Charotar Crocodile Count, Anand, Gujarat, 06,-080123

Count has been going on for 10 years with Voluntary Nature Conservancy (VNC). Pradyumna (short chap) , Anirudh Vasawa/ wife Niyata, Mehul, Nikhil Parikh, and others.

Trains:

Took 16508 (KSR-Jodhpur Exp), to Anand, dep 2230 from SBC on 040123, arr. Anand 0355 on 060123

Took 16209 (Ajmer-Mysuru Exp) from Anand, dep, 0304 hrs on 080123, arr. Blr City at 2315 on 090123

On 6th morning stayed at Motel Happy Home (location: ) Rs. 1000 on twin sharing. Very neat and comfy, tiny geyser. Tiny lift, WC.

Ate breakfast and lunch at Collegian Point, very good Gujju stuff. Really college students’ joint.

All other meals at the CHARUSAT canteen. Good Gujju food.

Swami Narayan hostel at Vadtal, Anand, had very spacious rooms with a dressing area with clotheslines), large bath with Western WC. Not sure how to book for rooms there.

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eBird

Fri 060123 at Shastri Maidan, walking distance from Happy Home:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125509292 (25 sp)

Sat 070123 at the meeting/departure point at Vadtal, opp Swami Narayan hostel:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125582698 (19 sp)

Sat 070123 morning (Maachiel, Traj)

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125582698 (29 sp, including Osprey)

Sat 070123 evening, marshy area opp the gate of CHAROSAT:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125509292 (60 sp)

Sun 080123 morning (Malataj Lake, very productive)

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125831047 (44 sp)

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Flickr:

Anand, 05,060123: (Vadtal in the morning on 6th)

Anand, 070123 (Maachiel and Traj Lakes, and small wetland in the evening)

Anand, 080123 (Malataj Lake, all sides), back to Blr

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HLl7DLGxVX6GpBY0JA7b7n

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FB:

Anand, 05,060123: (Vadtal in the morning on 6th)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159646365708878&type=3

Anand, 070123 (Maachiel and Traj Lakes, and small wetland in the evening)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159649600788878&type=3

Anand, 080123 (Malataj Lake, all sides), back to Blr
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159651597393878&type=3

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Gujju meal at the CHARUSAT canteen. bEgan barthA, kadi, sEv usal, khichdi, pApad, with a glass of chhAch (buttermilk).

Route allocation on day 1:

How NOT to translocate a crocodile, from Anirudh Vasawa’s presentation:

Venue:

The VNC office at Vallabh Vidyanagar:

The camel is used widely as a beast of burden, and to pull carts too:

‘

Non-vernal hanging Parakeets during our morning birding in the Shastri Maidan area on 6th

Male and female Alexandrine Parakeets:

Awake and Asleep, the two Spotted Owlets:

Bud, Manjunath and Prashanthi, brefus at Collegian Point:

Pretty Marwadi lady on the train:

Spotted Redshank from evening birding on 7th:

Kites for the Sankranti festival, and the thread reelers:

Sarus Cranes:

One of the many crocodiles we counted!

Knob-billed Ducks:

Small Salmon Arab:

The muted colours of the crocodile:

Harvesting hay:

Delicious Khaman being sold by a vendor:

Bud, Mehul, Vipra, Niyata:

The beautiful horns of the buffaloes!

Every lake has a cremation area:

We were asked to interact with the villagers and get information:

Beautiful little temple at Maachiel Lake:

A not-very-wild Nilgai at Traj lake:

Drummers at a wedding procession:

It WAS a croc count!

While the crocodiles bask, the village women go about their usual work of washing and filling water:

Hanuman Langurs warming themselves at the fire where trash is being burnt:

Sunrise at Malataj Lake:

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