[Bala_R]

Wonderful set of pictures Ram. Will definitely be in my must visit places for photography. Will DM you to find out more details about the place.

[ramnath_77]

Originally Posted by AjinkyaP

Awesome clicks, Thank you for sharing.
I hope you enjoyed the famous Bhigwan Machhi as well (Fish preparations)

Thanks Ajinkya. I am a vegeterian and hence enjoy the local Misal Pav which is one of my favourites

Originally Posted by Torque123

A crisp travelogue with fantastic images. I especially liked the male Pallid Harrier (vertical frame) & mottled wood owl images. what gear did you use?

Thank you Torque123. Glad you liked the images. I used Nikon D850 and the Nikkor 600mm FL prime lens

Originally Posted by SDP

Absolutely stunning images !! Thanks for sharing.

I have been to Bhigvan once while returning from Bijapur and really struggled to find even half decent stay option nearby.

Has that situation improved now ?

Thanks SDP. There are quite a few homestay options. However if you are looking for a proper hotel, you will need to stay in Baramati (which would be around 30-45 mins drive) from Bhigwan.

Originally Posted by turboNath

This is such a brilliant thread ramnath_77 ! Those mesmerising shots of the raptors with a creamy background are simply incredible. Hopefully I will get to visit Bhigwan this winter !
Owls are my favourite raptors and I simply loved all the shots especially Mottled Wood Owl, Short-eared Owl and the fantastic Indian Eagle Owl. The Painted Sandgrouse couple on that flower bed looks so beautiful!
Fantastic collection! Would love to read and more about the birding destinations down south (and west) !

Thanks turboNath. Glad you liked the images. I follow all your travelogues very closely and enjoy your images too. There are quite a few good birding destinations in the south/west too.

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Wow! Absolutely fantastic pictures. Thank you very much for sharing these pictures.

I have been to that general area multiple times, but somehow never been to Bhigwan. Thanks to your post now I know about this place. I am sure to visit this in near future.

Your post and pictures are surely inspirational. Thanks again for sharing!

Thank you Dr.AD. Glad you liked the images. Bhigwan is a great place to visit during winter months.

Originally Posted by sgmuser

Some great equipment and fantastic photos. This perfect BG blur is because of the lens? or Photoshopped? Except one photo, the objects looks at the camera nicely in all the pics as if posing! Great timings and selection of photos. The focus, sharpness and color is typical of Nikon and especially the D850's class.

Thanks sgmuser. Glad you liked the images. The bokeh (or the BG blur) is the outcome of the equipment (prime lenses usually render better bokeh compared to zoom lens), focal length at which the image was shot and the subject to background distance (to get this right we usually try and preselect a location depending the subject activity and wait for the subject to arrive). I do not photoshop for editing the background. I use it for contrast/colour correction, shadow/highlight recovery and noise reduction etc.

Originally Posted by UD2021

What a treat for the eyes. Great set of images.

Thank you UD2021. Glad you liked the images

Originally Posted by JoshMachine

Thanks for sharing such fascinating pictures, Ram
Bhigwan has been on top of my bucket-list, your pictures are adding to that motivation!

By any chance, is the birding season still open for taking along a camera?
Any good places to stay overnight?

Thanks JoshMachine. Glad you liked the images.
The season is almost come to a close. However there might be a few of the winter visitors (esp Flamigoes) which might still be around. However the light these days is quite harsh and hence there wont be much fun in clicking. Suggest you try the monsoon season (around July/Aug) esp if you are planning to shoot raptors. There are a quite a few homestays mainly setup by the guides themselves. Decent hotel stay options are in Baramati town which is around 30 mins drive from Bhigwan.

Originally Posted by XDriver

Superb images and wonderful diversity of shots. Good clean back grounds and nice exposure and framing. I am a birder myself and appreciate the good work you have done. I am yet to visit Bigwan and hope to do that this year end. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures.

Thanks XDriver. Glad you liked the images. Pls do plan a visit to Bhigwan esp during winters. Its a great place for birdwatching (esp the migrants).

Originally Posted by turbospooler

Beautiful shots Sir!
I pass through Bhigwan atleast once every quarter but never made the stop.
Your clicks are motivating me to plan an itinerary.

Thanks turbospooler. Glad you liked the images. Please do make it a point to stop at Bhigwan next time for birding (esp during winters).

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Fantastic photos. Do you mind sharing the camera make/model?

Thanks fhdowtheline. Glad you liked the images. I use the Nikon D850.

Originally Posted by sknair

Amazing shots!!!
any recommendations for photographers?
logistics, places to stay and any other details like trusted guide/operator who would help in arranging the visits? thanks in advance.

Thanks sknair for your comments. I can DM you the details of a few local guides who also have homestays. If you are particular about staying in a proper hotel, you will need to put up in Baramati which is a 30 min drive from Bhigwan.

Originally Posted by sukhbirST

Amazing photographs and great timing. Appreciate the stare in your face pics, which even humans cannot do. You have skills of high order and wish to see more.

Thank you sukbirST. Glad you liked the images

Originally Posted by gatsby_great

Excellent pics. It’s not just the composition but “reach” is also quite phenomenal. Goes on to show your good understanding of the animal behaviour and mastery of your device.

Thank you gatsby_great. Glad you liked the images.

Originally Posted by Bala_R

Wonderful set of pictures Ram. Will definitely be in my must visit places for photography. Will DM you to find out more details about the place.

Thank you Bala_R. I have replied to your DM

[TejasKinger]

Bhigwan was incidentally featured in the latest video from Powerdrift as well!

https://youtu.be/hIXocCg0InU

[shashanka]

Fabulous photologue! Conveys the essence of each bird. And your mastery of the subject is plain to see. Thanks again @Ramnath

[rst89]

Thanks for the wonderful pics.

I visited this wetland in Dec 2019 alone as my flatmate couldn't wake up at 0345h and backed out. I went alone on a solo bike ride and rented the boat for myself for 800 INR.

I remember seeing flamingoes and few species. The sight of them flying over head is etched in my mind. We rescued a Northern Shoveler caught in the fishing nets that was tired to the core.

[MiKeMo]

Wonderful pictures that speak for themselves, Ram. Thanks for sharing, one place added to our bucket list for birding.
So you hire a boat with a guide for these trips? Will need your help for good stay and guide nearby, we prefer home stays compared to a hotel in Baramati

Thanks again for wonderful travelogue. Cheers!

[ramnath_77]

Originally Posted by shashanka

Fabulous photologue! Conveys the essence of each bird. And your mastery of the subject is plain to see. Thanks again @Ramnath

Thanks shashanka. Glad you liked the images

Originally Posted by rst89

Thanks for the wonderful pics.

I visited this wetland in Dec 2019 alone as my flatmate couldn't wake up at 0345h and backed out. I went alone on a solo bike ride and rented the boat for myself for 800 INR.

I remember seeing flamingoes and few species. The sight of them flying over head is etched in my mind. We rescued a Northern Shoveler caught in the fishing nets that was tired to the core.

Thanks rst89. Glad you liked the images.
Hope you are able to make more trips to this place in future. Seeing the Flamingoes literally run on water for a few secs before take off is a sight to behold.

Originally Posted by MiKeMo

Wonderful pictures that speak for themselves, Ram. Thanks for sharing, one place added to our bucket list for birding.
So you hire a boat with a guide for these trips? Will need your help for good stay and guide nearby, we prefer home stays compared to a hotel in Baramati

Thanks again for wonderful travelogue. Cheers!

Thanks MikeMo. Glad you liked the images.
You rent a boat for seeing and clicking the water birds. However you can also do a jeep drive (you can get your own SUV or rent it from the guides) for raptors and mammals around the grasslands.
Pls DM me and I will be glad to share whatever info you need

[ramnath_77]

Since i made a few more trips to Bhigwan this year and also got a few new species, sharing a few more images

Indian Wolf. These are endangered species with not more than 3000 of them currently believed to be alive.















Painted Francolin



Purple Moorhen



Tri-coloured Munia





Red Avadavat (aka Red Munia or Strawberry Finch)





Scaly Breasted Munia



Yellow-eyed Babbler




Blue faced Malkoha



Jacobin Cuckoo



Grey-bellied Cuckoo



And finally the mighty Short Toed Snake Eagle

[ryzen7@5800u]

Absolutely stunning photos! They would look right at home in any Attenborough documentary!
Do you have any tips for an newbie photographer? I recently got a Sony A6000 and am so far stuck using auto mode as manual modes are incomprehensible

[ACMerchant]

Originally Posted by ryzen7@5800u

Absolutely stunning photos! They would look right at home in any Attenborough documentary!
Do you have any tips for an newbie photographer? I recently got a Sony A6000 and am so far stuck using auto mode as manual modes are incomprehensible

For learning photography best to take lessons from a professional one or online
https://www.sudhirshivaramphotograph...raphy-courses/
you can opt for the Sony package as you have a Sony A6000.

Originally Posted by ramnath_77

Since i made a few more trips to Bhigwan this year and also got a few new species, sharing a few more images

Beautiful Pictures and yes trip to Bhigwan is due as planning from a long time but this December - February will definitely visit.

[ryzen7@5800u]

Originally Posted by ACMerchant

For learning photography best to take lessons from a professional one or online
https://www.sudhirshivaramphotograph...raphy-courses/
you can opt for the Sony package as you have a Sony A6000.

Thanks for the resource! Putting it on my todo list post boards

[ramnath_77]

Originally Posted by ryzen7@5800u

Absolutely stunning photos! They would look right at home in any Attenborough documentary!
Do you have any tips for an newbie photographer? I recently got a Sony A6000 and am so far stuck using auto mode as manual modes are incomprehensible

Thanks ryzen7@5800u. Best way is to start with the basics (the exposure triangle) and then work upwards. There are lot of websites and Youtube tutorials available out there which you can leverage. One such good website is
https://photographylife.com/learn-photography

Good luck with your learning.

Originally Posted by ACMerchant

Beautiful Pictures and yes trip to Bhigwan is due as planning from a long time but this December- February will definitely visit.

Thanks ACMerchant. Winter months are the best for raptor viewing. Bhigwan also hosts a variety of winter migrants including the Greater Flamingos.

[ryzen7@5800u]

Originally Posted by ramnath_77

Thanks ryzen7@5800u. Best way is to start with the basics (the exposure triangle) and then work upwards. There are lot of websites and Youtube tutorials available out there which you can leverage. One such good website is
https://photographylife.com/learn-photography

Good luck with your learning.

Thanks for the resources and ideas!

[thirugata]

I could not have had a better start for the week if I had not gone through this post in the morning. This certainly has made my week.
Thanks for sharing.

[ramnath_77]

Originally Posted by thirugata

I could not have had a better start for the week if I had not gone through this post in the morning. This certainly has made my week.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks thirugata. Glad you liked the pictures