Little Rann of Kutch

The Little Rann of Kutch is a birding paradise and has been declared a Ramsar Site. During the safaris in the Rann expect to see large flocks of larks, and other dryland birds like sandgrouse, coursers, plovers, chats, warblers, babblers, shrikes. Among the many winter visitors are the houbara bustard and spotted sandgrouse.

The best birding is at the lakes and marshes in and around the Rann where birds gather in numbers beyond comprehension during the winter months from October to March. These are the months when demmossile and common cranes are seen in incredibly large numbers. The wetlands also attract flamingos, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbill, a variety of ducks and other waterfowl.

The Rann is also the hunting ground of raptors like the short-toed eagle, aquila eagles, six species of falcon, buzzards and three species of harrier. It is one of the few places where harriers can be seen roosting on open-ground at night.

Birding sites near Dasada

Rann Riders is the base to visit the bird-rich Nawa Talao lake, a number of seasonal wetlands near Dasada, the village lake of Dasada, the wetland near Patdi fort, Viramgam town lake and many reservoirs of Surendranagar district that offer good winter birding opportunities. Birds like rose-coloured starling and green pigeon are often seen at Dasada village.

In the monsoon months of July, August and September, lesser florican visits the grasslands of Surendranagar District to breed and the vegetation around the wetlands becomes the breeding area for painted storks, several species of resident ducks and other waterfowl. Lesser flamingo breeding colonies have been recorded and photographed in the Little Rann of Kutch during these months.

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

Rann Riders is 44 km from Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, a 105 sq km sanctuary comprising a large lake and its surrounds. Nalsarovar is renowned as one of the finest birding places in Western India. Besides the extensive variety of birds seen in large flocks at the lake, and their predators like the marsh harrier and fishing eagles, visitors can also watch passerine birds at the neighbouring bushes, grasslands and fields. Saras cranes are a frequent sighting in the fields around Nalsarovar.