A Bird Sanctuary outside Lucknow #photography

So we were driving to Garhi when we found out that our host was unfortunately involved in a car accident. He wasnt hurt, but he got tied up with the hospital and police station and all the crap that accompanies an accident.

So we had to quickly make alternative arrangements and decided to have lunch at the Bird Sanctuary at Nawabganj. Here are some of the photographs of the place. It was quite bright, around noon time so the light was pretty fierce. Still.

Driving down the driveway. Very quiet.

Using the date palm tree trunks as barriers. Neat, eh?

Just outside the guest house, there is a small lawn with a temple. With couple of dogs taking it easy.

The bells in front of the temple.




Then i noticed this bee who was hovering above this pool of water, dipping down to take a sip and then moving around. Beautiful dance. After lunch, we popped into the sanctuary itself.





Warning and information signs galore.

And our ancestors….

Damn fearless pesky monkeys.

Good heavens, Mum is not very happy there is she?

But dad has found some good stuff. Damn untidy people, glass in a polythene bag. How totally disgusting and anti social. Anyway, these monkeys are a menace.

A bird coming in to land. Dont ask me which bird, I am useless at these things.

Waiting to strike for a fish.

I would say that the entire area covered few hectares, was full of marshy swampy pool filled land.

A maintenance boat.

A water lily leaf.

Trees over the water.



Couple of birds taking it easy on the reed beds.

Another bird of paradise.

A very artistically trimmed dead tree.



A whole tribe of these birds. I know, I know, flock!

Taking off for pastures new

Some parts of the lake were thick with these plants.

Royal Egret walking around.

Amber. Well, the beginning of it anyway.

Coming into land.

A tiny island in the middle of the lake.







Flying off.




The reflections on the water were making some amazing geometrical shapes of triangles, squares, rhombus and circles.

Another series of a flying bird.

Vast open vistas of reed choked water ways with some cows at the far end.

A tiny bridge.

By this time, the rest of the family had given up and gone back to the restaurant. Mad Dogs and Englishmen are out in the noon time sun. But they missed out on this giant snail.

I decided to take the footpath around the right hand side lake. About 3 kilometres trek, I assume. Had to be careful, the damn footpath was absolutely filled with cowpats.

On the left hand side, there were the uniquitious cows. God in Heaven, our cows look so manky and under fed. Well, they are, eating just grass and getting all kinds of diseases. Gau hamari Mata hai. Bah!. Some filial duty.

Roots tightly entwined together on a hillock.

Looking back. Can you see the white dot in the background? That’s where the restaurant is. I have come a long way baby! :)

Cutting across one of the earthen dams. I love these footpaths. They are absolutely so much India.

A preening bird. I didnt have a zoom lens then so was using one of my standard sigma lens, but ok.

On the left hand side, the lake was covered with this rust coloured stuff. No idea what it was but I noticed that the birds gave it a wide berth. Hmmm, pollution of some sort?

A tree right in the middle of the dam.

Trees along the path, some living and some dead.

The path now has more trees on each side.

The grass has now taken over the lake. Is this supposed to happen? Arent they supposed to keep this clean?

Still walking along the path.

Now on the home stretch, it was a long hike for a fat old git like me.

Bougainville branches.

A proper path, and boyo, it was infested with lovers.

Bullrushes growing from the scummy water.

Graffiti on the tree trunks.

This was an extraordinarily beautiful bird. No idea what it was.

Couple of ducks.

Couple of villagers looking for firewood I suppose.

And more polythene bags with an inquisitive monkey.

A party of school children had come to play in the playground. Here is the slideshow with more photographs. It is a nice place, not so well maintained, but well, good for what it is. Nice place to while away a lazy late winter day.