Bird walk at Pashan Lake, Pune, Maharashtra

About Pashan Lake

Nestled in the western suburbs of Pune, Pashan Lake is a serene urban wetland spread over roughly 40 hectares, offering a vital ecological refuge amid the city’s expanding skyline. Originally created as a reservoir, the lake today supports a mosaic of open water, marshy edges, mudflats, and surrounding scrub making it an ideal habitat for diverse flora and fauna. Aquatic vegetation, reeds, and scattered tree cover provide shelter to resident and migratory birds, while the lake’s nutrient-rich waters sustain fish, amphibians, and insect life that form the base of its thriving food web.

For birders, Pashan Lake is a rewarding hotspot through the year, especially during winter when migratory ducks, waders, and gulls arrive in impressive numbers. Early mornings here are alive with the calls of lapwings, the elegant glide of herons, and flocks of waterfowl resting on calm waters. However, like many urban wetlands, the lake faces challenges such as pollution, eutrophication, invasive plant growth, and development pressure. Ongoing conservation efforts by local authorities and citizen groups aim to restore water quality and protect its biodiversity, making Pashan Lake not just a birding destination, but a powerful example of community-driven urban conservation.

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Common birds of Pashan Lake

Bhandup Pumping Station is a paradise for birdwatchers and a powerful example of how nature survives alongside a megacity, with an extraordinary 285 bird species recorded within its urban wetlands. A walk through the area reveals flashes of colour from Blue-tailed and Asian Green Bee-eaters, swirling flocks of Rosy and Pied Starlings, and the elegant silhouettes of Glossy Ibis probing the mudflats. The waterbodies teem with life as Little and Great Egrets, Indian Cormorants, Pond Herons, White-breasted Waterhens, Black-winged Stilts and Common Sandpipers feed along the edges, while River Terns and winter visitors like the Brown-headed Gull add seasonal excitement. Grasslands and scrub echo with calls of the Red-wattled Lapwing, Greater Coucal and Common Hoopoe, and overhead, Wire-tailed Swallows skim the water as Baya Weavers weave their intricate nests. Together, these everyday yet fascinating birds turn Bhandup Pumping Station into a living outdoor classroom, showcasing the richness and resilience of urban biodiversity.