Keoladev National Park

 The highlight of my trip.

We were finally going to go to a Bird sanctuary for the first time!

We were rushed up by Ankush and we were done with our breakfast by 8 am. We had read that one should be prepared to spend about 3-4 hours in the park..and for me that was crazy cos I have Anuva who is 4yrs and with kids, its difficult to spend so much time. I was hoping to get back to our room by lunch and relax.

We started our journey at 8:30 am with our guide Sanjay and our rikshwalla uncle, whose rikshaw is called the whistling duck.In Bharatpur, you have the option of taking a Cycle rikshaw, or cycles. So, Anuva and I sat in the rikshaw and Ankush,Ansh and Sanjay were on the cycles. The cycle and the guide and rikshaw services are payable per hour. Probably this is the reason the guide and the rikshawalla, don't hurry and take as much time as they can.

Sanjay is a  brilliant guide perhaps like many others in Bharatpur. i absolutely loved his company for he was so knowledgeable. i asked him if he enjoyed birding , to which he promptly said "ji haan mam". He told me that to become a  guide an entrace test is held after which guides are selected and trained by the government. they have to give an exam every year. A lot of training sessions are also held to keep the guides updated with new techniques in the field and any other information.



Keoladev welcomes us!

Yellow footed green pigeons

  Brahminy starling 

Yellow vented bulbul

Jungle babbler

Common kingfisher

spot billed duck

 This is how they dive to catch their food

Our first ever sighting of the Saras crane.This park has 4 couples .   The 4 couples sleep together but move out in pairs in the mornings. The evenings resonate the calls of the Saras crane which can be heard from 1.5 kms away

 Grey Heron

Whistling Ducks

Little grebe

Great cormorant

Spotted owlet pair

Comb Ducks

Flameback woodpecker

We came to a  point where we now started on our foot.We walked about a  km and reached a place where we were told we would see pythons! Pythons?!! Like the ones on discovery..in real? We reached a point where we had to maintain absolute silence..and then Sanjay pointed to a direction and I strained my eyes to see two Indian Rock pythons.

They were Basking and then they moved . It was then we realised how big they were

Sanjay asked if we wanted to see more pythons or should we head back..considering we had a kilometers walk to get back and a little lady to carry in turns, we decided to return.

Antler shed by a  deer being examined by Ansh

Miss Anuva Enjoying her ride

Malabar grey Hornbill

little green Egret

 Indian Shag

 Darter

After the long walk , we reached a  place where we took a  break and had tea and some samosas . I still hadn't realised it was already 1 pm. The weather was so beautiful that there was absolutely no sweat, no fatigue .

We reached a  tree where there were so many fruit bats also known as the flyingFox

A black necked stork

A flock of spoonbills  and white headed ibis

Bar headed geese.

Greylag goose

A lone stint

Shikra

White tailed plover

Ruddy Shelduck

A monitor lizard

We saw the Blue throat many times and in every click i have, has its back!

We spotted this second pair of Saras crane from a distance and the pair was visible only with the aid of binoculars. So our guide asked if we want to get closer and we said yes!

So off we went to the closest we could get to them on a  rikshaw and then by foot

By now , we were exhausted I still didn't know the time..no I wasn't wearing a  watch and i didn't know where my phone was! I only knew that the sun was almost setting now..so we were now nearing the end of our visit and sitting in the rickshaw, I saw this really huge bird. I could make out its an eagle. When i showed my Sanjay this pic he said Mam this is the Imperial Eagle which under the conservation status is vulnerable . 

In the morning, I was so unsure about spending 4 hours here and i realised we had spent 8 hrs! and considering my kids dint have lunch and Anuva ate only a  banana for lunch, i owe a great deal to them for holding on. I wish we had one more day in here. We loved it so much. I shall certainly return , and this time with a  bigger lens for better pics.