick knee: Locals say that these bird drik water only once in a year



Gorgeous national bird



Sleepy eyes: Spotted owlet



A honey eye buzzard



Jungle crow



A Monitor Lizard



A cattle herder trying to cool off his buffaloes

Velavadar - Black Buck Sanctury - Little place with huge surprises

Located 170 kms from Vadodara, Velavadar is one of the preserved Grass land. It is a Black Buck national Park.

Regarding its richness I will let my photographs talk:

The Golden Grassland:

Its one of very few places in India where Black Buck are found:



1. A Black Buck male alert and watching out of danger

2. A Black Buck Male roaming around

3. A Black Buck male lost in grazing



4. A Black Buck Female Calf jumping around


5. Young Black Buck males about to lock horns



6. Few young Black bucks crossing the path



Another resident of Velavadar is Blue Bull also known as Neil Gai in Hindi

6. A young female Blue bull munching




7. Young Male Blue Bulls on watch


8. Curious Blue Bull male
 

Wide range of birds are found in Velavadar

1. Crested Lark

2. Rufus Tailed Lark

3. Lark

4. Terek Sandpiper

5. Reef Heron

6. Eurasian Curlew

7. Gull Billed Tern

8. Darter/Snake Bird

9. Grey Francoline

10. Eurasian Roller

11. Stone Chat

12. Ringed Plower

13. Wood Sandpiper

14. White Stork


15. Great Spotted Eagle





16. Montagu's Harrier: These birds stop by in Velavadar for Roosting. Number of visitors can range from 500 to 3000 per season.
Female

Female in flight

Male in flight


17. Short Toed Snake Eagle:
Juvenile on perch
In flight


18. Common Kestrel:


19. A Red Necked Falcon