Sinhagad Valley birding

It is every photographers dream to capture this beauty in their camera at least once. This dream can be fulfilled only in Sinhagad Valley. If you are still struggling with the name of this beauty then let me elaborate, it is Asian Paradise Flycatcher. This bird is so beautiful that the shutterbugs cannot resist the urge to click the photograph. Watching Asian Paradise Flycatcher playing in water is treat to the eyes. This bird is called “Swargiya Nartak” in Marathi. That means heavenly dancer. It is really amazing experience to watch this beauty fly in and out of water body with long beautiful tail and bright colours. This amazing thing can be experienced in Sinhagad Valley.

Sinhagad Valley is amazing place for Bird watching and bird photography. It is famous for variety of Flycatchers . These tiny little colourful birds are very beautiful and active during early morning time. Since these birds are hyper active, they are difficult to photograph But in Sinhagad valley it is made easy by creating perfect spots / Perches to capture this beauty.

I have visited this place in Jan 2019 and once again in Feb 2020. We were lucky to see the pair of Paradise Flycatcher but could not capture the image first time but clicked lots of Flycatcher variety. In my second visit in Feb 2020 I could capture this beauty very well.

You can easily reach this place once you reach Sinhagad fort base. There is village called Atkarwadi where you will see fork shape road. One road to right goes up the fort and to the left it goes to Sinhagad valley.

This place is regular for many migratory birds. We spotted Red whiskered bulbul and many varieties of flycatcher and other local birds like spotted dove and red vented bulbul etc.

Above images are Oriental Magpie Robbin and Black Naped Monarch or Black Naped Blue Flycatcher. These are tiny but amazingly colourful birds.

In the above images you can see the perch created for the birds and the photography enthusiasts waiting for the birds.

You can see various moods of Asian Paradise Flycatcher female in the collage below. In one picture she is sharing perch with Oriental White Eye.

You can also walk around after the bird watching/ Photograpgy to see the paddy fields in the valley. Nice view of Sinhagad fort can be seen through valley. Below pics show the fields around the valley. You can also click other common grassland birds around these fields.

Following is the list of birds sighted in Sinhagad Valley.

Best time to visit this place is post monsoon. Normally the migratory birds arrive here during Dec – Mar in the year. If you are planning to visit this place on Saturday / Sunday or any public holiday, please park your vehicle outside the entry lane. You may have to walk little bit but you will be able to save yourself from the traffic jam. Normally it is expected that you reach this place by 6.30 am in the morning so that you can watch or photograph the birds.

Happy clicking.