In the dreaded Chambal Valley with the BNHS on a birding expedition !!

 The Bombay Natural History Society BNHS has been arranging camps and trips to various nature reserves for many years. I was with them on the Chambal, Bharatpur and Ranthambore camp.

The group was basically a birding group, a fact that I had overlooked in my desire to see Ranthambore. Have you ever been with birders ???? They are amazing . People talk of politics, cars, how the share market is going, women (when none are present), life, children etc. This lot talks of birds – the winged variety. I sat there dumb struck on the Chambal sands (we were waiting for the second group to return from their birding / boating trip) whilst they discussed the particular green shade of some bird ... for 30+ minutes. Crazy. 

This was an animated discussion in all seriousness. Another fact: they have incredible eyesight and intuition. They can identify a bird species, just by hearing its call or looking at its posture – is the tail up or down, is the head at a particular angle, is it a particular colour.

I learnt that sub species are being created so the need to keep updated.  As a guy who knows only the non feathered variety of birds, it was a true learning experience. 

 18^th November                 New Delhi to Dholpur

Date	Time	Mileage	Dist	comments
18/11	6.35	186650		NDLS stn
	8.00 - 8.50	186753	103	Tea break at Shiva Dhaba
	11.30-11.45			Loo break
	12.15	186852	202	Dholpur
	1.45 – 3.00			Lunch break
	3.15	186963	313	Chambal River
	3.40 to 4.50 pm			River cruise Birding Grp. 1

Charge is Rs 1560 for 6 pax for one hour. Camera fee Rs 40. 

Date	Time	Mileage	Dist	Comments
19/11	9.15			Depart for cruise
	9.15 – 10.30			Political picnic
	10.45 – 11.45			River cruise Birding
	11.45 – 12.45			River cruise Birding – 2nd group
	1.00	186982		Left beach for Bharatpur

there are over 1,100 gharials in the river

 

 

This was wonderful experience for me. The group was great and now I am off to the north east with BNHS to see more birds and rhinos. 

Don’t forget, if you like animals or birds, go on a BNHS tour. You don’t have to be a member. 

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