A Fulfilling Day in the Wild: Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary Tour

Expert Guide: Ramesh Shenai Location: Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

It is always a wonderful opportunity to host a Jungle Buddies trail at the lush Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Meeting new enthusiasts from different backgrounds and places—all sharing the exact same passion for nature—truly makes these walks amazing! Led by our expert Ramesh Shenai, this trail was packed with diverse habitats, mixed hunting parties, and majestic raptors.

The Waterhole Trail: Woodpeckers and Owlets

We began our morning at the waterhole area. While it has been somewhat neglected over the past few years, it was historically very rich in bird activity. It turned out to be a highly rewarding walk of just a few hundred meters! Numerous birds made their presence felt through melodious morning calls.

Highlight Sightings: White-naped Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Jungle Owlet, Grey-breasted Prinia and Greater Coucal

Sheshnag Temple Area: The Mixed Hunting Party

Next, we proceeded to the lesser-explored Sheshnag Temple area, where we witnessed the absolute best activity of the day. We walked right into a vibrant mixed hunting party moving rapidly through the trees!

The canopy was alive with Warblers, Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Prinias, and a beautiful Orange-headed Thrush. However, the undisputed star of the show was a stunning male Vigors’s Sunbird displaying in full glory.

Continuing our walk toward the temple, we explored various pockets of the forest, enjoying fantastic sightings of multiple Drongo species, bright Black-hooded Orioles, and Leafbirds.

Air Traffic Control: Raptors at the Temple

Upon reaching the main temple area, we attempted to search for another Jungle Owlet, but it decided to stay well hidden for the day. Nature always compensates, though! Instead, we were treated to the thrilling sight of a Shikra dashing through the trees, quickly followed by a second individual in flight.

Adding to the excitement, a majestic dark morph of a Booted Eagle soared right past us—almost as if it had been cleared by ATC immediately after the Shikra’s flight!

Conclusion: A 44-Species Morning

After a well-deserved breakfast, we spent some time near the parking area to wrap up the session. We concluded our day perfectly with the loud, piercing call of a Crested Serpent Eagle flying high overhead.

Overall, we recorded an impressive total of 44 bird species. It was a truly fulfilling day in the wild, surrounded by great company and incredible wildlife!

View the complete species checklist: 🔗 Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary – eBird Trip Report