Winged Scavengers' heaven - Jhorabheeri/Jhorbeer

There are only handful of places left on earth that are suitable for Vultures to survive. One of them is Jhorabheeri/Jhorbeer located 14 odd Kms from Bikaner, near Camel Research Institute also known as Camel Farm locally.

Reached Bikaner by train. Checked in at Bikaner Hotel. Struck a deal with a Auto-Rikshaw guy for 600 INR, 200 INR for one way journey and 200 for waiting at the field.

Caution: This place is full of feral dogs and these dogs arn't afraid of humans. In case you are planning to visit this place then carry a strong stick to protect yourself from these dogs. Do not visit this place after sunset or before Sunrise.

This image sums up the density of scavengers at this location

The smallest Bird Of Prey we have spotted here. A Lagar falcon feasting on fresh kill

Lagar Falcon in flight

Cinereous vulture

Cinereous vulture in flight The largest and the rarest Bird of Prey we spotted here. Its a Cinereous vulture, a migratory bird, a winter visitor in India from Pakistan. they stick to Rajasthan and go back to Pakistan.

A Eurasian Griffon

Eurasian Griffon gliding
 

The Egyptian vultures pair (Adult and Juvenile)

A adult Egyptian vulture gliding

A juvenile Egyptian vulture landing

The mighty Steppe

A Steppe eagle taking off

Steppe eagles hanging around

A close up of the mighty steppe in flight

An aged Steppe, this was the largest Steppe that we spotted at this location

Apart from these scavengers we have also spotted couple of small birds

A silver bill Munia

A Variable wheatear

And desert Jird

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

Indian Long Billed Vultures

To my surprise spotted my first vulture there and since then I have visiting this place (not disclosing this place for the safety of the birds) once in a quarter to keep track of these vultures.

Its a family of 3 nesting on the rocks of one of the cliff. 2 parents and one kid. Its been 2 years since my first spotting and the kid is adult now.

These are Indian Long Billed Vultures. They are 2nd in the list of Criticaly Endangered species found in Gujarat.

Navratri - Coloful and funfilled festival

Navratri is an Indian festival which is celebrated across India for 9 days that precede Dussehra. However the way its celebrated in Gujarat/Gujaratis is completely different than rest of India. Gujaratis celebrate this festival by dancing in form of Garba. Garba is a Gujarati traditional dance performed by Men and Woman in an open space like play grounds. This dance requires the dancers to be in traditional outfit. Following is the time-lapse that I have created that gives an idea, and following it are few images that I have captured to show how colorful and visually pleasing Garba is.

Most of the times live music is used for Garba, the band typicaly plays the traditional Gujrati Garba songs. They decide/set up the pace.