ARAI Hill (Vetal Tekdi) Never Stops Surprising 24th Jan 2016

After my first birding expedition with my father (post link), I was impressed by the ARAI Hill or Vetal tekdi as we Punekars call it. Actually I was surprised to know that there is such a rich ecosystem just in my city and I was unaware of it. All I knew about ARAI Hill or Vetal tekdi, is that there is an institute called ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) because I worked there for one of my projects and Vetal tekdi is a place for exercises. Never it occurred to me to go towards the quarry, roam around to see if there is anything more to look for?

It was the last week of Jan 2016, the 24th of January. Also, the last day of my vacation in India as I was living in the US at that time for an official visit. So, despite resistance from my family, I still went to ARAI hill for birding. My last visit did some magic on me that I wanted more. So I left home at around 8:00 AM (because I had to go through a discussion as I mentioned earlier 🙂 )

It was still chilly and I went on my Dio. The beautiful, Sunrise welcomed me on the ARAI Hill at the parking spot. Without any further delay, I took out my gear took a photograph of the Sun. It indeed looked like a Good Morning!

I started walking towards the quarry via a narrow path through the bushes and the trees which go directly towards the exercise area. I went across this area towards the quarry and started walking down in the quarry. I was in some unknown hurry somehow! The moment I entered the quarry I spotted the Black-Winged Kite. I was moving very slowly and cautiously towards the kite. I took my first shot in a hurry as I heard some kids coming towards the quarry.

The kids were just kids making noise and trying to have fun. But, unfortunately, they had me in their way. I waved at them and asked them to slow down and showed them the bird. I felt good when they listened to me and took some interest in what I was following. I took advantage of this situation and took some snaps at that Balck winged kite.

Finally, it flew away and then we all moved our own way. I continued towards the ponds in the quarry. To my minor disappointment, there were already some people in the quarry with their bikes. I was a bit worried if this will ruin my visit! Just when I was thinking this I caught a White-Throated Kingfisher. Although not an exciting find for some, it still l took a shot at it.

As I moved towards the bigger pond, I saw a pair of birds flying from far-right towards the pond. At first glance, I thought of them I thought they were crows (it kind of scared me because according to me crows shoo away other smaller and weaker birds easily). As they came closer I peeped through my camera. They were crows! … But, they were Water Crows as we Marathi people call them which is Lesser Cormorants. I took some random picks. They flew to a nearby tree and settled there.

Then some usual birds which could be easily found anywhere else. Although these are common birds I still took photographs of these birds such as Greater Egret, Pond Heron, and Drongo

Remeber that, one cannot be selective nature lover. If you are bird watcher do not belittle the common birds. These are the birds who will accompany you when migrators will move back to their places!

Rohit Bapat

I started walking towards the western wall of the quarry of ARAI Hill (Vetal Tekdi) a cute looking Ashy Prinia caught my eye. Usually, Prinia’s are found in bushes and do not get scared by human existence as much as other birds. Drongos are also one of those kinds which do not just fly away because a human is near them. I took a quick couple of shots of Ashy and moved on towards the inner pond.

Ashy Prinia’s can be recognized easily by their size, colors, and habitat. They have red eyes, grey (ashy!) head and back, faint brown underbelly, a comparatively longer and stout tail with horizontal markings on it due to feathers. These are very small birds and usually live in bushes and scrubs. Here’s another shot

As I moved towards the walls of the inner pond I got a glimpse of Brown Rock chat. Just be aware that it looks a lot like Indian Robin, but, it is not the same bird. But have a look at the tail it is not as stout, there is nor red color but brownish at the vent, the beak is slender than the robin.

Then I stayed near the western wall of the quarry for a long time. It was indeed a good day for birding. It was around 9:15 AM when all of a sudden I observed a rise in the movements around me. So many birds, so many kinds! For the next 2 hours, I just kept clicking the birds I saw interesting.

Next in line was a Wood Shrike cousin of other shrikes but a bit more shy and silent. It was actually very far from me so I had to use full 600mm’s of my lense to barely catch it. The wood shrike can be recognized mainly by the hook at the end of the beak and a black eye band.

Here’s another (cropped) closer look at the bird

Next in line was the female of Small Minivet easily recognizable by the feather colors and light grey head with slender body. You can also see a Sunbird on the left top corner of the photo on the same tree.

Then few common birds like Myna and Indian Robin (female)

I know! I know it’s not a clear shot but it should give a fair chance to distinguish between Brown Rock chat which we saw before and Indian Robin Female.

I settled down a bit and looked around. It was around 10 AM and it was getting slightly warmer. I sat on a rock. Still and silent. I tried to take nice deep breathes and fill my lungs and head with this scenery which I was going to take with me to the US! I took snaps even while I was sitting on this rock. ARAI Hill is a birding garden. There are birds everywhere around you which won’t allow you to say it’s enough. I took photos of a pair of Drongos and a Red Wattled Lapwing which is known as Titvi in Marathi due to its peculiar shrill calling.

There are many superstitions attached to Titvi but, let me assure you they are just superstitions and nothing more than that. It makes those cries just to distract the predators which are after their nests. Also, as a bird watcher, you should be careful that, if a Lapwing finds you dangerous it will fly around making noises which will give a danger call to other birds and they will hide in the trees quickly.

Then there is a string of commonly observed birds such as Kite, Drongo

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After around 10 minutes, I started my walk again. There was some movement at the top of a tree. At first glance I thought it was just a sparrow but, when I zoomed in I saw that it was an Indian Bushlark. This bird very common yet not many people really recognize when they see it because for commoners every small bird is a Sparrow! (LOLz!)

I started walking now, towards the Northern part of the quarry, where you can see remnants of the constructions related to a stone quarry. To be honest they have added a very different kind of flavor to the whole scenery of the quarry.

I was tracking the same bush lark which flew towards this structure. Find it if you can in the following photo. It was camouflaged so well that it took me some time to find it on my computer at home too!

There was nothing special or unusual I could see. Some lapwings, pond herons, and mynas. But still, I waited (stood still) for some time. Patience is important during birding. Soon my patience rewarded me. Through some green leaves of small trees, I saw a greyish dark brown bird with some marks near the eyes. It was sitting still, I think was unaware of my presence. It was a Blue Rock Thrush (Female).

I took a couple of pictures and then it moved to the rocks. It was the first time I saw this bird. This is the beauty of ARAI Hill birding, that you will always be surprised. You will find a new bird every time! It was very difficult to spot it in the background of rocks. How beautifully nature protects its children by hiding them in plain sight!

I tracked this bird for some time. It was getting warmer and also, I had to leave in time (there were already a couple of missed calls of my wife). So I decided to retreat from the place. But, being a bird-watching enthusiast it is difficult to walk in the wilderness without a camera in hand and eyes on the branches! I had seen too many small birds by this time, a kind of ID fatigue I was going through. I took aim at top of a tree and there was a Yellow-Throated Sparrow. One of the commoners during the mornings, I was wondering where it went!? I was glad to see it!

This next photo clearly shows the Yellow Throat…

I started walking towards the exit of the quarry. But, the ARAI Hill or Vetal Tekdi was in no mood to let me go just like that! Somehow ARAI Hill has a nack to throw birds at you (metaphorically) which cannot resist taking at least one photograph.

Once, you take one photo of a bird then it’s a domino. it doesn’t stop untill either you are satisfied or the bird flies away. All of a sudden a normal human being becomes greedy!

Rohit Bapat

Guess what! a Drongo was almost waiting for me and testing me if I was ready to go into the domino. And drongo won, I took its photos!

Enough was enough. I was tired, feeling hot, hungry and was constantly receiving missed calls! 🙁 But, since I had a camera in my hand I couldn’t resist. There was the same Kingfisher again!

And then an Ashy Prinia having its brunch!

Now, when I look at the photo of this Prinia, I think it was not satisfied with the brunch or the taste of it! 🙂

The more I tried to hurry up more I found it difficult to get out of this wonderland called ARAI Hill. Now, it was the turn of Silver Billed Munia to hold me for some minutes.

Enough was enough. I put my camera in the bag and I headed towards the uphill which takes you out of the quarry. I was walking fast. I was feeling bad in a way because I was leaning this beautiful paradise behind. Actually I can spend a whole day here doing birding.

Just for safety’s sake a visit to ARAI Hill should be avoided alone at the times when there is no one around on the hill. You shouldn’t be alone and should stay alert after 11:30 AM till 5 PM because usually the place is deserted and can be occupied by the drunkards, addicts any maybe criminal minded people.

I know it sounded serious but, it is true. Two cents of caution from my side..

Anyways… I was hurrying towards the parking lot. The same path I took to come to the quarry. Now it was around 11:30 AM and almost everyone was leaving the place to go to their homes. I was sweating and feeling hungry. I was hardly looking around while walking and soon I regretted it!

I walked passed a small group of kids with their parents as I was uninterested to know why they stopped. I was around 50 ft away from them when I faintly heard “feathers..” I stopped at once and turned around. Feather!? Why are they talking about it? I walked back slowly towards them. The group was fairly still considering the kids. The parents were looked like they were trying to see something in the woods.

I started looking at the same place where everyone was looking at. I stood still for a moment when I recognized what I was seeing. I took out my camera and attached the lens. I had no choice. It was Shikra or Accipiter Badius. No bird photographer can resist taking a photo of this beautiful bird.

I took a series of photographs of this Shikra. I just could not miss this opportunity! As I said before birding at ARAI or Vetal Hill is like a treasure hunt with surprise gifts.

I was done with Shikra only when it flew away. So far I had seen two kinds of birds for the first time in front of eyes, A female Blue Rock Thrush and a Shikra! I was extremely happy and almost felt like I had won a world cup. I was so excited that I kept my camera in my hand started walking towards the parking lot again. Just when I turned towards the path, I received a call from my family and got scolded for getting late.

I started walking fast. There were some noises of birds like sunbirds, sparrows with a constant background of noises of crickets. I was walking fast but, due to recent experience, I couldn’t help but keep an eye on the sides. I think you won’t believe when I say this, but believe me, I am not making it up. Somehow birding gods were showering their blessings on me… Ok, I won’t take more time. Just see to yourself what I caught while walking back towards the parking lot on a branch towards my left.

Yes !!! A Eurasian Krestel or Common Krestel. I could not believe my eyes! For many “pro” bird watchers it might not be so special spotting but, it was my first time! Third spotting of the day where I am seeing a kind of bird that I never saw before! I was lucky! this is all can say. Like I said birding gods were showering blessings on me 🙂

It was also in some hurry. Just when I took a couple of shot it flew away to a distant tree. But, yet I was able to get a good aim at this beautiful bird. This was the last photograph of that day. That was the day when I really understood “what is the joy of being a bird watcher and bird photographer”. From that day onward, ARAI Hill became my favorite spot for birding. I still go there for bird photography and will go there forever! 🙂

All I can say is that I was truly blessed that day. Thank you ARAI Hill (Vetal Tekdi) to open your treasure to me 🙂

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