Saturday 21 December 2013

Bird watching at Pashan Lake, Pune

Purple Moorhen
Purple Moorhen
The winter season is a delight for bird watchers. I love to do bird watching and bird photography hence doesn’t want to miss an opportunity with my new Camera. There are many places around Pune where you can see migratory birds. I visit Pashan Lake once in a week. You can spend plenty of time by just watching birds and their activity. 

About Pashan Lake:
Pashan lake is artificial Lake near Pashan area. The lake was built in the 1990s to supply drinking water. Pashan lake has a total catchment area of 40 square kilometres (15 sq. mi). Now water quality deteriorated due to the quantity of sewage water and other effluents mixing in the water. This Lake area and surrounding area attracts migratory birds and so is a popular spot for bird watchers from Pune.There is narrow footpath Nature trail along Lake. The nature trail is the best place for Bird watching and to capture a photo.

To reach Pashan Lake, join Paud road (by flyover from Dashapuja Ganesh temple) from Pune city – Paud road – Chandani chowk – Do not join on national highway – From Chandani chowk take right (which goes towards Pashan area) –Pashan Road – Drive till Pashan circle – Take left on circle – Do not take right turn towards Pashan-Sus Road –Keep looking for an old arch on left – Take left there – Drive around 1 km and park your vehicle to explore area.



For footpath nature trail, if you are facing to Lake then keep walking on the left side – You will find narrow footpath which goes inside forest – Keep walking and explore other trails on the right side which take you close to the water body. Please mind your steps as some part of land close to the lake is quite middy or covered by water plants.

December 2013: Kothrud to Pashan Lake (Distance is approx. 9-10 km)
I’m a regular visitor to Pashan Lake for bird watching in every winter. It is just as paradise place for bird watchers and that too so close to the city area. Every time, my intention was a bird watching but from this year I started bird photography with my new camera. You can catch me there on a sat evening or in the morning. There is a small island in-between Lake which is home to most of the wetland bird. It’s better to carry binoculars.

I don’t know what to write more on Pashan Lake so I will post a list of birds which you can see in Pashan Lake.
   
Pond Heron 
Purple Moorhen 
Mahratta Woodpecker 
White breasted Kingfisher 
Drongo 
Brahmin Duck 
Small Blue Kingfisher 
Indian Pipit 
Glossy IBIS 
Red-rumped swallow 
Common Coot 
Common Pochard 
Open billed Stork 
Jungle Babbler 
Green Bee-eater 
Spot-bill Duck 
Egret 
Laughing Doves 
Purple Sunbird 
Cotton Teal 
Forest Wagtail 
Little Cormorant 
Pied Kingfisher 
Grey Wagtail 
Indian Whiskered Tern 
Shoveller Duck 
Yellow Wagtail 
Ashy Wren warbler 
Large pied Wagtail 
Painted Stork 
Red wattled Lapwing 
Pied Bushchat 
Asian paradise flycatcher
Pheasant tailed Jacana 
Purple heron 

Bonnelli's Eagle 
House Crow 

Rufousbacked Shrike 
 Jungle Crow 

Redvented Bulbul 
Magpie Robin 


Below are snaps were taken during my various visits to Pashan Lake.

Pashan lake
Misty morning at Pashan lake

Purple Moorhen
Purple Moorhen

Fighting couples of common coot
Fighting couples of common coot

Common coot
Common coot

Spot-bill Duck
Spot-bill Duck

Painted stork
Painted stork Record shot

Purple heron
Purple heron - Record shot

River turn

grey heron
Grey heron

grey heron
Grey heron in flight

River Tern in action - Male River turn came close to Female and he gets the opportunity to mate and raise the family with her. I was lucky to shoot this...!!!

I will try to upload more and more travel blogs. Thanks for reading this Travel Blog.

Pritesh Kulkarni
Pune

28 comments:

  1. It is surprising that such beautiful birds are observed at this location. Your new camera has brought beautiful effects. You may have large collections keeping birds as main subject. Keep it on.

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  2. Hi, You have captured amazing photograghs. Could you please let me know what camera and lenses do you own?

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  3. All the photographs are amazing. Thank you for the details about how to go to Pashan Lake. Keep posting more and more photographs.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much...Happy traveling...!!!

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  4. Could I see the birds in Summer? because I am planning to go this Sunday.

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    1. Yes Sneha, you can spot birds in Pashan lake even in summer. you quantity and variety will less than what you expect during winter time. During Summer you can check Sinhagad bird valley and Thamhini forest area.
      Happy traveling

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  5. What a wonderful blog it is!
    Its very beautiful scene for Bird watching at Pashan Lake

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  6. thanks for the compilation of names.. it really helped me to identify the birds there :)

    add photos for each if possible. I googled all of them for reference pic.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much.. I will try my level best to post all photos!

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  7. Nice snaps, is it possible to spot birds there during this mansoon start period?

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    1. Thanks for Comment...Its not possible to spot birds in Monsoon time whereas you can spot migratory birds in Winter time
      Regards,
      Prits Kulkarni

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  8. Any bus that will take me to Pashan Lake or nearby?

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  9. Wonderful photos! I live near Pashan Lake, and have enjoyed the occasional early-morning stroll in its environs. Can't wait to catch sight of some of these birds this coming winter! Thanks for the list as well, should help me in recognizing the birds whenever I do see them...right now, I'm rather ornithologically challenged. :P

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    1. Thanks for your comment... yes Pashan lake area is really good to spot few migratory birds. hope will meet in this winter as generally visit on every sat for bird photography...

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  10. Can you suggest a birdwatchers club in pune ?

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    1. Not sure about birdwatcher club but there are many wildlife groups. You can make friends from such group to explore nature

      Pritesh Kulkarni

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  11. Hi! Do you still make visits once a week? Despite the rain, is it a good time to go this week?

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    1. I do visit once in week in Winter Time... you will not able to spot any birds in Monsoon...Winter is the best Time

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  12. Hey man! A good blog indeed. I'm a cycle enthusiast. Which entrance would you recommend the jogging track or the one mentioned above?

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    1. Thanks for your comment...Will suggest route which is mentioned above to visit Pashan Lake
      Pritesh

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  13. awsome snaps :D you have clicked pictures like a pro.

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  14. I kept on visiting your blog to see the bird list, and checking if i missed any birds on the list, amazing. Your blog is really useful for me. Thanks for creating this wonderful blog.

    BTW, i believe the name of the first and second bird is Grey-headed swamphen(earlier called Purple Swamphen). The look is very similar with Moorhen, but moorhen is much smaller than Grey-headed swamphen.

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  15. Is there an approach road from bypass side as one can see a arch bridge looking from the bypass into Pasahn lake?

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    1. As per my knowledge, there is no approaching Road from Bypass.

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  16. It is already winter time, do you have any plans to visit, can we join you?

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    1. yes, u can join me...leave your email Id in reply and i will contact you without publishing your comment...

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  17. I would like to add some more birds to the list of birds that we can see there.
    1) Tickell's Blue flycatcher.
    2) Oriental white eye
    3) Ashy drongo
    4) Cattle egrets
    5) Crow pheasant (Bharadwaj)
    6) Munia
    7) Black kite
    and i am surprised you have not added Spoonbill. There are loads of them there.

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  18. I stay at Bandhan. Let me know if you are visiting Prashan lake or any nearby birding spots on any weekend.. I would like to join..
    Have done good amount of birding when in mumbai, shifted to pune and now looking for a group to join..

    If possible, kindly email me


    Prathamesh.mehendale@gmail.com


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