My Weekend Odysseys

Start of winter season in Mumbai and the island city becomes home to numerous migratory birds, some come as far as Central Asia. With so much awareness about conserving nature, conserving forest cover in & around city, it in turn helps in making sure that these visitory birds continue to come and excite us. It also helps in numerous people taking up birding as one of their hobbies, some even go to extent of organising free trips to places which are heaven for migratory birds, providing their expertise in birding to others. Every year HSBC bank also organises "Bird Race" which is now become a famous event, eagerly awaited by bird enthusiast across the city, providing them a common platform to reach out to like minded people and also to explore different places around Mumbai to see and watch these famous and beautiful visitors. Popular birding spots in and around city being S.G.National park, Aarey milk colony, Uran, Karnala bird sanctuary, Sewri for flamingos to name a few...

It was long since my last outing with Wanderlust adventurers, one due to my personal commitments and also mostly due to my work commitment. So last when I met Ajay for birding at Gandheri, It was again decided to do some outing on Sunday. The place was Devkop or Devkhop lake near Palghar. Devkop is not a popular destination but its like offbeat place close to Palghar, approx 5kms from Palghar station on Manor road. A very small sleepy village of few tribal mud huts on banks of Devkop lake. The lake water on clear blue sky reflects the sky colour and turns blue. A serene surrounding which is sure to bring the poet and your creative poetry out of you !!!! The place is surrounded by hills on three sides with thick forest cover on the hills and beautiful lake water with small village on it bank. A perfect place to be at on a winter Sunday. We decided to catch the a slow local from Borivali at 7.25am for Virar from where we would catch the  Dahanu shuttle and get down at Palghar. A grou...