Report: Mammals and Birds of Chopta, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, November 2017

A view of the Greater Himalaya from the breathtakingly (literally), scenic Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrasheela Trek

Pictures from a natural history oriented trip to the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and surroundings in the Garwhal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. An useful attribute of this location is relatively easy access to a broad elevational range and associated habitats (and its denizens) - cultivated valleys, montane forest and alpine meadows in this case - within short distances. While there was hope for early winter altitudinal bird migrant riches in the lower valleys, there were satisfactory highlights such as Koklass and Monal Pheasants, Hill Partridge, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Snow Pigeon, Alpine Accentor, Long-tailed Thrush, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Spotted and Little Forktails, Variegated Laughingthrush, various Tits, Whiskered and Stripe-throated Yuhinas among others. Highlight Mammals included Himalayan Tahr, Bharal, Himalayan Goral, Himalayan Marten and Red Fox. Luck with the weather also ensured superb views of the Greater Himalayas and dark night skies ...... and there were some very nice examples of hot aloo parathas at regular intervals as fuel (or reward!) for the efforts 

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Report: Birds and Mammals of Ladakh July 2017

Tibetan Wild Ass, Hanle

Dear All,

Do apologise for the long gap from our last post - sharing with you a pictorial report, from a 10 day birdwatching trip organised by Nature India to the Cold Desert of Ladakh. We birded in marshes around Leh, high altitude (4500m or so) lakes/plains of Pangong Tso, Tso Kar and Hanle and the in high passes (above 5300m) to and from from these locations. Highlights included several bird specialities of the Tibetan Plateau/Trans Himalayas such as Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Tibetan and Horned Larks, Hume's Groundpecker, Great and Streaked Rosefinches, Little Owl, Tibetan and Blandford's Snowfinches, Brandt's Mountainfinch, White-throated Dipper, Saker Falcon, Upland Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Red-fronted Serin and Brown Accentor among others - many of them raising chics in the all too brief, but surprisingly productive summer of the region. Mammals sightings included four species of Pika, Tibetan Wild Ass, Weasel, Bharal, Stolickza's Vole, Himalayan Marmot and Red Fox. Ladakh is known for its spectacular landscapes and this experience of it lived upto that reputation, with dramatic mountainscapes, valleys, lakes and meadows, often taking on various hues in changing light, wherever we visited. A special thanks to Adesh and Mandar, our tour leaders, superb bird guides and hosts with a wealth of natural history knowledge, for this memorable trip.

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Report: Wildlife of Central India Feb 2017

The rarely seen Four-horned Antelope, were relatively common in parts of the Pench Tiger Reserve

We invite you view a picture album from a visit to two prominent tiger forests of central India in Feb 2017 - Tadoba in Maharashtra and Pench in Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra. Highlights included sightings of Tiger, Four-horned Antelope, Leopard, Dhole, Jungle Cat and various vultures/birds of prey

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