Bird watching in Satragachi

8 of us turned up at the Taj Bengal at 7:30 am to convoy to Satragachi bird sanctuary in the lake opposite the Railway Colony. Migratory birds land on an island of the Satragachi wetland, some 20 kilometres south of Calcutta off the Kona highway. An estimated 4,000 migratory birds visit this Satragachi lake annually during the winter.

Bonani, who has been flying in and out of Calcutta and was recently in Dhaka with Zinedine Zidane, brought her book on Indian Birds. Anando Mukerjee a lyric tenor, whose Concert repertoire consists of Areie antiche, Arias from the principal Bel Canto, Romantic and Verismo Italian and French Operas, Leider, Chansons, Canzone and English and Continental Art Songs gave a concert Friday evening at Calcutta School of Music which Zoria and I had attended. Madhuri heard about it from her dinner companions the same evening. Bonani would have joined us but was on a train in Jharkand. As his cousin's friend, I was able to net Anando to join us on our hash walk on Sunday. An Inlaks Foundation Scholar in 1999 for a Tripos in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, he knew enough zoology to describe the birds as seen through Bonani's pre world war binoculars while we looked up his descriptions in the pictures in Bonani's book. Bonani even saw a Girgiti on the newly constructed railings around the lake and Bonani had me locking eyes with the lizard until it fell back into the water. Madhuri, Siddiqui, Kristina and Petra missed all this as they flew around the lake and found our picnic spot.

Anando, after completing his degree in Cambridge, has been training with retired professors of the Royal College of Music, London since October 2001. For the initial part of his operatic studies, he obtained a Charles Wallace (India Trust) award administered by the British Council and it's the British Council who sponsored his flight to Cal. Kristina will be happy to know that he is also a student of and receiving master classes from the celebrated Swedish Tenor Nicolai Gedda, singer of the Royal Court, Stockholm. In May 2007 he makes his Wigmore Hall debut accompanied by the internationally renowned pianist Leslie Howard and all the hashers are cordially invited.

Bonani is now keen to organise another concert for Anando in Kolkata perhaps during the December River Festival 2007. When I told him about the hash cruises on the river, he was delighted. We'll have to book him on one when next he's in town.

Satragachi is the one of the busiest railway stations in West Bengal. We could see that when our cars were stuck at the railway crossing for 40 minutes after we'd had breakfast. Siddiqui had organised tuna, cheese and egg sandwiches from Nahoum's, and some Appy to wash it down. Zoria and Kristina brought thermoses of coffee. One of the Railway staff who is part of the nature lovers club came and spoke to Anando, the only male amongst us birds. Bonani was also accosted by another group of bird watchers who were spending the whole day there. Madhuri mistook them for picnickers like us.

Rajesh Nath, whose daughter is a keen bird watcher, was busy with the German delegates. Lilly, Felicity, Sunita were all at the St. Andrew's Ball last Saturday and Lilly has won a free trip to England, while her escort George won a weekend at the Hyatt's Presidential suite! Gherdie was away to Jamshedpur with his family. Everyone wants to get away from Calcutta while the weather's beautiful and Zoria has found out that the WB government suggests day trips to Garchumik, Geokhali, Panitras, Antpur.

Siddiqui has found out that it is possible to go to Shantipur by train. Those keen on going this weekend, please give her a call on 9433867101. Kristina and family, Carl, Sid, Zoria are getting tickets on Wednesday so if you'd like to join call before Wednesday for some fun by the beach.
I'll be heading to the Nandan mela in Shantiniketan (see earlier email)
Dev r Nil are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of d designs and their success at the Lakme Fashion week on Friday 1st December at Underground with a Fashion Show from 9 p.m. onwards. Call me for passes.

3rd Dec. 7:30 am Botanics followed by Taj unless you are going to Shantipur/Shantiniketan
10 December 7:30 am in front of Statesman House to do one of the 10 walks of Calcutta. Will try to organise breakfast in an old house - Basubati in North Calcutta

Newcomers and old hashers please collect your blue T shirts from me and Siddiqui on 10th Dec. There are no more white T shirts from the boat cruise of 2005 with Pradeep and Bonani. Perhaps we can take up Madhuri's idea of a small hash back pack for the end of the year. Let's meet and decide the next hash venues on 10th December. Please come up with venues till end Jan.

Neela 9830014934