Thol, ultimate destination for bird lover

Thol Lake is a famous wildlife sanctuary and lake near Thol village this is 20-25 km from Ahmedabad, this is a paradise for bird lover, I had visited the place many times, and my last visit was on 10^th march 2018.

 Lesser flamingo (back side small one)

Lesser flamingo (juvenile)

 GPS does not guide you properly, also road is through forest /village area, boards are there but all are in a quite far distance.

Sanctuary Entry fees Rs 40 for week days, Rs 50 for sat and sun day, no charges for normal camera, professional/ semiprofessional camera charges is 200 Rs, No charges for bike parking, car parking charges is 100 Rs, Some of my colleague is a resident of thol village, and their family runs a refreshment stall inside thol lake, they provide high power resolution binocular, It help me a lot to identify eagles osprey and many more water birds. You can have binocular from refreshment stall on rental basis. Binocular is must need for bird watching as most of the birds are on very long distance.
 Garden inside thol sanctuary

                        Walking tracks                        

  refreshment and garden area

                                              common cuckoo  

Other than bird watcher this is famous for young couple, many of them was found intimate condition behind trees, some of them play louder music, In this way they destroying the habitat of birds and it goes far away. It is pity to find the lack of sense among the young stars,

                                                 Thol lake, plainty of birds every where
From the entry gate there were two walking tracks surrounding the lake, right side is preferable, canteen and toilet facilities are there,  1km from the entry gate there was parking place, a nicely decorated garden and forest guest house which is for forest officer, not for common people. Other than snacks, tea, chips, water and cold drink no food available inside, you have to bring by your own. Beware of monkeys, they can snatch your food.
 White pelican

Greater spotted eagle

                                                 Grey Francolin

Juvenile painted stork

 barheaded goose

Red napped ibis

                                   Red breasted flycatcher 

Thol is a manmade water reserve build in 1912 to provide irrigation facilities to farmers, water source now is used for reserving wild life and agricultural interest. I spend 4 hrs there, captures many species like white pelican, common crane, greater spotted eagle, osprey, different flycatcher, different species of water fowl, common cuckoo and may more. Thol is an wild life sanctuary is not a picnic spot, this is a home of approx. 160 species of birds, once you come to there home, you should not disturb them, keep quiet and enjoy nature.

                                              Green shank

 

Common kingfisher

  Copper smith barbet

Eurasian wagon

                                             Garganey