In October 2025, Birdwatching Asia was privileged to have been invited for a 7-day birding & wildlife tour around Gujarat, courtesy of Gujarat Tourism and Asian Adventures. First up on our tour was wildlife watching and birding at the Little Rann of Kutch, an arid saltmarsh located near the northwestern border of the state. This unique area is renowned for being a biodiversity hotspot, with various species of birds and animals calling the region home.

Birding at The Little Rann of Kutch: Trip Report

Preamble

Our visit to the Little Rann of Kutch came immediately after the Global Wildlife Fair 2025 concluded, and was the first stop of a 7-day birding & wildlife tour around Gujarat. The tour is essentially a familiarisation trip sponsored by Gujarat Tourism as part of their efforts to promote eco-tourism within the state to international markets. Additionally, Asian Adventures were instrumental in organizing the logistics of the entire trip.

Birdwatching Asia were joined by 10 other people from across the globe, all of whom are involved in the eco-tourism industry. Our group spent 3 days and 2 nights here (14-16 October 2025). During our visit, we stayed at Rann Riders, a well-appointed eco-lodge located just outside the sanctuary.

What is the Little Rann of Kutch?

But first, what in the world is the Little Rann of Kutch? In the simplest terms, the Little Rann of Kutch (or LRK, for short) is an area of seasonal saltmarsh that straddles the northwestern portion of Gujarat.

But why is it named as such? Firstly, Rann is Gujarati for seasonal saltmarsh. Kutch (or alternatively Kachchh) is the name of the district where the marshes are located. These saltmarshes are thus called the Rann of Kutch. The Rann of Kutch is divided into two sections, the Great and Little, with the latter being much smaller in area compared to the former.

The LRK is flooded annually during the monsoon season. During the drier months, the area gradually becomes an arid saltflat. Notably, almost the entirety of the LRK lies within the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, a protected area just shy of 5000 km2 in size.

Habitat types within the LRK

The LRK comprise of three main habitat types:

1. Dry salt flats. The vast, flat landscape stretches to the horizon.

   

2. Islands of grassland and thorny Prosopis bushes dot the landscape. They act like oases of sorts, providing shelter and grazing for various animals.
3. Saline water bodies are scattered throughout, drying remnants of when the rann was flooded during the monsoon. The deeper areas retain water the longest, and attract thousands of waterbirds.

   

Access to the LRK

Since the LRK is part of a wildlife sanctuary, access is only possible by organized safaris. These safaris are usually arranged by the hotel. In our case, they were operated by Rann Riders. The 4×4 jeeps (or Gypsy) vehicles can seat up to 6 passengers comfortably, and are able to navigate the challenging terrain with ease. The safaris last between 2 to 4 hours per session.

Our Experience Birding at the Little Rann of Kutch

We visited the LRK on two separate safari sessions. Our first session was in the afternoon via the Zinzuwada entrance, where we were able to experience the ethereal beauty of the desert at sunset. On our second session, we went in via the Zainabad entrance and arrived in the LRK before dawn. Consequently, we got to observe the breathtaking views of the sun rising over the desert, as innumerable flocks of birds flew across.

Birding at the Little Rann of Kutch was relatively straightforward, as the vast open spaces meant that the birds could be spotted from some distance away. Our safari vehicles roamed the expansive saltflats looking for birds and wildlife, roving from one green patch to another. Whenever we spotted something interesting, the vehicle would stop, allowing us ample time to observe and photograph the birds.

Despite appearing barren and lifeless, the LRK was absolutely teeming with birds. The water bodies attract a plethora of water-loving species, while the thorny bushes provide vantage points for shrikes, falcons and rollers as they wait to pounce on unfortunate prey. Conversely, the wheatears, larks and pipits were often seen right on the arid ground itself, hopping/running around as they searched for food. And all the time, raptors soar overhead while majestic cranes overfly the desert in attractive V-formations.

If I were to sum up our birding experience at the LRK in one word, it would have to be ‘surreal’! 

Species Seen While Birding at the Little Rann of Kutch

We saw an astounding variety of birds during both sessions, many of which are species adapted to arid climates. There’s too many to list here, but the following are species that deserve mention:

1. Thousands of ducks of various species, including Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teals, and Northern Shovelers.
2. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. Beautiful, but perfectly camouflaged as they crouch on the cracked mud. Large flocks of these birds roam the LRK.
3. Common Crane. Majestic, long-legged birds that forage at the grassland areas. We spotted quite a few of them within the LRK.
4. Greater Flamingo. My first ever encounter with wild flamingos. Alas, we could only observe them from a distance.
5. Great White Pelican. Only my second species of pelican ever. These massive waterbirds were seen within the lake at the Zainabad entry area, alongside the ducks and flamingos.
6. Raptors, such as the Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Kestrel.
7. Pallas’s Gull. A huge gull that dwarfs the nearby shorebirds!
8. Desert and Isabelline Wheatears
9. Various types of Larks, including Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark, Rufous-tailed Lark, and Greater Short-toed Lark. Larks are almost unknown in my home country of Malaysia, as they mainly live in arid habitats. 

Icons of the Rann

Of course, the LRK is also known as a stronghold for the Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur), a subspecies of the Onager (Asiatic wild donkey). These icons of the Rann are also referred to as ‘Khur’ in Gujarati. The only wild population of the Indian Wild Ass is within Gujarat, where it is protected. Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, numbers of this wild horse are on the rise, and they can be easily seen while on safari within the LRK.

Our group had the pleasure of seeing several herds of these exquisite equines during our safari sessions. The wide open spaces and excellent lighting made photographing them a cinch!

Birding at Nava Talav and access road

Besides birding at the Little Rann of Kutch proper, we also managed to explore several locations outside the sanctuary. Notably, a lake just outside the borders of the LRK called Nava Talav proved to be an excellent birding hotspot. We did a 2.5 hour birding session along the northern shore, and recorded 80 species!

Moreover, we also found that birding along the access roads on the way to/from the LRK entry points were very productive. 

Several notable species seen outside the sanctuary are highlighted below:

1. Pied Cuckoo. A handsome black and white cuckoo with a spiffy crest.
2. Ruff. Rather easily seen along any water body in the area. One bird was a stunning white morph individual. None of them have their namesake ‘ruff’, though.
3. Eurasian Hoopoe. Happily, these stunning birds are quite common and easily seen around Gujarat. Their fan-like crests are just superb! One of my all-time favourite birds.
4. European Roller. These migratory birds are winter visitors to Gujarat, and they were seen in good numbers. They are large, attractive and bold, making them excellent photography subjects.
5. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. Almost identical to the Blue-tailed Bee-eater I’m so familiar with back in Malaysia. However, the Blue-cheeked lacks a blue tail.

Rann Riders

A few words about the superlative hotel where we stayed at during our visit. Rann Riders is an eco-lodge located near the village of Dasada, on the outskirts of the LRK. Our stay here was very pleasant, thanks to the comfortable rooms, great food and exceptional hospitality. The owner of the resort, Mr Muzahid Malik, came and chatted with us personally, which was a nice touch. Also, their in-house nature guides were very skilled and knowledgeable when it comes to searching for and identifying wildlife during the safaris.

This eco-friendly hotel employs various practices to minimize their impact on the environment. This includes (but not restricted to) minimizing plastic, waste management systems and sustainably sourced water. 

We certainly wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again should the opportunity present itself in the future!

Conclusion

From the moment we set foot within its borders, it was immediately obvious to us that the LRK was something special. From the magical landscapes to the exotic birds and wildlife, the LRK stunned us with its beguiling beauty. Exploring the vast expanses while observing and photographing the various desert denizens was an absolute delight. 

In short, birding at the Little Rann of Kutch was a surreal experience that will undoubtedly live long in our memories.

Next up: We head to Gir National Park, 300km south of the LRK, to see the kings of the jungle!