Monday, April 20, 2020

Uttarakhand-2019

30th November, 2019  to 8th December, 2019

Uttarakhand  formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devabhumi" (literally "Land of the Gods") due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai. On 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India, being carved from the Himalayan districts of Uttar Pradesh. It borders Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north; the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a rail head. The High Court of the state is located in Nainital.



The land of mountains and pristine forests, UTTARAKHAND 

We started our  journey towards  Sattal situated in district of Nainital on 30th Nov 2019 via Bangalore to Delhi-Dehradun by Air and from there in taxi to CHOPTHA-MANDAL-SATTAL

 THE TEAM

S.VISWANATH               
Dr.SRIKANTH HEGDE- from Shivamogga
Dr.PARAMESHWAR     -from Shivamogga
N.SATEESH               


Tour Itinerary- TRAVELOGUE DETAILS

30.11.2019-Saturday - DAY-01

Banglore to Delhi- DEHRADUN 
(by INDIGO Air (06-30AM) (6E-2132)- Arrival by 12 PM

Pick up Dehradun airport , 8 hour drive to Chopta from Dehradun Airport. 
Overnight at Snow View hotel, Kanda Road, Pothibasa, Ukhimath-246469 - 073516 37172


30th We left Bangalore towards Dehradun as there was no direct flight, the flight route was Bangalore - Delhi- Dehradun, arrived Delhi by 12 pm, from Delhi to Dehradun the departure was 12-45 delayed by 15 mts, finally took off to Dehradun hardly it was a ride of 30 mts to reach Dehradun from Delhi



At Dehradun Airport

Reached Dehradun by 1-30 pm, our guide Mr. Pushkar was waiting with the taxi, along with us another three photographers from Mumbai was also joined together - enroute we had a lunch at Pundir Veg Family Restaurant at Shivpuri, Tehri Garhwal 


as district administration was repairing the roads for four lane our PM Project, little traffic jam over the journey 



and after lunch we started our journey on the way at 5-30pm we had a tea break at Rudraprayag, 
TEA BREAK NEAR RUDRAPRAYAG
finally after crossing devaprayag reached CHOPTHA, we stayed in Hotel Snowview Kanda Road Pothibasa, Ukhimath, Uttarakhand 246469 [Phone: 073516 37172] 


as there was a snowfall the temperature at Chopta was 3 deg when we reached over there by 6-45 pm had light snacks and tea and dinner at 7-30 pm as we traveled nearly 8 hours [ and also there is no power over there, only generator will run from 7 to 10pm for charging gadgets and bathing they provide half bucket of hot water]


Next day programmed briefed by Mr. Pushpkar, the Guide, that by 6 am needs to move towards Tunganth for Monal point to see the Himalayan Beauty Pheasant MONAL, as we were all tired we had gone to the bed by 10 pm.


01-12-2019-Sunday-DAY-02


Early morning woke up at 5 am got ready had a morning tea moved towards Choptha and 
drive towards Monal point is possible to see monal and koklass pheasant , as three days before there was a heavy snowfall in and around Choptha and Tunganath, due to this we are not able to see the Tunganath as it was fully covered under snow

EARLY MORNING SUNRISE AT CHOPTHA


ENROUTE TO MONAL POINT

MONAL POINT

ALL GEARS READY TO SHOOT



and finally we a got a view of MONAL

MALE MONAL

The Himalayan MONAL (Lophophorus impejanus), also known as the Impeyan monal and Impeyan pheasant, is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 2,100–4,500 m (6,900–14,800 ft). It is part of the family Phasianidae and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe.

The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, the wife of the British chief justice of Bengal, Sir Elijah Impey.

FEMALE MONAL

and at 8 am we had a breakfast at Bhulkhan choptha Road, Aloo Paratha, Egg Omlette and Tea, afterwards we were on track to find some speices of Birds in and around Choptha



Views from Bhulkan-Choptha





After Breakfast over there we came back to room to have a bath and opp to our hotel snow view lot of Eurasian jay, and other species arrived


EURASIAN JAY





In the afternoon session we visisted  Duggal Shahari village get more speices of birds over there, one can see lots of birds like 8 types of tits wood peckers, laughing thrush and thrushes, Accenture, vulture, lammargier golden eagle, after launch drive to mukku farm good to see flower pecker, owlet, rose finches , redstart, mistle thrush.

and in the evening had Tea and had dinner at 8 pm and gone to bed

HIMALAYAN MONAL




Griffon Vulture















Wren



COMMON MYNA



Russet Sparrow
Blue Rented RedStart



Civet Cat

HIMALAYAN MONAL
Yellow Throated Martin



HIMALAYAN LANGOORS


HIMALAYAN THAR



SLATTY BACKED FORKTAIL












HIMALAYAN MONAL


HIMALAYAN MONAL FEMALE

HIMALAYAN MONAL MALE-- CROSSING 

HIMALAYAN MONAL

HIMALAYAN MONAL
02-12-2019- MONDAY - DAY 03

Start early hike to Tungnath temple for snow partridge on way one can see monal winter wren, Accenture, tits, warblers.  Afternoon we will look for rapture and some forest birds like tit bulbuls warblers wood peckers laughing thrushes etc. 
Overnight stay in Mandal. 


03.12.2019-Tuesday-DAY-04 drive to rose finch point one can see scarlet finch, spot winged & pink browed rose finches, bunting, laughing thrush, warblers, niltava , shrike babbler, wren babbler, tesia after noon visit to river good for brown deeper forktail flycatchers and redstarts. 
Overnight stay in Mandal


RED VENTED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines

RED VENTED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines

White throated fantail flycatcher

Blue throated barbet

RED VENTED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines

Next day morning woke up early in the morning at 4 am, left the place by 5 am towards MONDAL enroute Chopta for final glimpses of Himalayan Monal and Kocklass Pheasant, finally we had a darshan of Kocklass Pheasant, and reached MONDAL in the afteroon

MANDAL VILLAGE VIEW

HIMALAYAN BULBULThe Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in central Asia.

HIMALAYAN BULBUL
The Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in central Asia.




Blue Throated Barbet

Scarlet Finch Male

Scarlet Finch male and female



Scarlet Finch Male

Scarlet Finch Male

Crested Kingfisher

Steppe Eagle

STEPP EAGLE

Siberian Stonechat



Next Day early morning left MONDAL to reach Sattal - day long journey from Mondal to Sataal, enroute we had breakfast and Lunch and reached the birders Den by 7-30 pm

BIRDER DEN SATTAL

Birders Den is an eco-resort, nestled in the lap of nature close to the Naldamayanti tal. A short 10 minutes drive from Sattal, it is your perfect base for a bird watching holiday in the Western Himalayas. With sumptuous home cooked food and cozy rooms with a pretty view of the region, the Birders Den is the perfect relaxing spot for birders and also serves as a hot spot for some stunning birds of the region.Birders Den Eco Resort provides you pleasant Hospitality and friendly loving environment, It's placed in middle of forest Sattal, Nainital District and away from city noise and Highway traffic, It's gives you cozy and calm environment, It's just 18 km from Nainital City and 2 km from Sattal lake which is famous tourism destination, the resort provides to everyone homely atmosphere and also serve you Hygienic local kumauni meals, All around surrounded by Nature and verities of Birds , A good Natural environment and Birds Chirping makes you more comfortable and joyful, It's All People of Birders Den Eco Resort Who treats you like family and also makes your Experience truly exceptional.




Birders Den Eco resort have restaurant where all guest have their meals together and also share their Day to Day life experience, We serve Simple and Spice less meal which makes you healthy and fit, we have high speed internet access in reception and restaurant where from you can easily run your business through electronic gadgets.



BIRDERS DEN  NEST

Grey Treepie

Kalij Pheasant

Kalij Pheasant
Kalij Pheasant Female



Oriental Turtle Dove

Kalij Pheasant Female

Red Billed Liothrix

Kalij Pheasant Female

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Grey headed Woodpecker Female

White Throated Laughing Thrush


White Throated Laughing Thrush

Red Billed Liothrix

Cinereous Tit

White Throated Laughing Thrush


Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch female


Kalij Pheasant


Kalij Pheasant

Kalij Pheasant

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch 

Blue Whistling Thrush

Green Backed Tit

Black Lored Tit

Black Lored Tit

Brown Headed Woodpecker

Blue Whistling Thrush

White Throated Laughing Thrush

White Throated Laughing Thrush-Swimming

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Grey Treepie

Brown Headed Woodpecker

Grey Treepie

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch Female

Himalayan Bulbul


Brown Headed Woodpecker Female


Grey headed Bunting

Red Vented Bulbul

Scaly Breasted Woodpecker

Scaly Breasted Woodpecker-Flight


Scaly Breasted Woodpecker

Common Babbler

Red vented bulbul

Red billed Blue Magpie




Greater yellow nape woodpecker

White Crested Laughing Thrush

Red billed Blue Magpie

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Brown headed woodpecker

White Throated Laughing Thrush


White Throated Laughing Thrush

Red billed Blue Magpie

Red Billed Liothrix

Red Billed Liothrix

Red Billed Liothrix


Rufous Chinned Laughingthrush

Rufous Bellied Nuthatch female

-Red Billed Liothrix 

Bathing --Red Billed Liothrix 

Striated Laughing Thrush

Striated Laughing Thrush

Rusty Tailed Flycatcher

Striated Laughing Thrush

Rufous Chinned Laughing Tthrush

Red Billed Liothrix


Rusty Cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Blue Laughing Thrush

Red Billed Liothrix

Blue Winged Siva

Rusty Cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Himalayan Bulbul

Blue Winged Siva

Yellow billed Bue Magpie

Redbilled Blue Magpie

Rufous Sibia

Grey headed Woodpecker Female

Kalij Pheasant Male

Kalij Pheasant Female

Lesser yellow nape woodpecker


Brown headed woodpecker (LT) and Lesser yellow nape WP

Lesser Yellow Nape Woodpecker


RUSSET SPARROW

Lesser Yellow Nape Woodpecker
Return
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MOBILE PICS


















































My Sincere thanks to one and all who made this extravaganza memories of the Bird Photography

Regards
Sateesh
9886301584

Comments from Whatsapp Social Media

1) Wonderful tour and darshan of lovely birds of Western Himalayas.Thanks so much Sateesh.The pics are awesome-- Dr.Ravidran, Prl Secy Khajane 2


2) Seems to be a very keen bird watcher, he has done fantastic job-- Kulkarni, Retd Secy KC

3) It speaks volumes of Sateesh's interest in nature and spirit of adventure. Late Narasimhaiah and Sateesh's mother have a great son who where ever they may be make this matter of pride. Savue,soft spoken and intelligent Sateesh has given us a treasure and may his skills multiply and flourish
----AV Ramamoorthy,

4)Hi Satish,--- Most wonderful pictures and a so well written travelogue. Related to it so well and with pics it was as if I was a part of your team. Envy you. Shared with my inner circle. Pl publish it, It took ever so long to publish on the blog-----Smt Umadevi, Addnl Director,Dept of Treasury

5) I visited the blog. wow...... Wonderful and very meaningful journey sir, I saw all the photos of hill stations and birds, these are still attracting me, you have captured very beautifully. Thank you very much for sharing all these with me--- Govind Raju, Acc Supd, High Court Bangalore

6) Sir very nicely written and superb photos. Really amazing and rare birds beautifully captured-- Manjula, Accounts Section, KGS

7) Really amazing photos sir thank you- Rekha Bai, Accounts Section, KGS

8) Very Good writing, i had also visited this place last year-- Premkumar, Saligrama

9) Wonderful sir-- Bharathi, Dept of Treasury 

10) Super pics of birds--- Lavanya, Accounts, KGS

11) Beautiful, Wonderfull Photos-- Sadanand Pavaskar, KGS

12) Photography is amazing - Chandrashekar, RTO Officer Yeshwanthpur

13) Superrrr Sir......- Pramod, Bangalore

14) Went through your blog Satheesh. Photos are simply amazing and eye catching.  You undoubtedly proved that you are a talented Photographer and that it is a gift bestowed by the almighty. - TP Narasinga Rao, Mysore




Sunday, August 18, 2019

Agumbe 2019

Hingaara Nature Stay 2019





As I was busy in my Official work, casually called Dinesh regarding information needed about macro lenses, as conversation progressed i asked Dinesh when and what is your next programme/outing for Wildlife etc, he mentioned that during second saturday of June i am planning to visit Agumbe (Hingaara Homestay) will u join he asked, i said i will let u know by tomorrow, soon i called my good old friend (kuchiku) Mr. Vishwanath are u free this second saturday can we plan to visit Agumbe, immediately he agreed to join the programme, as i was little busy didn't call Dinesh and informed Vishwanath to have a word with Dinesh regarding Programme and further courses and finally we three decided to chart out programme for Agumbe, Dinesh informed to book the Bus tickets immediately as it was an weekend it will be full (Only SRS Travels Sleeper Coach is available to Agumbe).

and on Ramzan Day we decided to have a small meeting to discuss regarding the programme, we had discussion what are all things to bring for Macro Photography and we all finally ready, as I didn't have proper gear for Macro Lens,

Dinesh informed to me to buy a filter called Raynox DCR250 and then searched Amazon and Flipkart to buy these as we had little time to get this gear, finally i found it on Amazon and ordered a filter RAYNOX DCR 250 as i was an Prime Member the product came very next day 

Dinesh informed to bring the following items without fail,leech socks, rain boots, rain pants, raincoats, long umbrella, 100mm macro lens and extra pair of clothes,  we booked the tickets for 6th Night from Bangalore to Agumbe (Guddekeri) and return ticket to Bangalore on 9th Night

Day 01:  (06th June 2019)
I and Vishwanath met at Anandarao Circle SRS Bus Stand by 8-45 pm, as the bus is scheduled to leave at 11pm, I informed Vishwanath to be early to Bus Stand as Bangalore Traffic can not be predicted.  Severe Rain Started in Bangalore by 9-15 pm till 10-45 pm heavy rains lashed out Bangalore, Bus Left exactly by 11pm, Dinesh Joined in Yeshwanthpur and journey towards Agumbe started......


Day 02 : (07th June 2019)
Reached Agumbe by 6-30 am, Dinesh called Shashank (Owner of Hingaara Homestay), they sent vehicle we three reached the Homestay, had nice morning tea and freshned up and had breakfast Poori Saagu and Chitranna

Met Mr. Girish Gowda, Naturalist of Hingaara Home Stay, charted out the day's programme
Day -01 in and around Hingaara, Agumbe SunsetPoint, Malgudi Home etc
Day -02- in and around Kundadri Basadi Parshwanatha Swamy


Agumbe is a small hill village with very limited visitor accommodation, hence we stayed in ‘home stay’ @ Hingaara

Let have some little information about HOMESTAY

PROGRAMME STARTS HERE......

"Hingaara" - The Nature stay
(Home stay with a Difference)

a 350 year old heritage home. I am old and rocking! I have seen 5-6 generations in this house. The secret to my youth lies with the people who visit me. They come from all over the world and exchange travel stories, warmth and experiences. You are most welcome to stay in our cozy Malnad heritage house and experience the nature & rural life as it should be. We are a unique home stay; we focus and put sincere effort to give our guests the experience to remember for lifetime.

Information about AGUMBE

Agumbe is approximately 350 km west-northwest of Bangalore ( 6 hour drive) and is approximately 55 km from the Arabian Sea. As part of the Western Ghats mountain range, Agumbe lies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site (thank God for the same, as some sanity sure will prevail in the region, with regards to conservation) where we were served with awesome food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and southern hospitality

Highlight of this place is it’s location, good food & decent hospitality

Best part of the place is location, which is surrounded by lush greenery with no signs & sounds of traffic

Malabar pit viper, few lizards, fungi cup, wild flowers, and more. It was an interesting experience walking in thick darkness, following sounds of frogs, and searching for them based on the sounds. 

I was amazed at the speed and accuracy of Sri Girish was able to spot nightlife, and giving us opportunity and guiding how to photograph them.  It was taking about an hour to get everyone a chance to photography a snake in the round robin approach, all in the midst of rain and darkness















GREEN VINE SNAKE

Ahaetulla nasuta, also known as common vine snake and long-nosed whip snake, is a slender green tree snake found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

It is not to be confused with Oxybelis fulgidus, "green vine snake" found in Central and South America. In Tamil, it is known as pachai paambu, In Marathi, it is known as shelati snake, among dozens of other vernacular names.

The green vine snake is diurnal and mildly venomous. This arboreal snake normally feeds on frogs and lizards using its binocular vision to hunt. They are slow moving, relying on camouflaging as a vine in foliage. The snake expands its body when disturbed to show a black and white scale marking. Also, they may open their mouth in threat display and point their head in the direction of the perceived threat.

The name Ahaetulla in Sinhala means 'eye plucker'. It earned this name, and similar ones in Tamil and Indian vernaculars, due to its habit of staring and striking at the eyes when picked up. It is believed that can blind its human victims.

The species is viviparous, giving birth to young that grow within the body of the mother, enclosed within the egg membrane. They may be capable of delayed fertilization (parthenogenesis is rare but not unknown in snakes) as a female in the London zoo kept in isolation from August, 1885 gave birth in August, 1888.



Kundadri is a hill (826 mt) with dense forests in the Western Ghats located in Shimoga District Karnataka State, India.It is 70 km from Udupi city. This hill is known for 17th century Jain temple dedicated to thirthankara and the place is known to have given shelter to Acharya Kundakunda during earlier centuries. The main deity of this temple is Parshwanatha, 23rd tirthankar. Two small ponds formed by the rock on one side of this temple provided water to earlier sages. Government of Karnataka joined hands with a philanthropist from Mumbai to construct an all-weather road to the top of the hill.



More than two thousand years ago, a jain sage named Kundakunda Acharya stayed here and prompted the birth of this jain holy place.A temple is constructed with stone statues of jain sages. As the place is secluded, there has been efforts to damage stone statues to find hidden treasure.


Transportation
Kundadri is at a distance of about 80 km. from the district headquarters, Shimoga and about 20 km from Thirthahalli town. From Shimoga, one has to take the National Highway NH-13 (Thirthahalli road) to reach Thirthahalli. Then take State Highway SH-1 (Agumbe Road) up to Guddekeri and then take left deviation. The total distance from Bangalore to Thirthahalli is 332 km. From Mangalore, one can take NH-13 to reach Thirthahalli. The distance from Mangalore to Thirthahalli is around 146 km. There are numerous mini-buses from Udupi to Thirthahalli. From Udupi railway station 86 km to Thirthahalli.The nearest railway station is in Shimoga. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport.



Malabar Pit Viper ( Trimeresurus malabaricus Jerdon, 1854 )










BULL FROG
The dorsal (upper) surface of the bullfrog has an olive-green basal color, either plain or with a mottling and banding of grayish brown. The ventral (under) surface is off-white blotched with yellow or gray. Often, a marked contrast in color is seen between the green upper lip and the pale lower lip. The teeth are tiny and are useful only in grasping. The eyes are prominent with brown irises and horizontal, almond-shaped pupils. The tympana (eardrums) are easily seen just behind the eyes and the dorsolateral folds of skin end close to them. The limbs are blotched or banded with gray. The fore legs are short and sturdy and the hind legs long. The front toes are not webbed, but the back toes have webbing between the digits with the exception of the fourth toe, which is unwebbed.

Bullfrogs are sexually dimorphic, with males being smaller than females and having yellow throats. Males have tympana larger than their eyes, whereas the tympana in females are about the same size as the eyes. Bullfrogs measure about 3.6 to 6 in (9 to 15 cm) from snout to vent. They grow fast in the first eight months of life, typically increasing in weight from 5 to 175 g (0.18 to 6.17 oz), and large, mature individuals can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb). In some cases bullfrogs have been recorded as attaining 800 g (1.8 lb) and measuring up to 8 in (20 cm) in length.




Malabar frog

The bicolored frog or Malabar frog (Clinotarsus curtipes) is a species of frog endemic in the Western Ghats of India. The tadpoles of the species are black and form dense and compact schools in slow moving streams in forested areas.


The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), also known as the bruh, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. 

The hair of the lion-tailed macaque is black. Its outstanding characteristic is the silver-white mane which surrounds the head from the cheeks down to its chin, which gives this monkey its German name Bartaffe - "beard ape". The hairless face is black in colour. With a head-body length of 42 to 61 cm and a weight of 2 to 10 kg, it ranks among the smaller macaques. The tail is medium in length at about 25 cm, and has a black tuft at the end that is similar to a lion's tail, although this tuft is more pronounced in males than in females.





Gestation is approximately six months. The young are nursed for one year. Sexual maturity is reached at four years for females, and six years for males. The life expectancy in the wild is approximately 20 years, while in captivity is up to 30 years.







SUN SET POINT AT AGUMBE
CROWING GLORY AT HINAGAARA HOMESTAY




Dining Hall and Interpretation Hall






Mouth Watering Dishes






 I sincerely thank Mr. Shashank and Mr. Girish and All team of Hingaara for providing a nice stay and mouth watering dishes

For Further Details Please follow the  link-
http://www.hingaara.com


Contact
Shashank Hegde
Jayaram Hegde
Girish Gowda

ADDRESS
Guddekeri Post, Thirthahalli Taluk, 
Shimoga District, Karnataka. INDIA

EMAIL
Info@Hingaara.Com

PHONE :  
+91 94815 34099, 
+91 99006 02529,   
+91 94486 00096

WHATSAPP-99006 02529