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It's time to stand-up on your feet..
Indian Gazelle or Chinkara
The setting sun plays the lightman throwing mild rays on the tall grass and Gazelle turns back for me. Winters have been mild in this part of Rajasthan this year and the air is showering its warmth. Chinkara, also known as Ravine Deer is blissful.
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A Dessert Wheater a migratory small pesserine bird basking in the sun
Meanwhile at the large village Taal, the Pied Avocets have arrived, its time to forage
A Blackbuck Male
Going around the salt areas of Chhapar, we finally found The Indian Eagle Owl, in it's natural habitat, sitting in a large, now abandoned Salt Water Bawli. My first
One legged Bar Headed Goose- The highest flying birds, recorded to fly altitudes of 27,000 ft. They fly over from central Asia to India and are unfortunately hunted or trapped in northern Pakistan and some parts of Russia. May be this one escaped a net or a sharp kite thread. My guide Mahinder was aware enough of this fact and stopped at one occasion to remove a Kite from the fields as a precaution for these birds.
Tal Chhapar is one of the lowest rainfall receipient and principal arid zone. The Shekhawati people have done a tremendous job in protecting this distinct ecosystem. Two Blackbucks quench their thirst in the only waterbody left with some water this year..!
There is always some dance, some celebration....Bar Headed Geese
A large bird of prey, an Eastern Imperial Eagle
Finally it's time for the Blackbucks to retun home and for the most celeberated raptor's of Tal Chhapar-The Montagu's Harrier, to start taking flights and to witness all this with the backdrop of setting sun is a blessing to which we could make us available.
"When you demand nothing of the world, nor of God, when you want nothing, seek nothing, expect nothing, then the Supreme State will come to you uninvited and unexpected-Nisargdutta"
With promise made to my guide and driver Mahinder, to return in next October, it's now time to pack-up...until next time
