Jamnagar Waders Special Birding Tour
Tour Dates: 17th January (Friday) to 19th January 2020 (Sunday)
Bookings Open!
Jamnagar is known as a paradise for birdwatching for its extraordinary birdlife. It is a city located on the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat in Saurashtra region. A combination of marine and freshwater habitats, coast & mudflats, marshes & sandy beaches, scrublands & farmlands; Jamnagar birding offers a variety of common and rare birds that winter here in great numbers as well as use this flyway during migration.
Jamnagar is the only reliable site in India where one can find flocks of Crab Plovers.
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary
Located just 13 kms away from Jamnagar city, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is a wetland haven for water birds. About 200 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded here. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary has multiple habitats including a seasonal freshwater body, inter-tidal mudflats, creeks, saltpans, saline land and mangrove scrub. This small 6 sq km sanctuary is home to thousands of migratory birds during the winter. The place is a known breeding ground of the Great Crested Grebe. It is considered an important site for ecological research and education.
Narara Beach (Marine National Park)
Jamnagar has India’s first Marine Wildlife Sanctuary and first Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch since 1980 and 1982, respectively. Narara Beach is part of the Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park. This beach is a must visit for not only the shore bird sightings like Crab Plovers but also for marine animals which get exposed during low tide. This is one of the rare places in the world where one can look at corals without having to dive down into the water. One just has to walk in the water, when tide recedes, in about 1 to 2 feet of water and watch this fascinating underwater world of corals.
Bedi Port/ INS Valsura/ Dhichda
Bedi Port is an important port close to Jamnagar. Along with Bedi Port, Valsura and Dhichda areas offer excellent birding that too roadside. Bedi Port got very famous with the sighting of a very rare bird called Asian Dowitcher in 2019. The bird spent nearly 4 months at the same spot from January to April 2019 and then migrated back to its breeding grounds.
Balachadi Beach
Balachadi beach is not much known. But this area is home to one of the finest congregations of waders in the region.
Lakhota Lake
Lakhota Lake is a small waterbody in the heart of Jamnagar city with the Lakhota Palace as its center. Every year in the winter, huge flocks of migratory birds including a variety of species of ducks, terns, gulls, grebes, pelicans, etc. descend on this lake, making it a lively birdwatching site. Local birders have recorded nearly 75 bird species from this beautiful lake itself!
Birds: Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Crab Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Great Knot, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Black-necked Stork, Asian Openbill, Shikra, Indian Spotted Eagle, Red-naped Ibis, Oriental White Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Phalarope, White-tailed Lapwing, Ruff, Grey Plover, Grey-headed Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Black-winged Kite, Brahminy Kite, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Great Thickknee, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Grey Francolin, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Little Tern, Indian Skimmer, Black-tailed Godwit, Knob-billed Duck, Common Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Common Teal, Dunlin, Garganey, Western Marsh Harrier, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose, Oriental Darter, Great Cormorant, Rosy Starling, Sand Lark, Orphean Warbler, etc.
Marine Fauna: At Narara beach, one has chance to spot Octopus, puffer fish, lobsters, crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, sponges, soft corals, etc. which get caught in the tidal pools. Other sightings include the endangered sea turtles, dolphins, jellyfish, etc.
Tour Itinerary: (Jamnagar to Jamnagar)
Day 1 (17th January 2020, Friday): Pick Up from Jamnagar railway station at 8:50 am. Check in to a hotel, allotment of rooms, freshen up. And, then do birding until lunch at Bedi Port. After lunch, birding continues at Bedi Port, Valsura and Dhichda area until Sunset. Night at Jamnagar. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2 (18th January 2020, Saturday): Early morning wake up. Morning birding session in Khijadia Bird Sanctuary. Visit Ranjit Sagar Dam. After lunch, visit Balachadi beach. Night at Jamnagar. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3 (19th January 2020, Sunday): Early morning wake up. Shift the entire luggage into one room. Drive to Narara beach. Morning session at Narara Beach (55 kms from the hotel) for Corals and Crab Plovers, Oystercatchers and other waders. After lunch, drive to Lakhota Lake and spend time until Sunset with the migratory birds of Lakhota Lake such as ducks, gulls, terns, grebes and others. Checkout from the hotel & proceed towards Jamnagar railway station to catch 22924 – BDTS Humsafar Express at 8 pm. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Leader: Prateik Kulkarni
Max group size: 12
Travel mode – Non AC Jeep (5 + 1 Sharing)
Cost: Rs. 15,500/- per person *Jamnagar railway station to Jamnagar railway station*
Cost Inclusions:
- Transportation from Jamnagar railway station to Jamnagar railway station in car.
- 2 nights stay at a hotel on Twin sharing basis in non AC rooms.
- All VEG meals – Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Sanctuary entry fees, Vehicle, Guide charges, all Govt. Service Taxes and Fees
- Service of a Wildlife Photographer and Naturalist for the entire tour.
Cost Exclusions:
- Camera Charges at the Sanctuary
- Tips
- Any extra food item which is not included in the meal as per the itinerary
- Soft Drinks
- Any kind of personal and medical expenditure
- Anything that is not mentioned in “Cost Inclusions”
Registration & Mode of Payment:
Limited seats are available for this tour, hence please confirm your seat as early as possible. Your seat will be booked only after receiving the non-refundable advance amount of Rs. 8,000/-
Please send us an email on whitefeatherecotours@gmail.com or send us a text message/ WhatsApp message on 9773689564 once you transfer the above mentioned advance amount for the tour. We will give you payment confirmation after we receive it. Also, please include your full name, age and contact details in the same email/ message.
The remaining amount will be collected in CASH on the day of travel.
Train Recommendation:
Mumbai to Jamnagar:
16th January 2020 (Thursday) – 19217 SAU JANATA Express starts from Bandra Terminus (BDTS) at 17:10 and reaches Jamnagar (JAM) at 8:50 am on 17th January.
Jamnagar to Mumbai:
19th January 2020 (Sunday) – 22924 BDTS Humsafar Express starts from Jamnagar (JAM) at 20:00 and reaches Bandra Terminus (BDTS) at 10.20 am on 20th January.
We look forward to having you on this special migrant watch tour!
P.S. Consumption of alcohol, drugs and smoking etc is strictly prohibited on birding tours. If found the participant will be asked to leave the tour immediately.
Warm Regards,
Prateik Kulkarni
(Founder – White Feather Eco Tours: +91- 9773689564)
For bookings and any queries, email us at whitefeatherecotours@gmail.com or call us on 9773689564.
White Feather Eco Tours 