Season birding commence : Winter 23 (Part I)

  Well, the winters are here, along with our amazing visitors friends in the beautiful grasslands of Banni with its hidden lakes, seasonal wetlands and marshes (to read in detail about Banni and its lakes and marshes, read my earlier post here).

   The wetlands of Banni keep shifting their location every season, and this time a lake has come up just next to the national highway with sizeable number of birds in it and rather close to Bhuj. Got an update of the presence of birds from a birder friend and set course for it on a weekend morning. We set course from the house about 1/2 an hour before sunrise and the pic details reveal that we had started clicking pics 05 mins before sunrise, so it was just a 25 min ride from home.

   A Great Egret (old world Great White Egret) with its

- long, black legs and feet

- long thin neck with characteristic S shape (more angular and pronounced kink)

- and long, all-yellow bill

A Great Egret

ID: Great Egret

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 8000
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

    Three is a crowd; these Painted Stork definitely believe so as they squabbled for feeding territory. The Painted Stork are classified as Near Threatened and found only in the Indian subcontinent and the Indochina region. Interestingly, the Indus forms the western boundary of their range. To know more interesting facts about the Painted Storks, read my previous post here. 

Three's a crowd : Painted Storks squabbling over feeding territory 

ID: Painted Storks

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 8000
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   Saw a wedge of ibises flying past us. The Black-headed Ibis is also known as the Indian White Ibis. The species is suspected to be in moderately rapid decline owing to hunting, egg collecting, disturbance at breeding colonies, drainage and agricultural conversion, and is thus categorized as Near Threatened.

A wedge of Near Threatened Indian White Ibises flying past

ID: Indian White Ibis

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 8000
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   An Indian Spot-billed Duck. Its endemic to the Indian subcontinent and the Indochina region. To know more and see more pics of the Indian Spot-billed Duck, read my previous post here.

An Indian Spot-billed Duck

ID: Indian Spot-billed Duck

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 5000
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   A couple of Grey-headed Swamphen. Earlier called the Purple Swamphen, it has now been split into six separate species.

A pair of Grey-Headed Swamphen

ID: Grey-Headed Swamphen

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 5600
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   The Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), or Common Spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family. The genus name Platalea is from Latin and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the bill, and leucorodia is from Ancient Greek leukerodios "spoonbill", itself derived from leukos, "white" and erodios "heron". It is called as the 'Chamcha' in Hindi and 'ચમચો' (Chamcho), which transliterates into Spoon.

   It has a crest in the breeding season. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched. They are mostly silent. Even at their breeding colonies the main sounds are bill snapping, occasional deep grunting and occasional trumpeting noises.

An Eurasian Spoonbill in breeding plumage showing off its crest

ID: Eurasian Spoonbill

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 2800
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   Eurasian spoonbills show a preference for extensive, shallow wetlands; including marshes, rivers, large waterbodies and flooded areas. Those that forage in salt or brackish water appear to feed almost entirely on shrimps and small fish.

   Species forages in small flocks, less often alone; wades methodically in shallow water, sweeping bill from side to side. They use sideways sweeps of their beaks to filter out the tiny fish and shrimps. Significance of the shape of the bill is controversial with conflicting hypotheses that it serves to minimize drag and turbulence during sweeping, hence not alarming potential prey and that it generates suction effects.

Eurasian Spoonbills foraging frantically in wetlands of Banni, Kutch

      A Great White Pelican with the rising sun.

Great White Pelican in sunrise

ID: Great White Pelican

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR
Exif: 270mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1100
DoP: Oct 23
Loc: Banni Grasslands, Bhuj Khavda Road, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   The great white pelican is a huge bird - the wingspan measures 226 to 360 cm (7 ft 5 in to 11 ft 10 in), the latter measurement being the highest among extant flying animals outside of the great albatross.

Greater Flamingos foraging

in wetlands of Banni Grasslands, Kutch

   In soft substrates, Greater Flamingos will employ a stamping or pit foraging behavior, turning in a circle around their bill to create a pit. 

That's all folks in this post, stay tuned for more...

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part XIV: Swallows: Wire-tailed and Barn

 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, IV & animals). This post contains pics of Swallows, namely Wire-tailed Swallows and Barn Swallows.

   The Wire-tailed Swallow though is named after its wire like tail, but surprisingly other swallows too have similar looking wire like tail and also not all wire-tailed swallow have a wired tail ! So, a better distinguishing feature in addition to the wired tail of a Wire-tailed Swallow is its rufous-chestnut crown with white chin. But still the wire tail remains its rather distinct feature and its no wonder that its called the તારપૂંછ (Tārapūn̄cha meaning 'wire tailed') and in तारवाली भिंगरी (Tārawāli Bhingri meaning 'small bird with wire') in Gujarati and Marathi, respectively.

A Wire-tailed Swallow displaying its wire tail on a wire

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 160

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

A Swallow dipping itself in the waters of seasonal lake 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 200

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   The Barn Swallow are the most widely distributed and abundant swallow in the world, however in the Indian Subcontinent except the Himalayas, you can't see one other than in winters. And therefore rightly so its called as the શિયાળુ તારોડિયું (Śiyāḷu tārōḍiyuṁ meaning the 'Winter small bird') in Gujarati.

   In flight, they are distinguishable from other swallows by the white spots on their tail feathers creating a broken band, as can be seen in next three pics.

A Barn Swallow dipping in the seasonal lake 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 200

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

A Barn Swallow displaying its characteristic in flight white spotted tail band

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

A Barn Swallow probably checking out its makeup !

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

That's all folks in this post, stay tuned for more...

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part VIII : Painted Stork

 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 Wetland Reserve Part VII : The Snake Bird

   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

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 280

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part VI : Cormorants

    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

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 250

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part V : Water Birds (Part II)

   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

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part IV : Water Birds (Part I)

   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

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 500

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

   

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part III : Common Crane

   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

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, ISO 280

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part II : Pelicans

   Chhari Dhand in the winter season is home to a great multitude of birds.

   But the most amazing unbelievable numbers are of the Great White Pelicans and the Common Crane.

Kutch is the only breeding location in India of the Great White Pelicans, a rather big flying bird.

Great White Pelicans in the 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

Head On: Great White Pelicans in Chhari Dhand

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR

Exif: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO 200

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Count if you can: a mega squad of Great White Pelicans

Gear: Nikon D7200 with AF-S Nikkor 200 - 500mm F/5.6E ED VR

Exif: 200mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 125

DoP: Nov 22

Loc: Chhari Dhand, Kutch, Gujarat, India

 

Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve Part I : Introduction

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...