Bird Walk at TS Chanakya, Navi Mumbai

Nine birders joined guide Megha Gupta at TS Chanakya in Navi Mumbai on 20 October for a walk that was simply buzzing with life from the very first minute. A Long-tailed Shrike welcomed the group even before the walk had officially started, and soon afterwards Pied Cuckoos, Red-vented Bulbuls, Painted Storks and Eurasian Spoonbills were all announcing their presence. Barely fifty metres into the trail, the group found the wetland beside them full of all kinds of waterbirds and waders: egrets, storks, sandpipers, plovers, cormorants and Greenshanks, and even a lone Greater Flamingo standing out in pink among them. Beautiful Baya Weaver nests hung from the short trees around the group, a lovely reminder of the breeding season’s handiwork. A little further ahead, Little Grebes, Spot-billed Ducks and Pond Herons added to the list, and the Northern Pintail, a handsome winter duck with its long, elegant tail, arrived as a welcome sign that the migratory season is now well under way. Then a Pied Kingfisher stole the show, its sharp black and white pattern and fishing skills holding the attention of everyone. The walk got a fitting end with sightings of Redshanks, bee-eaters and an Indian Roller flashing its turquoise wings, a perfect finale to the trail. Megha guided the group with warmth and enthusiasm, helping participants spot waders, tell egrets apart and enjoy the sounds and sights of the wetland. In the end, the group recorded 58 species, and the three hours of the walk passed in what felt like a flash. It was a morning of rich birding, shared discoveries and a lovely reminder of how much life gathers around the wetlands of Navi Mumbai.