I had originally planned to make Bharatpur an annual trip, but last year due to a general lack of time and other plans, I had to drop it. This year though, I had a day off to revisit the place. The roads to the place haven't changed much. There are still the bright yellow fields, the irritating rail crossing with endless jams and the usual rollers, kites, painted storks and the occasional adjutant to be found along the roads. Have always preferred the roads to travel rather than the train and hadn't changed that even though this was my 3rd trip there.
Keoladeo itself though has been changing gradually. There is quite a bit of work going on at the perimeter disturbing the pythons which were found at the edges of the park. Saw none of them this time. The dusky eagle owl had changed its nest as well to a further off place where it was much more difficult to see let alone photograph, the Siberian ruby throat hadn't arrived and the humongous monitor lizard near the cafeteria in the park was nowhere to be found. There is of course much more water in the park which allows more more birds to settle in even if they are too far to get a snap. The number of jackals, boars and deer seen on the road has also reduced considerably.
Some of the other subjects from the previous year though hadn't changed their spots much. The common kingfisher was still there, the storks colony remained, my guide confirmed that the grey nightjar was still around the same place and barbets, spotted owlets, thrushes and green pigeons stuck to their same trees. The roads were all now open since the tiger from 2 years ago had been relocated. Further into the park is a lot quieter with the number of casual visitors dropping beyond the cafeteria.
Overall though there was still plenty to see and the changing ecosystem
with more water in the park has made it much better. The migratory birds
were there (the sarus cranes even had a chick), the tortoises were out
in great numbers, the water birds seemed to be increasing and there is
still enough to keep any photographer busy for a while. Would be
certainly looking forward to going there next year as well.
I had originally planned to make Bharatpur an annual trip, but last year due to a general lack of time and other plans, I had to drop it. This year though, I had a day off to revisit the place. The roads to the place haven't changed much. There are still the bright yellow fields, the irritating rail crossing with endless jams and the usual rollers, kites, painted storks and the occasional adjutant to be found along the roads. Have always preferred the roads to travel rather than the train and hadn't changed that even though this was my 3rd trip there.
Some of the other subjects from the previous year though hadn't changed their spots much. The common kingfisher was still there, the storks colony remained, my guide confirmed that the grey nightjar was still around the same place and barbets, spotted owlets, thrushes and green pigeons stuck to their same trees. The roads were all now open since the tiger from 2 years ago had been relocated. Further into the park is a lot quieter with the number of casual visitors dropping beyond the cafeteria.
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