Western India Birding Tour

Duration:9 Nights / 10 days

Destinations Covered: Kutch-Mount Kumbhalgarh-Siana-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur

Day 01: Little Rann Of Kutch

Arrive Ahmedabad airport in the morning & met and transferred to Dasada (100 kms/2 hrs drive approx.) Arrive Dasada and check in to the lodge. Afternoon explore the Little Rann of Kutch by exclusive jeep, accompanied by naturalist.

Day 02: Little Rann Of Kutch

We take a morning and afternoon jeep ride into the heart of the Little Rann of Kutch today, returning for lunch. The Little Rann is most famous for its still healthy population of Indian Wild Ass, and we should see several as we go in search of the areas avian specialties. Our main targets include wintering Macqueen’s Bustard, roosting Sykes’s Nightjar, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Lesser Flamingo, Indian Courser, White-tailed Plover, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers, Imperial, Tawny and Greater Spotted Eagles and occasionally Sociable Plovers.

Day 03: Mount Abu

After a final drive at Little Rann of Kutch we depart by surface for Mount Abu (250 kms/5 hrs drive approx.) Arrive Mount Abu and check in to the hotel. This morning we will leave early for Mount Abu (125 kms / 3 hrs), spending the morning around the open scrub and fields on the top of Mount Abu will hopefully bring us into contact with another rare Indian subcontinent endemic – Green Avadavat. Mount Abu is one of the few known localities for the species and we have an excellent chance of finding a small flock feeding quietly at the base of nearby bushes. White-capped and Crested Buntings are also possible here and any time spent in the forest lower down could include Indian Scimitar Babbler.

Day 04: Kumbhalgarh

Morning birding at Mount Abu for species that we may have missed out on. Later depart by surface for Kumbhalgarh (170 kms/3 hrs drive approx.) Arrive Kumbhalgarh and check in to the camp. Kumbhalgarh, perched high up on the summit plateau of the Aravalli Range, is home to some of the species like Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Francolin, Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Alexandrine and Plum-headed Parakeets, White- naped Woodpecker, White-spotted Fantail, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Jungle Prinia, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Indian Yellow Tit and Crested, which we hope to see driving in the sanctuary by mode of open 4 wheel drive. Afternoon birding at Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary.

Day 05: Siana

Morning birding at Kumbhalgarh sanctuary before driving to Siana (130 kms/3 hrs drive approx.). Arrive in time for late lunch and later commence your exploration. Siana is best known as the village featured in David Attenborough ‘Life of mammals’ to film Leopard. Though we have a chance of seeing Leopard, Striped Hyena, Desert & Jungle Cat, Chinkara, the principal avian species we look for are the nomadic White-bellied Minivet, critically endangered Indian Vulture, Laggar and Red-necked Falcon, Rock Bush Quail, Sirkeer Malkoha and Painted Sandgrouse.

Day 06: Siana

Full day to explore Siana, where we avail morning & afternoon game drives by open 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Day 07: Jaisalmer

Today we will make our way to Jaisalmer (320 kms / 7 hrs). Arrive Jaisalmer by the evening, if time permits we will bird at Wood Fossil Park in Jaisalmer.

Day 08 and day 09: Jaisalmer (Desert National Park)

We have two full days to explore Desert National Park by private vehicle & camel cart. The principal target is India’s most famous, but unfortunately now on rapid decline – Great Indian Bustard. However, the area is also full of birds including another declining, rare species – Stoliczka’s Bushchat, which we hope to find whilst searching for the bustard. A whole range of semi-desert species are also possible here – Cream-coloured Courser, Black-bellied, Chestnut-bellied and Painted Sandgrouse, ‘Desert’ Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Asian Desert Warbler, ‘Punjab’ Raven, Macqueen’s Bustard, Desert Lark, Variable Wheatear, and Lagger Falcon. Three critically endangered vultures are also possible – Indian, White-rumped and Red-headed, along with the more widespread Eurasian Griffin and Egyptian Vulture.

Day 10: Jaisalmer To Jodhpur & Departure

Early morning drive to Jodhpur Airport (320 kms/6 hrs drive approx.) to end the Western India Birding Tour.