Gujarat Birding and Wildlife Trip Report

Guest: Mr. B. N. Mohanty & Family
Duration: 13 Days |
Dates: 03–15 January 2026

Day 1 | 03 January – Arrival & Thol Bird Sanctuary
We started our Gujarat birdwatching trip by getting a nice welcome at Ahmedabad Airport. We then went to Hotel Lemon Tree and checked in. After having lunch and taking some rest, we went for our first birdwatching in the evening at Thol Bird Sanctuary. It is in the Ahmedabad area.

Multiple lion sightings made this day special. Post the safari, we left for Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, reaching by evening.

Day 11 | 13 January – Velavadar Magic

We only had two safaris planned here, and both the morning and evening were just beyond our expectations. Velavadar is known for Harriers and then the Indian Wolf and Striped Hyena, and we were lucky to see them, and Sykes’s Nightjar and Short-eared Owl as well.
As anticipated, Blackbucks in large numbers dominated the grasslands. And the ultimate bonus post dinner—a successful night photography session with the Pallid Scops Owl—a whole different and thrilling experience.
 

While the evening safari drew a blank, the experience was an overall satisfying one.

Day 10 | 12 January – Lion Families & Velavadar
One of the memorable moments of the tour was the morning safari. Our first sighting was a pride of lions,s which had a lioness and her 6 cubs, followed by another sighting of a lioness and her 3 cubs, followed by another lioness and her 3 cubs.

After a fruitful session, we drove to Gir National Park, arriving in the evening. The rest of the day at leisure and preparation for the upcoming safaris.

Day 9 | 11 January – Gir Safaris
Seeing the Asiatic Lion is always the main attraction in Gir. Our luck ran out pretty early, as we saw a mating pair of Lions on the morning safari, which gave us some good sightings and photo opportunities.

It was a novel experience to walk among sea creatures and coastal birds together.

Day 8 | 10 January – Bedi Port & Journey to Gir
We started our mornings by birding at Bedi Port, the salt pans that adjoin the sea, which hosted a good number of Indian Skimmers at this time of year, along with both Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls.

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By noon, we were back at the hotel. Lunch, and we were on our way towards Jamnagar. Checked in and rested.

Day 7 | 09 January – Marine National Park, Narara

At Narara Beach, a section of the Marine National Park, we were introduced to the sea. As expected, in addition to the interesting marine life, the intertidal zone supported large numbers of shorebirds – Crab Plovers, Oystercatchers, Gulls, Terns, and waders like Ruddy Turnstone in hundreds.

Day 6 | 08 January – Final LRK Safari & Jamnagar
On our last morning safari in LRK, we finally drove out to the real Rann, endless cracked white land stretching as far as the eye can see, unlike anything anywhere else. There were raptors, but it didn’t matter – it was being out there, in this raw landscape, that was truly unforgettable.

Evening safari got us Indian Wild Ass, Desert Fox, Nightjars, and the day ended with a sense of adventure in this surreal landscape.

Indian Wild Ass, Desert Cat, and Macqueen’s Bustard were the targets. The day started with big flocks of Flamingos, followed by a huge variety of waterbirds and waders.

Day 5 | 07 January – Little Rann Safaris
LRK had morning and evening safaris planned for us. Because this landscape is so unique, it is a fantastic mix of wetlands and desert landscape, thorn forests, and the vast salt pans give us an incredible terrain.

Day 4 | 06 January – Buntings & Little Rann of Kutch
Our plans were to leave for the Little Rann of Kutch; however, our bunting targets needed another visit as morning light is the best for photography. This proved to be the right decision, as we got some superb photographs.

After breakfast, we finally left for LRK and reached around lunchtime. After lunch, we did some birding in the resort premises and had a relaxed, yet productive afternoon.

The day was not over yet. Sykes’s Nightjar and Barn Owl at night ensured that we went to bed happy after a productive day as we returned to our hotel.

 

By evening, we checked into our hotel and enjoyed a leisurely tea break before we made plans for a special nocturnal activity. Not very far from where we were staying, a Pallid Scops Owl visits agricultural fields regularly. We waited and waited—almost an hour—before the owl flew in! The bird didn’t stay long, and we couldn’t photograph it, but it was a satisfying sighting. We returned satisfied that the night had delivered! 

 

Day 3 | 05 January – Full Day at Nalsarovar
Today was devoted entirely to birding at Nalsarovar, albeit with a twist. Most of our target species were not within the sanctuary but peppered across various habitats surrounding it.
During the day, we managed to find several key species – Spotted Crake, Sarus Crane, Red-headed Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Namaqua Dove, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Demoiselle Crane – each species in its own preferred habitat.

Day 12 | 14 January – Final Birding & Departure
As we prepared to head back to Ahmedabad, the tour had reached its final phase. With the distance not being much, we utilized the morning for birding to the full before we began our drive.
With memories that will last long, fantastic sightings, and a multitude of photographs, the Gujarat Birding & Wildlife Tour ended on a perfect note.

Trip Report by Deepak Kumar

Day 2 | 04 January – Thol Morning & Nalsarovar
We got up early to go birding at Thol in the morning, getting to see birds in the lovely, gentle light. Then, after breakfast, we started the drive towards Nalsarovar, another of Gujarat’s legendary wetlands

Thol is a small but very nice wetland. Many kinds of birds come from other places to stay here. Because it was a weekend, many local people were there. But the birds were amazing to watch! There were thousands of Common Cranes flying. I have never seen so many Glossy Ibis before. My camera had so many pictures. We went back to the hotel to sleep.

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