: Boat rides are best taken in two shifts: early morning around sunrise for the best lighting and bird activity, or late afternoon leading into sunset . Top Sightings
Scrolling through a season of “Bhigwan birds upd” reveals a quieter, darker narrative.
: Most birdwatching is done via local boat rides operated by fishermen from villages like Kumbhargaon and Diksal .
✅ Excellent for photography – backwater landscape. ✅ Local guides are skilled and ethical. ✅ Less crowded than Bharatpur.
The confirm that this stunning wetland ecosystem, often called the "Bharatpur of Maharashtra," continues to be a premier hotspot for migratory birds . Located roughly 100 to 130 kilometers from Pune on the backwaters of the Ujani Dam, Bhigwan has undergone significant infrastructure revamps to enhance eco-tourism and support conservation. bhigwan birds upd
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary Update 2026: Status and Flamingo Season Guide
The area is also frequented by the Greater Grey Shrike , Rock-bush Quail , and the Rain Quail .
: The peak season is winter , specifically from November to March , when migratory birds arrive in large numbers.
To enjoy the sounds of the waders and the view of the flamingos, keep noise to a minimum. : Boat rides are best taken in two
While the flamingo counts are low, Bhigwan remains alive with other avian activity:
Bhigwan is not a wilderness. It is a commons under siege.
A comprehensive waterbird census, conducted on February 1, 2026, by the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) in partnership with the Solapur forest division, provides a detailed snapshot of the changes at Bhigwan. The census recorded a total of 6,604 birds belonging to 137 species at the Ujjani reservoir. Of these, 5,550 were waterbirds representing 61 species.
Bhigwan is not a sanctuary. It is a deception. Forty kilometers from Pune, beyond the sugarcane barons’ bungalows and the dust of the Solapur highway, the Ujani Dam backwaters stretch out like a lie. In summer, it is a cracked white desert of alkali and dead crabs. In winter, it transforms into a inland sea, swallowing villages, drowning fields, and creating a labyrinth of shallow, silty islands. ✅ Excellent for photography – backwater landscape
The bureaucrat of the marsh. Slow, deliberate, judgmental. An “upd” about them is rarely about numbers; it is about behavior. “Painted storks feeding in sewage runoff near temple ghat” is not a sighting; it is an indictment.
The Golden Hour Migration
Despite the changing bird counts, a visit to Bhigwan remains a memorable experience. Here’s what you need to know.
The deeper waters of the Ujani Dam backwaters became an active haven for diverse diving and predatory species. Local rowboats operating from and Diksal villages continued to record robust numbers of alternative migratory and resident avifauna: