Location: BNHS Conservation Education Centre (Sanjay Gandhi National Park)

Trail Expert: Yogesh Patel

The first bird walk of the 2026 season commenced on a pleasant morning at the BNHS Conservation Education Centre, nestled within the lush forests of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Participants arrived punctually at 7:00 am, eager for exploration as the forest slowly awakened with the first light of the day.

Early Morning Melodies Our walk began with the melodious song of the Puff-throated Babbler, one of the earliest voices of the morning, as the sun rose above the canopy. Soon after, the woods echoed with a chorus of familiar calls from the Greater Coucal, White-browed Bulbul, Oriental Magpie-Robin, and the lively Red-whiskered Bulbul. As we continued along the Karvi trail, our attention was drawn to a small group of Indian Grey Hornbills actively foraging between fruiting trees, followed by a delightful sighting of a solitary Asian Emerald Dove perched quietly on a branch.

The Canopy & Salim Ali Point A distant call led us to a small flock of Common Woodshrikes in the canopy, while aerial hunters like the Ashy Drongo and Green Bee-eater entertained the group with impressive mid-air manoeuvres. A major highlight was hearing the distinctive call of the Jungle Owlet; with patience and teamwork, we managed a brief but rewarding glimpse of this charismatic forest raptor. Reaching the highest vantage point, Salim Ali Point, we were treated to the sight of numerous Black Kites soaring gracefully above Vihar Lake.

A Leopard’s Trace & Late Morning Activity. While beginning our return journey, we stumbled upon a thrilling sign of wildlife activity: remarkably fresh Indian Leopard scat, a potent reminder of the elusive apex predators sharing the park. As the sun began to intensify around 9:00 am, the forest still delivered. We spotted vibrant species, including the Black-hooded Oriole, Black-naped Monarch, Common Iora, Brown-headed Barbet, and a sharp-eyed Shikra.

In a quiet, dried stream patch, we enjoyed beautiful views of a striking Blue-capped Rock Thrush, an active Grey-breasted Prinia, and a restless Sulphur-bellied Warbler. Though winter migrants were beginning to depart, we still managed to observe individual Greenish and Green Warblers, along with flyovers of Alexandrine and Rose-ringed Parakeets.

The walk concluded with a brief recap of our sightings and a group photograph to commemorate a highly engaging and rewarding start to the 2026 birding season!

👉 View our full eBird checklist here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S309006682