Chasing White Tails and Emerald Shadows – A Day at Karnala Bird Sanctuary

There’s something magical about stepping into a forest with a camera slung over your shoulder and hope in your heart. A few weekends ago, I did just that—along with my wife and kid—as we drove to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, a quiet haven of green nestled just outside the ever-rushing city of Mumbai.

The day was warm, the kind that makes the leaves shimmer and the birds a little shy. We found ourselves in one of the bird hides, patiently waiting, hoping for a glimpse of the elusive Asian Paradise Flycatcher. More specifically, the male—his long white tail trailing like poetry in flight—was the prize.

As we sat watching, the first to grace us was the female flycatcher. She darted between branches, elegant and alert, but without the dramatic flair of her male counterpart. We waited, eyes scanning every rustle of leaf and flicker of movement. But the white-tailed wonder remained out of sight.

Yet, nature never truly disappoints.

In those quiet hours, we spotted a delightful array of birds—the bronze-winged drongo, with its glossy sheen; a few cheerful munias hopping around like they owned the place; an orange-headed thrush pausing briefly in the underbrush; and, to our surprise, an emerald dove gliding past like a secret whispered through the trees. It was a rich, satisfying palette of avian beauty, and we left with full hearts and half-hoped dreams.

But I wasn’t done.

The next morning, camera in hand and excitement renewed, I returned alone. The light was gentler, the forest quieter, and perhaps the stillness helped.

There he was.

The male paradise flycatcher perched like a dream—his tail streaming behind him like a banner of clouds. He flitted, perched, and posed like he knew he had an audience. And as if that moment wasn’t perfect enough, a black-naped monarch bird made an appearance too, its sapphire plumage adding contrast to the white-winged elegance nearby.

Two mornings. One goal. And the reminder that in nature, patience is always rewarded.