We visited Menar, a birding destination in Udaipur, Rajasthan on 15th Jan 2017 with my friends from USA, Tom Piwowarski and his wife, Roselie, my firends Vijendra, Varun and Nirmal in the morning at 6:30AM. We first went to Mangalwar to check out how the wetlands are doing there and if many birds have arrived!
We saw at least 4000 birds of different species at Mangalwar lake. There were many migratory species. Tom and Roselie were really happy to see many birds and many species.
Umesh Menaria, our friend at Menar Village was waiting for us in Menar village. We thought that it was normal meet up with him, but then when we reached the village, we are given a royal welcome by whole village. I have been visiting Menar village for birding for last few years and spent few nights in the village, but this welcome this time was really heart touching!
Then the whole trip was on both local news papers as well as in local TV Channels! It was really amazing experience
Highlight of the trip was to sight Eurasian Bittern at Menar for the first time. In fact it was last seen in 2013 at Nagawali lake, Mangalwar.
This experience was the highlight of our time in Rajasthan. And the celebration in Menar was worthy of royalty – an unexpected delight. But, the birding itself was fantastic. There were many beautiful and some rare species together in one place. The guides, Vijendra, Uttam and their friends were a wealth of knowledge, local history and humor. If you are heading to the Udaipur region of India and have any ornithological tendencies I’d recommend the experience of birding with Uttam and his colleagues.