Nagarhole Dec 31st '07- Jan 1st'08

HAPPY 2008 TO ALL OF YOU, HAVE A GREAT YEAR AHEAD

Well, always wanted to welcome the New Year at my favourite forest, Nagarhole. I left Bangalore with three of my friends at 2pm on the 31st. We joined our 'Gang' of friends who were already at Kutta. We partied at Kutta on the New Year's eve.

The next morning we were up by 5:30am & were ready to head into the forest. The morning drive yielded -usual wildlife, a few Gaurs, Spotted Deer etc., to our dismay no Tiger :-(

However a pack of 3 Wild Dogs gave us company for half an hour for over 2kms on the main road. This was the same pack I had photographed earlier in Nov. The pack of 3. They again had an unsuccessful attempt hunting a pack of Spotted Deer.

They were so used to our presence & so confident they used to come as close as 10ft from our vehicle. Whenever another vehicle came they used to disappear into the forest & resurface again.

His name is not wild dog anymore, but the first friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. --Rudyard Kipling

BR Hills 22nd - 26th Nov '07

Did a 5 day trip to BR Hills. I have never seen BR Hills so dry, may be this is because of the road work happening.

There were regular Sambar alarm calls indicating Tiger movement, but no sightings. The 23rd evening I took a walk alone on the road, there were fresh Tiger sent marks all along & the thrill in walking alone on a Tiger path was awesome (scary).

Of the 5 five days I stayed, did 6 safaris into the Jungle. Didn't yield much sightings apart from the regular Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Elephant & Wild Boars. I also went on the Boodipadaga road twice during the stay. We were able to spot three,four horned antilopes(considerably good count of this elusive & shy deer).



Here are the images from the trip.












GREATER FLAME BACK-WOODPECKER



















SCARLET MINIVET-MALE

PLUM HEADED PARAKEET-MALE

ELEPHANT DEBARKING-NOTICE THE SHARP TOOTH ON THE BOTTOM JAW

MALE SAMBAR