Akshi-Phansad: Coastal and Forest Birding

Akshi It is a small coastal village sharing the same costline with Alibaug. It is relatively less crowded and hence a good spot for birding. Winter is a very good season to spot, sight and photograph winter migratory coastal birds. Akshi beach is pretty familiar name among bird watchers; primarily for the variety and huge number of water birds seen on the beach. Phansad wildlife sanctuary is a wildlife refuge in the Murud and Roha talukas of Raigad district. It was created in 1986 to preserve some of the coastal woodland ecosystem of the western ghats and consists of 6979 hectare of forest, grasslands and wetlands. The area was once part of the hunting reserves of the princely state of Murud Janjira. Fauna includes leopards, various species of deer, wild boar, giant squirrel, reptiles, insects and hundreds of birds.