This is a specially-designed wetland Bird-Photo-Tour focussed around two outstanding wintering Indian locations for waterbirds (i) Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal State is home to thousands of wintering wildfowl and via individual boats, one client per boat, each driven by a skilled local boatsman, photographers can obtain point-blank views of its waterbirds (ii) The Indian State of Gujarat has wintering Pelicans, Flamingos, Indian Skimmers and Crab Plovers amongst many other wetland birds including other specialities such as Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. These species can be enjoyed at close range offering a superb opportunity for portrait-quality images.
Cranes / Flamingos: Demoiselle Crane / Sarus Crane / Common Crane / Lesser Flamingo / Greater Flamingo
Pelicans / Wildfowl: Great White Pelican / Dalmatian Pelican / Falcated Duck / Baer’s Pochard / Small Pratincole
Others: Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse / Indian Skimmer / Crab Plover
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-4, Gujarat State (3N / 2D / 4S): Arrival Sardar Vallabhhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, transfer to Mahesana District. Photographic Targets: Painted Stork / Sarus Crane / Demoiselle Crane / Sociable Lapwings / Lesser Flamingo / Greater Flamingoes / Dalmatian Pelican / Great White Pelican / Black-necked Grebe / Bar-headed Geese.
Day 4-8 Kutch District, Gujarat (4N / 3D / 6S): Afternoon drive 2-hours to Kutch District. Photographic Targets: Lesser & Greater Flamingoes / Great White & Dalmatian Pelicans / Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse / Greater Spotted Eagle / Imperial Eagle / Steppe Eagle / Peregrine Falcon / Rufous-tailed Lark / Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark / Greater Hoopoe Lark / Crested Lark.
Day 8-12 Jamnagar District, Gujarat (4N / 4D / 8S): Drive 4-hours to Jamnagar District. Photographic Targets: Lesser Flamingo / Greater Flamingoes / Indian Skimmer / Crab Plover / Great White Pelican / Dalmatian Pelican / Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse / Pallas’s Gull / Heuglin’s Gull / Slender-billed Gull / Eurasian Oystercatcher / Gull-billed Tern.
Day 12-13 Bagdogra Airport (1N / 0D / 0S): Drive 4-hours to Ahmedadabad for international departures [END].
Extension Option to West Bengal State
Days 1-5 West Bengal (4N / 3D / 6S): Domestic Flight to Bogdogra Airport in West Bengal State, transfer to Jalpaiguri District. Photographic Targets via Chartered Boats: Bear’s Pochard / Cotton Pygmy Goose / Falcated Duck / Small Pratincole / Red-crested Pochard / River Lapwing / Smew / Goldeneye.
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day].
Nick Ludovic Green has spent much of his life travelling and photographing birds across Asia and Oceania, developing a depth of field experience that few bird photographers achieve. Over more than 15 years in the region, Nick has led 150+ bird photography tours in 35 countries, carefully designing each itinerary to give photographers the best possible access to light, behaviour and habitat.
Through extensive long-term travel, Nick has photographed 2,500 bird species across Asia and Oceania, many at portrait-quality standard. In China alone he has documented over 1,200 species, working in every province and returning repeatedly to key locations to refine photographic opportunities, an experience that directly benefits photographers travelling with him.
His longer bird photography expeditions include a four-month journey across Melanesia, a three-month traverse of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China's western frontier, and a four-month Himalayan journey from Kashmir, Ladakh and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These extended field projects have helped build deep regional knowledge and trusted local relationships.
Nick’s images have been published internationally, and his methods reflects a long-term commitment to careful, respectful bird photography. On tour, he is known for his organized, supportive approach and practical in-field guidance, helping bird photographers of all levels improve their work whilst enjoying unhurried time amongst the region’s most sought-after species.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping. Summary: for these five reasons this trip has been graded as 'Easy'.
