The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue

robimahanta · 10th November 2010, 13:52

Well I had come down to Ahmedabad on an official visit but when I found that I had free day at my disposal I decided to make the most of it by heading out to the little Rann of Kutch or rather Zainabad/Dasada. I couldn't get reservations at the Rann riders resort so decided to try the other one..the Desert Coursers,Zainabad. Well the resort is owned by a gentleman called Mr.Dhanraj Malik and though the accommodation is basic at best the host makes up for it with his hospitality. I headed out from Ahmedabad at around noon and reached the resort by 1430hrs. After a quick lunch and some introductions, I headed out for my first safari in the Rann. I was assigned a driver/guide with a Mahindra jeep. The driver, a guy called Mehboob was a truck driver but had joined the resort around 8 yrs back and I was amazed by his knowledge regarding the flora and fauna of the region. He identified most of the birds save a few and even had some idea as to which kind of light is good for photography.

Anyway I won't keep you waiting and start off with some pictures.

Do you expect to see any living creature on this sort of terrain?

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_2157.jpg

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_2182.jpg

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_2154.jpg

We'll soon find out..a juvenile common crane taking off urging me to start the thread as well.

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1920.jpg

MX6 · 10th November 2010, 14:39

A cracker of a log unfolding here. Great stuff. And a nice signature as well. Subscribing to this thread already.

vardhan.harsh · 11th November 2010, 19:25

Nice set of pictures to begin with. would love to get hands on more details specially the itinerary and the route map. Did you guys enter the LRK from one end and exit from the other? Or did you a simple loop and came back to Dasda/Zainabad. I'm planning to do a cross-Rann either East-West or North - South in december and would love to know the possible entry/exit points to it.

robimahanta · 14th November 2010, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardhan.harsh

Nice set of pictures to begin with. would love to get hands on more details specially the itinerary and the route map. Did you guys enter the LRK from one end and exit from the other? Or did you a simple loop and came back to Dasda/Zainabad. I'm planning to do a cross-Rann either East-West or North - South in december and would love to know the possible entry/exit points to it.

Well harsh, I am not the right person to help you out with routes and entry/exit points etc because I just went down straight to Zainabad and stayed there for a couple of nights and headed back to Ahmedabad.

Anyway, continuing with the trip report..

I started my first safari in the Rann with Mehboob at around 4pm and the sheer number of birds I saw even as we went across the villages before entering the arid Rann amazed me.

Way to the resort

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1107.jpg

Just liked the contrast

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1152.jpg

A stonechat

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1112.jpg

A red wattled lapwing

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1118.jpg

Chestnut bellied Sandgrouse..well camouflaged

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1133.jpg

Hoope

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1141.jpg

deky · 14th November 2010, 18:22

Beautifull picture to say the least and waiting for the photologue to unfold more. One part of our beautifull country that I would love to visit soon!!

Thanks for sharing

harjeev · 14th November 2010, 20:32

nice travelogue/ photologue.
What camera and if a dSLR lens did you use to shoot the birds. They are indeed quite amazing!!!

ExtremeTorque · 15th November 2010, 13:41

Rob, you are back! And how! Nice starter pics and I agree Gujarat is a bird lovers paradise. Please bring on more details and snaps as I have every intention to visit the little Rann of Kutch (afterall it is wifeys home state, so 1-2 trip each year is gaurenteed ;-)

robimahanta · 15th November 2010, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExtremeTorque

Rob, you are back! And how! Nice starter pics and I agree Gujarat is a bird lovers paradise. Please bring on more details and snaps as I have every intention to visit the little Rann of Kutch (afterall it is wifeys home state, so 1-2 trip each year is gaurenteed ;-)

Thanks guys..

@ET: Gujarat sure is a birder's paradise..you are lucky that your better half is from that part of the country. Just PM me whenever you need any pointers.

Continuing with the safari, it was time to see the animal for which the Rann is famous- the wild *** (Khur). For many of us its just a donkey but the thing is, its something unique and is seen only in the Rann.

I also saw a few Blue Bulls (Nil Gai). Time for some more pictures..

SPARKled · 16th November 2010, 08:14

Great pics. I am going to LRK this coming January for a pure birding trip. Your photos only make my wait more agonizing.

zaks · 16th November 2010, 08:57

Oooh, these creatures are so fantastic to see. Great pics Robi, our desert is another kind of heaven after all. I am watching this thread now.
The desert donkey/*** is fascinating creature and it is nice too see them in the wild undisturbed by mankind.

ExtremeTorque · 16th November 2010, 15:44

Rob, each and every pic is excellent! I especially loved the 2nd pic of the jeeps in the RoK and the lone Nilghai. Please expedite posting more pics and not keep us lesser mortals hanging.

Lightening-Fast · 16th November 2010, 16:44

Amazing pictures and i am glued to this one. I love travelogues, and even more the ones that are also a visual treat. Yours is unfolding to be one. Go on mate and do let us know the DSLR used to capture these pics

Judemayne · 16th November 2010, 17:00

Wow-fantastic pics-love the ones with the birds. Some pics of the place you stayed at with details? will be going there in Feb-most probably, will try and make a detour?

robimahanta · 16th November 2010, 17:18

Thanks a lot everyone..as for the DSLR its a Canon 500D and a Canon 7D for the birds in flight etc.

The next morning Mehboob and myself went in search of the short eared owl and the Macqueen's bustard. The terrain was not as arid as the previous day and it was a different experience altogether. Some day 2 pictures..

It all started with a Desert Whitear.

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1374.jpg

Then i saw like 5 short eared owls..followed them for some time but managed to get only a few decent shots

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1379.jpg

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1385.jpg

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1391.jpg

A desert fox was there in the distance and as I went closer it went into a bush but kept his eyes on me

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1402.jpg

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1408.jpg

Came across some yellow wattled lapwings

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1545.jpg

3 Drongo's having fun

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1414.jpg

and a common kestrel as well

The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue-img_1530.jpg

wanderernomad · 16th November 2010, 23:37

Amazing pictures mate. Are you a professional nature photographer? Plus you seem to know all the names or are they courtesy Mehboob?

10th November 2010, 13:52	#1
robimahanta Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/GAU Posts: 833 Thanked: 6,494 Times	The Little Rann of Kutch-Gujarat is everything but little: Photologue Well I had come down to Ahmedabad on an official visit but when I found that I had free day at my disposal I decided to make the most of it by heading out to the little Rann of Kutch or rather Zainabad/Dasada. I couldn't get reservations at the Rann riders resort so decided to try the other one..the Desert Coursers,Zainabad. Well the resort is owned by a gentleman called Mr.Dhanraj Malik and though the accommodation is basic at best the host makes up for it with his hospitality. I headed out from Ahmedabad at around noon and reached the resort by 1430hrs. After a quick lunch and some introductions, I headed out for my first safari in the Rann. I was assigned a driver/guide with a Mahindra jeep. The driver, a guy called Mehboob was a truck driver but had joined the resort around 8 yrs back and I was amazed by his knowledge regarding the flora and fauna of the region. He identified most of the birds save a few and even had some idea as to which kind of light is good for photography. Anyway I won't keep you waiting and start off with some pictures. Do you expect to see any living creature on this sort of terrain? We'll soon find out..a juvenile common crane taking off urging me to start the thread as well.
	(2) Thanks

10th November 2010, 14:39	#2
MX6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: City of seven islands. Posts: 2,877 Thanked: 231 Times	A cracker of a log unfolding here. Great stuff. And a nice signature as well. Subscribing to this thread already.
	() Thanks

11th November 2010, 19:25	#3
vardhan.harsh BHPian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 297 Thanked: 844 Times	Nice set of pictures to begin with. would love to get hands on more details specially the itinerary and the route map. Did you guys enter the LRK from one end and exit from the other? Or did you a simple loop and came back to Dasda/Zainabad. I'm planning to do a cross-Rann either East-West or North - South in december and would love to know the possible entry/exit points to it.
	() Thanks

14th November 2010, 18:22	#5
deky Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,194 Thanked: 1,247 Times	Beautifull picture to say the least and waiting for the photologue to unfold more. One part of our beautifull country that I would love to visit soon!! Thanks for sharing
	() Thanks

14th November 2010, 20:32	#6
harjeev Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,899 Thanked: 292 Times View My Garage	nice travelogue/ photologue. What camera and if a dSLR lens did you use to shoot the birds. They are indeed quite amazing!!!
	() Thanks

15th November 2010, 13:41	#7
ExtremeTorque BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 379 Thanked: 20 Times	Rob, you are back! And how! Nice starter pics and I agree Gujarat is a bird lovers paradise. Please bring on more details and snaps as I have every intention to visit the little Rann of Kutch (afterall it is wifeys home state, so 1-2 trip each year is gaurenteed ;-)
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 08:14	#9
SPARKled Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,110 Thanked: 656 Times	Great pics. I am going to LRK this coming January for a pure birding trip. Your photos only make my wait more agonizing.
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 08:57	#10
zaks BANNED Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 952 Thanked: 181 Times View My Garage	Oooh, these creatures are so fantastic to see. Great pics Robi, our desert is another kind of heaven after all. I am watching this thread now. The desert donkey/*** is fascinating creature and it is nice too see them in the wild undisturbed by mankind.
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 15:44	#11
ExtremeTorque BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 379 Thanked: 20 Times	Rob, each and every pic is excellent! I especially loved the 2nd pic of the jeeps in the RoK and the lone Nilghai. Please expedite posting more pics and not keep us lesser mortals hanging.
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 16:44	#12
Lightening-Fast BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 251 Thanked: 11 Times	Amazing pictures and i am glued to this one. I love travelogues, and even more the ones that are also a visual treat. Yours is unfolding to be one. Go on mate and do let us know the DSLR used to capture these pics
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 17:00	#13
Judemayne BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 316 Thanked: 108 Times	Wow-fantastic pics-love the ones with the birds. Some pics of the place you stayed at with details? will be going there in Feb-most probably, will try and make a detour?
	() Thanks

16th November 2010, 17:18	#14
robimahanta Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/GAU Posts: 833 Thanked: 6,494 Times	Thanks a lot everyone..as for the DSLR its a Canon 500D and a Canon 7D for the birds in flight etc. The next morning Mehboob and myself went in search of the short eared owl and the Macqueen's bustard. The terrain was not as arid as the previous day and it was a different experience altogether. Some day 2 pictures.. It all started with a Desert Whitear. Then i saw like 5 short eared owls..followed them for some time but managed to get only a few decent shots A desert fox was there in the distance and as I went closer it went into a bush but kept his eyes on me Came across some yellow wattled lapwings 3 Drongo's having fun and a common kestrel as well
	(3) Thanks

16th November 2010, 23:37	#15
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Amazing pictures mate. Are you a professional nature photographer? Plus you seem to know all the names or are they courtesy Mehboob?
	(1) Thanks