Hi everyone! I went on a super fun trip to Bhigwan, near Pune, to see amazing birds and animals. We wanted to find Indian wolves, big flamingos, and cool birds called raptors. It was an exciting adventure!
Our journey started very early, and our taxi was a bit late, but we made it to our lodge. Then, we went to Bhigwan lake. It was so peaceful! We saw many birds, like graceful Black-tailed Godwits wading in the water.
A magnificent Black-tailed Godwit, a migratory visitor, gracefully foraging in the serene wetlands of Bhigwan.
We also saw elegant Eurasian Spoonbills flying with their special bills, soaring gracefully in the sky.
Synchronized flight: Eurasian Spoonbills gracefully navigate the pale skies above Bhigwan.
And we saw beautiful Painted Storks standing tall in the water.
An elegant Painted Stork wades in the Bhigwan shallows, embodying the serene beauty of wetland life.
Later, we went on a safari and saw some hyenas far away. The best part was seeing an amazing raptor, a watchful Pallid Harrier, with its yellow eyes. This bird is a winter visitor and very good at looking for food, always surveying its surroundings.
A vigilant female Pallid Harrier, a winter migrant, surveys its territory from a perch in Bhigwan.
Our guide, Amol, was super helpful and a great driver! He knew so much about the birds. One time, our car got stuck in a big hole, but Amol and my friends pushed it out quickly. Even though we didn’t see the wolves, it was a fantastic trip with lots of birds and fun stories!
Our recent trip to Bhigwan, near Pune, India, was an adventure packed with early mornings, unexpected challenges, and incredible bird sightings. This post covers our quest for elusive Indian wolves, the majestic raptors we encountered, and the invaluable help of our local guide, Amol, during our time chasing Bhigwan Harriers Hyenas.
Chasing Raptors and Hyenas in Bhigwan
The journey began with a 2:20 am flight to Pune. Souranil planned this trip, and I booked a cab. Our flight arrived late, and the cab went to the wrong spot. We finally got on our way around 5:27 am, heading to Suyash Palace Lodge. After settling in, we immediately went to the serene Bhigwan lake, hoping to photograph flamingos. It was peaceful, and we identified around 30 bird species. We were thrilled to spot new visitors like graceful Black-tailed Godwits, calmly wading, foraging. We also saw elegant Eurasian Spoonbills, soaring gracefully, their spatulate bills defining their synchronized flight. And the majestic Painted Storks were a sight to behold, standing poised at the water’s edge, wading in shallow muddy water, sometimes with a busy Black-winged Stilt nearby.
A striking Painted Stork at Bhigwan, sharing tranquil waters with a busy Black-winged Stilt.Elegant Painted Storks wading in Bhigwan's wetlands, showcasing their serene beauty at dawn.
Later that afternoon, we set off for a safari towards Karvanwadi, hoping to photograph a hyena. We eventually caught sight of a couple of hyenas, though quite far away. The real highlight was observing a majestic raptor: a Pallid Harrier. A slender Pallid Harrier, a winter migrant, perched vigilantly on a gnarled branch, its yellow eyes keenly surveying its surroundings – a truly watchful character, perfectly poised as it scanned its territory.
The Quest for Wolves and Amol’s Expertise in Bhigwan
The next morning, our main mission began: finding Indian wolves. We started our safari at 5:30 am, heading back to Karvanwadi. Despite an extensive search across the dry, rolling landscape, the wolves remained elusive. We figured they were resting deep inside the forest. While the wolves didn’t show, we did spot a watchful Chinkara, or Indian Gazelle, resting calmly in the dry grass, looking directly at us with an alert expression.
A Chinkara, or Indian Gazelle, rests peacefully in the dry grasslands near Bhigwan.
Our local guide, Amol, was exceptional. He was incredibly skilled and an excellent driver, navigating challenging terrain. Amol shared deep insights into local wildlife and how borders affect migratory birds. His lived experience was invaluable. Adventure struck during an afternoon search when our car got stuck in a big hole! Souranil and co-passengers quickly came to the rescue, pushing the car and placing boulders under the tire. Within five minutes, we were moving again. By almost 5 pm, with no last-minute wolf sighting, we decided to start our journey back to Pune. Despite no wolves, the trip was a wonderful adventure. The Suyash Palace Lodge offered nice, comfortable beds. Despite the initial cab hiccup, I’d still recommend MakeMyTrip. This adventure, excluding flights, cost us approximately ₹13,500.
This is a collaboration between Anirban and the AI Agent he has created to assist him in writing the blog post. The work of the AI agent is to use Anirban's personal trip notes, and photographs to create blog posts. It is verified by Anirban before it is published on the personal blog.
