Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes, Water Birds, II, Cormorants, Oriental Darter, Painted Stork and other birds (तीतर and बटेर), II, III). This post contains pics of Isabelline Shrike and Montagu's Harrier.
The Isabelline Shrikes who winters in N India and Pakistan breeds in W, NC, WC China and Inner Mongolia.
An Isabelline Shrike perched handsomely
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 280
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Isabelline Shrike in Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 480mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 160
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Montagu's Harrier is a long distance migrant. Birds from Eurasia spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa, while those from the eastern part of the range migrate to the Indian subcontinent.
Montagu's Harrier in Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
The windmills though eco friendly and all, do disturb the air currents and drafts which significantly affect bird activity.
Montagu's Harrier in Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 125
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
That's all folks in this post, stay tuned for more...
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes, Water Birds, II, Cormorants, Oriental Darter, Painted Stork and other birds (तीतर and बटेर)). This post contains pics of few such birds.
Tawny Pipit, a large pipit, is a migrant moving in winter to the NW Indian Subcontinent.
Tawny Pipit in Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 450mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 220
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Common Babbler is a small, slim babbler with a long tail. It usually forages in noisy fighting groups usually of 6–7 individuals with successive polygynous males. Its range is restricted to the Indian subcontinent and southern parts of Iran and Iraq.
Common Babbler in Chhari Dhand
Range: Indian subcontinent and southern parts of Iran and Iraq
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 420mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Siberian Stonechat in a desert grassland
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 720
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
That's all in this post folks, stay tuned for more...
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including the Painted Stork (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes, Water Birds, II, Cormorants and Oriental Darter).
The Painted Stork is a large stork with a heavy yellow beak with a down-curved tip that gives it a resemblance to an Ibis. In fact it was formerly placed in the genus Ibis.
The head of the adult is bare and orange or reddish in colour. The long tertials tipped in bright pink and extending over the back and rump while at rest, give them their name.
Although one of the most abundant of the Asian storks, this species is classified as Near Threatened since at least 2004, because it is thought to be undergoing a moderately rapid population decline, with an estimated total population of 25,000-35,000 individuals or 16,000-24,000 mature individuals.
For some time in the past, it genus was Tantalus, based on Greek mythology where Tantalus was punished by having to stand in a pool of water, as in the pic below.
Painted Stork with all its characteristic features at Chhari Dhand
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 290mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Painted Stork on take off roll
Conservation Status: Near Threatened Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR Exif: 290mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 450 DoP: Nov 22 Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Painted Stork at lift-off
Conservation Status: Near Threatened Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR Exif: 290mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 560 DoP: Nov 22 Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Painted Stork on touchdown
Conservation Status: Near Threatened Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR Exif: 290mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400 DoP: Nov 22 Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Painted Stork appears delighted to be finally airborne
Conservation Status: Near Threatened Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 200 DoP: Nov 22 Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Like all storks, they fly with their neck outstretched.
Painted Stork on aerial lookout
Conservation Status: Near Threatened Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 200 DoP: Nov 22 Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including numerous water birds like Cormorants (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes, Water Birds, II and Cormorants).
This post contains pics of another water bird, the Oriental Darter or colloquially also called as the Snake Bird because of the way it generally swims where in only its slender snake-like neck is visible above the water.
The name Darter too, alludes to their manner of procuring food, as they impale fishes with their thin, pointed beak.
The Oriental or the Indian Darter is rarest of the four living species of Darters and has been classified as 'Near Threatened' in the Global IUCN Red List since 2004. The population is estimated to number at least 22,000 mature individuals, roughly equivalent to over 33,000 individuals in total. This species is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline, owing to pollution, drainage and hunting.
The Oriental Darter spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first. The structure of the neck is with strongly developed muscles about a kink in the neck that allows it to be flexed and darted forward with rapid force to stab fish underwater. This particular method of hunting lends its Indian name of 'तिरंदाज' (Teerandaz), literally meaning 'archer'.
An Oriental Darter displaying its webbed feet and the kinky neck
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
An Oriental Darter in flight
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Tail on view of an Oriental Darter in flight
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Range: Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 200
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Habitat Shot : Darters and Cormorants at seasonal lake of Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including numerous water birds like Cormorants (See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes and Water Birds, II).
Interestingly Cormorants are called as 'Pan Kauwa' in Hindi, literally meaning 'Water Crow'.
A Little Cormorant displaying his shiny black designer cloak
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 200
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
A Little Cormorant spreads its wings like a death-eaters cloak
while the Coots feed on
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 160
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Little Cormorants at Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 220
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Little Cormorant, Coots and a male Northern Shoveler at Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 250
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Habitat Shot: Little Cormorants at Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including numerous water birds.(See previous posts on Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes and Water Birds).
A pair of Indian Spot-billed Duck and Drake swimming calmly
The name 'Spot-billed' is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population.
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 280
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Indian Spot-billed Drakes contesting over a Duck ?!
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 400
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
And seeing the contester, the couple scurries back
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 250
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Two female Northern Shovelers and many other water birds
at the seasonal wetland of Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Two female Northern Shovelers flying away over seasonal lake of Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Chhari Dhand is a seasonal marshy wetland in Banni grasslands (see the intro post explaining about Banni and Chhari Dhand here) on the southern edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. The seasonal lake is home to a large number of birds in winter, including numerous water birds.(See previous posts on the Great White Pelicans and the Common Cranes)
An Eurasian Spoonbill and a Black-winged Stilt at Chhari Dhand
lit by golden light of sunrise
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 320
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Did you know that the Eurasian Spoonbill and Black-winged Stilt are called as the 'Gajpaon' and 'Chamcha' in Hindi, which transliterates into Yard-Leg and Spoon respectively.
An adult Eurasian Coot apparently squawking with joy
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 320
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
A Juvenile Eurasian Coot giving meditative looks
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, ISO 450
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Cattle Egret over cattle (a Banni Buffalo calf) in Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
The number of Common Cranes which are found during their wintering in the Banni Grasslands in general and Chhari Dhand in particular is absolutely astounding. They are found grazing the grasslands like any herd of cattle.
The Common Cranes which winter in the Banni Grasslands adjoining the Rann and other parts of Western and Central India belong to the Western Siberia and migrate via Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A juvenile and an adult Common Crane foraging the grasslands of Banni
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 440mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1100
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
Common Cranes flying and grazing at Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 480mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 450
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
A couple of Common Cranes at Chhari Dhand
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 640
DoP: Nov 22
Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India
A sedge of Common Cranes
Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
The Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve : Winter base for large squadrons of Pelicans
The Chari-Dhand wetland conservation reserve is located on the edge of arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch in Kutch district, Gujarat State in India. The shallow wetlands of Banni Grasslands in the heart of Kutch are a dream for birding enthusiasts. Chhari means ‘salty’ and Dhand means ‘shallow wetlands’ in the local language. More than 370 species, including raptors, waders and larks are found in the region and the population goes up during the winters when migratory birds make this a veritable stop.
Banni is a low lying peninsular tract of land extending into the Rann between the Pachham Bet (Bet = Islands in Rann) and the Kutch mainland. It is probably a bank or bar or bar of soil brought down by the north flowing Kutch rivers, and probably lifted by one of the many earthquakes of Kutch. Infact, the word 'Banni' is said to come from Hindi word 'banai ', meaning made. The Banni stretches almost parallel to the coast line of Kutch, about a hundred km long and from fifteen to twenty five broad. Where it joins the mainland, the Banni is so low that it can hardly be distinguished from the Rann. Further out it rises gently, but, except for one narrow strip in the west, is all apt to be covered in water in times of high flood. The whole is covered with coarse grass, babul trees and many halophile (salt tolerant) vegetation of scrubs and trees. It supports large herds of buffalo and other cattle, reared by the various pastoralist communities of Maldharis.
Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch. Monsoon rains each year form several marshy wetlands which dot the Banni grasslands and the areas adjacent to it, all being seasonal in nature. In the local Kutchhi-Sindhi language there are four terms used for wetlands, they are Kar (smallest), Chhachh (bigger than Kar), Thathh (bigger than Chhach) and Dhand (the biggest of the wetlands). Chari-Dhand is the biggest in size among all of them. The area of each of these seasonal freshwater wetlands during any given year depends upon the amount of rainfall received during that year.
Winters, especially after a good monsoon in Kutch or floods in Sindh, witness a magical and unimaginable congregation of migratory birds, given how dry, salty and sparsely vegetated Kutch otherwise is. Chief numbers are of the Common Cranes, Sedges of which can be found literally grazing the grasslands; large squadrons of Great White Pelicans and Dalmatian Pelicans; Flamboyance of Flamingos; Eurasian Spoonbills and numerous other water birds.
Sedge of Common Cranes grazing the Banni grasslands
Seasonal Lake of Chhari Dhand
The Chhari Dhand Lake
Cormorants and Darters at Chhari Dhand
The beautiful conical hill seen in the image above is said to be fossil rich.
The experience of drive to the Chhari Dhand on unpaved paths crowded with the early birds...
Drive to Chari Dhand
Also exciting is the drive through the grasslands...
Drive through Chari Dhand
Dhinodhar hill, the only known / documented volcano on Indian subcontinental mainland looms over the Chhari Dhand on southern horizon
Dhinodhar Volcano on the horizon
The unbelievably lush grasslands bordering the Chhari Dhand lake
Grasslands of Chhari Dhand, who would say its bordering the Rann
Chhari Dhand Grasslands with Pelicans and Cranes
One can also see few wild mammals and herds of hundreds of Kharai Camels, a unique breed of camels found only in Kutch.
Kharai Camels of Kutch
Hope you enjoyed this introductory post, stay tuned for more...
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