Stripes of Wild India

[Zubbie15]

Definitely sad to see this coming to an end, but the Dhole finale was well worth it. Count me in as one of the people who've been influenced by this report to aim for India 2017.

[TonyQ]

Thank you for a wonderful report - from the beginnings in Delhi (including a sighting of a cheetah) through Kaziranga (which is now on our list) with the wonderful rhino, elephant (and in the sanctuary) the gibbons. I obviously enjoyed your wonderful tiger sightings, but and so pleased that you show the sheer variety in both mammals and birds.

 

We have been to India many times, but only once specifically focussed on wildlife. You have definitely moved our next visit to India much higher up the list - thank you for such and engaging report and for all of the work (and coordination) that has gone in to it.

[Atravelynn]

On the cricket world cup, there is always next time which means India awaits Lynn's return!

I'll try to do better for you next time.

 

 

Definitely sad to see this coming to an end, but the Dhole finale was well worth it. Count me in as one of the people who've been influenced by this report to aim for India 2017.

If enough of us go, we could have GTG!

 

Thank you for a wonderful report - from the beginnings in Delhi (including a sighting of a cheetah) It took me about 10 long seconds to figure this one out. My first thought was, "Oh no, I missed a cheetah, the same way I missed those first dhole pups!" through Kaziranga (which is now on our list) with the wonderful rhino, elephant (and in the sanctuary) the gibbons. I obviously enjoyed your wonderful tiger sightings, but and so pleased that you show the sheer variety in both mammals and birds.

 

We have been to India many times, but only once specifically focussed on wildlife. You have definitely moved our next visit to India much higher up the list - thank you for such and engaging report and for all of the work (and coordination) that has gone in to it. It has been fun to coordinate and create the report, and we had fun on the trip too!

Edited June 19, 2015 by Atravelynn

[Zim Girl]

Great pictures of the Dhole at the end there.

I have really enjoyed reading along with this.

[Thursday's Child]

Thanks all three for taking the time to do this really interesting report. A wildlife trip to India, especially Kazaringa is now definitely on the list.

[Atravelynn]

"Aap Ne Baagh Dekha?

Definitely the most important phrase we learned on this trip. The answer, btw, is yes, 17/16/15. "

 

Those is our respective answers for tiger sightings this trip for Lynn, Michael, and Andrew to the question. "Have you seen the tiger?" as posed in Hindi on Line 1 of the report.

 

That just shows what a captivating image can do. I lost track of the question by always focusing on this Baagh photo that launched the report!

 

 

 

Based on the intentions of so many to visit Kaziranga, there will soon be a plethora of reports on the area!

Edited July 6, 2015 by Atravelynn

[madaboutcheetah]

Fabulous trip report ...... Thanks so much Michael, Lynn and Andrew ..... You guys must plan Southern India for next time and another GTG for sure!

 

I just had a chuckle at the summary - Until this TR, I didn't know that we had Honey Badgers here! (Shame on me).

Edited July 6, 2015 by madaboutcheetah

[michael-ibk]

@@madaboutcheetah

 

You will have to come along then, Hari. :-)

[Atravelynn]

@@madaboutcheetah

 

You will have to come along then, Hari. :-)

Absolutely! And share those excellent photos you always take.

[Alexander33]

Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring trip report. I've been away for awhile, so I've definitely got lots of reading and photographs to savor while I spend a Texas summer indoors and in the air conditioning! Your wonderful enthusiasm is infectious, and this report will certainly stand out as a reference point for our own future planning.

[Marks]

@@michael-ibk @@Atravelynn @@AndMic

 

Sorry for all the very late likes. This is my first serious foray into the India subforum, and it looks as though I couldn't have chosen a better introduction.

 

You've brought back some semi-distant memories of visiting the Qutab Minar and the Red Fort.

 

The rhino pictures on the first few pages are brilliant. Their appearance is just different enough from the familiar white/black rhinos as to make them stand out even more. Ditto with the eles, especially the wild ones. And then you managed to capture both in the same frame, not once but several times!

 

Really excellent birding throughout. The Indian darter on page 4 and the Indian roller on page 18 are standouts to me.

 

Indian Rhins do not use their horns to gore victims btw. But that´s little consolation - they rather use their sharp teeth to bite off chunks of flesh instead. Ouch!

This is surprising information!

 

The gibbons in the trees must have been a treat to see, and a challenge to photograph.

 

Michael, I enjoyed you laying down some cold, hard truths about Kipling.

 

And of course some fantastic tiger photos (great yawns on page 16).

[SafariChick]

Just re-read this excellent report in preparation for my trip to some of these same locales - helped me get excited! Thanks for such a detailed and wonderful report @@michael-ibk @@Atravelynn and @@AndMic!

[marg]

@@SafariChick...hope you are able to get your shoes the luggage. And, have a wonderful trip! We will be waiting for your report.

[Atravelynn]

@Safari Chick,

 

Have a wonderful trip! I know you will!

[AndMic]

@@SafariChick

 

Have a wonderful trip!

[Tom Kellie]

That reminds me that Michael saw a Bird of Paradise and was trying for a photo. No photo, and I got only a glimpse.

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

Did you mean that he saw a bird-of-paradise flower?

Or...did you mean that he spotted one of the New Guinea/Australia birds-of-paradise?

If it was the bird, was it observed in Pench?

Tom K.

[Atravelynn]

 

That reminds me that Michael saw a Bird of Paradise and was trying for a photo. No photo, and I got only a glimpse.

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

Did you mean that he saw a bird-of-paradise flower?

Or...did you mean that he spotted one of the New Guinea/Australia birds-of-paradise?

If it was the bird, was it observed in Pench?

Tom K.

 

It was a Paradise Flycatcher. I got my paradises mixed up there for a moment. You are a tremendous proofreader!

[Tom Kellie]

It was a Paradise Flycatcher. I got my paradises mixed up there for a moment. You are a tremendous proofreader!

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

When I read it — do keep in mind that I have no experience whatsoever with India's birds or wildlife — I thought: “At last, the possibility of observing a bird-of-paradise in the wild without bearing the hardships of a New Guinea visit!”

Paradise Flycatchers are certainly worthy subjects for any safari photographer.

One location I know yields regular top-quality close range sightings of long-tailed male African Paradise Flycatchers — the gardens of the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi.

Thank you for the clarification.

Tom K.

[Atravelynn]

 

It was a Paradise Flycatcher. I got my paradises mixed up there for a moment. You are a tremendous proofreader!

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

When I read it — do keep in mind that I have no experience whatsoever with India's birds or wildlife — I thought: “At last, the possibility of observing a bird-of-paradise in the wild without bearing the hardships of a New Guinea visit!”

Paradise Flycatchers are certainly worthy subjects for any safari photographer.

One location I know yields regular top-quality close range sightings of long-tailed male African Paradise Flycatchers — the gardens of the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi.

Thank you for the clarification.

Tom K.

 

So the moral of the story one man's paradise is another man's....that's where it gets confusing.

 

Thanks for the National Museum of Kenya hint! It may come in handy.

[Galana]

Well you can blame Janzin for my arrival, albeit late. A lovely tail that almost correlated with my recent trip over the year end. We too stayed at Chitvan and Wild Grass and we also had Torun for our guide at WildGrass. We did not know, until reading this report about the Gibbons at all. That will be something to go back for.

We did see Capped Langur on a walk in the woods with Torun. I was worried about how Clouded Leopard got translated into Snow Leopard at some stage. Glad to see it corrected at the end. It was good to see a nice tribute to Torun. It is so easy to forget our great guides.

Beer. Odd rules in Assam. Not exported to the "rest" of India hence the brands. We enjoyed "Danberg" which I think had family ties or just word association with a certain Danish brand. At IRP170 for a Pint I could get used to that. (Never bothered about lack of wine in India. I don't think the climate suits it. Room temp Reds?? Ugh!.

Odd that you were discouraged from Night Drives in Pench. We were too despite having booked one. As they proposed setting off in daylight we were not really sorry not to go.

Good to see you got your Nightjars (328, 381 & 418 corrected>) and Owlets 181. & 250. This is a Jungle Owlet. Asian Barred does not occur and does not have rufous coverts.

357. That Harrier?? I am not sure it is a 'Harrier' at all. Where is the facial disc? And the Glossy Ibis is just a juv Red -naped. Sorry.

381/ I don't see a FishOwl in the collage. That Hawk-Eagle looks awfully like a young Brahminy Kite to me. Lovely shot. Whatever it is.

Finally two snippets for reference to correspondents. Antelope do not have Antlers. They have horns which just keep on growing.

Deer have Antlers which they shed and re grow each year.

Prey do like to keep an eye on Predators. That is how they keep safe. It is the one you don't see that gets you.

Which leads nicely to the story of Ducks being led into a trap by a trained dog.

This practice is as old as the hills. It has been used for centuries in Europe to catch wildfowl. Large ponds were built for the purpose and a series of 'fences/blinds' built for the trained dogs to run behind thus luring the ducks to the net at the end where they were trapped and killed. (now just used for ringing etc.,)

The Dutch called them 'de kooi' from which came the English word "Decoy". Several still exist in parts of England.

 

I hope this late contribution has been of assistance to some.

A great report and some magnificent sightings of creatures great and small.

[michael-ibk]

Hi, @@Galana , thank you very much for your comments, very helpful and interesting. Good to hear you were with Tarun, and enjoyed his guiding, I hope he´s well? The Gibbons are a very worthwhile activity indeed, and I think Assam has a lot of interesting options aside from Kaziranga, so I would love to return someday myself.

 

Thank you about the birds, was unsure about Hawk-Eagle and Harrier myself. The "Barred Owlet" lable probably happened because of the ones we saw in Assam, a mix-up. Ah, a juvenile Ibis - the changing plumage of birds really is tricky stuff for a Not-really-birder. Not getting the Fish Owl reference, none mentioned in #381? Snow Leopard? If we mentioned one, surely a typo - they really would not appreciate the climate in Kaziranga.

 

What´s your opinion on the Mongoose in post#9 (last picture)?

 

Would love to hear more about your trip and sightings!

[Galana]

Hello michael,

Pleased you did not mind my interjections. Kaziranga is on my list for a revisit too (along with more in Assam and Corbett areas. One day.

I made an error with the number for Fish Owl. It was in Lynn's collage at the end of 418. 15th June.

The "Snow Leopard" crept into the discussion fairly early as I recall. I at first shrugged as an obvious mistake but it got picked up again later so thought I better mention it. As you say Assam might be a tad warm for the Grey Ghost even in December when we were there!

As to the Mongoose. I am no expert on these delightful critters especially Asian ones. It looks small and delicate to me (rather like the Africa Slender only grey).

Toss a coin? On size I would go for the smaller version.

 

My report is w.i.p. and the technical learning curve is steep.

[Atravelynn]

@@Galana, if you were at Wild Grass with Tarun, then you had some excellent outings for sure!

[Galana]

@@Atravelynn. Yes we did. He was very good indeed. You may learn of his technique for dealing with the "Have you seen tiger" racing crowd in my report. It worked very time.

[Atravelynn]

@@Atravelynn. Yes we did. He was very good indeed. You may learn of his technique for dealing with the "Have you seen tiger" racing crowd in my report. It worked very time.

Is this an upcoming report? Sorry if I missed a report in progress. I am interested to see how he handles the "Have you seen tiger" racing crowd. We did not have that opportunity during our visit, with no tiger about.