Author Archives: The Natural Traveller

Kabini/Nagarhole Tiger Safari/Birding

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When: January 2024     Weather: 20 to 30C

Leica Q3, Nikon P900, Sony a7II 70-400G

After our meeting in Bangalore, we did the 4.5 hour drive down a very nice highway for a 2 night 4 safari break in Kabini Jungle River Lodges to do our tiger safaris and the famous Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, about 200km from bangalore. Arriving at lunchtime, we headed straight out for a pm safari from 3 to 6pm….

our cottage at Kabini Jungle water Lodge
our cottage at Kabini Jungle water Lodge
our jeep with driver Muddu drove us to the Kabini entrance to Nagarhole Tiger reserve
a magnificent male GAUR welcomed us at the first waterhole
beautiful spotted deer were abundant
spotted deer
beautiful grey langurs were everywhere
we stopped by this wooded area in zone A to wait to see if a tiger would show
after half an hour, we saw some movement behind the thicket
and from afar, the unmistakeable tiger appeared afar
she started walking toward us..
what a magnificent beast!
she sauntered casually nearer..admire the tail detail
and settled comfortably, her orange upper pelt contrasting with the pure white underside…
her stunning pelt from the back
posing
the back view of her ears…black with white tufts

After this wonderful encounter with the striped feline, we drove on to see the rest of the reserve…

we then found this waterhole where a family of tuskers were bathing
frolicking babies
This area is the elephant capital of India with the highest numbers of pachyderms per sq km in india
we had a close encounter with this tusker who took exception to us and charged us, stopping just a few meters away thankfully
imperial green pigeon
we had time to do some birding…here the common hawk cuckoo
wild boar
indian pond heron
common flameback woodpecker
a group of scampering spotted deer
a female gaur on our way out
a spotted deer having a nightcap
and back to the resort, the sunset welcomed us

A brilliant first safari with an excellent tiger sighting…..thanks to our driver guide Muddu!

Highly recommended

Birding Juma Lodge, Amazonia (1)

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When: December 2023  Weather: Hot 30C

Leica Q3, M9P, Nikon P900, 950

We had two full days in the Juma Jungle Lodge about 4 hours from Manaus and we had the services of guide Ralf.

Daybreak on the first morning was followed shortly by rain that lasted a couple of hours…

After a leisurely breakfast we then set off by boat before lunch….

The black skimmers were evident, skimming the water surface as they fished
Amazonian kingfishers were everywhere..this is the female with a white dot in front of eye and no white dots on wing
Here is the male Amazonian KF…with the brown breast, white dot in front of eye and no white on the wing
this on the other hand is the Green Kingfisher, sometimes hard to distinguish from the larger Amazonian KF….note spots on wing and no white spot in front of eye
Ringed KF
charming sun grebe by the river edge
and of course white throated toucans were a common sight although the more iconic toco toucan was nowhere to be seen on this trip
stunningly beautiful Capped heron
solitary sandpiper
striated heron..we get these in singapore too
yellow canary
a yellow headed caracara was foraging nearby
greater anis
green ibis
Fork-tailed flycatcher
white winged swallow
rufescent tiger heron
rufescent tiger heron..worth a second look
southern lapwing
arguably the prettiest of them all…the Agami Heron
Agami heron striking out
pale vented pigeon
brown chested martin
the morning ended with this peregrine falcon and his brunch

A most fruitful morning’s birding on the water….