The early bird gets the worm, and the earlier the birder, the better the birds. Birding is a joy in the grasslands around Nashik. However lazy one gets in the winters of midland India, it’s always more than worth pushing oneself out to the field with the first rays of the sun.
Pushing ourselves out of a comfortably warm room, we moved towards a tiny patch of privately owned grasslands near Nashik, in the hope of a morning well spent birding. A cold breeze number my shutter finger as I tried approaching the tiny rockchats and pippits, already out looking for breakfast, keeping the grassland ecosystem in good shape. We had only about two hours before work made us leave, so we tried making the most of it.
A Black Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) circles overhead looking for prey. By eating up any rodents and reptiles these beautiful raptors prove to a farmer’s good friends.What looks like Cassia grandis, one of several species called Pink Shower Tree. These blossom in the dry season when the leaves fall off.A Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) in the field. Looks like a female, she let me get fairly close for good photos.While I was busy with the Siberian Stonechat, the Black-Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) had made a kill and was enjoying her meal on a nearby hay stack.A passing tractor made her promptly leave with her take-away meal.So I turned my attention back to the playful Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).She posed for me…And let me come closer…Even though the cold breeze made her balance difficult at times…And I turned my attention to what looks like a Paddyfield Pippit (Anthus Rufulus).Meanwhile the Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) jumped onto the next stalk of grass.And found balance there…We moved slightly into the denser forest growth to find this beautiful Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis).The Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis)What looks like a Long-Tailed shrike or Rufous-Backed Shrike (Lanius schach) sittinf on Prosopis juliflora.And above us sat the Black Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus). Was it the same one we saw earlier in the morning? Perhaps not. I am always fascinated with their large bright red eyes…A couple of local tribal women come to collect grass and firewood. If only we could provide them with kitchen fuel…The temperature read 16 degrees in shade. Not bad.
16 thoughts on “Birding Near Nashik”
Love the first line of the post! Though am not too much into birds I did enjoy the bird watching in Ranthambore!
Btw – did you visit my new travel site? Would love to get your feedback on it! It’s travelwitharchie.com
Cheers
Great pics!!
Indeed mornings are the best time for bird-watching.
Great post the pics are very nice and professional.
Would like to see more posts like this.
Love the first line of the post! Though am not too much into birds I did enjoy the bird watching in Ranthambore!
Btw – did you visit my new travel site? Would love to get your feedback on it! It’s travelwitharchie.com
Cheers
Loved the way you captured Siberian Stonechat … its every movement. Your clicks are amazing and the post a delight to read 🙂
Lovely pics.
Beautiful pictures! Really liked the opening statement of this post!
Great captures!
And what a lovely haul of birds you got! I too thoroughly enjoyed watching them here!
Thanks Mridula. The birds were awesome!
I can just imagine what a happy morning this must have been.!! Beautiful pictures 🙂
Thanks Vaisakhi! It was truly breautiful!
wow What a picture…
Thanks!
Great pics!!
Indeed mornings are the best time for bird-watching.
Great post the pics are very nice and professional.
Would like to see more posts like this.
Such tourist friendly (), savourable pictures and writeups Shikha and Param.
Thanks Vinod 🙂 and Excellent support from you!
What an amazing post! Stunning photos and such informative details. Loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks 🙂