Soukous, trying to do better in 2018

[Soukous]

20 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Absolutely fantastic  but how safe where you on foot?

When I went to a NP in Kerala we stayed in a tented compound and never saw or heard a Tiger but found paw prints within just a few metres of the perimeter fence. The amazing thing about so many wild animals is how little sound they make, even an Elephant can just vanish in to thin air, never mind a Snow Leopard. I can just see the Tiger posting a Facebook shot of you looking back at him in similar fashion with the caption of " they never saw anything until it was too late!'

 

In my opinion it is pretty safe. There were pug marks all around our lodge at Corbett and the guy who does the walking says he sees tigers every couple of days. He only take a walking stick, so clearly he doesn't think they are a threat. Like most wild animals, tigers are very cautious about humans and unless there is a man-eater in the vicinity you should be very safe.

 

It was interesting to compare the laid back attitude of the walking guide here with the way it is handled in Africa. here we were given no warning briefing, no instructions at all in fact. We just set out to walk in an area where there were known to be 2 tigers with a bloke carrying a stick. 

I loved it, but we were joined for the walk by another chap who thought we were going birding and he became very nervous when the tiger spoor started looking very fresh and he hid behind me while I was taking photos. 

[Dave Williams]

2 minutes ago, Soukous said:

 

I loved it, but we were joined for the walk by another chap who thought we were going birding and he became very nervous when the tiger spoor started looking very fresh and he hid behind me while I was taking photos. 

 

Wonderful story!

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

We just set out to walk in an area where there were known to be 2 tigers with a bloke carrying a stick. 

Hmmm. Whilst I am a great enthusiast of walking in the bush  I would not have wanted to have encountered the male tiger we met in Corbett in 2015. He was mightily unhappy to see us in the jeep and acted up so bad the jeep driver took off before I got a decent shot.

With hindsight I think the driver was right. Shere Khan is licking his lips and his roar at that close range was  something else.

Thanks for the info on location at Rumbak.

[michael-ibk]

Wonderful birds from India, my favourite is the Crimson Sunbird. Interesting about the walking in Corbett, did not know they offer that. Which lodge was that, not Dhikala?

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations on the long-ago 100, and so many fantastic shots since.

 

Sorry for the lack of likes, as I have run out again... Consider each and every one liked by me.

[Soukous]

12 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Wonderful birds from India, my favourite is the Crimson Sunbird. Interesting about the walking in Corbett, did not know they offer that. Which lodge was that, not Dhikala?

 

@michael-ibk I was staying at Jim's Jungle Retreat. It is on the periphery of the park and so walking is allowed. Dhikala is a great location inside the park, but no walking allowed.

[Soukous]

#137 Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

Corbett Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

[Soukous]

#138 Shikra (Accipiter badius)

March 2018

 

Corbett Tiger Reserve

 

Satpura Tiger reserve

 

 

[Soukous]

#139 Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis)

Satpura Tiger reserve, March 2018

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#140 Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#141 Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Satpura Tiger Reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#142 Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#143 Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)

Satpura Tiger Reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

Edited April 11, 2018 by Soukous
Original post had the bird wrongly identified. That has been corrected but it is now a duplicate as I posted a male Common Stonechat a few days ago.

[Soukous]

#144 Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#145 Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#146 Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#147 Greater Racket tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

For some reason, the first three of these I photographed had lost their rackets. This fella only had one left. 

 

 

[Soukous]

#148 Knob Billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

Satpura Tiger Reserve India. March 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#149 Lesser Goldenback (Dinopium benghalense)

Satpura Tiger Reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#150 Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruguinea)

Satpura Tiger reserve, India. March 2018

 

 

[TonyQ]

This is quite a trip with Corbett, Ladakh and Satpura! Lovely additions.

[Galana]

150 up and still going.

 

Is not 143 a Stonechat perhaps?

[Soukous]

33 minutes ago, Galana said:

150 up and still going.

 

Is not 143 a Stonechat perhaps?

 

Sadly I think you may be correct @Galana which means that somewhere along the line I've lost a Zitting Cisticola

[Galana]

2 minutes ago, Soukous said:

I've lost a Zitting Cisticola

Don't worry. They are far from extinct.

[Soukous]

This is to replace the #143 post where I duplicated. The counts remains at 150

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Satpura Tiger Reserve, India. March 2018