Land of the Wild

Nature and Wildlife Photography and Post-processing Workshop

2010-10-04T12:57:00.012+05:30

Hello Friends,
We are pleased to announce Workshop on Nature and Wildlife Photography and Post-processing with Sachin Rai*. Attached below are all the relevant details. There are limited seats, so please register prior to the event (deadlines mentioned below) so as to avoid disappointment.

Know more…
Two Batches
Batch I : 9th & 10th October 2010

Batch II : 16th & 17th October 2010

Location: Ghatkopar, Mumbai

Time: Day 1 - 14:00 to 19:00 ; Day 2 - 08:30 to 13:30

This workshop will cover various aspects of nature and wildlife photography and delve deeply into how to process your pictures after they have been shot. As you would realize, in outdoor photography, the variability of light, subject location and mobility creates many barriers to getting a perfect frame and post-processing greatly helps enhance your picture quality.

The workshop will entail intensive sessions on the technical as well as practical aspects of nature photography and hands-on training on how to suitably edit your photographs.

*About Sachin Rai
Stepping into the photography scenario more than a decade ago, Sachin has passionately explored far and wide corners of the country to capture vivid images of wildlife ranging from tiny beetles, rare herpeto-fauna to the mighty beasts of forests and deserts. His photographs have found their way into a variety of magazines, newspapers, books and calendars. He has very liberally shared his evolved sense of design for making films, developing literature or presentations to facilitate conservation objectives of several organizations.

Apart from Special Mentions at Sanctuary Asia’s Photography Competition from 2007-09, Sachin has received the Sanctuary Asia - ABN Amro Award for the Photographer of the Year (2007) and also the Joint Second Prize for Photography at the same event. He has also received a Special Mention in the Better Photography Wildlife Contest in January 2009. Sachin is rated as one of the top bird photographers in the country by a leading website.

In his words, "Exploring the wonders of wilderness is a fervor I cultivated since childhood. Wildlife photography gives me immense pleasure and contentment and I would like to spend all my life chasing my passion and initiating people into this marvellous world!"

See his work
While his website is under-construction, please have a look at the following links to know more!
http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Sachin+Rai
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/osachin.htm
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/photo/sachinprofile.htm

Modules
Day 1
- Basics of Photography
- Light
- Shutter Speed
- Aperture
- Exposure
- Depth of Field
- Metering
- ISO
- Composing a picture
- Types of Cameras
- Types of Lenses

Day 2
- Photography Trail
- Colours
- Post Processing

Testimonials
"The workshop was really very enlightening. I wish to thank you for organising such a well-managed workshop. If there are any such workshops or trails/ trips relating to nature/wildlife please do let me know. Thank You," ~ Neil Mehta

"I am sure everybody could learn something that made them understand the art of photography better. It certainly improved my skills and made me think about various aspects of photography. I have started to think a little more before clicking any photo; thanks to Sachin” ~ Ovee Thorat

“I have owned a camera since long but have never known the wonders I can create with it using the various exciting features it has to offer! The personal attention Sachin gives to each student and the patience with which he explains all the nitty-gritty is admirable. His knowledge is extensive and his understanding of post-processing - deep. Thanks for the wonderful photography trail, too!” ~ Ajay Bijoor

“Someone has rightly said that all life is learning and this is personified by Sachin's photography skills. He is one of the best persons in the field from whom you can gain a lot of knowledge not just about your equipment but also about wildlife. His award-winning pictures are a result of relentless tenacity and he is ever-willing to share the secret ingredients of this recipe! I would greatly recommend his workshop to amateurs – to solidify the basics and to the experienced – to revisit and strengthen their foundation.” ~ Jayesh Joshi

Eligibility
The workshop is designed to cater to the needs of amateurs as well as the experienced photographers and the participants' cameras range from point-and-shoot to DSLR. There is no age limit as such but owing to the intensity of the workshop, persons above 15 years of age are included. Qualification is not a pre-requisite. All you need is a camera and the passion to use it!

Workshop fees: Rs. 3000/-

For pre-registration, email us: landofthewild@gmail.com
Or call us on the numbers below.
Saloni Bhatia - 99204 38775
Sachin Rai - 98209 69960

Tour to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve - 23rd November – 28th November, 2010

2010-09-29T16:16:00.008+05:30

Discover a magical world set amid the ancient Vindhyan Hills, guarded by an ancient fort, teeming with breathtaking wildlife. The moist deciduous forest of Bandhavgarh, having a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km, has varied topography ranging from steep ridges, undulating landscapes, sal forest to open meadows. It houses a healthy population of tigers and is one of the best places to sight wild animals (apart from the tigers) in their natural habitat.

There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds including Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Black Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, and four species of Vultures. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Grey Mongoose, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cat, Leopard and ofcourse, the Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar and Nilgai.

Land of the Wild brings to you the trip of a lifetime - a Safari ride that promises to go beyond ordinary tourism to entail discussions on the Park, the tigers' Family Trees and Conservation.

COST: Rs. 13,400/- (ex Katni)

Please refer to the poster for additional details about this camp.

To register for the camp, please write to: landofthewild@gmail.com

For earlier trip reports please visit -
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2010/06/tigers-galore-at-bandhavgarh.html
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/04/wild-encounters.html
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/06/thunderous-skies-welcomed-us-to.html

For all you shutterbugs!

2010-07-28T23:35:00.004+05:30

Hello Friends,

We have organised two more workshops titled 'Nature and Wildlife Photography and Post-processing' with Sachin Rai*. Attached below are all the relevant details. There are limited seats, so kindly register prior to the event so as to avoid disappointment!

Know more…

Two Batches

Batch I : 7th & 8th August 2010

Batch II : 14th & 15th August 2010

Location: Ghatkopar, Mumbai

Time: Day 1 - 14:00 to 18:00 ; Day 2 - 08:30 to 12:30

This workshop will cover various aspects of nature and wildlife photography and delve deeply into how to process your pictures after they have been shot. As you would realize, in outdoor photography, the variability of light, subject location and mobility creates many barriers to getting a perfect frame and post-processing greatly helps enhance your picture quality.

The workshop will entail intensive sessions on the technical as well as practical aspects of nature photography and hands-on training on how to suitably edit your photographs.

*About Sachin Rai

Stepping into the photography scenario more than a decade ago, Sachin has passionately explored far and wide corners of the country to capture vivid images of wildlife ranging from tiny beetles, rare herpeto-fauna to the mighty beasts of forests and deserts. His photographs have found their way into a variety of magazines, newspapers, books and calendars. He has very liberally shared his evolved sense of design for making films, developing literature or presentations to facilitate conservation objectives of several organizations.

Apart from Special Mentions at Sanctuary Asia’s Photography Competition from 2007-09, Sachin has received the Sanctuary Asia - ABN Amro Award for the Photographer of the Year (2007) and also the Joint Second Prize for Photography at the same event. He has also received a Special Mention in the Better Photography Wildlife Contest in January 2009. Sachin is rated as one of the top bird photographers in the country by a leading website.

In his words, "Exploring the wonders of wilderness is a fervor I cultivated since childhood. Wildlife photography gives me immense pleasure and contentment and I would like to spend all my life chasing my passion and initiating people into this marvellous world!"

See his work

While his website is under-construction, please have a look at the following links to know more!

http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Sachin+Rai

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/osachin.htm

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/photo/sachinprofile.htm

Modules

Day 1

- Basics of Photography

- Light

- Shutter Speed

- Aperture

- Exposure

- Depth of Field

- Metering

- ISO

- Composing a picture

- Types of Cameras

- Types of Lenses

Day 2

- Photography Trail

- Colours

- Post Processing

Testimonials

"The workshop was really very enlightening. I wish to thank you for organising such a well-managed workshop. If there are any such workshops or trails/ trips relating to nature/wildlife please do let me know. Thank You," ~ Neil Mehta

"I am sure everybody could learn something that made them understand the art of photography better. It certainly improved my skills and made me think about various aspects of photography. I have started to think a little more before clicking any photo; thanks to Sachin” ~ Ovee Thorat

“I have owned a camera since long but have never known the wonders I can create with it using the various exciting features it has to offer! The personal attention Sachin gives to each student and the patience with which he explains all the nitty-gritty is admirable. His knowledge is extensive and his understanding of post-processing - deep. Thanks for the wonderful photography trail, too!” ~ Ajay Bijoor

“Someone has rightly said that all life is learning and this is personified by Sachin's photography skills. He is one of the best persons in the field from whom you can gain a lot of knowledge not just about your equipment but also about wildlife. His award-winning pictures are a result of relentless tenacity and he is ever-willing to share the secret ingredients of this recipe! I would greatly recommend his workshop to amateurs – to solidify the basics and to the experienced – to revisit and strengthen their foundation.” ~ Jayesh Joshi

Eligibility

The workshop is designed to cater to the needs of amateurs as well as the experienced photographers and the participants' cameras range from point-and-shoot to DSLR. There is no age limit as such but owing to the intensity of the workshop, persons above 15 years of age are included. Qualification is not a pre-requisite. All you need is a camera and the passion to use it!

Workshop fees: Rs. 3000/-

For pre-registration, email us: landofthewild@gmail.com

Or call us on the numbers below.

Saloni Bhatia - 99204 38775

Sachin Rai - 98209 69960

Tigers Galore at Bandhavgarh!

2010-06-23T17:29:00.040+05:30

Through a photographer's lens

by Anup Randive

Armed with a dependable camera, back-pack, a sun hat, great company and the plan of five safaris in three days, my expectations from the trip to the Land of the Tigers – Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve were extremely sanguine. The trip not only yielded great sightings of the striped ruler of the Indian jungle, but also threw in some surprises for us like witnessing a wait-watch-stalk-missed chance by a tigress at the Rajbehra dam. (In the picture: Jhurjhura tigress cub from previous litter. Pic. courtesy: Rajan Joshi)

With plans for this trip having been made two months prior to the trip, the anticipation for the journey to commence was running high. Finally, the D-day arrived and we headed for Mumbai CST on a Friday evening. As luck would (should not) have it, our train was delayed by nothing less than 18 long hours, which unfortunately culminated in us losing our first safari! Nevertheless, we remained optimistic for our chances in the remaining four safaris – and we were not disappointed. (In the picture: Chital/ Spotted deer. Pic. courtesy: Rajan Joshi)

Our first ride in the park – on a super-hot Sunday afternoon – with the jovial Salim Bhai, whose tiger tracking skills are legendary, yielded three sightings of the striped cat and one fleeting glimpse of the sloth bear. After an initial scanning of the bushes near the stream, we sighted the Sidhbaba tigress (also called the Chorbehra female) with her two six-month old cubs. The sight of these playful cub enjoying leftovers of a spotted deer meal, drinking at the stream and then chasing a mongoose delighted us and made us forget the painful train journey. As we were enjoying the sight of the tigers, out of the blue it started pouring heavily. Though untimely, the rains brought some respite from the heat and the sky was transformed into a riot of colours and it was indeed a beautiful picture. (In the picture: Sunset after showers. Pic. courtesy: Sayali Ashar)

Our fears about the premature rains were put to rest the next morning, with clear skies and a bright sunny day. As we entered the park at 6 a.m, we were greeted to the sight of the Sidhbaba tigresses. We quickly positioned ourselves to photograph the tigresses, but she was in no mood to oblige us and kept enjoying her sleep. Salim bhai suggested we leave her alone and move on to Rajbehra. Here we managed to get a glimpse of one of Jhurjhura tigress' cubs from her previous litter. Soon it was time to head back and on our way out we again stumbled into Chorbehra tigress. Having woken up from her nap, this time she obliged us by posing heartily for the camera but didn’t look very healthy due to the injured hind limb that has been troubling her since several months. (In the picture: Chorbehra cub. Pic. courtesy: Anup Randive)

On our way back to the park gate, we also spotted the ‘resident’ Adjutant Stork, a Crested Hawk Eagle and a Brown Fish Owl. Accordingly, our second safari ended with three sightings of the tiger and several interesting birds. At night while we were strolling on in the lawn of our hotel we came across the beautiful Painted frog. The intermittent showers had activated the frogs and we also found a tree frog inside our room! (In the picture: Painted frog. Pic. courtesy: Chinmay Shetty)

On our third safari, with the sun shining bright on a sultry summer afternoon, we sighted two tigresses belonging to the previous litter of the Jhurjhura female who were busy enjoying their afternoon siesta. On our way back to the gate, around 6.15 p.m., we were stopped in our tracks with the mighty New Tala male or the Bamera male walking straight towards our jeep. This was quite an unexpected sighting and one that has been etched in my mind forever. (In the picture: New Male. Pic. courtesy: Anup Randive)

Post dinner, Saloni and Sachin got all the participants together for a round table session to share their thoughts on their experiences so far. With a wide mix of participants belonging to varied age group and interests, it was a good learning experience for all of us. Then came the best and most interesting part, where Sachin with his vast experience of wildlife photography in Bandhavgarh, took us through the topography of park and the history of the tigers, along with their lineage. This was immensely helpful for identifying the tigers based on their areas and characteristics. It also added a dash of attachment to the park having equipped us with the natures and territories of dominant tigers in the tourism zone.

On our last safari - on the morning of 4th May, we were witness to one of the magical moments of wildlife. The scene unfolded at the Rajbehra dam area, where we watched with excitement as the female tigress from Jhurjhura's previous litter stalked a herd of deer. Her patience, stealth, camouflage, though a sight to withhold ultimately fell short as the deer got a whiff of the approaching tigress and became alert. Deprived of her morning breakfast, she retreated to the cool confines of the Rajbehra dam area. (In the picture: Jhurjhura tigress cub from previous litter. Pic. courtesy: Anup Randive)

On our way back, we were in for a pleasant surprise as we came across Mirchaini tigress and her three cubs. Though, this sighting didn’t yield photographs, it was a joyful experience watching three tigers together. And as they say ‘it ain’t over till the fat lady sings’, with hardly 10 minutes left for our final safari to end, we were in for another exciting surprise when we spotted the Sidhbaba tigress! (In the picture: Chorbehra tigress. Pic. courtesy: Anup Randive)

With this, our sojourn in Bandhavgarh came to an end. Having yielded a total of 14 tiger sightings in four safaris, the results far exceeded my expectations from the trip. Sighting a tiger in its real habitat behaving as naturally as it can, was a touching experience and this created immense respect for the animal in our hearts. Further, Bandhavgarh is a paradise for wildlife photographers wanting to make good tiger images. This trip was indeed a memorable one for me. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the untiring efforts of Saloni and Sachin, who made the trip a huge success by their meticulous planning and execution, the delayed train notwithstanding! (In the picture: Jhurjhura tigress cub from previous litter. Pic. courtesy: Bijal Haria)

Some more pictures of the trip:

Beautiful mornings (Pic. courtesy: Aishwarya Ashar)

The forest (Pic. courtesy: Rajan Joshi)

(Taking a dip. Pic. courtesy: Bijal Haria)

Chorbehra tigress (Pic. courtesy: Anup Randive)

Look into my eyes. Pic. courtesy: Rajan Joshi

Adjutant Stork. Pic courtesy: Rajan Joshi

The group

L to R (top): Darshan K., Rajan J., Saurabh, Mittal H., Aishwarya A., Sayali A., Mahesh I.

L to R (bottom): Saloni B., Bijal H., Harish S., Anup R., Chinmay S., Sachin R.

For more pictures of the trip please visit:

Mahesh I: http://maheshandradhatravelogue.shutterfly.com/394

Bird(er)'s Eye View!

2010-06-21T18:40:00.060+05:30

Eaglenest travelogue (11th to 18th April 2010)

by Amey Ketkar

Opportunity to visit Northeast India was embraced warmly by the eager bird watcher in me. Super specialties like the Bugun Liochichla, Cutia, Ward’s Trogon and a variety of Scimitar Babblers and Fulvettas were enough to entice me to join Land of the Wild for a unique trip to Nameri Tiger Reserve and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. (In the picture: Eaglenest Forest. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

After landing in Guwahati, we were immediately transferred to Nameri but not before detouring to a garbage dump in the vicinity. Thriving on the rubbish were the Greater Adjutant Storks, soaring all over the place. Apparently this place attracts nearly one third of the world’s population and we encountered nearly 300 individuals at the same site on our return journey. Arrangements were made at the Eco-camp at Nameri and we were just in time for dinner. A small introduction round revealed that our group was a great blend of experts; Vidya on butterflies, Saloni on frogs and snakes, Mr. Shrikant Ingalhalikar on plants and flowers and the rest were ace photographers including Sachin Rai. Above all we were to be guided by Shashank Dalvi who to my knowledge needs no introduction. This undisputed king of bird calls was majorly responsible for my visit to Eaglenest as I had fallen prey to his incessant talks about Arunachal. The only lesser mortals in the group were in the form of me and Rujuta and I was a little jittery about the absorption capacity of my little brain with a plethora of knowledge to come my way in the next 7 days. Finally shrugging off all anxiety I decided to concentrate on avifauna which was my priority. (In the picture: Nameri Eco-camp. Pic courtesy: Dharmesh Mistry)

Nameri Tiger Reserve with an area of around 200 sq km is home to around 370 species of birds and a variety of mammals. More importantly this is probably the only place in India for the White-winged wood duck (largest duck in India), a resident in this tropical forest. Dinner was followed by a small night trail which yielded in sighting of Tucktoo (Gekko gecko) and a Brown Hawk Owl. The weather changed drastically afterwards, hinting ominously towards a heavy downpour. As predicted it was raining next morning so no birding was possible, but we still decided to go ahead with our quest for the Wood Duck. The forest guards came in with one more bad news about the sudden rise in the water levels of the Jia Bhoreli River (called River Kameng in Arunachal) which made navigating impossible. We began to get worried about the heavy rains and lower temperatures at Eaglenest. (In the picture: Jia Bhoreli River. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

Skipping the Wood duck we proceeded straight for Lama Camp spotting Leafbirds, Blue throated barbets, Lesser Yellownape and the Capped Langurs on our way. The show stealer was the Abbot’s Babbler who came prancing on the adjoining tree. Since we missed out at Nameri we tried our luck on some trails on the ourskirts of Pakke Tiger Reserve. The Bulbuls (Ashy, Black Crested, Black), Minivets and a Streaked Spiderhunter showed up instantly and all had good view of the Green Billed Malkoha and a pair of Barred Cuckoo Doves. Shashank heard the call of the Rufous-fronted Babbler. Here I must mention that birding in Arunachal is done more with ears than eyes. Being thorough with bird calls is a kind of a requisite. The rain subsided, but had done the necessary damage in the form of a land slide just before Sessa thwarting our proceedings. By the time we reached Lama Camp (2350 mts) via Tenga (1200 mts) we had bagged the Slaty backed forktail, Golden throated barbet, Yellow vented warbler and the Grey cheeked warbler. (In the picture: Eaglenest Forest. Pic courtesy: Atanu Mondal)

The obvious target species at Lama was the Bugun liocichla. Eaglenest named after the Red Eagle Division of the Indian Army has shot to fame recently because of the discovery of this new species (2006) by Mr. Ramana Athreya. I wouldn’t be doing justice to my travelogue without the mention of this man, as he along with Mr. Indi Glow (leading member of the Bugun tribe) and other colleagues are primarily responsible for all the limelight Eaglenest is receiving. The Biodiversity project initiated by Mr. Ramana is a classic example of community-based eco-tourism. The bird tours help generate revenue for the locals who in turn conserve and maintain the precious forest. Magnificently rich in its bird life, Eaglenest is still not the best place for a beginner. A lot of homework about the species and their altitudes along with a lot of report reading was required on my part to get acquainted with the habitat. (In the picture: Bugun Liocichla. Pic courtesy: Sachin Rai)

The light was great in the 1^st half of our birding session and diverse species like the Gold naped finch, Grey headed bullfinch, Black throated tit, Striated Laughingthrush and Streaked throated Barwing, Tickell’s leaf warbler showed up vying for attention. The Green tailed Sunbird, Beautiful Sibia, Blyth’s leaf Warbler and Brownish flanked Bush Warbler were omnipresent. Rufous winged, Yellow throated, Golden breasted Fulvettas and all three types of Minlas along with White browed and Black eared Shrike Babblers, Bay woodpecker, Chestnut crowned Laughingthrush added to our count. We also came across a few mix hunting flocks which is group of similar sized species formed a little later during the day (probably because the insect activity starts a little late). They can sustain together as they relish on different kinds of prey. The objective of forming a group is simple; more eyes help to look for more prey as well as for predators. I was fascinated by this act of complementing each other and got know that the flock is initiated by a group leader mostly the Fulvettas or Parrotbills in smaller birds. Later we also managed the see the highlight of the trip- a pair of Bugun Liocichla showing up in the nearby canopy. We were all on cloud nine and the midday meal was tastier than ever! (In the picture: Yellow-throated Fulvetta. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

But my elation was interrupted by a strange itch and I soon discovered that the areas around both my knees had been bitten by a tiny insect which caused swelling. The bites were identified as of Dam Dum, a fly ubiquitous in the area. They had enjoyed feasting on my legs during our endeavor to see the Hill Prinia and the Tree Sparrow on our way to Lama (wonder what prompted me to wear shorts). The remedy to the aliment was simple; all I had to do was to ignore the irritation!! We set out for the Tragopanda Trail soon after lunch. The trail was a steep and arduous climb penetrating right through the thick foliage, offering a fair idea of the density of the forest. We were blessed with the sighting of Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous capped Babbler and the Ashy throated Warbler. Considerable time was wasted to view the skulk species but we managed to see the Chestnut headed Tesia, Pygmy Wren Babbler and the Scaly Laughingthrush. (In the picture: Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. Pic courtesy: Vidya Venkatesh)

Starting right from Tenga (1200mts) to Lama (2350mts) we continued towards Eaglenest Pass (2800mts) planning to descend to Sunderview (2465mts) and finally to Bompu (1940mts). The road went further down to Sessni (1250mts) and Khellong (750mts). Due to such varying altitudes the sanctuary offers a wide variety of birds. In olden times this was the only road connecting Assam and Tawang and was also used by the Great Dalai Lama (whence the name lama camp) to give the Chinese a slip. The army later constructed another road connecting Tenga to Bhalukpong and the old road was long forgotten, leaving the adjoining forest untouched. Not far from Lama Camp when we were engrossed in looking at the Sooty Flycatcher a moderately loud, slightly plaintive call of the Ward’s trogon was music to our ears. We literally ran in the direction and started scanning the fores but alas we missed this rare sighting. Instead we got the Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher and our patience paid off by the sighting of the Black- headed Shrike Babbler. No stone was left unturned to find the Ward’s Trogon and all likely places were checked and rechecked during the course of the trip. Sadly all efforts were rendered futile. While returning to our vehicles we stumbled upon the beautiful Eastern trinket snake. (In the picture: Eastern Trinket. Pic courtesy: Dharmesh Mistry)

Eaglenest Pass was adorned with the beautiful Magnolia and the multi coloured Rhododendrons and we had a good sighting of the Rufous vented Yuhina. The Ludlow’s Fulvetta posed for all photographers and so did the Large billed Warbler and Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird. Other highlights were the Crimson Browed Rosefinch and the Spotted laughingthrush and the rare Rufous Fronted Tit. Walking along a trail we came across the Yellowish bellied Bush Warbler and Black-faced Laughingthrush. Further ahead a Spotted Nutcracker and Crimson Breasted Woodpecker gave away their positions because of their shrill calls. All along the way to Bompu we enjoyed the pristine and picturesque forest of Arunachal. This place has a mesmerizing charm to it and is highly recommended for all nature lovers. On a night trail at Bompu we witnessed the mating of Rhacophorus frog where a female was being pursued by 5-6 males! We also saw a Blue Fronted Redstart perched near the camp. (In the picture: Gliding frogs mating. Pic courtesy: Atanu Mondal)

The 5^th day of our tour was the most hectic as we had planned to go all the way down till Khellong and return late after looking for frogs and snakes. The mornings in Bompu were chilly and blissful as we woke up to the tune of the Blyth’s Tragopan. On clearer days we got a great view of the colossal Bramhaputra. The early morning jaunts were always rewarded with something new and this time we sighted the Aberrant Bush Warbler, Coral billed Scimitar Babbler and the Greater Rufous headed Parrotbill. As we drove towards Sessni we got a good view of the Wedge-billed Wern Babbler. The Cicadas were at their noisy best and this reminded me of a wonderful documentary on them narrated by David Attenborough. Shashank had stumbled upon the nest of a Rufous Necked Hornbill during his earlier visits and suspected the bird to remain in the vicinity. We found the handsome male perched exactly where it was supposed to be (about 200m as the crow flies) and by focusing on the nest through the scope we could see the bill of the female as well (hornbills display unusual behavior of sealing the female in the nesting cavity after mating, she is fed by the mate through a narrow slit and does not emerge for weeks or months until the young are partly grown). (In the picture: Rufous-necked Hornbill. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

Small Niltava and the Collared Owlet also showed up on the way. Sessni was a haven for butterflies and amongst the varied flying colours the two which attracted my attention were the Birdwing and the Chestnut Tiger. Earlier during the day I had made an attempt to sit on the top of our jeep to be in a vantage position, but the morning mist and a smack from a thorny bush discouraged me to continue with the effort. On the lower elevations of Sessni we were all focused on finding the Beautiful Nuthatch which was lurking somewhere nearby. In the end it made a faint transient appearance, good enough to mark as a lifer (this being my 1^st trip to northeast most birds were lifers for me; for non birders--the term “lifer” is used for a bird sighted for the 1^st time). In the attempt to find the nuthatch a few were able to capture the Maroon Oriole, Long Tailed broadbill and the Sultan Tit.
(In the picture: Small Niltava. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

At Khellong we photographed the Flat Tailed Gecko (Platyurus platyurus) and made a few unsuccessful attempts to locate the Hogdson’s Frogmouth. On the return journey a Himalayan Krait crossed our path and we halted near Sessni for a night trail. It was dark and the night was filled with the cacophony of the Rhacophoridae and Philautus frogs and the mild hooting of the Mountain Scops Owl in the background (this owl is known to have the ability of throwing its voice just like a ventriloquist). Just after photographing the Rhacophorus tunhini our search for frogs was disturbed by a rustle in the trees and in a flash of a second all torches spot-lighted the Parti-colored Flying Squirrel. In a while we heard the rustle of leaves and a mild trumpet by the Elephant & we scampered to our jeeps taking no chances. We reached as late as 10.30pm and retired to our tents after a quick meal. (In the picture: Cloud Forest. Pic courtesy: Dharmesh Mistry)

Next morning we enjoyed watching the playful Golden Babblers and the colourful Cutia but the priced catch was undoubtedly the Green Cochoa. The other sightings were of the Lesser and White-browed Shortwings and a lone Black-Throated Parrotbill. Amongst raptors; Black eagle, Mountain hawk Eagle and Eurasian Sparrowhawk made regular appearances. Here I must elaborate on a drama we witnessed at Lama. A Mountain Hawk Eagle gliding with a kill was being hassled by the smaller accipiter. In the process to ward off the intruder the eagle lost its prey. Realising the same it made a step nose dive and skillfully managed to grab its prize. 'WOW!' The only expression we all managed as the whole event happened in a jiffy. The shutterbugs were so efficient that Jayeshbhai, Dharmesh and Atanu still managed to capture the spectacle in frames. Moving forward we encountered the bright red Scarlet Finch, a swarm of Honey Bees and twice came tantalising close to getting a view of the Slender-Billed Scimitar Babbler. (In the picture: Green Cochoa. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

On 17^th we started our return journey and it rained all the way till Eaglenest Pass. On the lower elevations at Tenga we were surprised to spot the Black-tailed Crake and got snaps of Himalayan Greenfinch and Plaintive Cuckoo. We had to reach Sessa before dark as the mist that sets into the valley brings down visibility to near zero. A sumptuous meal was waiting at Nameri and hot water bath after 6 days was more than rejuvenating. Our flight was scheduled on 18^th afternoon, so we made a quick trip across the river to utilize the limited time. The weather was overcast but it didn’t rain. Some quick additions were the Small Pratincoles, Blyth’s Pipit, Bengal Bushlark, Great Myna and the graceful Dollar Bird. (In the picture: Black-tailed Crake. Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

The outcome of my 1^st trip to the northeast has been more than pleasing with a bird checklist of about 220 species (excluding heard birds). Kudos to Land of the Wild for organizing such a great adventure and may their earnest attempt to bring people close to nature flourish and prosper. A special message for all the feathered bipeds I missed out on—I will be back next year! (In the picture: Fire-tailed Sunbird. Pic courtesy: Vikram Potdar)

some more pictures from the trip...

Greater Adjutant Stork (Pic courtesy: Atanu Mondal)

Golden-throated Barbet (Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

Bompu campsite (Pic courtesy: Dharmesh Mistry)

Crimson-browed Finch (Pic courtesy: Atanu Mondal)

Common Windmill (Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

Maroom Oriole (Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

Caught in a web (Pic courtesy: Dharmesh Mistry)

Brown-throated Fulvetta (Pic courtesy: Atanu Mondal

Black-throated Parrotbill (Pic courtesy: Vikram Potdar)

Red-tailed Minla (Pic courtesy: Vikram Potdar)

Ferns (Pic courtesy: Jayesh Joshi)

The group

L to R (top): Umesh, Vidya V., Sachin L., Jayesh J., Rujuta P., Vikram P.,

Saloni B., Atanu M., Shreekanth S., Shrikant I.

L to R (bottom): Amey K., Shashank D., Rajesh P., Dharmesh M., Sachin R.

You can find some more pictures on the following links:

Dharmesh M: http://picasaweb.google.co.in/dharmesh.dharam0124/NorthEast_April10#

Jayesh J: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trailsofnature/sets/72157623939694387/

Into the Wild…

2010-06-21T14:25:00.041+05:30

Corbett trip report (13th-20th March 2010)

by Abhinav Gupta (Age: 15yrs)

A beautiful morning (Pic courtesy: Ajith U.)

Day 1- We reached our campsite at 6 in the morning. The place was very beautiful, set in the heart of nature. We were allotted a tent where we would spend the next 2 days. Then, in the field, we drove through the scenic beauty of Corbett. We would halt every 5 minutes to see a bird and later we even managed to spot one of the rarest birds of the country, the Ibisbill, which was standing on a rock behind a temple. We were a group of 12 along with two very knowledgeable drivers-cum-guides. Throughout the day, there were sightings of woodpeckers, bee-eaters and various birds and also mammals such as macaques and jackals. The food provided to us for all 3 meals was very tasty. In the evening, I learnt how to catch frogs! It was a very slimy but an excellent feeling to learn this art.

White-capped Water Redstart (Pic courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Day 2- We sighted many raptors such as Lesser Fish Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Pallas’ Fish Eagle and so on. Again, we were only in the periphery of the park and did a lot of birding. We also got to observe wagtails and redstarts (my favorite being the White-capped Water Redstart) along the stream in which we could dip our feet and enjoy the packed lunch that we were given. After a nice and healthy lunch, we went on with our expedition and noticed fresh elephant dung on the road and tiger claw marks on a tree to get us even more excited. Soon, the day ended and we returned back by evening only to realize that it was Radha auntie’s birthday and 5 of us secretly ventured into the market to buy her a nice cake and some more food for the next day. We returned at dinner, had food and celebrated the occasion by cutting the cake. And thus ended the day.

Safari ride (Pic courtesy: Ajith U.)

Day 3- We started the day with a safari ride to Bijrani. Our group was split up into 2 jeeps and we entered the park at 6:30 and were there till 9:30. We saw a Black Stork right at the entrance of the park and later saw many other types of birds. We had also spotted fresh tiger pugmarks along the way which pumped up our adrenalin but let me tell you that it is not as easy to find one as it seems to be! So, as luck would have it, we didn’t find the tiger but all the time the cameras went berserk, clicking like machine guns taking 300 shots or even more of birds like the Indian roller, Crested Kingfisher, Tawny Fish Owl etc. Later, we also saw a Honey Buzzard crashing into a honey comb and gulping down sweet liquid oozing from it. It was indeed a wonderful sight especially for a newcomer like me. After that we left for Dhikala and saw a few elephants and many a deer on the way. The rest house that we were in was simply awesome with a spectacular view of the whole forest.

Wild Elephants (Pic courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Day 4- We woke up early and left for the safari at 6 in the morning. By now, I too had grasped quiet a few bird names but wasn’t that good at identifying them. But, in the forest we saw many herds of deer, even elephants and numerous birds. In the afternoon, we had our time off in the campus and we had a fun test on birds and mammals and it was great learning to say the least. After lunch we were about to leave when a monkey jumped over the electrical fencing and reached for my hand pack and cheekily stole a packet of kurkure! In the afternoon, we left for the safari again and sighted many spotted deer and one of my friends got brilliant pics of 2 river lapwings mating!

While we were driving through the forest we came across a herd of elephants. The matriarch fondly called Madhuri came charging towards us when we tried to cross over. It was a pulsating experience indeed. Later we also saw huge herds of 23 elephants grazing together but just then at Mota Sal, we heard very loud and prominent alarm calls. We all got very excited and had 10 other vehicles also coming there in no time. Unfortunately, there was only 10 minutes left for the park to close and the tiger didn’t show up before 6. All we heard was a good roar before we left the place.

The endangered Gharials (Pic courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Day 5- We left early for the safari and some were hoping to see a tiger in action. We saw a lot of green bee eaters and stonechats. We also managed to spot the rare Hodgson’s Bushchat, Collared Falconets mating and the Osprey. The safari was brilliant with so many species of birds to offer and so many pictures to take. Then we were at the watchtower for 2 hours and heard many alarm calls but the elusive cat didn’t show up at all. So we just spent our time relaxing, talking to each other and munching all the time. After lunch, we left once more for the safari. A man from another gypsy suddenly shouted out aloud - ‘tiger!’ However, with the noise of all the cars around it, it moved away and we missed it yet again! We soon had to leave for Gairal and on our way saw the endangered Gharials basking in the evening sun.

Dhikala grasslands (Pic courtesy: Ajith U.)

Day 6- After breakfast, we left for another safari to Dhikala. It was our last ride here and we were getting highly desperate to just get a glimpse of the majestic looking tiger. On our way, we saw several fresh tiger pugmarks in Gairal itself but failed to spot one! Through the rest of the day, we managed to have great sightings of Hog deer, Sambar, Black Francolin and even a Monitor Lizard. To begin with we saw a huge herd of Spotted deer. Later, we also saw 2 Hog deer mating with each other and then a sub-adult Pallas’ Fish Eagle chasing a jackal who had apparently stolen its meat! The sight was a complete delight to any nature lover in the world. We then went to the Dhikala campus and for 2 hours from 12 to 2 lazily roamed around while some had a quick nap followed by a hearty lunch.

After that we knew that we had time only till 4:30 in Dhikala as we had to reach the park exit gate before 6 pm (closing time of the park). I was beginning to get very frustrated and even snoozed off for 10 mins since we had not managed to sight the tiger. When I opened my eyes and turned left to look at the huge grasslands near ‘Madhuri point’, guess what……….it was this strangely well built and long animal looking carefully straight at me and it took me 5 seconds to recover and only then could I elicit, ‘I am not lying, I can see the TIGER !’ Soon, some 20 vehicles from nowhere arrived at the point and with such a loud noise the tiger sat behind a bush. The only thing we could see for after that was the white spot behind its ears. Soon (and sadly so) it was time for us to say goodbye to the tiger and we made way to the gate. We reached there by 6 and many of us also bought souvenirs from the shop near by. Then we freshened up at our original camp site and reached Ramnagar station at 9:15 to board the train which would take us to Delhi. So ended this beautiful and adventurous trip…

It was crazy to be able to spot the tiger right on the last day, our last safari and in the last half an hour. That was what made the day so amazing but what made my trip so special was to find such good friends in each other, gain so much knowledge about wildlife, learn to respect and love nature and understand the importance of saving tigers only to make spotting them more easy for all of us in our future safaris to come! (just kidding!!)

some more pictures from the tour...

The Ibisbill (Pic courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Oriental Honey Buzzard on a honey comb (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

Skittering Frogs (Pic courtesy: Ajith U.)

The Forest (Pic courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Blue-winged Minla (Pic courtesy: Mahesh I .)

Indian Grey Hornbill (Pic courtesy: Mahesh I .)

A mugger (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

Chital herd (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

Barking deer (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

Tawny Fish Owl (Pic. courtesy: Balamahesh P.)

Relaxing in the woods (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

Sambar crossing (Pic. courtesy: Vidya V.)

At the watchtower (Pic courtesy: Mahesh I.)

Meal time (Pic courtesy: Mahesh I .)

The group again :) (Pic. courtesy: Prashant U.)

From Left to Right (top row)- Abhinav Gupta, Vidya Venkatesh, Nikhil Pendalwar,

Mahesh Iyer, Prashant Upadhyay, Ajith Unnikrishnan

From Left to Right (bottom row)- Balamahesh P., Pankaja, Saloni Bhatia,

Radha Iyer, Anish Ghosh, Sachin Rai

You can find more pictures by the camp participants on the following links:

Balamahesh P: http://wildlifediaries.com/ppgallery/index.php?x=search&q=corbett
Ajith U: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uajith_set1/sets/72157623675221226/
Prashant U: http://picasaweb.google.com/Prash.Upa/JimCorbettMarch2010#
Mahesh I: http://maheshandradhatravelogue.shutterfly.com/263
Vidya V: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?id=532067613&aid=128610

WHISKERS - It's time!

2010-03-21T23:17:00.004+05:30

Tiger Watch brings to you an conservation event - WHISKERS, that seeks to bridge the gap between urbanites and people working at the grassroot level in the field of biodiversity conservation. WHISKERS will be held at Maharashtra Nature Park, Sion (Mumbai) on 27th and 28th March 2010.

For further information, see the attached poster for relevant details. Please do publicise this through all available media!

This event is supported by Land of the Wild

Call us: 9820969960/ 9920438775

Tour to Beautiful Bandhavgarh - 30th April – 5th May, 2010

2010-02-24T17:02:00.021+05:30

Discover a magical world set amid the ancient Vindhyan Hills, guarded by an ancient fort, teeming with breathtaking wildlife. The moist deciduous forest of Bandhavgarh is dominated by Sal trees in some areas while bamboo and open grasslands predominate in the northern region in the park. The Park has a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km. The topography varies between steep ridges, undulating landscapes, sal forest and open meadows.

Bandhavgarh National Park has the reputation of having the highest density of tigers in the world. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds including Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Black Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, and four species of Vultures. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Grey Mongoose, Wild Dogs, Jungle Cat, Leopard and ofcourse, the Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar and Nilgai.

This Safari/Photo Tour promises to go beyond ordinary tourism and entails discussions on the Park, the tigers' Family Trees, Conservation and not to forget, Wildlife Photography.

Please refer to the poster (click on the thumbnail of the poster above) for additional details about this camp.

To register for the camp, please write to: landofthewild@gmail.com

For earlier trip reports please visit -
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/04/wild-encounters.html

http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/06/thunderous-skies-welcomed-us-to.html

Weekend workshop on Wildlife and Nature Photography and Post-processing in Mumbai!!

2010-01-15T16:19:00.002+05:30

On popular demand, Land of the Wild brings you Nature and Wildlife Photography and Post-processing Workshop, conducted by Sachin Rai*, an eminent and well-awarded photographer, on 23rd and 24th Jan 2010 at Mumbai.

This week-end workshop would entail intensive sessions on the technical as well as practical aspects of nature photography and hands-on training on how to suitably post-process or edit your photographs.

This course will cover theoretical as well as practical aspects of nature and wildlife photography and delve deeply in how to process your photographs, using Photoshop. As you would realise in outdoor photography, the variability of light, subject location and mobility creates many barriers for getting a perfect frame and post-processing greatly helps to enhance your picture quality. Sachin has several years of experience in photography as well as post-processing and he will train the participants to look at the finer details of ‘making’ the perfect picture.

The session on the first day will cover the following topics: - Basics of Photography - Light- Shutter Speed- Aperture- Exposure- Depth of Field- Metering- ISO- Composing a picture- Types of Cameras- Types of LensesThe session on the second day will cover the following:- Photography Trail
- Colours - Post Processing

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*About Sachin Rai
Stepping into the photography scenario more than a decade ago, Sachin has passionately explored far and wide corners of the country to capture vivid images of wildlife ranging from tiny beetles, rare herpeto-fauna to the mighty beasts of forests and deserts. His photographs have found their way into a variety of magazines, newspapers, books and calendars. He has very liberally shared his evolved sense of design for making films, developing literature or presentations to facilitate conservation objectives of several organizations.

Apart from a special mention, Sachin received the Sanctuary Asia - ABN Amro Award for the Photographer of the Year (2007) and also the Joint Second Prize for Photography at the same event. He has also received a Special Mention in the Better Photography Wildlife Contest in January 2009. In the same year, Sachin received two Special Mentions at Sanctuary Asia’s Photography Competition.
In his words, "Exploring the wonders of wilderness is a fervor I cultivated since childhood. Wildlife photography gives me immense pleasure and contentment and I would like to spend all my life chasing my passion and initiating people into this marvellous world!"

For a glimpse into his work please visit the following URLs:

http://www.indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Sachin+Rai OR http://205.134.232.73/~inw/view_cat.php?tag=Sachin+Rai

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/osachin.htm http://www.kolkatabirds.com/photo/sachinprofile.htm

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Some words from the participants of the previous workshop:
"The workshop was really very enlightening. I wish to thank you for organising such a well-managed workshop. If there are any such workshops or trails/ trips relating to nature/wildlife please do let me know. Thank You," ~ Neil Mehta"I am sure everybody could learn something that made them understand the art of photography better. It certainly improved my skills and made me think about various aspects of photography. I have started to think a little more before clicking any photo; thanks to Sachin and the organisers” ~ Ovee Thorat

“I have owned a camera since long but have never known the wonders I can create with it using the various exciting features it has to offer! The personal attention Sachin gives to each student and the patience with which he explains all the nitty-gritties is admirable. His knowledge is extensive and his understanding of post-processing - deep. Thanks for the wonderful photography trail, too!” ~ Ajay Bijoor

Hope to see you all there!

Workshop fees: Rs. 3000/- (for two days)
Contact us: landofthewild@gmail.com or call Sachin on 9820969960 to know more.

Tour to the Northeast - 11th-18th April 2010!

2009-12-24T21:56:00.009+05:30

It’s here! Visit to one of the most beautiful places on Earth – North East India. Thick forests, steep ridges, lazy streams, vigourous waterfalls and amid all this, countless birds - skulky, bold, colourful, drab, chirpy, restless. There are so many different sounds all playing at the same time to give you a feel of the natural world orchestra.

Somewhere a stealthy animal would be making its way but you may completely miss it owing to the dense vegetation. On your trail you may suddenly bump into an Elephant herd... oops! You would wonder where to look not because there’s nothing interesting to see but because there are so many interesting things - the plants, the wild flowers, the butterflies, the insects and perhaps an attractive snake. Day or night doesn’t matter because the place is alive at all times - a nocturnal flying squirrel or an owl hooting from a distance, sounding like a faster version of Santa’s ho..ho..ho, a frog romancing in the dark… oh this is not it… How about the moonlight falling softly on the path and the cold breeze blowing into your face? This scene is not out of a fairy-tale but a much real story.

Now you too can visit a far away paradise – Nameri Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh). Do check the attached poster for more details.

What is Nameri?
Nameri Tiger Reserve (65m) is a 200 sq. km Park located at a distance of 181 km from Guwahati, Assam. It is famous for being the only home of the rare White-winged Duck.

For more information you could visit:
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/mishmi/nameri.htm

What is Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary*?
Located in West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, covering an area of 218 sq. km, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary ranges from 500 – 3500m, comprising tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forests (It is also a part of Kameng Elephant Reserve). Managed by the Bugun tribe with support from Ramana Athreya, an astrophysicist who discovered a new bird species there (viz. Bugun liocichla), Eaglenest is a good example of community-supported ecotourism. There are various places that one can visit, for example, Lama (2350m), Eaglenest Pass (2800m), Sunderview (2465m), Bompu (1940m), Sessni (1250m), and Khellong (750m).

For more information you could visit:
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/hillbirdsofind/eaglesnestbdp.htm
http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/

* Eaglenest derives its name from the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army which was posted in the area in the 1950's (Source: Wikipedia)

Date: 11th – 18th April 2010

Camp fees: Rs. 25, 500/- (per person, ex Guwahati)

Get in touch with us: landofthewild@gmail.com

Please note: Due to the remoteness of the region one can only expect basic facilities as far as accommodation and meals are concerned. The terrain also demands some level of physical fitness.

Tour to Corbett Tiger Reserve - 13th-20th March 2010

2009-12-22T01:05:00.027+05:30

Land of the Wild announces the much awaited tour to one of the finest National Parks of our country – Corbett, a magical place which many claim as their favourite wildlife destination, largely because of the vast forest, varied habitats and extremely rich biodiversity.

One can see large herds of elephants grazing away in the grasslands of Dhikala while the sun sets behind them, Jackals playing around in the morning mist, Hog Deer shying away into the tall grass, Crested Kingfisher taking a break on the rocks close to the river before it dives-in to grab another fish, a Fishing Eagle perched far away and calling, a Gharial basking on the shores of the Ramganga, a Brown Fish Owl roosting on an open branch waiting for dusk, and if lucky, one can also spot a tiger walking on the road at its own leisurely pace, in this fascinating landscape.

Join us on this 6-day sojourn to experience and understand the joys of wilderness. We will be visiting different parts of the Park to get a feel of the diverse habitats and will stay in some of the core areas like Dhikala and Gairal. We might even be lucky to walk inside the Park at places like Lohachaur. Do take a look at the poster for more details.

Date: 13th-20th March 2010

Camp fees: Rs. 18,300/- (Budget Stay), Rs. 19,700/- (Luxury Stay)

Please write to us at landofthewild@gmail.com to confirm your seat at the earliest.

Bandhavgarh Wild Safari/Photo Tour

2009-12-11T16:46:00.018+05:30

Date: 12th - 17th Jan 2010

Camp fees: Rs. 10, 700/-

What this cost covers:

- Second class Sleeper train fare (Mumbai- Katni- Mumbai)
- Travel from Katni station to Bandhavgarh and back
- Pleasant stay in Non-AC rooms on twin-sharing basis
- Delicious meals (Vegetarian only)
- Park entry fees, vehicle charges, guide fees (as well as tips) for a total of 6 rides

What this cost does not cover:

- Additional snacks/ beverages during the trip
- Elephant ride for Tiger show
- Video camera fees

Get in touch with us: landofthewild@gmail.com

For earlier trip reports please visit -
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/04/wild-encounters.html
http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2009/06/thunderous-skies-welcomed-us-to.html

Wild Encounters @ Bandhavgarh

2009-06-06T14:54:00.000+05:30

16th - 21st May 2009

[ Picturesque Hills ~ Pic. - Balamahesh]

Thunderous skies welcomed us to Bandhavgarh. It had been very hot the previous day and people rather welcomed the shower that followed. Our group took the evening gypsy ride in this ethereal weather as it tried to cleanse the dust-ridden trees with its cooling drops. Bandhavgarh has the ability to surprise every visitor no matter how old or new he/she is to the Park.

[ Jhujhura Female Cub ~ Pic. - Shailesh Karkhanis ]

Tiger sightings bring immense thrill and anticipation but there is more to this Park than mere ‘sightings’. One could observe wildlife in relatively undisturbed areas like Ketkiha, Bhitari, Sehra, Banbehi for hours together. One could note the way Chitals, Langurs, and Sambars coordinate to alert the rest to the imminent dangers. The stealthy pace of Jackals, the sudden leap of Hares, and the incessant calls of the Lapwing when a monitor lizard is on prowl, has its own story to tell!

At the Fort, one could notice the presence of Vultures with their faeces smeared all over the cliff. Just as you are observing the young ones in the nests, a Shaheen Falcon could fly past you so swiftly that you would barely manage to get a glimpse of it.

[ White-backed Vulture ~ Pic. - Balamahesh ]

The glee in a Bee-eater’s flight, the display of Rollers, and the charming ballet of the Peacocks are enough to set your heart aflutter.

[ Green Bee-Eater ~ Pic. - Amit Bandekar ]

Amid this wonderful cacophony and breathtaking sights, our gypsy made its way, with everyone trying to focus on signs of tiger movement – pugmarks, calls, alert animals and occasionally, a growl.

Whenever a tiger walked through the woods, Langurs would panic and hop from branch to branch, a Sambar would honk so loud that our hearts would almost skip a beat - the anticipation would be at its peak and then, far away we would see a figure moving towards us- only to realise that it was a wild pig... but behold, that was not it! To our side, a tiger would stride disinterestedly through the woods and then the chaos of the vehicles would be inexplicable!

[ Pugmark of a tiger on a wet road ~ Pic. - Sayali Ashar]

[ Mirchaini Male cub ~ Pic. - Shailesh Kharkhanis ]

In a matter of seconds, shutters would fire as fast as machine guns and we would try our best to stay calm at the King's sight... that’s what wilderness does to you…it engulfs and subsumes.

Content with the sights and sounds of the Park we would set back to the gate only to wonder what the next ride would bring. At times, there would be no tiger sightings at all, at times, we would be able to see an ear or a paw and at other times, we would sight one 20 feet away from us. Sometimes a bold female cub would hang out in her tiny cave, not too far from the road. One day while she was fast asleep and rolling in her den, she suddenly realised that her head was stuck in a gap. Imagine waking up to realise that your head is stuck in a small opening! She struggled hard for about 30 seconds and eventually managed to free herself. Heaving a sigh of relief she headed towards the dam for a drink.

[ Jhujhura Female cub ~ Pic. - Vidya Venkatesh ]

We spotted her on more than one occasion, drinking or dipping herself in the cool water to ward off the oppressive summer heat. One evening, while we were watching her take a nap in the cave, it began to drizzle and the sky turned golden-yellow. She woke up from her slumber and began looking around drowsily. To watch a tiger at such a delicate and beautiful moment, with the rain falling softly around her while she’s studying it peacefully from her bed – is worth a million lives!

Apart from the surreal tiger sightings, we also spotted Crested Serpent Eagle and Changeable Hawk Eagle up close. Down the road, we saw three White-naped woodpeckers (an adult and two juveniles) fluttering about their nest. Sirkeer Malkoha, Lesser Adjutant, Malabar Pied and Indian Grey Hornbills continued to delight us with their flapping. We would regularly see White-backed, Long-billed and Red headed Vultures looking out for remains of a kill. On one occasion we even saw Jackals scavenge on the remains of a Chital and one of them urinated on it in order to claim it as his own.

[ Changeable Hawk Eagle ~ Pic. - Balamahesh ]

Four days in Bandhavgarh crafted unforgettable memories. The inhabitants of Bandhavgarh are magnanimous, more so if you are patient. And there’s plenty of evidence to go with it.

[ Rajbehra Grassland ~ Pic. - Balamahesh ]

__________________________________________________________

Some more pictures from the trip...

[ Lesser Adjutant ~ Pic. - Amit Bandekar ]

[ Grey Headed Fish Eagle ~ Pic. - Sooraj Bishnoi ]

[ Indian Roller ~ Pic. - Balamahesh ]

[ Jackal ~ Pic. - Amit Bandekar ]

[ Jungle Bush Quail ~ Pic. - Sooraj Bishnoi ]

[ Indian Peafowl ~ Pic. - Amit Bandekar ]

[ Fan-throated Lizard ~ Pic. - Amit Bandekar ]

[ White-naped Woodpecker ~ Pic. - Rajashree Karkhanis]

__________________________________________________________

[ From left - Sayali Ashar, Saloni Bhatia, Ashutosh Bishnoi, Madhura Bandekar, Amit Bandkear, Rajashree Karkhanis, Balamahesh, Shailesh K, Sachin Rai, Rama Bishnoi, Vidya Venkatesh, Sooraj Bishnoi, Salim (our ace driver) ]

Wild Encounters

2009-04-24T15:10:00.000+05:30

_________________________________________________________

Some Memoirs from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Pictures by Sachin Rai
Posted on April 24, 2009

The godly morning rays falling softly on her coat, the arched back conveying her lazy mood, dozens of people keeping a close watch on her moves and several others becoming ecstatic at her wondrous sight - the ability of this magnetic creature to lure many hearts is what makes BNP so special and tiger conservation so important.

It was a bright morning and the first of the Safari rides we took that day. While we scanned the terrain, trying to sight something interesting, we suddenly saw a blur of brown to our right. Far away we could see two dogs trotting on the rocks, playing with each other. To our extreme delight we realised that it was a pair of Wild Dogs, a rare treat in BNP! The dogs wandered around for a while and then disappeared as niftily as they had come. An unforgettable experience for all of us!

Some sightings get imprinted on the minds of the spectators forever. The sighting of Mahaman tigress was one such experience. We were driving into a beautiful dense patch of forest, just before 'Dinosaur Rock', not expecting anything at that moment. Out of nowhere, Mahaman emerged from the woods, ran across the road and walked for some distance before turning back to look at us. The mystery of those kohl-eyes, the surprise at the sighting of this elusive tigress and the perfect setting in which it all happened - stuff that brings immense pleasure in unpredictability.

Their impeccable camouflage could give you a run for the money. One could easily mistake them for a bark unless one looks carefully and tries to deduce their form through the leaves, the moss and the logs.

We bumped into this young male squatting indolently in the middle of our path- yawning at intervals and then assuming a 'philosophical' posture as if musing over worldly ideals, occasionally glancing at his spectators with proud nonchalant eyes. In the middle of all this, a chital walked in his direction unaware of the dangers that lay ahead of the grasslands. As soon as it hit the road, its eyes were drawn to the watchful crouching tiger and off it sped as fast as it could, putting an end to the drama and anticipation in the air...

A resident of BNP that greets almost all the visitors of the Park with its enchanting big eyes and alertness so typical of owls.

Just as we were beginning to feel a little anxious as far as the sightings were concerned, we were rewarded with a beautiful sighting of Banbehi tigress with three tiny cubs. Many gypsies had missed them inspite of having crossed their path, so perfectly camouflaged they were amid the foliage and the rocks. Fresh pugmarks, alarm calls, anticipation, excitement - all were a part of this parcel of 4 tigers and what followed was Ultimate Satisfaction!

Bandhavgarh is a place that boasts of the highest density of tigers but to see this crafty cat, trying to survive amid growing pressures from various sources, was a sight to cherish.

We were lounging on the verandah of our hotel on a cool November night, not the best time for amphibians. All of a sudden, a frog leapt at our feet. To some people, frogs may bring disgust, but to amphibian-lovers like us, it was sheer glee. Sighting a lifer- that too a Painted Frog - in November - was like an icing on the cake (after all the wonderful wildlife sightings we had had throughout our trip).

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WILDLIFE SAFARI/ PHOTO TOUR TO BANDHAVGARH

To experience such pulsating and precious moments first-hand, join us to Bandhavgarh this season (15th - 21st May 2009). For more details, email us at landofthewild@gmail.com