About the place
Baikka Beel is a wetland near Sreemangal in Moulvibazar, declared a bird sanctuary in 2003. In winter, migratory waterbirds arrive and gather on its open water and marshy edges.
In early 2025 the Bangladesh Bird Club counted 7,870 migratory birds of 38 species here. Recent reports also describe poaching, illegal fishing and a decline in migratory birds — which is why careful, low-impact visits matter so much.
What we hope to photograph
Winter brings ducks, waders and other waterbirds. I have filmed Black-winged Stilts foraging here. Exact species change from year to year:
- Migratory ducks and waterbirds on open water
- Waders such as Black-winged Stilts along the shallow edges
- Herons, egrets and other wetland birds; the 2025 count also included Peregrine Falcon
- Raptors over the wetland
- Wide wetland landscapes at sunrise and sunset
Photography opportunities
- Birds in flight against open sky
- Wader behaviour in shallow water
- Wetland landscapes in soft winter light
- Documentary images about the sanctuary and the pressures on it
Recommended gear
- The longest lens you have — waterbirds keep their distance
- A tripod or bean bag for long, steady observation from fixed points
- Binoculars to scan the open water
- Warm layers for cold winter mornings
The field experience
Wetland photography is about distance and stillness. We stay in permitted places, let birds settle, and never push closer to flush a flock for a flight shot.
Until access is officially confirmed, Baikka Beel remains on this page as a place I hope to photograph — not a bookable outing.
Join the outing
Access still needs to be confirmed, so there is no outing to join yet. Register your interest and I’ll let you know if that changes. Dates, transport, accommodation, permits and any costs are confirmed individually before each outing.
Research & Field References
- The Financial Express — “Baikka Beel turns into a bird sanctuary” (February 2025)
- The Daily Star — “Baikka Beel’s silent collapse” (February 2026)
- Black-winged Stilts at Baikka Beel — my own film, “Wetland Serenity”
Species named on this page have been recorded here by others; none are guaranteed on any outing. References last checked November 2026.
