Our road trip to the Rann of Kutch culminated in the Rann Utsav at the edge of the White Rann. While we stayed at Rann Utsav, we decided to go birding in the Chari Dhand Wetland Reserve bordering the Banni Grasslands that is part of the Great Rann of Kutch. We took a shortcut through the Banni Grasslands to reach the Chari Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve early in the morning. Having come so far, our local guide recommended that we visit the nearby Fulay village to get a glimpse of the rare Grey Hypocolius. We willingly obliged and while we waited for the Grey Hypocolius, we spotted this Common Babbler sitting on a nearby shrub.
Finally after a long wait, a pair of Grey Hypocolius emerged from the shrubs nearby and we managed a couple of record shots before proceeding back to the Chari Dhand Forest guesthouse. It was mid morning by the time we got there. However, we went on a drive through the reserve to try our luck with the birds. A Common Buzzard was flying low and we got a picture of it flying against the backdrop of the blue sky and made it the feature image of this post. We also spotted another one settling down on top of a tree and we got close enough to get this image.
Apart from sighting a few scrambling Jackals and a chance meeting with one nomadic gypsy family (with camels), we drew blank. Soon it was time for us to drive back to Rann Utsav. On our way back, we spotted this Crested Lark by the side of the dusty track. The next morning we managed this picture of the sunrise from outside our tent (below).
While we were checking out of the tent city, a Variable Wheatear came by and sat on the roof of a tent nearby and bid us farewell.