Birding On A Bicycle

 Ever gone birding on a bicycle? Or, explored rural neighbourhood on a cycle? Most readers in urban areas would answer 'no'. But Armed Forces Veterans are different!

Meet Col Tushar Bhakay, a Veteran from Indian Army who cycles to newer destinations on his cycle regularly. Commissioned into Maratha Light Infantry, Tushar served with distinction for 33 years. He has clocked more than 75,000 kms on his cycle across countries and terrains. Ghumakkad is delighted to share this guest story from Tushar. Presently working in Guntur, he cycled to Uppalapadu Bird Protection Centre in Andhra Pradesh. Tushar's story in his own words.

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When I took up a professional assignment in Guntur, I was rather unsure of what a small town had in store. As I started going around town and the surrounding rural areas on my cycle, I realised there was a lot to see and to experience. 

The rural landscape changes colour ever so often, looking different every couple of weeks. 

I had read about the Bird Protection Centre in Uppalapadu, a village twelve kilometres east of Guntur town – located on National Highway 16 which runs from Chennai to Kolkata. After taking a detour at the village of Takkelapadu, the road joins State Highway 253: venture forth another three kilometres towards Hanumanapalem, and you are at Uppalapadu. 

It is a wetland or a lake called “Cheruvu” in Telugu, with a few small islands bearing some trees. The Forest Department has put up thirty-five metal perches, which double up as 'tree' nesting sites for the birds.

The birds we saw here were of various kinds – pelicans, pintail ducks, cormorants, ibis’, painted storks, herons, flamingos, common teals, and common coots. These winged visitors come down from Siberia and up from Australia. 

The caretaker at the Centre said that most of the birds fly out by day in search of fresh food and fish which they seek out in the Bay of Bengal, which lies around a hundred kilometres further east. They return by nightfall, and their population varies between twelve thousand and sixteen thousand. 

A pathway of a hundred metres designed to keep away the most dangerous predator – the human being – allows for the birds to be watched by interested eyes without any disturbance to their nesting, mating, living, and squabbling. 

The Forest Department ensures a continuous supply of water to the lake, and is also involved in spreading awareness among villagers about the importance of migratory birds.

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Thank you Tushar for an interesting story. Keep cycling and sharing your adventures with our readers.

Ghumakkad had earlier posted another story on bird protection and conservation effort by AP Forest department in Kolleru. Readers may browse similar bird towers created in the middle of Kolleru lake in the story below.

Kolleru The Pelican Paradise - Picture story of Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary shows the creation of metal perches for the migratory birds in middle of a lake. The birds have adopted the metal baskets for nesting! 

With rampant destruction of our Environment by mankind, such stories of bird protection are truly heartwarming. Kudos to the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh Government in India.

Hope you enjoyed the guest story by Col Tushar Bhakay, 15th in our guest-series. Should you have a picture story of common interest, Ghumakkad would be happy to post it here. Only rider is that the pictures have to be original and the matter non-political, non-religious and non-commercial.

Thanks for browsing. Stay connected. Do leave a comment. Few words are enough to encourage us.

     -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ Makar Sankranti 14th January 2026

#uppalapadu #birdprotection #Kolleru #wildlifesanctuary #APForestDepartment #GuestStory #birding #bicycling #PelicanParadise #GetawayFromGuntur #GetawayFromHydereabad #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #TusharBhakay #Veteran #ArmedForces #MarathaLightInfantry #IndianArmy

Stepping Into The Seventy Fifth

How do you step into the 75th year of your life?

Do you celebrate? How? With whom? Where?

The universe celebrates with you. Mother Nature gives you a birthday gift. How and where?

End of December every year is the flowering time for the mango trees in our yard in Secunderabad. This year none of the three trees bloomed. Ghumakkad was a bit saddened. May be it would flower next year. Many mango trees produce fruits every alternate year. Some way to console oneself! 

As Ghumakkad's 74th birthday approached, mother Nature smiled. As if on cue, all the three mango trees started to bloom with sprinkling flowers. Nature's own way of saying 'Have patience. Happy Birthday Harsh'. Sharing below few pictures of the birthday 'gift' timed so well by the universe! Ghumakkad feels truly blessed. Sharing below my joy.

'Old age is second childhood', goes the old saying. Ghumakkad feels like a child at 74. Sample the things that thrill me as a child. Joy in small things!

A four-year-old child when asked his age, doesn't say 'I am four'. Instead he says with his chin high 'I am-four-and-a-half!' So does Ghumakkad when he says 'I am entering seventy five' instead of the routine answer 'I am seventy-four!'

Children become sad when one of their toys becomes non-operative. Once repaired, the joy gets restored and the child resumes playing. Same way for the older lot like me, a repaired hair-trimmer brings the smiles back! 

Completing a puzzle game brings enormous joy and satisfaction to a child. When a winding putt drops into the hole, the joy knows no bounds for Ghumakkad-the-golfer. Small things matter.

Learning science at home- children sow few seeds in a pot at home. When it sprouts, the eyes sparkle. Ghumakkad feels equally excited when the mango tree starts flowering. Small things again!

This morning, I was at Yapral lake for my morning walk. It was a misty morning not suited for photography yet cool enough for some stretches under the canopy of trees. Sharing few pictures below.

Misty morning by the lake side can create surreal images. Ghumakkad loves his morning walks. Sharing a few pictures taken on the New Year when most of the world was asleep.

Seventy four is also the time to pause and look back. Sharing below two stories of my 70th and 60th birthday celebrations where many of you are featured. Read on.

"Seventy is getting old, yet not old enough." Do you agree? What did Ghumakkad do when he turned seventy?

A Grandpa Turns Sixty - When friends came over from across the continents to give bumps to Ghumakkad!

Celebratory Triathlon

Our son Ankush who is an Ironman twice, celebrated my 74th birthday with a 740 metres swim,  74km bike ride followed by a 7.4km run in Chennai. What a creative and unique way to celebrate a father's 74tth birthday in Ironman style. Isn't it? Thanks Son, proud of you.

Cake of Choice

When you have a Chef in the family, how can a cake of choice not be there!  Our daughter-in-law Prabs and grandson Ansh teamed up at night to get an egg-free Ultra Chocolate Cake with a candle. Thanks Chef Prabs, for such a delicious cake. See the picture below and you will fall for the cake. Those in Hyderabad can visit her cafe called SOZO on Road No, 14, Banjara Hills.

The video of the cake cutting with Ansh follows.

Ghumakkad is privileged to share his birthday with Col GB Sethi, PhD. Both of us love golfing and have been teachers. Though eleven years apart, but we are close at heart. Picture below shows doing a hi-five with him on the golf course.

Ghumakkad thanks all those who have sent messages, calls, notes, blessings, videos and text and even those who forgot --for keeping me in their thoughts. Grateful to each one of you. You make my life so special. I feel blessed. 

As my late buddy Annu (aka Anand Jain) used to say 'Insha Allah', see you for the Platinum next year. God willing.

Thanks for browsing. Stay connected and do leave a comment. Even a few words will encourage us.

    -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ 3rd Jan 2026

#74thBirthday #GrandpasBirthday #SteppingInto75 #RedefiningJoy #NaturesGift #BlessedByTheUniverse #JoyInSmallThings #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #SmallThingsIn Life