Every morning at racecourse

 In a city like Mumbai where there is a shortage of open spaces, I am so glad to have one of the largest  open space in the city so near. Although its a racecourse, it has a considerable amount of biodiversity. Every morning I get a chance to have look at some of the common city birds like black kites,sunbirds, flower peckers, egrets, mynas etc. along with not so common birds in this area like - drongos, prinias, neelkanth etc. here at the Racecourse. There are even records of purple swamphen nesting here. Huge trees surround this place. One can see about 20 kites sitting on the open cleared patch of ground right in the middle.  Tree like Gulmohor, Sonmohor, Cassia, Rain tree, Mango, Banyan, Peepal, Bakul etc. are some of the trees that are planted over here and all of them are huge in size. This place has a charm of its own in every season. A carpet of grasses with lovely green colour covers the ground in rainy season, winter season arrives with sweet calls of birds. One more sound is added with the arrival of summer i.e. call of  male Koels. One can devour variety of colours from green, brown, red.... in these seasons. The climer named 'railway creeper' a species of 'Ipomea' is currently in full bloom. If you are a fitness freak then this is a perfect place for you. It has 2.2 kms walking as well as jogging track. Lots of place available for your yoga or any other fitness exercise. Lot of training sessions are conducted here as well. Tourists that visit our city generally want to see the "Dhobi Ghat" - 'Washer mans' colony which is just opposite to the racecourse and I really wonder why? Anyways, they might be having some interests of their own. But, I would also suggest that one should visit this place as well. Preferably  in early morning. Even there are so many Mumbaikars (Mumbaites) who are totally unaware about this particular site. The place is under conspiracy in these days. No matter what they (Government) come up with a theme park of international level or 'smarak' of great people, the existing biodiversity of this place is definitely going to get affected. I just hope that whatever changes that will take place over here, they will / should help in making our city's environment clean. Difficult but, not impossible, isn't it?