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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Wildlife of Sri Lanka December 2016 - a pictorial report

Dear All

We invite you to view our pictorial report https://goo.gl/photos/csQfD5FyBjRHq9LE6 from a natural history oriented trip to southern Sri Lanka - marine mammal watching in the nutrient rich Indian ocean off the south coast, followed by a visit to the dry coastal forests of Yala National Park - the nation's most popular park for its abundant wildlife. 

Highlights included several Blue Whales (!), a pod of friendly spinner Dolphin, marine turtles, Leopard, fantastic elephant sightings, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Sloth Bear, easy travel, good food and friendly people! 

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Report: Wildlife of Corbett NP and Kumaon April 2016

A pictorial report from a natural history oriented trip, primarily with highlights from visits to the Rajaji (Chilla Range) and Corbett National Parks (day visit in the Durga Devi Zone and overnight at the dormitary at the superbly located Sarapduli resthouse in the Dhikala Zone) in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand. Sightings included the big three of these parts - Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, as well as of the endangered Gharial, and a representation of the regions famed birdlife - all this, sadly, in a backdrop of numerous forests fires in one of the worst summer droughts in the recent past, exacerbated by dry winds and evidently an opportunistic timber mafia

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Upcoming Trip: Explore the southern Western Ghats in the Periyar Wildlife Landscape

Dates

19th to 22nd November 2015

Itinerary Outline

Day 1: AM transfer from Cochin to Thekkady. PM (evening or night) Trek in Thekkady, as well as boat safari if available

Day 2 & 3: Early AM departure to Gavi on Day 2 and two full days exploring this wildlife rich location

Day 4: After AM activity and breakfast, depart to Cochin for a PM arrival

Price

INR 20,000/person (Inclusive of Transport, Accommodation on Twin Share, Meals in Gavi, Naturalist, Guided Activities and Entrance Fees)

Asiatic Elephant in the Periyar Landscape

As the summer monsoon makes way to 'winter', we welcome you to our (almost) annual exploration of monsoon forests in and around the Periyar Tiger Reserve in November. This wildlife rich landscape of the southern Western Ghats, is particularly known for large congregations of Asiatic Elephant and Gaur - but also a healthy, moderately visible, numbers of  Tiger and Leopard - among its large mammals. One could also come across specialities of the Western Ghats - Lion-tailed Macaque around Gavi and other rarities like Brown Mongoose, Brown Palm Civet and perhaps even the highly elusive Nilgiri Marten! Of course, some of these animals are strictly nocturnal, but, luckily, this is where the unique opportunity for a night walk in Thekkady provides the requisite conditions! 

Lion-tailed Macaque, Gavi

Dhole

Birdlife is excellent, as is typical for mid-altitude Western Ghats locations in south India. Great Hornbill, Wynaad Laugh Thrush, White-Bellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Barbet, Blue-bearded Beeeater .... a moderate effort of birding can get you a sizeable list of local specialities and rarities, with more than a dash of colour included. Potential for winter migrants like Indian Pitta, various Flycatchers and Warblers add to what should be an impressive list from a relaxed birding effort.

Great Pied Hornbill

Asian Fairy Bluebird

Brown-breasted Flycatcher

Flowers of the Cullenia exarillata - an important food source in these monsoon forests

Almost our entire exploration will be on foot, offering an intimate experience of the jungle and an opportunity to appreciate the the impressive biodiversity of these locations - including of smaller creatures, like butterflies, frogs, fungi, flora ..... . The matrix of forest, plantation and grasslands are not just scenic backdrop to the wildlife at Gavi, but also enhance visibility, unlike in theunidimensional environment, under a dense forest canopy. 

Rainforest Frog

Common Map 

Our local tribal guides - involved in a commendable ecotourism promoted by the local authorities - will enrich our experience with their insights and observations of their forest home.

As always, this tour is for a small group (max 6 persons + 1 accompanying naturalist) with an emphasis on a relaxed, ecologically friendly approach to wildlife viewing. We stay in a quaint resort at Thekkady on the first night of our itinerary and move onto a well located forest accommodation at Gavi (either in Swiss tents or Rooms depending on availability) for the next two nights. Accommodation will be on twin share, with en-suite facilities. Food will be simple, largely local affairs, especially in Gavi, while more options are available in Thekkady.

Please email us or call Ravi (+91 9941918519)/Ganesh (+91 9383114321) for more information

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Report: Sri Lanka's Central Highlands and its Wildlife, April 2015

Green Calotes, Singharaja Forest Reserve

We do not, as yet, offer trips to Sri Lanka, but we hope this pictorial report from a short personal trip, will inspire interest in our readers to travel with us to visit our hospitable neighbor, filled with spectacular natural riches. For a country so small in size, the amazing diversity of natural areas and its wild occupants are to be seen to be believed. Please keep an eye on this space and on our website for our introductory trips to the Emerald Isles 

Report: Wildlife of Kaziranga NP, March 2015 - A pictorial report

Hello all

Welcome to all our first time readers (the only kind, since this is our first post), to join us in experiencing, appreciating and to help conserve our considerable, irreplaceable, natural heritage. As a brief introduction, we are a specialist nature travel company for guided birdwatching, wildlife watching and natural history oriented travel to India's (with plans in neighboring countries) fascinating natural areas. We look forward to engaging with readers of the blog with the latest on our upcoming trips, trip reports and any other information of interest to natural history travel enthusiasts. Please do visit our website and Facebook Page for related information

The iconic One-horned (Indian) Rhinoceros in Kaziranga's Western Zone

Our first post on this blog is a pictorial report from a natural history oriented guided trip to the superb flood plains of the Bramhaputra at Kaziranga National Park in Assam from 18th to 21st March 2015. We visited all the major ranges from the extreme west in the little visited (by tourists) forested hills of the Bura Pahar Range to the extreme East to an area where the Bramhaputra defines the park boundary.
Blessed with the abundance that spring brings with it, we saw fantastic congregations of large mammals, Hoolock Gibbon (India's only Ape) and excellent birds including Great Hornbill, Green-billed Malkoha, Blue-bearded Beeeater, Jerdon's Baza, Pallas Fish Eagle and Swamp Francolin among others. An enjoyable trip to a park that has to try very hard to disappoint!

Best Wishes
Ravi
ficustours@gmail.com

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