Bhigwan - paradise of migratory waterfowl

Bhima River Dam Backwater

Background of Bhigwan wetland -

The Bhigwan wetland is actually a backwater of Ujjani or Bhima river dam. The Ujjani Dam is the terminal dam on the river Bhima which is a tributary of river Krishna. The reservoir created by the Ujjani dam is also one of the largest wetlands in Asia, known as the Bhadalwadi Lake.

Since its creation in 1980, the reservoir backwaters attract, every year, a large number of migratory birds (from North India and other countries).

The migratory bird species in the Ujjani reservoir have been studied by the Science and Technology Park (STP), a Pune based institution, who have recommended to the Ministry of Environment and Forests that the reservoir be recognized as a "Wetland of International Importance" under the Ramsar Convention in view of the wetland recording 384 aqua fauna species including 112 species of birds out of which 11 are under the IUCN category of threatened species.

There are 166 species of vertebrates, 182 invertebrates and 23 genera of phytoplankton. Some of the key species which measure to the international status of this wetland are: Greater Flamingos, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Painted Stork, moorhen, Small Pratincole, river terns, aquatic insects, Pied kingfisher and Stilts. (^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujjani_Dam)}

My past experience of the wetland -

I had been to Bhigwan wetland during 1996 and was amazed by the bird population and variety. The whole exposure to such big and enriched wetland as compared to the smaller size wetlands on the Pune-Solapur road, had created a huge impact on me. The orientation to the sanctuary was provided by well known naturalist Mr. kiran Purandare, that time Education Officer of WWF, Pune division. Bharatpur (Kevaladeo Ghana National Park) is thousand times bigger and richer than Bhigwan, which I was fortunate to visit during Jan 1997.

My recent excursion 2013 (13 Feb) -

During January 2013, I organised a short duration orientation excursion for a small group of people, who never had been to wetland or any wildlife sanctuary before. I had with me a professional wildlife photographer Mr. Rattan Gangadhar as a teammate. We planned this for nearly 2-3 weeks prior to the actual day of excursion.

Three days prior to the actual date of excursion, I asked help of my old friend Jaya Rane to get a boatman, who will take us closer to birds. Jaya was kind enough to provide me his cell phone number. His name is Bapu Nangare and is been providing his boat and his expertise in identification of birds since long. I contacted him. He appeared cheerful and welcoming. He told us to come around 7 am as it was winter and sun rises late. He instructed us not to come too late as birds disperse when temperature rises.

We left Pune at early morning Saturday, 13 Feb 2013. Due to some unforeseen vehicle problems, we reached Diskal around 9 am when the boat ride was supposed to end. However, Bapu was very patient in giving us guidelines to reach the exact location where he had parked his boat.

Bapu a local resident fisherman, welcomed us with a smile and led us to the shore. We saw a stone bridge over the river and immediately we were greeted by large and small birds. We saw Pond Heron perched on the colorful wooden boat, who then flew away to one of the stone pillars of the bridge.

^{Welcoming sight -}

We could see many Pond Herons and Cattle Egrets silently sitting on other adjoining pillars of the bridge. All those pillars are stained white due to the calcium deposition from fish and molluscan meal. Those pillars were providing shade to those birds, who might have done fishing standing in bright sunlight.

We were led by Bapu to his boat. He guided all of us to board his boat so that weight was evenly distributed. He then started rowing with his pedals towards opposite shore and on left side (east). We started meeting lot of ducks now, who were fishing in deep water. As the boat was in motion, it was hard for us to shoot by camera.

Resting place in the middle of water -

Then, we reached one old partially submerged construction, which was occupied by lesser Cormorants and Little Egrets. Whole building in the midst of water was stained chalk white due to shit. It was a good sign that these waterfowl migrated from long distance, have found enough food here in Bhima river (backwater of the dam). We tried to camera shoot birds, but they unfortunately dispersed by flying away. We instructed our group members not to disturb birds and not threaten them by any way especially with animation.

Near shoreline -

Bapu rowed his boat more towards a shoreline and was encouraging us by saying that he knows a place where he finds Bar headed geese and Greater Flamingos. We were very eager to see them. As boat progressed in its course, we started seeing big birds on the horizon. There was lot of grass, some cattle, few people - probably other fishermen families tending their nets after their early morning fishing trip on the opposite bank.

As we started approaching the shoreline, we went into a rapture to see hundreds of Greater Flamingos both adults and juvenile (subadult/immature) feeding on algae and, preening feathers. Behind them were Brown Headed gulls in large flocks. Near the shoreline on the grass were Bar headed geese and Brahmany ducks.

Bapu went on rowing his boat closer to the birds. They started shifting towards shoreline.

Now fortunately, we had some clouds overhead. That helped us protect from direct sunlight and photoshoot birds. We also saw lots of Cormorants drying feathers on the rockies, Grey Herons, Spoonbills, Little Egrets, Intermediate Egrets, White Ibises eating food. It was like a Kumbhmela of these beautiful birds.

I was thanking God for this opportunity to be so close to these wonderful birds. I later, requested Bapu not to get too close to the birds and disturb their feeding and make them uncomfortable. I told another boatman to follow the suite. I suggested Bapu to just make the boat steady as much as possible, so that we can capture images of these birds from a comfortable distance. We made most of this opportunity, as the boat was swaying with light breeze and waves. The whole experience of being in the midst of pink beauties was beyond words. It was a heavenly calm and balm to the tired minds and bodies of we citizens.

I was particularly pleased to see the Bar headed Geese as they crossed mighty Himalayas - the highest peak - Everest to get here for food. I was happy seeing this humble lake (backwater) providing them enough food so as to lure them to come every year.

We had less than average rainfall last year in and around Pune and were expecting low water level in the wetland and less number of birds. However, when I saw those birds in hundreds I felt really good and peaceful inside.

When we had enough of Flamingos for the day, Bapu turned his boat around and took us to another direction. We again were in deep waters for a while and could see many ducks. We did not get a chance to identify or photoshoot them. I was eager to see painted storks, and other waterfowl, which I could not see before. Bapu promised us to show painted storks. Till then, I felt serene and relaxed just by being in the waterbody.

And now, we could see lots of birds again hundreds of them large and small from the distance. As we drew closer, we could see Painted Storks, Black headed gulls, Grey Herons, Spoonbills.

Near the shore on the grass, we saw Marsh Harrier female feeding on something.

Soon, gulls started flying close to surface of the water and fishing. We could clearly see some of them catching fish and taking off again. Few tried to snatch that easy meal and we saw twists and turns and a kind of frenzy of stealing and fighting over meal.

After a while, some of the Painted storks took to flight, and we became mesmerized to see their beautiful pink and dark green plumage shining under the Sun.

We went into a different world being in the midst of flying and swirling Painted Storks and Brown headed Gulls and Marsh Harrier female joining the frenzy of fishing. The birds were very close encircling on our head. We sat still and went on clicking as much as possible.

Now, it was 11 in the morning, we were feeling literally full with heavy exposure to the birds. We had our clicking session to the fullest as well. I suddenly asked, where are Demoiselle cranes and coots and other storks and pelicans? Bapu smiled and said nothing. I murmured to myself, "If I feel fresh enough, I might come for these remaining beauties in the evening or next day early morning".

We were brought to the shore near the bridge. We paid Bapu and expressed our heartfelt thanks to him.

While coming back walking under the stone bridge along the shore, we saw a group of variety of big and small birds near shoreline. We also saw three Egrets - Cattle, Little and Intermediate close to one another along with Spoonbills, Northen Shoveler couple, Black winged Stilt, Painted Storks, White Ibis, and Pond Herons.

We saw White necked Stork silently standing among the smaller birds. Rattan slowly advanced towards White Necked Stork with his DSLR and silently started clicking. The bird, after some time took to flight and was clicked by Rattan.

We saw one beautiful Pond Heron white snow white plumage perched on a steel structure.

Me and Prachee quietly just sat on a rock and took in the whole scenario and tried to absorb intense experience of being with these resident and migrated waterfowl.

Aftermath:

I felt so full that I did not pursue my plan of going to wetland again and see remaining birds in the evening or next day morning. Instead, I opened my guidebooks and tried to read about the birds we saw. I tried to identify some of ducks. I took an informal class of group members, who were new to this world of birds. They got kind of indoctrinated and vouched to pursue this interest.

Next Plan:

We wish to approach this wetland from another road - once you reach Bhigwan, cross the town, and reach the southern end of the town. Drive along NH9, for 8 KM beyond Bhigwan towards Solapur, till you reach a village Dalaj no. 2 (near Bhadalwadi lake). Here take left and reach the banks of backwaters near villages Kumbharwadi, Dalaj where you can see birds in the backwaters near villages Kumbharwadi, Dalaj. (Vivek Kale http://bhigwan.blogspot.in)

^{We also wish to follow this wetland in all seasons to see how change in temperature, availability of food changes the influx and departure of birds. We can also see how the resident birds survive when opportunistic migratory birds come and go.}