Thirsty stork

Whistling teals and spot billed ducks

Green bee eaters

Sunday morning ..

Misty mornings of Bhopal and one of the best places to be in is Van Vihar, You are greeted by whistling seasick, seasick call  with flights of teals over water ponds. Hundreds of teals will cross over you as you stand and admire their beauty....A gregarious duck known as lesser whistling ducks as seen today morning.. ..

World Migratory Day Special

A special bird watching canp was organised to mark the world migratory day at Van Vihar. Van Vihar Director J S Chauhan, birder & conservationist Lalit Shastri, Satyanand, Indian Forest Service Officer, A S Khare Assitant Director Van Vihar were the resource person for the camp. About 20 people participated in the same. The unique thing of the day was flight of the white necked stork from its nests, sighting of golden oriole and rosy starling during the camp ! And off course teals in air, was site to see ! Later on participants were shown movie titled as Water Birds of Bhopal, produced by Lalit Shastri.

Text & Pics by anil gulati

Where is the Speedbreaker ?

Signboard on the 'jarring and ever expanding' concrete road in Van Vihar in Bhopal.  Where is the speed breaker ? or the sign board was not being used and was dumped here ?

Someting needs to change here !

Interesting !

Interesting four wheeler under the parking sign in Van Vihar !

Enjoying the sun !

Enjoying the sun on a chilly day !

Crocodile at Van Vihar

Dec 18, 2010 morning

Spot billed duck

Spot billed duck & whistling teals (local migratory) with black winged stilt at Van Vihar  

Whistling teals in numbers

Come winters and one can site whistling teals in numbers in Van Vihar !

Hunters are back !

Come winters and one can see hunters on tree's in Van Vihar !

Stork at Van Vihar

Croc at Van Vihar

Tree or Mirror ? Whichone is better ?

Black rumped flameback wood pecker in Bhopal's Van Vihar. On a tree and on an 'official jeep' parked in Van Vihar.

Sloth bear at Van Vihar

Asian Open Bill Stork at Bhopal's Van Vihar

Asian Openbill Stork at Van Vihar, Bhopal.

More info on the species - Asian Openbill Stork is a broad-winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched. It is relatively small for a stork at 68cm length. They breed near inland wetlands and build stick nest in trees, typically laying 2-6 eggs. Breeding adults are all white except for the black wing flight feathers, red legs and dull yellow-grey bill. The mandibles do not meet except at the tip, and this gives rise to the species' name. Non-breeding adults have the white of the plumage replaced by off-white. Young birds have brown tinge to the plumage. The Asian Openbill Stork, like most of its relatives, walks slowly and steadily on the ground, feeding on molluscs, frogs and large insects. Text from wikipedia

Tiger in Van Vihar

At Bhopal's Van Vihar (pic - anil gulati)

Rain Rain Come again !

Deers at Van Vihar

Bird on Flame of Forest !

Sun bird on Palash Tree in Van Vihar on Feb 21, 2009 as it blossoms !

Katrina adopts a leopard named Catreena

It is said in media reports that Katrina Kaif has adopted a leopard which was spotted in a village near Bhopal and was rescued by a team from the national park, Van Vihar. They baptized her ‘Catreena’ because they felt that it was beautiful and silly like Katrina Kaif. When it came to Kat’s knowledge, she enquired with the Van Vihar staff and expressed her desire to adopt the cub. She offers Rs 50,000 annually for the nurturing of the cub. It is reported in media that the leopard was only 15 days old and Kat’s heart came on it.

Indian Roller

Indian Roller in Van Vihar, Bhopal

Nests on a tree in Van Vihar, Bhopal !

Being together

Whistling teals flying over a pond in Van Vihar in Bhopal on Tuesday (feb 9, 2009) morning.

New one at Van Vihar !

This was in Khel Parisar, they have now placed it in the Van Vihar !

Eagle at Van Vihar

Indian Roller at Van Vihar

The Indian Roller (Coracias Benghalensis), formerly also called the Blue Jay is a member of the roller family of birds that is found tropical southern Asia from Iraq to Thailand. It is not migratory, but undertakes some seasonal movements. They are found in open grassland and light forest areas. It is known for the aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season. Males and females are however not readily distinguishable. Several states in India have chosen it as their symbol. (text from wikipedia)

Wild life Ambulance at Van Vihar ?

Wild life ambulance parked at Van Vihar, am not sure if it works or not ? Please see picture and judge for yourself.

Black Winged Kite

The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. This species was formerly referred to as the Black-shouldered Kite, but this name is now only used for the Australian species. (Text from wikipedia)

Tigress at Bhopal's Van Vihar

The kingfisher

Kingfisher bird at Bhopal's van vihar, the National park in capital of Madhya Pradesh. Many species of kingfisher bird live in both woodland wetland habitats of Vihar. And during winters it gets many more. Kingfishers that live near water hunt small fish diving. They also ea crayfish and insects. They are able to see well both in air and under water. To do this, their eyes have evolved an egg-shaped lens able to focus in the two different environments.

The woodpecker

The squirrel

One can site many squirrels on the trees and in Van Vihar and they are at their best here !.

Large Cormorants

Hunters, one can see them in numbers now a days on trees in Van Vihar particularly near the aviary section and bird nest interpretation centre..(pic by anil gulati)

Vihar's beauty

Croc trying to get his prey !

Crocodile at Van Vihar aviary section trying to capture his prey

Antelope in VV

Over the Van Vihar

River tern over Van Vihar

In the aviary pond in Van Vihar

White breasted waterhen in the aviary pond in Van Vihar. This is close to the back gate (Chiku Gate) of the park.

Bird's nest

Bird's nest at Van Vihar, Bhopal

Whistling Teals

Whistling teals - one can site them in numbers in winters. Teals are gregarious species and are a site to watch early morning in Van Vihar.

The hunters

Large cormorants, or the hunters come in numbers in Van Vihar in winters. Though they have been less this year, but now one can see them in numbers but again less then earlier years.