I had booked a full three nights in Kabini at the end of June and so on the 29th found myself zooming down in the Gypsy. After HD Kote I pulled out the lens and drove slowly keeping an eye out for birds. This proved to be a useful tactic, because I was able to get my first Oriental Honey Buzzard. This is the image you see here.
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus
The rest of the drive proved uneventful, although I did spot Black Ibis and Pheasant-tailed Jacana in a tank.
I reached Jungle Lodges at about 11-ish and quickly settled in the equipment. I then sat down to my beers. Later that day I was told that a tigress had been tranquilised in the next resort and I had missed the action! In any event, nobody told me, and I had no desire to see a traumatised and victimised animal. You can read more of this tigress here:
http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1303
I had decided on a few boat rides this time as it had been an age since I had been on the backwaters. Still further, it has become very difficult to photograph anywhere in a shared vehicle because of the short focal lengths of most photographers. In any event although, it poured with rain, I was able to take the boat on three occasions and these are the images. The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is a rare catch and the icing on the cake.
Here is a video of this makna, or tuskless male.
Makna, Kabini from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
I took three, very uneventful, game drives as well. Perhaps one of the most exciting encounters was with the camp elephant, Arjuna, the one with the cut tail. He is one of the Dasara elephants and we met him on the road near Sunkadkatte elephant camp and his massive bulk towering over our vehicle was truly intimidating. He kept coming and we had to keep reversing the vehicle. A young wild tusker tagged along with him and you can see the videos below. It is sad to hear the sound of the chains on Arjuna's feet. PBA that these videos are HD videos. You can view them on Vimeo at full screen or turn off the HD option.
Wild tusker following camp elephant, Kabini from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Wild tusker following camp elephant, Kabini I from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Now for the other videos, PBA that some of the videos are HD. You can view them on Vimeo at full screen or turn off the HD option.
Elephants by the Kabini backwaters from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Elephants by the Kabini backwaters I from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Wild dogs at Kabini from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Gaur, or Indian Bison, Kabini from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Boating on the Kabini backwaters from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
Boating on the Kabini backwaters I from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.
I drove back through HD Kote and Murkal to Hunsur, before going to Sidapur in Coorg, but no game was showing. Near Murkal I saw a pond with a terrapin basking on the bank and a White-throated Kingfisher perched nearby. I watched them for a few moments and continued my journey. After Murkal I encountered a bevy of female junglefowl. Evidentaly some jungle cock was a lucky man!
Bye for now!
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