After toying with various localities for my next foreign trip, I've finally bought air tickets and mid-December I'm off for a return to India. This trip will concentrate on Rajastan and Gujarat, the latter a little less on the standard birding route.
Got one excellant trip report from Jurek, with mouth-watering stuff from Gir and the Rann of Kutch. However, not finding many other trip reports or information on this part of India, so anybody out there got any infornation or hints?
Particularly interested in visiting the following:
Gir Forest
Rann of Kutch
Velavadar
Marine National Park
In addition to birds, hopefully getting Grey Hypocolius, Crab Plover and Great Indian Bustard as targets, highly desirable mammals are very much on my itinerary too - Asiastic Lion, Leopard, Wild Ass, Blackbuck and (dreaming) Dugong.
[QUOTE=Jos Stratford]After toying with various localities for my next foreign trip, I've finally bought air tickets and mid-December I'm off for a return to India. This trip will concentrate on Rajastan and Gujarat, the latter a little less on the standard birding route.
Got one excellant trip report from Jurek, with mouth-watering stuff from Gir and the Rann of Kutch. However, not finding many other trip reports or information on this part of India, so anybody out there got any infornation or hints?
Particularly interested in visiting the following:
Gir Forest
Rann of Kutch
Velavadar
Marine National Park
In addition to birds, hopefully getting Grey Hypocolius, Crab Plover and Great Indian Bustard as targets, highly desirable mammals are very much on my itinerary too - Asiastic Lion, Leopard, Wild Ass, Blackbuck and (dreaming) Dugong.[/QUOTE]
Hi Jos,
A very attractive destination. There is not much available in the way of detailed trip reports to the area on the net. I have two brief reports on my website at:
Rajasthan: http://www.kolkatabirds.com/rajasthanltreport.htm
Gujarat & Rajasthan: http://www.kolkatabirds.com/tripreporthgujarat.htm
In addition, I think there are a couple of birdwatching Yahoo groups in Gujarat and posting to these may get you some some good and specific information on the area. I'll try and get the address.
Asiatic Lion and Leopard should be a resonably easy tick at Gir but do give yourself some time. I only saw lions on my 4th drive inside Gir on a trip I made a few years ago. Gir has, in my opinion, the highest concentration of Common Leopard anywhere in India. The Bustard and the Blackbuck should be easy at Velvadar but you may see them elsewhere on the trip. Local knowledge is required for the Grey Hypocolius and they have been reported from the Kutch area in Gujarat.
PM me if you need any specific detail. I should be able to get the information for you.
Regards,
sumit