They say that what ever you do on the new year day, you will end up doing the rest of the year! So, I decided to spend at least half of the day in a forest. Karnala Bird Sanctuary is 30-45 minutes drive from New Bombay. The best birding activity is in the morning, so we were out the door at 7:00 AM.
Saru: We are out in the forest, birds are chirping....do you feel that zen thing again?
Vam: What?
Saru: You know, the zen thing you felt at Bhimashankar?
Vam: No
Saru: Why not? See, there are langurs and squirrels here and a nice breeze is blowing. Why are you not feeling that zen thing?
Vam: I am just not feeling it, especially with you buzzing in my ear.
Saru: Oh! So, it is me then. You need me to be away to feel the zen thing?
Vam: Enough with the zen thing. Look around, it is very beautiful. See that tree there, isn't it beautiful.
Saru: I don't think so.
The forest was very beautiful. We took the 'Hariyali Trail' and luckily came across a group of birders. These guys had a spotting scope and knew what they were doing, so we tagged along with them for the next hour. They identified the birds and we confirmed the names in the bird book. We saw:
- A beautiful black-hooded oriole
- Lots of golden-fronted Leafbirds (chloropsis)
- Yellow crowned woodpeckers (female)
- Common Ioras
- Scarlet Minivets
- Brown-headed Barbets
- Jungle Babblers
- Crimson / Purple Sunbirds
- Black, Ashy Drongos
- Greater Coucal
- White-Throated Kingfisher
Scarlet Minivet
Bad picture of a Golden-Fronted Leafbird
After a while, we got separated from the group and went our own way. Saru was humming a song from RNBDJ and walking along.
Saru: Hey Vam, Do you see 'Rab' in me?
Vam: Huh?
Saru: You know, like in the movie. Mujme rab diktha hai?
Vam: Nope. Not at all.
Saru: Really. That's not good.
Vam: Why, do you see 'Rab' in me?
Saru. No, but that is besides the point.
Vam: Oh, so I should see 'rab' in you, but you don't need to?
Saru: Sshh, look there - Kingfisher!
White-Throated Kingfisher
It was afternoon and we turned back home promising ourselves that we would return to Karnala on Sunday. What a great way to start the New Year.
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LOL. I love the "discussions" you have going on with your husband...they're very entertaining. *laughing uncontrollably at "do you see rab in me"*
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures...my favorite is the one with the sunlight filtering in through the trees. It captures the zen moment really well ;)
Your posts on bird watching make me want to pick it up again from where I left off.
vagabond,
ReplyDeleteThanks. When I don't have much to write , I add these conversations. I sometimes worry if they come across as silly, but that is us.
We laugh a lot when we go back and read our travelogues from a few years back.
I agree..a great way of spending a new year and these conversations add more zen to the entire trip :)
ReplyDeleteIt reads very easily Vamsee. You are right. It is important to take time and do the simple things that give us joy. Nice pictures. Particularly liked the one with the sun streaming through the leaves. Looking forward to reading your updates on your new year resolutions.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of this beauty do produce and translate into some zen moments.
ReplyDeleteYou two are hilarious!
ReplyDeleteBut I worry a bit about the New Year’s thing: I was on the phone for most of the morning and then on the computer, mostly catching up on reading blogs, since I was away for a few days without Internet connection. That’s really not what I want to do for the rest of the year. Why, oh why didn’t I start out with your blog!!
A very, VERY Happy New Year to the two of you!
That is funny !! and the second picture is seriously good !!!
ReplyDeleteLakshmi, Bhaskar
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was a great morning to be outside....cool, but not cold.
Fida,
We spent half the day outside, but the rest of the day was very lazy...ate bad food (husband cooked:), slept in the afternoon and watched re-runs of Seinfeld and Simpsons. So, we are screwed too:)
hitch writer,
Thanks. That picture is my favorite too.
Re: RNBDJ, Ha, ha! That was funny. :)
ReplyDeleteWish you an exciting 2009...filled with birds, among other things.
Great photos of birds. I never managed to get any interesting birds in my camera so far...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots really, what a way to start the new year! Have another rocking year ahead!
ReplyDeletelovely captures beautiful blog
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
have been upto the fort ... lovely place... am not a birder but love your pictures!
ReplyDeleteHi Vamsee! Hope you survived the food and the champagne, and entered 2009 in great shape! ;))
ReplyDeleteThis post is brilliant. The pictures are absolutely stunning!
Blogtrotter will be posting on Delhi the next weeks; lots to see… Hope you like it and wish you a great weekend!
Great pics and an interesting narration. But 35-40 minutes from New Bombay? How far is it? Never heard of a sanctuary so close to Bombay...
ReplyDeleteCan I ask you which camera(s) do you have? Or have I asked this before? :P
Thanks guys. Bird photography is not easy, so we feel lucky if we get one good picture per trip and none of the above count as good pictures according to Saru.
ReplyDeleteAshes,
Karnala Bird Sanctuary is about 10 KM from Panvel. It is a small park, the longest trail is a 6 km loop. New Bombay is great that way. We can drive 30-60 minutes and be in the middle of wilderness.
Oh that is pretty cool! I shall make it a point to visit Karnala Bird Sanctuary the next time I am in Bombay.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vamsee for visiting my blog. Wish you too A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way you have some good books on your library :)
Vamsee : You have a beautiful blog. Well written and some amazing images to share your experiences.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the awesome collection of bird images on your blog...Thomas
wow ! amazing pictures.....
ReplyDeleteWow, already 20 comments and counting... The first picture steals the show.
ReplyDeleteYou r really good at this 'HumDono' thing! u shd write a book:D
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kalyan. That's indeed a beautiful photograph of the tree. If I am not mistaken, it is Bhojpatra.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! I like your first line. I hope this is true, because we spent the first day of the year in the wilderness too!
ReplyDeletevery nice idea to include your conversations in your posts! ROFL for that "rab" thingy. :)
ReplyDeleteI bet bird photography is not so easy.. spotting them first and then manage to capture them before they take off.. wonderful pictures.
And thanks for commenting on my post. :)
Good one, Check this out - http://www.timetotravel.co.in/2012/06/karnala-bird-santuary.html
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice adventure trip to Karnala Bird Sanctuary. Nearby inside it Karnala fort is also there which is a must visit. For Accommodation near Karnala Bird Sanctuary visit http://www.karnalapanoramicresort.com
ReplyDelete