Sunday, November 23, 2014

A visit to Bhindawas Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana

Related links: Visit to Sultanpur

Bhindawas Lake is a large lake in Haryana near the town of Jhajjar. Around 80kms from Delhi (Dhaula Kuan); it is home to a large number of birds and some wildlife (though we didn't see any animals). It has been marked as a wildlife sanctuary, and its 12km perimeter is quite huge, and it is possible to drive in your own vehicle around the same. Scarcely known as compared to its more famous sibling - Sultanpur, this place too was well stocked, however most birds tend to nest in the trees in the middle of the water with ample fish and insects as food.

We stepped forth deciding to go via Rohtak Road and crossed Nangloi and Bahadurgarh at a swift pace with excellent road conditions. Therein we continued towards Jhajjar where we encountered a few small villages along the way with devastating speed breakers at the start and end of each village. reducing our speed drastically. 

Overall the road conditions were quite good and we reached Bhindawas by 8am, starting off at 6am. The one other thing to note is that Google Maps show a slightly roundabout route to reach Bhindawas, however there is a board and a direct right turn (the map below shows that path on the last stretch).

With most birds at a large distance we still got a quite a few sightings, more specifically a large flock of Black-headed white Ibises which were nesting for the winter. More below.

We spent around two hours before returning via NH8 and stopping for breakfast at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary's restaurant which is on the way. We were back at our respective homes before lunch time making up for an excellent and refreshing morning drive.

A lovely white pigeon!

Parakeet

Sparrow, most likely at a distance

Common Hoopoe
Just the silhouette, against the sun

Drive through the perimeter of Bhindawas Lake

Cormorant family
Sitting on a tree in the lake

A camouflaged Purple Heron
What a long neck!


Purple Swamp Hen


The prize catch! Took multiple pics of this fellow before it finally obliged posing perfectly against the sun.
A lovely Kingfisher

A view of the shrouded Bhindawas Lake on an October morning.

Black headed White Ibises
nesting for the winter

Red Wattled Lapwing

Another tree with even more Ibises

A Black Drongo family


Related links: Visit to Sultanpur

Map