Ramanagaram

I am usually against changing names and would still refer to Ramnagaram as Closepet, but in this case the changed name makes sense as the landscape is dominated by the Ramadeva betta. Here are some images from a recent trip.





Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus













Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus

Sunbirds in the garden (Really!)

One needs to be on a constant look-out for opportunities. This time, while at my parents' in Coorg, I spotted and seized an opportunity. I noticed sunbirds frequenting a flowering hedge and positioned myself in a car shed next to the hedge. Here I was able to photograph them to my heart's content. Because of the low light I could not get acceptable shots of the fascinating birds jumping from flower to flower.

The first images are of the male Purple-rumped Sunbird. These are floowed by the female of the species. The bird with the long curved bill is the female Loten's Sunbird. Note the long tongue of the burd which enables it to reach into flowers.

Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica







Loten's Sunbird (female) Nectarinia lotenia

Maidenahalli

Had motored down to Maidenahalli with a few friends the other day. It was a good trip with new species added.

It was a delight to photograph the dainty blackbuck.


























Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malarbaricus



Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto



Plain Prinia Prinia inornata

Interesting posts on the IndiaWilds forum

Backlit Nilgai female http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1443

Tiger drinking http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1415

Sambar stag http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378

Coucal http://indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1402

Kabini Trip Report: 29-30 June, 1 July, 2009

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!

Thrillophilia.com

The good folk at Thrillophilia.com have asked me to do a bit of blogging for them. Will post links when I do so.

Do visit their site. In their own words, "Thrillophilia aspires to be the one stop solution for all adventure related activities in the Indian sub continent."

Although the site seems to be in its infancy I am sure that dedication could make this a portal for adventure sports in India.

Sunbirds in the garden

The other day, at about 6.30 am, I excitedly set up the 500 on the Gitzo to photograph sunbirds in my mother's garden. I selected a flowering shrub frequented by the birds and prefocused and waited. And then, to my extreme annoyance, the background suddenly changed and began to move about.

I looked up and saw three shapes moving on the road. They were large and grey and it took me a full moment to realise that they were elephants!!! This is the picture you see below. I quickly woke my parents, but by the time they came to the verenda the elephants were gone.



That evening I had set up the camera again and had gone to get some grain for the Spotted Doves that frequent the front yard, when I heard my father yell that there were elephants.on the road. I rushed to the verandah and these are the pictures.















The jackfuit thieves!





Hurried along by mother!

The elephants crossed the road several times and then went to the fallow paddyfields. I followed but the grass was too high there. To my consternation I had been followed by my aged father, and two excitable dachschunds. I was worried, but then saw the estate truck parked nearby. So I decided that if the elephants came towards us, I would bundle, father, dogs, and lens into the truck!



Here are some poor videos of the drama.

Elephants in a coffee estate 2 from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.

Elephants in a coffee estate 3 from indianwildlifetv on Vimeo.

Electric fences are unnecessary since elephants cause no damage to coffee. Besides it is us who have taken their land. I'm happy that my family has not installed an electric fence