I had a spare day tagged onto the end of a business trip to India, which had finished in Mumbai. I had thought about going to Sanjay Ghandi National Park in the north of the city but my hotel was in the south next to the Gateway to India, and the long, hot, tedious journey from the airport in the north to the hotel convinced me that this was not a great idea. Fortunately boats left the Gateway for Elephanta Island which, as well as having some old Hindu caves, also had some tress - a rare thing in south Mumbai.
After an hours boat ride I arrived at the Island at about 10am. The tide was out and there were waders around the jetty. I saw Common and Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Little, Great and Cattle Egrets, Whimbrel and Black Headed Ibis. There was also an Indian Pond Heron and a White Fronted Kinkfisher. As I walked along the Jetty I almost stood on a Hoopoe, which hopped away a few feet but seemed remarkably tame. A couple of Purple Rumped Sunbirds played in the reeds.
At the end of the Jetty is a small villiage. The shore line here was littered with rubbish, and house crows, cows and ferel dogs enjoyed a feast. I followed some stairs from here which climbed up to the caves, runing the gauntlet of hawkers on either side. At the top I avoided the other tourists and turned right along a path that climbed up to the top of Cannon Hill through some forest. Immediately a Shikra flew right in front of me and pearched in a nearby tree. A little further on I came across a tree buzzing with life. I spotted Coppersmith Barbet, Common Iora and Common Taylor Bird. The forest thined as I got to the top and a lagre flock of Asian Palm Swifts flew all aound me.
I made my way back down the hill, and decided to completley avoid the caves which everyone else had come to see, and headed back down to the village. I walked left through the village and was pleasently surprised to come out the other side in a beatiful area of open grass and hedgerows bordered by the forest. I wondered arond here for a couple of hours in the sun and did not see a single person. Plain Prina where abundent, and I saw a Zitting Cisticola in the grass, and a Booted Warbler sang in a bush and gave excellant close views. Over the next couple of hours other birds came and went - Spotted Dove, Purple Sunbird, Black Drongo, Green Bee-eater and both Red-Vented and Red-Wiskered Bulbuls. Black Kites and a Changeable Hawk Eagle circled above me.
Eventually the heat of the sun forced me into the shade of the forest and I took a path that looped back towards the village. I got good close views of a Brahminy Kite pearched in tree. Near the edge of the forest I came across a large mixed-flock. As well as some of the birds I'd seen before, new additions were Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker, Indian Robin and a Black-Headed Cuckooshrike. From here I wandered back to the boat and headed for the hotel and some cold leamonade.
A great day - and if anyone ever finds themselves with some spare time in South Mumbai, this place is worth a visit. There are a lot of tourists here but if you avoid weekends and get off the beaten track, you should be able to find some peace and quiet - and some interesting, if not especially rare, birds.
Sounds a great day out Mcali.
I did the same thing about 15 years ago (also stayed at the Taj Hotel, but unfortunately in the newish annex tower block rather than the original old hotel). I had a great day out on Elephanta Island. It was a weekend, but only local families with no tourists, but didn't see half the birds you did. Well done and you are right, definitely worth the trip, and really easy from The Gate of India.
Derek
Thanks for sharing your great day on Elephanta....when my family and I were last in Mumbai we gave this a miss due to the large amount of tourists heading that way , thanks to your post, on our next visit we will definately give it a go.
Thanks
Cheers
ColD