I was wondering if I could explore a new place on Sunday and decided to go to Pawna lake. I haven’t read much about Pawna from birding perspective so thought of taking a chance. We started at around 6:30 am and it started raining like cats & dogs. I just dropped the idea of birding and thought we would just drive through and come back.
We entered the road to Pawna lake in another 40 mins and I could see the sky clearing up. I just hoped the sun came out, and it did!.. We saw lot of Baya Weavers.. such beautiful sights. These small yellow birds do look really beautiful. Driving a little further, I also saw couple of Eurasian Oriole.. but couldn’t capture due to poor light.. We drove adjacent to the Pawna lake, very picturesque indeed!
As we drove further, I heard lot of chirping on a turn; so I decided to explore the bushes next to the road and I couldn’t have been more lucky. I saw at-least 11-12 jungle bush-quails.. Luckily I was able to snap a couple of record shots. We went all the way to Dudhiware and then returned back. On way back we saw egrets, swallows, white breasted waterhens and bulbuls..
How to reach
We started from Pimple Saudagar and took the old Pune-Mumbai road. Just after you cross the 1st toll, you will get a crowded area where in you need to take a left and keep going on this road (Parandwadi Road). There are sign boards as well. Just make sure you don’t take a right at a junction which say Hinjewadi. Best is to ask locals about Pawna dam and they will guide you. As soon as you reach Pawna nagar (40 kms from pimple saudagar), you will be able to see the dam. From here you have 2 choices, if you go right.. You will reach paud phatta.. Joining the Mulshi road. If you stay on left, you drive adjacent to the pawna lake.. Thats what we did and drove all the way till Dudhiware (10 km from Pawna Nagar). While coming back, we came to pawna nagar, and took the right to reach Paud phatta, and back to pune via Bavdhan. Both the roads are pretty good, except for few odd patches.. Best part about the Parandwadi road is that we could not find any buses plying on it.. So its pretty calm and picturesque all the way..
Here are the birds are I was able to capture during the drive..
Great photos, very nice to see these exotic birds!