Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan:
a pair of Sarus Cranes
While roaming through the city centre of Bharatpur was somewhat interesting, the real reason of me coming here was to visit the magnificent Keoladeo National Park.
The Keoladeo National Park (aka Keoladeo Ghana National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) is situated directly at the southern boundary of Bharatpur. Although encompassing not more than 29 kmĀ², the reserve is inhabited by thousands of birds belonging to more than 350 species. A visit is especially rewarding during the winter months, when many migratory birds have their temporary home here. My tour at the end of October was actually still too early, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless! It is possible to visit the park on foot, with a bicycle, or with a cycle rickshaw and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Please click through the extensive gallery to get an idea of the immense wildlife that I was able to see during my visits into the reserve.
with the cycle rickshaw through the national park
sleepy Spotted Owlet
Wild Boar
Spotted Deer
female Nilgai
Grey Francolin
Indian Jackal
Indian Jackal
Sarus Crane family
male Sarus Crane
male Sarus Crane
juvenile Sarus Crane
male Sarus Crane
female Nilgai
Lesser Whistling-Ducks
Lesser Whistling-Ducks
Lesser Whistling-Duck
Lesser Whistling-Duck
Painted Stork
Painted Stork
Painted Stork
Painted Stork with young
flying Painted Stork
colony of Painted Storks
colony of Painted Storks
colony of Painted Storks
flying Painted Stork
Purple Heron
smog in the afternoon light
Purple Heron
Asian Pied Starling
Grey Heron
juvenile Southern Coucal
paths through the park
afternoon light
landscape
scenery
main road through the park
road through the park
Purple Swamphen
Purple Swamphen
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Indian Pond Heron
hazy landscape
Indian Pond Heron
bird colony
Eurasian Spoonbill with young
Eurasian Spoonbill
Eurasian Spoonbill
Grey Heron
Cattle Egret riding on a swimming male Nilgai
sunset
sunset
Long-tailed Shrike
Yellow-footed Green Pigeons
White-eared Bulbul
Lesser Whitethroat
Eurasian Wryneck
Eurasian Wryneck
Eurasian Wryneck
I don’t know this bird
Grey Francolin
visitors in the park
Grey Heron
White-throated Kingfisher
Indian Pond Heron
Purple Swamphen
Indian Pond Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
a Reed Warbler with prey
a Reed Warbler with prey
a Reed Warbler with prey
Striated Heron
a tired Indian Porcupine sleeping next to a temple in the park
male Rose-ringed Parakeet
scenery
Common Moorhen with young
Spotted Owlets
Spotted Owlet
a pretty butterfly
Common Moorhen
Wire-tailed Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallows
juvenile Wire-tailed Swallow
Purple Swamphen
Purple Heron
Black-necked Storks on their nest
Darter and Grey Heron
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Green Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eaters
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
swimming Darter
Wood Sandpiper and White-breasted Waterhen
Darters and Indian Cormorants
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
a turtle
a monitor lizard
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Black-headed Munias
Long-tailed Shrike
Pied Bushchat
a snake
Darter
herons, ibises, storks, and spoonbills
herons, ibises, and spoonbills
herons, ibises, and spoonbills
Black-winged Stilts and Glossy Ibis
Black-headed Ibises
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Hobby?
male Red Avadavat
female Red Avadavat
male Red Avadavat
male Red Avadavat
Indian Jackal
Bay-backed Shrike
Spotted Deer
hunting Indian Pond Heron
hunting Indian Pond Heron
hunting Indian Pond Heron
juvenile Striated Heron
path through the park
visitors in the park
Spotted Deer
a young monitor lizard
a young monitor lizard
Common Kingfisher
picnic spot
a curious Jungle Babbler
a curious Northern Palm Squirrel
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
tired Indian Scops Owls
tired Indian Scops Owls
scenery
Grey Francolin
Eurasian Spoonbill with young
Eurasian Spoonbill with young
Eurasian Spoonbill with young
Asian Openbills
Black-headed Ibis
juvenile Striated Heron
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Painted Stork with young
a big turtle
a big turtle
male Rose-ringed Parakeet
male Nilgai
Eurasian Hobby
entrance to the Keoladeo National Park
Apart from the diverse birdlife, I was especially happy to spot a number of Indian Jackals, which I had not seen in the wild before! From Bharatpur, it was a short drive to the impressive ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, which you may check out in the coming post!
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Matt Travels 
Love the cranes! They are similar to our sandhill cranes.
yes, they really look a bit similar – but even though I never saw sandhill cranes in real life, I read that the sarus cranes are actually much taller… thank you for your comment!! š
Am amazed at d variety of wildlife tht u clicked n ur knowledge of their species! How many hours did it take to shoot these many?
thank you very much!! I own a good guide book… and I visited the park twice – once in the afternoon and once in the morning…
Lovely Sarus cranes Matthias; on my Aussie bird bucket list!
haha – thank you! It was great to observe them…
Had fallen in love with the Sarus Cranes and then I got to the Painted Storks!
Stunning photographs and a birders dream.
haha – thank you!! I really enjoyed visiting this place a lot!
Wow, so many different birds and great shots!!!
thank you!! š
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