On my very first birding trip, someone in the group told me the best place to catch birds in action is Mangalajodi in Odisha. I’d already seen plenty of “birds-in-flight” shots from there on Instagram, so when a friend from the US planned a trip, we decided to give Mangalajodi a try.

And it really is a unique place. You’re out on a boat in marshland the whole time, and the boat is moved with a long pole—so there’s almost no noise. The birds just go about their business, barely bothered by the boats. And thankfully, there are no Bluetooth speakers blasting bird calls. The birds are often surprisingly close, many at eye level, which makes for fantastic viewing and photography.

The light is the real magic, though. Sunrise and sunset bring that beautiful warm orange glow, and even during the day the sunlight isn’t harsh—more soft and flattering, exactly what you want in the field. As long as you have a longer lens (something like a 200–600), you’re all set.