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Common Kingfisher _ Small Blue Kingfisher
Jan 31, 2024 | Birds of India Common Kingfisher _ Small Blue Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher is also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher.  It is sparrow size bird with blue color on top of the body.  It is widely distributed in North Africa and Eurasia. When rivers freezes in winter they migrate from their. In India common kingfisher also a widely distributed in all over region. They generally found near to the water areas like canals, rivers, river birdges, ponds etc. I took a shot of common kingfisher or Eurasian Kingfisher at Thol bird sanctuary located in Gujarat near Sanand.



Description and facts about Common Kingfisher :
  • It is about 16cm long and 25cm with wingspan.
  • Its weight around 35-44 gm.
  • It has short tail as all kingfisher tail is short.
  • It has green blue upperparts and it has green blue neck stripe.
  • Juvenile is similar to adult but dull underparts.
  • Main flight feathers moult between july to november and it will takes 90-100 days to grow.
  • Kingfisher flight too fast on low water.
  • It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa ( winter visitor ).
  • Common kingfisher eats 60% of its body every day.
  • Common Kingfisher lays 2-10 eggs which are white glossy in color.


Common Kingfisher in Gujarat :

Common Kingfisher or Small Blue Kingfisher found in Gujarat at many places like Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary, Velavdar Sanctuary and many other outskirts of Wetlands too. They are very small and cute in look. There are lots of kingfisher bird spices found in Gujarat also. 
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An Artificial Lake | Thol Bird Sanctuary
Jun 13, 2023 | Wildlife Sanctuary India An Artificial Lake | Thol Bird Sanctuary

Thol bird sanctuary is located in Kadi Taluka in Mehsana District near sanand Gujarat. It is an artificial lake located near village Thol. In 1912 thol lake was built and it was declared as a Sanctuary in 1988. The main use of lake is use of water for irrigation. The Thol Bird Sanctuary or a Thol lake wildlife Sanctuary India is a habitat of more than 150 spices of birds. Also it is famous for migratory birds Flamingos and Sarus Crane  which breeds here.

Thol Lake

Thol Lake view
 

About Thol Lake / Thol Bird Sanctuary
Thol lake is located near Thol village and its area around 38000 acres.  Lake faces all season winter , summer and monsoon.  During winter temperature goes to 8 degree and in summer temperature goes to 43 degree. Thol lake is under control of Forest and Irrigation department of Gujarat. Thol lake water storage capacity is around 84 million cubic meters. Thol wildlife sanctuary is declared as Eco Sensitive Zone .


Flora and Fauna Thol Sanctuary :
Thol lake has many vegetation plants like Zizyphus, Acacia nilotica, Ficus, Capparis, Azadirachta indica etc. There are also some mix flora of Marshy and Aquatic plants reported in Thol Lake.
Thol lake is protected area and it is very good habitat for water birds. In thol bird sanctuary there are more than 150 spices of birds found . Among these more than 60 % of birds are water birds. Flamingo bird is most prominent bird of Thol Lake. Also Sarus Crane nest in large number here. 

Thol Flora

Famous Migratory Birds of Thol Lake

•    Flamingos
•    Sarus Crane
•    Great White Pelican
•    Mallards
•    Bar Headed Geese , Grey Headed Geese
•    Waterfowl

There are also some spices reported here like Dalmatian Pelican, Indian Skimmer, Greater Spotted Eagle, Indian Vulture and white rumped Vulture etc. In Mammals Bluebull, Blackbuck and Golden jackal reported here.

Bird sanctuary Gujarat

Thol Flora and Fauna
 

Thol Lake Timing and Fees :
Thol lake open everyday at 6 AM in morning and close at 5.30 PM in evening.  Entry fees for Thol Lake or Thol sanctuary is 50 INR for per person. Also Camera fees extra at 200 INR and if you go via car then car fees also  500 INR. Foreigner fees are 10 $ per person.


Best Time to Visit Thol Sanctuary / Thol Lake :
Best time early morning for Thol Lake. In winter if you go before sunrise you can see Twilight sky amazing with lake shore and birds sound .During all season Thol lake has its own beauty. Every season you can visit at Thol Lake. But mostly during winter from November to March season is best for Thol Sanctuary visit. Because during winter lots of Migratory birds came here and stay for long time so for birding winter season is best at Thol Lake. Also during summer some of birds stays here like flamingos and pelicans, geese etc. So you can also see them in summer too.  Also during summer water level of lake is low so may be the birds you can get in deep or sometimes closer. During monsoon most people don’t visit but if you like macro photography then you must visit Thol lake in monsoon. You can get some excellent macro subjects like waterdrops , Spiders, Insects etc.

Birds of Gujarat

Thol Bird Sanctuary
 

What to do and What not to do in Thol Lake / Keep in mind while visiting sanctuary in India :

•    Keep silence in sanctuary
•    Maintain discipline 
•    Keep sanctuary clean
•    Do not throw plastic waste anywhere in sanctuary
•    Protect wildlife
•    Observe birds, mammals etc and protect them and identify them
•    Follow rules of wildlife protection act -1972
•    Don’t disturb birds and animals
•    Don’t enter in sanctuary with liquor and inflammable objects
•    Don’t make loud noice.
•    Enter in sanctuary with permit only and keep receipt till you leave sanctuary
•    Don’t feed birds and animals

sanctuary rules

thol lake for visitors

what to do and what not to do in Thol Lake

Where to Stay near Thol Lake :
Well near to Thol Lake there are not good places to stay at night but you can go near to destinations like Kadi, Kalol or Gandhinagar , Ahmedabad where you can get good places to stay at night. Nearest I suggest Kalol around 15-18 km or you can go Ahmedabad around 25 km. 

Places to visit near thol lake

Birds of Gujarat

Thol lake morning view

Thol Lake Panorama

Thol lake full view
 

Walking path thol lake

Places to Visit near Thol Lake : 
If you are staying at Ahmedabad then go for Ahmedabad Darshan , Pol area of Ahmedabad and Adalaj Ni Vav ( Heritage places ) etc. Also go for fast food test at night at Manek Chauk and SindhuBhavan road there are lots of option for food lovers like Urban Chauk, Freezbee etc.

If you stay at Gandhinagar then visit Mahatma Mandir at Gandhinagar, Sarita udyan , Akshardham Temple etc. 

I would suggest Modhera Sun Temple if you had some more time which is around 100km from Ahmedabad. For bird lovers and bird photographer I would suggest visit Little ran of Kutch (LRK) during Winter season, Pariej Lake, Indroda park Gandhinagar, Jessore Sanctuary Banaskantha etc.


How to Reach Thol Sanctuary :
Nearest airport is Ahmedabad and from Ahmedabad thol lake distance is around 30-40 km
Also for Railway station is Ahmedabad because you can get all frequency and destinations from Ahmedabad railway station.
 

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Bar Headed Goose | High Altitude Flying Bird
Mar 28, 2024 | Birds of India Bar Headed Goose | High Altitude Flying Bird

Bar Headed Goose is high flying geese generally found in Asia. Bar Headed Goose and Bar Headed Geese both name you can use and both are same. It breeds in central Asia. It found many states in India during winter. In India its a winter visitor and breeds also during the month of November to April. For identification its looks simple because of it looks separate from other goose. There are black bars on head makes them different from other goose. It found in lakes and grasslands. I shoot them in Thol Bird Sanctuary near Sanand, Gujarat.

Bar Headed Goose

Bar headed

Migratory Birds In Gujarat : Bar Headed Geese/ Bar Headed Goose

You can call Bar Headed Goose or Bar Headed Geese also. It is migratory bird in India and also it can fly long distance and also at high altitude too.  Some description and interesting facts about bar headed goose are as follow

  • Bar headed goose size around 70-75 cm length and weight around 2-3.5 kg
  • Bar headed Goose color is pale grey. It is easily different from other geese birds as it has black color bars on head so it is called bar headed goose.
  • Bar Headed Goose call is like typical goose honking.
  • Bar Headed Goose breeds in Central Asia near mountain lake. Also breeds in winter in south Asia.
  • Bar Headed Goose lays 3-8 eggs at a time.
  • Bar Headed Goose known for high altitude flying bird because it fly over the Himalayas. Before crossing Himalayas it migrate from South Tibet, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia.
  • Bar Headed Goose is one of the Wolrd's Highest flying birds. 
  • Some report says it fly over Mount Makalu ( fifth highest mountain in World ) around 27825 ft and also from Mount Everest around 29029 ft but this report has no verification but we must say that Bar Headed Goose is high Altitute flying bird. It is an interesting subject to study for Naturalist that why Bar Headed Goose flying so high and extream altitude.
  • Bar Headed Goose built their nest in Tibetan Plateau.
  • Bar Headed Goose has little large area of wing than other goose because of their weight.
  • Bar Headed Goose can migrate around 1600 km in a day.
  • Rajhans is the Gujarati name of Bar headed Goose.
  • Bar headed Goose eat plants and invertebrates.
  • Bar Headed Goose is Least Concern in IUCN list.
  • Bar headed Goose Binominal name is Anser Indicus

Bar Headed Geese

In Thol Bird Sanctuary lots of migratory birds found and more than 150 different spices of birds found . Main attraction of Thol Bird Sanctuary is Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Great White Pelican , Bar Headed Goose, Ducks, Waders, Blue Throat, Flycatcher, Greater spotted Eagle, Pochard and many more. 

bar headed goose flying shot

Geese bird

bar headed goose

Goose Bird

bar headed geese

Migratory birds

bar headed geese group

Migratory birds Gujarat

Birds of Gujarat

migratory birds at thol lake

birds around me

bird sanctuary gujarat

group of birds

about bar headed goose

Bar Headed Goose group

bar on head birds

bar headed goose at thol lake

thol bird sanctuary

thol lake

bar headed goose close up

birds of thol lake

bird portrait photo

Flying bar headed goose

thol

Flying birds photo

During winter to summer season this bird is found at Thol Lake. I often travel to Thol Lake because its very near to my house. I reach early morning and back after half day. This time Bar headed goose is very close to me. I am so lucky that i got very sharp and clear blurred picture.The bird looks awesome in solo picture and in duo and also in a group. Bar headed goose is very shy bird so its is too difficult to get them very close. They are also high altitude migratory birds and passes over Himalayas from migration time.

Camera Used : Canon 6D, Canon 80 D, Canon 100-400mm lens

Location : Thol Bird Sanctuary, Sanand, Kadi

Places to Visit near Thol Bird Sanctuary : Adalaj Ni Vav, Motera Sun Temple, Little Rann of Kutch, Mahatma Mandir Gandhinagar.

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Indian Onager Or Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary | LRK
Aug 31, 2021 | Mammals Indian Onager Or Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary | LRK

Indian Wild Ass known as Gudhkhur, Khur or Indian Onager in local Gujarati language. The population was estimated around 4450 before 5-6 years. Indian Wild Ass population increasing in numbers and extending its range from Little Rann of Kutch to Great Rann of Kutch. Little Rann Of Kutch where found  the world's largest population of Wild ass .The wild ass eat grass, leaves and fruits. Wild ass is very shy animal. If you want to go closer to them they ran away. I shoot photo from far distance with my tele lens. There was very low light at sunset and with tele lens u cant go much brighter image but i tried with sunset and wild ass together. Wild ass with sunset photo looks awesome. 

Wild Ass

Home for Indian Wild Ass

Facts about Indian Wild Ass :

  • The range of Indian Wild Ass is western India, Pakistan and Afghanistan .
  • In India Indian wild ass found only in Gujarat in Great Rann of Kutch , Little rann of kutch in Wild ass Sanctuary.
  • In Gujarat Indian wild ass also found in small numbers in Banaskantha, Surendranagar, Mehsana and some outskirts of wild ass sanctuary.
  • Indian Wild ass feed grass, leaves and fruit plants.
  • Indian wild ass is the fastest animal of India.
  • Speed of Indian wild ass is around 70 to 80 km per hour.
  • Monsoon is matting season of Indian Wild Ass.
  • Indian wild ass related subspecies are Mongolian Wild Ass, Turkmenian Kulan, Persian Onager and Syrian Wild Ass .
  • In India there is another Wild ass spices named Tibetan Wild Ass found in Leh Ladakh and Tibet areas,

Last Home for Wild Ass

Onager

Khur

About Wild Ass Sanctuary Gujarat 

Little rann of Kutch has two good sites one is Bajana where you can enter LRK from forest office. Another site is Dasada where good wetlands and outskirts area of amazing agricultural lands. From Bajana entrance route you can find amazing migratory birds and wild ass too. Lots of winter visitor birds and raptors found here. Best time to visit for raptors is November to February. Dasada village has good wetlands. Also some good wetlands area outside LRK where you can find migratory birds and some resident birds too. Also short eared owl found here and also endanger Bastard bird is found here. LRK is prefect sanctuary for wildlife and birders. Here you can find all types of birds and mammals. In little rann of kutch spices of invertibrates, insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, lizards, snakes etc are found. Sanctuary is in a desert of Kutch.

Little rann of kutch

Sunset with wild ass

At the edge of sunset wild ass is beautiful subject to shoot. LRK has good horizon site  to capture 360 degree view . Little rann of kutch is very good sanctuary for birders too. In winter season LRK, little rann of kutch is best place to visit for raptors. Lots of migratory birds and raptors are found here . Wild ass is looks like a donkey. Same body structure as donkey but only the difference is color. LRK is good place for wildlife photographer bcz you found mammals , birds, migratory birds, raptors and also owls and endanger spices of Bastard found here.

Ghudkhur

Gudkhar

Wild ass Sanctuary

LRK

Colors of Rann

Onager

Wild Ass Gujarat

Rann Riders

Horizons wild ass

The running wild asses make frame very attractive. Also a golden light with Indian Wild Ass looks beautiful frame and theme photo of colors of rann. 

Wild ass facts

Running Wild Ass

Best time to visit LRK is November to march. You can go from Bajana wildlife sanctuary gate to enter.

LRK : Little rann of Kutch

Nearest village :: DASADA, BAJANA

From Ahmadabad to LRK distance about 100-120 km

Gear used : Canon 1000D, Canon 6D, Canon 100-400mm lens

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Jessore Small Trek In Gujarat
May 18, 2021 | Trekking India Jessore Small Trek In Gujarat

Nature Trek To Jessore Sanctuary : Jessore sanctuary is located in Banaskantha District of Gujarat. The sanctuary is at the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan near Iqbalgadh. The sanctuary is famous for Sloth Bear and so its called Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary. Sanctuary is located in Jessore and Aravalli Mountain Range. In 1978 It declared as a sanctuary. The area of sanctuary is around 180 sq km.

Jessore Sanctuary Gujarat

View from Jessore Sanctuary Forest Office :

Above photos are taken from Jessore Sanctuary Forest office. There is a small dam next to Forest office of Jessore sanctuary. In summer season water level in a dam is very low. During Winter and monsoon lake is full of water. Dam holds water for Sanctuary and for agriculture to surrounding areas. The view of mountain range is belongs to Jessore Sanctuary. So the view is awesome from Forest Office of Jessore.

Kedarnath Trek Jessore Route

Kedarnath Temple Jessore Sanctuary

Trek To Kedarnath Temple At Jessore Sanctuary : 

Well Jessore sanctuary is best for nature trail. Also there is a Temple Of Kedarnath Mahadev inside Sanctuary. So if you want to go for small trek in Gujarat then Jessore Sanctuary is best place. From Jessore Forest office to Kedarnath Mahadev temple is small and easy trek with stairs. You can enjoy jungle trail during this trek. Amazing view at Kedarnath temple 24 hours water in Kund of Temple no one knows where the water came from. 

Jessore Sanctuary Forest Office

Jessore trekking

Flora and Fauna Jessore Sanctuary : 

  • Total 406 spices of plants found at Jessore sanctuary
  • Among them 90 trees, 194 herbs, 33 climbers, 6 pteridophytes, 2 bryophytes, 31 grasses, 1 epiphyte and 2 fungi spices .
  • There are also Leopard, Porcupine, Blue Bull, Sambar, Wild Boar and Specially Sloth bear found here.
  • Jessore Sanctuary is also heaven for Bird watchers because there are more than 100 spices of birds including migratory birds found here like Grey Hornbill, Indian Pitta Hawk Eagle, Scops Owl , Rufous treepie, Asian paradise Flycatchers and many more.
  • Also more than 10 reptiles spices found here like Indian Python ( endangered ), Saw scaled Viper, monitor lizard and kobra.
  • Also Muggar, Turtle and Varanus found here. 

Sunrise at Jessore Sanctuary

Jessore Sloth Bear sanctuary

Trek To Muniji Kutiya :

From Base of Jessore to Kedarnath mahadev Trek is easy and with stairs. After Kedarnath mahadev to Muniji ni Kutiya is hill climb area and its really enjoyable trek in jungle. You can found different spices of trees during trek. At Muniji Ni Kutiya early morning you can see beautiful Sunrise as i captured in above image.

View from Jessore trekking

Trekking in Gujarat

Jessore Morning

How to Reach Jessore Sanctuary :

Nearest Railway station for Jessore sanctuary is Iqbalgadh around 8 km from Sanctuary. Also outstat traveller can go to Palanpur railway station which 45 km far from sanctuary and hire car from palanpur. Nearest Airport is Ahmedabad. For resident of Gujarat i prefer go by own car or go to Iqbalgadh. 

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