This is one of the phenomenal place nearby us where one can watch the numerous resident and migrant waterbirds from a distance measurable in feets. BIGWAN, or the BIG-ONE is really a BigONe for birding.
For any birder, outgoing enthusiasts, photographer this place offers a very exciting experience in company of hundreds of birds. IMO, at least one visit is must in every winter, the beauty of watching hundreds of them, surrounding you, cant be just expressed in words....
Bhigwan is approximately 100 kms from Pune, on the way to Solapur, easily accessible by road. There are two major spots to bird, DIKSAL and KUMBHARGAON, both are off the road and except DIKSAL, roads are not great. Another bad news, its having no places for accomodation if one wants to stay overnight.
I had been there twice, and with available holidays of the last weekend, I could ride this unplanned trip to BHIGWAN. Being single venturer, without a vehicle, i decided to drop in Diksal for a day. Diksal is 3-4 Kms from Bhigwan, and many vehicles (rickshaws, ST bus) ply from Bhigwan to Diksal village.
On Friday, started off from Mumbai, and reached Pune late night, halted at brother's place, early in the morning at 5:45 caught a ST bus to Solapur from Swarget Stand, Pune. I was dropped at Bhigwan around 8 O'cloack. Cool breeze was still in the air and sunrays were too still gentle. While gulping down the hot cutting chai, at tea stall, in a short conversation with chaiwallah, I discovered that ROHITs (Greater Flamingo) have arrived and are seen at Diksal, and I must hurry up to catch up their splendid views in early morning lights. A simple Chaiwallah had these detailed info, showed how the people around are well aware of birds. I thanked him, and headed towards the baramati road crossing, to catch ST bus ( fare rs 4 only) which dropped me at Diksal in 10 minutes.
Diksal is a very small village, opposite to village, a small road goes to bridge on Bhima river. On both sides of the road there are large waterbodies that offers amazing birding and photography opportunities. I assembled my camera and lense and headed towards the bridge. On the way first to catch were Common Hoppoe and Green Bee Eaters, coppersmith barbets. As soon as i hit the road, i could hear the constant cacophony of clamorous reed warblers, A number of purple moorhens and glossy ibises, open billed storks gathered at the shallow waters.
While moving towards bridge, one can watch birds crossing the road and going to opposite sides launching into water to gather food. Number of River Terns were fishing around. Black Headed and Brown Headed Gulls, Ruddy Shelducks, Indian Cormorants, Openbill storks, Black Headed Ibises were instantly noticed. I spent a lot of time along this road to photograph some of birds found. (See pics below)
There is a small clump of houses of fishermen at the end of the bridge. These are quite helpful and are ready and can give ride into waters at rs 150 per head. So one has to take boat ride to see Greater Flamingos which roost, feed far edge of the river. I jumped into one, and was lucky to get very good views of ROHITs. Lots of Northern shovelers, common coots were seen.
CLOSE UP ----- HOOPPOE
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GREEN BEE EATER - Closeup
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COPPERSMITH BARBET
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RIVER TERN with FISH
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POND HERON - IN FLIGHT
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RUDDY SHELDUCK - In flight
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RIVER TERN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than waterbirds, there were Red Vented Bulbuls, Purple and Purple rumped sunbirds, Brahminey Mynas, Eurasian Golden Orioles.
GREAT TIT
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BLACk-WINGED STILT
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BLACK-HEADED GULL - 1st winter
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GREY HERON
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GREATER FLAMINGOS
BROWN-HEADED GULL
It was noon when we returned back from ride. I managed to get fresh fried fish, bhakri (bread) to eat and cool shade to nap at the fisherman's house. I enjoyed the country side raw flavour of meal and the following nap was too wonderful....:).
I returned in the evening to Pune, and then Mumbai late night. I couldn't opt to stay more due to lack of good accomodation....But the experince refreshed me. After a long time, I spent a complete day watching and shooting the winged beauts.
CHeeerzz!!!
Homewards....!
At the end of the Day.....
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Photos Taken with Nikon D200 + Sigma 170-500 mm lense
Copyright © Ritesh Bagul
