2023 Travel Diary
August to December
In August, went to Coorg with Philip Ross on a macro photography trip. Idea was to explore macro - unfortunately I did not find it exciting. Majority of macro photography happens at night, which was discouraging. But I did see about 10-15 types of frogs, quite a few birds.
In October, Came to Kabini with Vijendra - on the October 2nd long weekend. One of the rare Kabini tours without any big cat sighting. Did one canter Safari and three jeep safaris. First two safaris were near-complete dry safaris. Saw a few elephants and common birds. Last safari got a bit interesting with alarm calls, but no sighting.
In December, Made a trip to Ranthambhore with Shwetha and kids during the Christmas break. Booked through toehold, with Sunilji as guide. We did six safaris across three days. The weather was quite cold, with first morning completely foggy. We stayed at Ranthambhore regency, which has amazing hospitality.
No big cat activity across first four safaris! This was the longest dry spell I ever had at Ranthambhore. But some beautiful shots of birds, including a stork-billed kingfisher.
Shwetha and Sampada decided to skip our fifth Safari.- After much pugmark-tracking and hearing calls finally saw a male tiger from a distance. It was quite far off, not a photo opportunity. This was again in zone-4.
For the sixth safari Shwetha and Chotu joined us again in zone-1. In the last 30 minutes or so, when we had almost resigned, suddenly we heard a loud tiger roar. Hurrying, we scanned the hills on the opposite side of the tourism area - and indeed a tiger was sitting in the bushes. The sitting tiger was Noor, a female tigress. Soon a male tiger, T-101, joined her. T-101 walked down the hill, giving us a good sighting. And then walked over to zone-6, which is adjacent to zone-1. Post that Noor also walked down the hill, and fortunately came into zone-1. She came very close to our jeep, giving us a magnificent ‘Ranthambhore-wali sighting’!! All of us were super-excited about this particular sighting
May to July
In May, went to Kabini with Shwetha and kids for a weekend trip. In the Saturday afternoon safari we saw the TT female in Zone-B. She was sleeping throughout - not a good photo opportunity. On the second day got some good shots of Crested serpent eagles and peacocks, but no big cats.
In June, went to Bhadra tiger reserve with my mother and father. This was the first wildlife visit for my parents. In the Saturday afternoon safari, got a few birds but no cats. In the Sunday morning boat safari, only my father and I could go because of knee pain to mom. Saw a lot of river Terns nesting, feeding the young - good photo ops. Also good birding of raptors, including grey-headed fish eagle.
In July, went to Kabini with Harsha and Sampath. A toehold tour. The plan was to experience Monsoon rains, but it rained only in one of the safaris, and sightings were many.
On the first safari we saw a leopard on a tree, with a kill nearby. She slept for the whole safari, so we visited her twice - at the beginning and at the end of the safari. We aslo saw another leopard on a tree, in Zone-B.
On the 2nd Safari went in search of tiger tank female, which was not to be seen. But saw a sloth bear walking head-on on old MM road. On the 3rd safari saw a mother leopard and its cub, both crossing the road in Zone-B. It was a wonderful sighting, with mother crossing multiple times to encourage its shy cub to cross over. 4th safari helped us see a pair of white-bellied woodpeckers and a Tusker in Musth, with its family.
The trip in general had lots of elephants, one bold wild board and common birds.
In July also went on a one-day birding trip to Banneraghatta with Philip Ross. This was to accompany two friends of my uncle. Highlight of that day was seeing a blue-faced Malkoha eating a small snake.
January to March
In January, went to Bandipur with Shwetha and kids. On the first evening saw a pair of mating tigers in the distance, not a very good photo op. On the second day saw a leopard with a kill on a tree. Decent photo opportunity. A few elephants otherwise. Visited Ranganathittu as well for a few birds.
In February, went to Bharathpur with Harsha. As I fell sick, I had to return on the 2nd day of the trip. But was able to see Sarus Cranes, Bluethroats, Eurasian Wryneck, Bar-headed goose and a few other birds.
In March, went to Kabini on a toehold tour, this time with Vijendra. This was a very productive trip. On day 1, we saw the tigress named temple female crossing the road near Sunkadakatte, as well as TT female near powerline. On the 2nd day there not much activity, but on the final day TT male walked majestically in Zone-A, with battle scars on his body. Looked like he had gotten into a fight with another tiger. Also saw Magge female at GK Tank, as well as a leopard - leopard was walking in the distance, not a photo op.
