Bird Walk at Moti-Dau Village, Mehsana, Gujarat
- Mehsana
- 7 December, 2025
- Bhargav Limbachiya
About Moti-Dau Village
Moti-Dau, a village in Mehsana district of Gujarat, sits amid a landscape shaped by agriculture, open fields, and the mellow rhythm of North Gujarat’s semi-arid plains. The village is surrounded by stretches of millet, cotton, castor, and seasonal groundnut farms, with small ponds and check-dams that catch the monsoon’s generosity. Life here moves with a grounded steadiness—farmers beginning their day before sunrise, livestock trailing along dusty paths, and winter mornings carrying the faint scent of smoke from household chulhas. The settlement has a warm, close-knit feel, where community ties run deep and cultural traditions weave easily into daily routine.
Nature quietly threads through Moti-Dau’s edges. The surrounding fields and waterbodies draw everyday wildlife—lapwings pacing furrows, doves warming themselves on electric lines, and bee-eaters carving bright arcs over fallow land. During the cooler months, migratory ducks and waders may drop into local ponds, turning them into brief rest stops on their inland journeys. As agriculture intensifies and development expands, these pockets of habitat become especially important. With thoughtful water management, protection of village ponds, and community awareness, Moti-Dau can continue nurturing both its agrarian life and the subtle biodiversity that gives these rural landscapes their charm.
Partnered with
Bird Guide: Limbachiya bhargav pankajbhai
Nature enthusiast and avid birder. For him bird watching and being part of nature and explore nature is not his work but his passion.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Moti-Dau Village
Moti-Dau’s fields, ponds, and village groves support a lively range of birds, making even a short walk feel like a small natural parade. The ponds draw White-throated Kingfishers, Pond Herons, Cattle Egrets, White-breasted Waterhens, and occasionally impressive visitors like the Woolly-necked Stork and Openbill Stork. Farmlands echo with the calls of Grey Francolins, Paddyfield Pipits, Siberian Stonechats, and the brisk chatter of Indian Silverbills, while fence lines and bushes host Indian Robins, Pied Bushchats, and Purple Sunbirds. Around homes and trees, you’ll find Red-vented Bulbuls, Laughing Doves, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Common Hoopoes, Oriental Magpie Robins, and the stoic Indian Grey Hornbill. Overhead, Black Kites, Black Drongos, and agile Wire-tailed Swallows animate the sky—together creating a rich and varied birdlife tapestry for this quiet Gujarat village.
Wire-tailed Swallow
Eurasian Hoopoe
Indian Grey Hornbill
Grey-headed Swamphen
Red-wattled Lapwing
Grey Heron
White-throated Kingfisher
Little Egret
Red-vented Bulbul
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Eurasian Coot
Osprey
Grey Francolin
Indian Robin
Oriental Magpie Robin
Asian Green Bee-eater
Laughing Dove
Indian Pond Heron
Bronze-winged Jacana
Siberian Stonechat
Summary of Walk
The Moti-Dau Village bird walk in Mehsana, Gujarat, led by Bhargav Limbachiya, brought together 7 enthusiastic participants, including a few zoology students eager to learn field skills. The morning proved exceptionally rewarding as the group recorded over 60 bird species, showcasing the rich avifaunal diversity of the region. Among the standout sightings were two remarkable rarities—the Eurasian Wryneck, a secretive migratory woodpecker, and the vibrant Black-headed Bunting, both of which thrilled the entire group.
For the zoology students and first-time birders, the walk became a hands-on learning experience. Bhargav guided them through essential birdwatching techniques, habitat observation, behaviour interpretation, and the importance of ethical field practices. With plenty of birds, great company, and continuous learning, all participants thoroughly enjoyed the session. The walk ended with happy faces, new skills gained, and a deeper appreciation for Gujarat’s birdlife.
Number of Participants
0
