Wild India... In Style!

Transcription

1 Naturetrek Report compiled by Pradeep Singh Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0) E: info@naturetrek.co.uk W:

2 Tour Participants: Pradeep Singh (leader) with four Naturetrek clients Day 1 Friday 6th In flight from the UK Day 2 Saturday 7th Arrival in Delhi; Sultanpur Jheel It was a lovely morning with a little fog and the temperature about 25 degrees when the group landed at Delhi airport. After arrival formalities, we met Pradeep at 10.15am and drove to our accommodation at Hotel Westin. While we were waiting for the bus to come we saw House Crow, Bank Myna and Rock Doves. The journey to our hotel took about 40 minutes and on way we saw Red-wattled Lapwing, an Elephant walking on the road, and some Cows and Buffalo feeding in a park. After checking in at the hotel and freshening up, we met again at 12.30pm for snacks. Afterwards, we left at 1pm for Sultanpur Jheel (Bird Sanctuary). On the way we saw more Buffalo and Cows, and some Pigs. We also spotted another Elephant on road which caused some excitement. At the sanctuary we enjoyed some very good birding. We saw many ducks, geese and eagles, and sightings included Indian and Greater Spotted Eagles, Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, Eurasian Wigeon, Greylag Goose, Gadwall, White-throated and Pied Kingfishers, the very rare Demoiselle Crane in flight, Shikra, Pied Bushchat, Grey and Purple Herons, Purple Swamphen, Spot-billed Duck, Hoopoe and Black-rumped Flameback. Back at the hotel we had a briefing on plans for the next day. Day 3 Sunday 8th Delhi - Jabalpur - Kanha National Park Today we had an early start to catch a flight from Delhi to Jabalpur. The weather was nice and pleasant. Upon reaching Jabalpur we were collected by two cars for the journey to Kanha. On the way we spotted Indian Roller, Long-tailed Shrike, bullock carts in a village, and Rhesus Macaque monkeys. We also stopped at the Narmada river to see the temple of Lord Shiva. Upon arrival at Kanha we were welcomed by the staff and manager in the lodge, and then we had lunch. At 2.25pm we left for our first safari drive in Kanha National Park. As we entered the park we saw Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer and Yellow-wattled Lapwing. It was a nice drive to the Sal forest and on the way we heard some alarm calls but didn t see what was causing them. After the lovely drive we came back to the lodge and had tea and coffee. We met again at 7.30pm and did our checklist before dinner. Naturetrek December 15 1

3 Day 4 Monday 9th Kanha National Park We got up at 4.30am to get ready for another visit to the park. It was quite cool and everyone came well prepared in warm clothing. While we were waiting to go into the park we heard the call of Jungle Owlet. Once inside we saw a big herd of Spotted Deer, and again Yellow-wattled Lapwing. We went to the Kanha zone which is the prime area and saw the rare Swamp Deer (Barasingha), Sambar Deer and other animals. Later we went to the Kanha centre for breakfast and to visit the museum and interpretation centre. Later we drove back to the gate and saw Indian Robin, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher and other common birds. We then returned to our hotel and had lunch at 1pm. We went back to the park at 2.30pm. It was quite a pleasant afternoon and not too hot. This time we went to the Kisli zone and checked the area including the water holes. We again heard some alarm calls but sightings of a Tiger eluded us. Back at the hotel we later met to do the Checklist which was followed by dinner and then lights out. Day 5 Tuesday 10th Kanha National Park We started at the same time as yesterday. It was a fresh morning and we were wrapped in blankets with hot water bottles which was fun! We went to the Khatia gate and, once open, we went inside. Today we again went to the Kisli zone but visited different places and found some very fresh Tiger footprints. At the water holes we saw Indian Pond Heron, Indian Peafowl, Little Cormorant, Streak-throated Woodpecker and other common birds. Later we had breakfast before returning to our hotel. After lunch we returned to the park. This afternoon we went to the Sarhi zone which is a very beautiful part of the park, lush with bamboo and Sal, the dominant tree of the park. We saw Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Swamp Deer, Green Bee-eater, Common Myna, Plum-headed Parakeet and Jungle Babbler. At the water hole we saw Lesser Adjutant stork feeding. In the evening we met for checklist, snacks and drinks before dinner and then lights out. Day 6 Wednesday 11th Kanha to Bandhavgarh National Park This morning we had a leisurely breakfast and left for Bandhavgarh National Park around 9.30am with a packed lunch. It was a lovely drive with lots to see on the way including a stop to visit a market. Some big birds were spotted flying over the mountains so we stopped and watched White-rumped, Long-billed, Eurasian Griffon and Egyptian Vultures all together at one spot! Continuing on, we stopped for lunch in a small Dhaba. We eventually reached Bandhavgarh and the lovely Kings Lodge where we checked in. Today was Diwali, the festival of lights, and in the evening there were fire crackers and lots of clay lamps to mark the return of Lord 2 Naturetrek

4 Ram to his home after spending 14 years in the jungle. We all had lots of fun. Later we did our checklist followed by dinner. Day 7 Thursday 12th Bandhavgarh National Park We had an early start to get to the Tala gate and we were first in the line for entry. It was a nice temperature and not very cold but we still needed our warm cloths. Once inside the park we drove around and saw some nice Spotted Deer and Sambar Deer. We also found fresh Tiger footprints which we started to follow until we heard alarm calls, but then they stopped and everything went quiet. We stopped for breakfast, and after that we drove around some more before returning to our hotel. Lunch was at 1pm and then at 2.30pm we set off for another safari. This afternoon we went to the Magdi zone and visited the lake where a male Tiger cub had been sighted in the morning. There was no sign of the cub but we did hear the close alarm calls of Sambar Deer, and we saw Oriental Honey-buzzard, Peacock, Black Drongo, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia and other common birds. In the evening we met for drinks and snacks whilst we did our checklist. We then had dinner followed by lights out. Day 8 Friday 13th Bandhavgarh National Park Today we had our usual early start for a morning safari in the park. We spent time driving around the Tala zone where we saw fresh Tiger footprints and heard alarm calls, but alas no Tiger sighting. We had breakfast in the park and then continued our safari till it was time to return to our hotel. Lunch was again at 1pm followed by an afternoon safari. Searching for specific animals, in this case Tiger, can be frustrating as the animals are wild and so well camouflaged. We were a little frustrated as we had not yet seen a Tiger, but were keen to increase our efforts. This afternoon we went to the Magdi zone and headed to a lake where Tiger had been sighted earlier in the day. We found fresh Tiger footprints going away from the lake. Perhaps they had move to another place so we followed the tracks. We heard an alarm call and went to investigate, and found some jeeps with the occupants watching a female Tiger sitting in the bamboo bushes. We positioned our jeep and finally we all managed to see a Tiger! Once we had all seen it, the jeep was repositioned for a better view. As we watched, the Tiger stood up and tried to cross the road. When it was in the open we had a good view but with the arrival of more jeeps it went into the bushes again. Suddenly the Tiger came out onto the road behind all the jeeps and our position was perfect for photographs. She came out onto the road, looked at us and then crossed to the other side. Everybody was elated after a wonderful Tiger experience. In the evening we had our usual routine of checklist, dinner and bed. Naturetrek December 15 3

5 Day 9 Saturday 14th Bandhavgarh & overnight train to Agra We had another early start and returned to the Magdi zone, hoping to see the Tiger again. There were no sightings this morning but as we drove around we spotted Red-headed Vulture, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Common Myna, Wire-tailed Swallow, Crested Treeswift, Red-rumped Swallow, Scaly-breasted Munia and other common birds. Breakfast was taken in the park. Lunch was taken back at the hotel. We then packed our bags and had some time around the pool and birding in the vegetable garden before leaving for the overnight train to Agra from Katni railway station. Once at the station we boarded our luxury first class air-conditioned train to Agra. We had dinner on the train before retiring for the night. Day 10 Sunday 15th Agra It was a fine morning. Just before reaching Agra we passed a lovely body of water and spotted Black-winged Stilt, Shoveler, Lesser Whistling-duck and Ibis. We were collected from Agra railway station and taken to the lovely hotel ITC Mughal. As we were early our rooms were not ready. Mark and Yvonne decided to stay by the hotel pool and relax whilst Richard and Chris went with Pradeep to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, one of the best place to see migratory birds and for birding. At Bharatpur we had lunch in The Birder's Inn hotel, located about 200 metres from the main entrance of the Bird Sanctuary. Later we went to the park in trishaws and, once inside, we saw lots of lovely birds including the beautiful Painted Stork, Spoonbill, Asian Openbill, White-breasted Waterhen, Rufous Treepie, Common Moorhen, Oriental Darter, Indian and Little Cormorants, White-throated Kingfisher, the rare Dusky Eagle-owl, and the beautiful Sarus Crane which is one of the charms of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Later we returned to Agra where we all met up for dinner in a lovely restaurant near the hotel. Day 11 Monday 16th Agra to Delhi It was a foggy morning so not good to see sunrise at the Taj Mahal. Instead we started with a visit to Agra fort to allow time for the fog to lift. After visiting Agra fort we went to see the beautiful Taj Mahal which everyone found amazing. After taking photographs, we went behind the Taj Mahal by the Yamuna river where we saw some lovely birds including Pied Avocet, Spoonbill, Black Kite, River Lapwing and Bank Myna. Next we had a restaurant lunch before visiting the Bay Taj. After that we again went to the river bank and spotted Little and Temminck s Stints, White and White-browed Wagtails, Redshank, Greenshank, Pied Kingfisher, Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers, and other lovely waders. 4 Naturetrek

6 We returned to the restaurant for tea and coffee before we boarded a train to Delhi with our packed dinner. We reached Delhi around 10.30pm and then drove to our lovely five star hotel for an overnight stay. After checking in and confirming travel arrangements, the group said thank-you and goodbye to Pradeep. Day 12 Tuesday 17th We flew from Delhi back to the UK where another Naturetrek adventure came to an end. Receive our e-newsletter Join the Naturetrek ing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit to sign up. Naturetrek Facebook We are delighted to launch the Naturetrek Facebook page so that participants of Naturetrek tours can remain in touch after the holiday and share photos, comments and future travel plans. Setting up a personal profile at is quick, free and easy. The Naturetrek Facebook page is now live; do please pay us a visit! Naturetrek December 15 5

7 Species Lists Birds ( = recorded but not counted; h = heard only) 1 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis 3 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 4 Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger 5 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 6 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 7 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 8 Great Egret Ardea alba 9 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 10 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 11 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii 12 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 13 Striated Heron Butorides striata 14 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 15 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 16 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 17 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 18 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 19 Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 20 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 21 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 22 Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa 23 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 24 Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica 25 Greylag Goose Anser anser 26 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 27 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 28 Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 29 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Naturetrek December 15 1

8 30 Gadwall Anas strepera 31 Common Teal Anas crecca 32 Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha 33 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 34 Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 35 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 36 Black Kite Milvus migrans 37 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 38 White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis 39 Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus 40 Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus 41 Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus 42 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 43 Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 44 Shikra Accipiter badius 45 Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata 46 Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 47 Booted Eagle Aquila pennatus 48 Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus 49 Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus 50 Painted Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata 51 Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 52 Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea 53 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 54 Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo 55 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 56 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 57 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 58 Common Coot Fulica atra 59 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus 60 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus 61 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 2 Naturetrek

9 62 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 63 River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii 64 Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus 65 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 66 White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus 67 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 68 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 69 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 70 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 71 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 72 Little Stint Calidris minuta 73 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii 74 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 75 Pallas's Gull Larus ichthyaetus 76 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 77 Rock Dove Columba livia 78 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis 79 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 80 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 81 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 82 Yellow-footed Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera 83 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria 84 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 85 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala 86 Common Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus varius 87 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea 88 Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii 89 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 90 Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena 91 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum 92 Spotted Owlet Athene brama 93 Dusky Eagle-owl Bubo coromandus Naturetrek December 15 3

10 94 Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus 95 White-rumped Spinetail Zoonavena sylvatica 96 Little Swift Apus affinis 97 Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata 98 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 99 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 100 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 101 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 102 Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 103 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 104 Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris 105 Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica h 106 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala h 107 Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus 108 Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense h 109 Sand Martin Riparia riparia 110 Dusky Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor 111 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 112 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 113 White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis 114 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 115 Oriental Pipit Anthus rufulus 116 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 117 Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni 118 Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus 119 White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis 120 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 121 Blue-capped Rock Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus 122 Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina 123 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 124 Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica 125 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis 4 Naturetrek

11 126 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata 127 Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 128 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 129 Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis 130 Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei 131 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 132 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 133 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 134 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina 135 Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae 136 Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis 137 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 138 Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata 139 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 140 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 141 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea 142 Indian Chat Cercomela fusca 143 White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola 144 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 145 Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii 146 Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus 147 Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi 148 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus 149 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala 150 Great Tit Parus major 151 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 152 Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile 153 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus 154 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 155 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 156 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 157 White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Naturetrek December 15 5

12 158 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus 159 Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 160 House Crow Corvus splendens 161 Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 162 Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus 163 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 164 Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra 165 Brahminy Starling Temenuchus pagodarum 166 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 167 Nutmeg Mannikin Lonchura punctulata 168 Sarus Crane Grus antigone 169 Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus h 170 Rosy Starling Pastor roseus h Mammals 1 Royal Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris 2 Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta 3 Common Langur Presbytis entellus 4 Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii 5 Golden Jackal Canis aureus 6 Sloth Bear Merursus ursinus 7 Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus 8 Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennarum 9 Five-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennanti 10 Gaur (Indian Bison) Bos guarus 11 Sambar Cervus unicolor 12 Barasingha (Swamp Deer) Cervus duvauceli branderi 13 Chital (Spotted Deer) Cervus axis 14 Indian Muntjac (Barking Deer) Muntiacus muntjak 15 Nilgai (Blue Bull) Boselaphus tragocamelus 16 Indian Wild Boar Sus scrofa 6 Naturetrek

13 Other fauna 1 Indian Flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata 2 Skink sp. Naturetrek December 15 7