Bhuj Extension Tour For Special Birds 5 Night And 6 Days
Destination: Bhuj
Duration: 05 Nights & 06 Days
Best time: November to February
Tour Code: 929
Description:
Lying on the border of India and Pakistan, the Great Rann of Kutch is a fantastic birding hotspot, especially for arid-area migrants. Many of the birds found here are extremely rare in the rest of India, such as Marshall’s Iora, White-naped Tit, Grey Hypocolius, and more. In addition, the nearby Mandvi beach is a good place to look for seashore waders and other shorebirds.
Itinerary Overview
Day 01: Arrive at Ahmedabad and drive to Bhuj
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
Arrive at Ahmedabad Airport early morning and immediately leave for Bhuj. Transfer to CEDO Camp. This camp is not only a great place to stay, but also has great in-house naturalists and is active in a lot of social and conservation-related work in the Kutch area.
We will visit Fort Mahadev for targets like White-naped Tit, Marshall's Lora, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Large and Common Woodshrikes, White-bellied Minivet & Sykes’s Lark.
Day 02: Bhuj
Meals: Packed Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
The morning session will be spent searching for the Great Rann’s most famous target: Grey Hypocolius. Once we have found this shy bird, we will proceed further to the Chhari-Dhand wetlands, where we can spend the full day targeting raptors, ducks, waders, cranes, and other wetland species.
Overnight stay.
Day 03: Bhuj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
Today, our main area of interest will be the Lala Bustard Sanctuary, created for the protection of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard. With the addition of the nearby Jakhau Creek, home to mangrove swamps, and the Pingleshwar sea coast, we should be able to target a great many species today, including White-browed (Stoliczka’s) Bush Chat, Indian Courser, Heuglin’s and Slender-billed Gulls, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, and more, including, of course, Great Indian Bustard.
Note: Lala Bustard Sanctuary doesn't remain open between 01 April to 31 Oct every year.
Day 04: Bhuj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
The Great Rann of Kutch is more than just desert and seashore. Today we will explore another habitat, a nearby dry thorn forest of Chaduva, where we should be able to find White-naped Tit, Marshall’s Iora, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, White-bellied Minivet, and more. In the evening, we can check out the nearby Pakhdo Hill for more thorn forest birding.
Return to the base camp.
Day 05: Bhuj
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: CEDO Camp
Today, our main area of interest will be the seashore at Mandvi, to look for targets such as Crab-plover, various gull and tern species, waders, and more. The Topen Sar wetland near Mandvi also has lush green palm patches, where we will be able to see some more birds. En route, we will visit Roha Kotda and Gadhsisa-Poladia for Grey-necked Bunting, Sykes’s and Crested Larks, and more.
Day 06: Bhuj to Ahmedabad and Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
It’s time to say goodbye to the Great Rann of Kutch and travel back to Ahmedabad, where you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Highlights
- Excellent birding
- Interesting journeys and landscape
- A special variety of birds
- Possibility of continuing this tour for coastal birds, Lions & Leopards, Wolves & Hyenas, Harrier Roost
Services Included
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Birding and Rann/grassland/wetland visits with a guide in a 4WD and on foot
- All surface transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
Services Not Included
- Optional tours/excursions, personal & incidental expenses
- Tips, laundry, phone calls, alcohol, camera fee, etc
- International and domestic airfare, visa, insurance
