If
you should ever, like me, explore the world through the wonders of Google Earth
and like me, your eye comes to rest around Google Earth ref; 19 03 08N 72 51
46E where you find a small green oasis in the middle of Mumbai called the Maharashtra Nature Centre, don’t, like
me, leave your visit until the afternoon because you may find it shut. One gate
was padlocked and 3 guards at another refused me entry. It was 15.30 and a big
sign on the gate clearly stated that 15.30 was closing time. Various websites give differing opening times with 18.00 being a
popular closing time. Is there another gate somewhere that I missed? The
websites such as this one
give a good write up so I am still keen to visit one day. If anyone can give me
the definitive opening times, I would be grateful.
The
Powai River runs past the nature centre and through the mangroves into Mahim
Bay. The return taxi ride took us over the bridge and we stopped for a few
moments to walk along the bank at Google Earth ref 19 03 08N 72 50 50E. Upstream
from here is Asia’s largest slum and the river is best described as ‘organic’.
I
was surprised to see an Osprey fly
over. Black-headed Gulls flew close
to the mangroves on the far side and Gull-billed
Terns mixed with them looking for floating matter on the river. There are a
couple of small ponds here that held Indian
Pond Heron, Common Sandpiper and
Wood Sandpiper.
Towards
downtown Bombay, beyond the mangroves, large soaring birds could be seen. I am
sure that they were vultures, but the atmosphere along the riverbank was not
conducive to lingering and I could not get an adequate ID for them after the
event. Four men came to watch what I was doing. Indians are seldom intimidating, but they find unusual behaviour fascinating and their close scrutiny was off-putting. House Crows and Black Kites were, of course, easy to
find. Perhaps Powai Lake would have more to offer. With just a little afternoon light left, I headed there.
Birds
seen; 8
Indian
Pond Heron 5, Osprey 1, Black Kite 12, Wood Sandpiper 3 Common Sandpiper 5,
Black-headed Gull 15, House Crow 400, Common Myna 8.
Visit the dedicated India page for more sites in Mumbai, including, Powai Lake and Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Powai River, Maharashtra Nature Centre, Bombay, Mumbai, BOM
Maharashtra Nature Park, also called Mahim Nature Park, is indeed a unique wooded area in Mumbai. I had visited only a week ago - had I know you were here, I'd have accompanied you too. :)
ReplyDeleteThe condition of the creek is rather extreme. No one believes that it can be restored anymore - because most of Mumbai's sewage now runs into it. And you described it best - organic. Yet, it attracts quite a few birds we don't usually associate with organic wastes - as the Osprey, and even a few Lesser Flamingoes that are seen here. It is also a great place to photograph Asian Paradise Flycatchers too :)
He that travelleth into a country before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel.
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