If you’re an avian enthusiast in Mumbai, now’s a great time to be up and about the city and its outskirts, binoculars and guidebook in tow. Nature travel planners have a field day charting new terrain for bird lovers to spot their feathered friends.

Buoyed by the continuous momentum from November to December, this night owl bit the bullet, and turned into a morning lark, by signing up for a few trails to Elephanta Island to spot birds (and the odd bat too), courtesy the Bombay Natural History Society. The amateur that we are, such trips made for great experiences, particularly as one is in the midst of serious, knowledgeable folk who take this activity as more than just a weekend hobby. En route, during our boat ride to the ancient island, made famous by its stunning rock-cut creations, the tidbits of trivia that wafted across made for the ideal tune -up for the real deal.