Bhadra Wildlife sanctuary

Spotted Deer at Bhadra reserve forest

Malabar Giant Squirrel

Indian Gaur

Crested serpent eagle

Trip report: It was a sudden decision last night to go for jeep safari in Bhadra reserve forest today morning! After my boat trip in Bhadra reservoir to river tern island last week it was in my mind to have jeep safari some time zin this or next month. Last evening i called Jungle Lodges manager at River tern lodge and enquired whether it is possible to accomodate 3 visitors for safari and got confirmed. We left by 5am from Shimoga ( I was joined by Dr Rathnakar and Nishanth ). We reached by 5.50am and a singing bush chat welcomed us and after coffee went in Jeep for safari. Sighting was good  today .Though we missed a photo a sloth bear, many peacocks , wild boars, indian treepie, sambar deer could be spotted apart from the ones picturised here and in picassa web album. It is much more than what we could ask far in a 2 hour safari for 500bucks. Leopards and if you are really lucky tiger can be spotted here. Bhadra is one of project tiger sanctuary in karnataka

 

For further pictures of this forest tour click here on the photo below:

Bhadra forest

River tern

                                                  

Migration of birds is an interesting phenomenon. What brings them to same place year after year? how they find way so accurately? It is really mind boggling! This small islet in back waters of Bhadra reservoir is home to these migratory birds small pranticole and River terns . Come every summer these birds are sure to visit this islet in backwaters and have breeding and fly away in May end with young ones! Every year when the water level goes down in the reservoir these islets which are actually submerged lands surface out . These islets give a safe ground for these birds as they are not approachable by humans and any other animals . They do not have nests but lay eggs on ground near stones or small crevices on ground. The colour of eggs merges with back ground so well that it is hardly distinguishable from surrounding. During the months of march -May they are seen in thosands in this small islet. Only way to see them is by boat ride in back waters run by Jungle lodges and resorts Ltd run by Govt of karnataka .They conduct the boat trip so well that it doesnt disturb the habitat of migratory birds ( of course any activity near them is disturbing for the birds but they seem to have adjusted and accepted the routine). The resort of JLR in Lakkavalli is named as River tern lodge.Apart from these two birds, a boat ride in back waters can also help us to spot other animals and birds of Bhadra reserve forest . Today I spotted wood swallow, Osprey, white ibis, peacock, deer, black bucks, hanuman langur, King fishers, red wattled lapwing, wooly necked stork etc.
During mansoon when water level increases these islets also get submerged in water and before this the birds are already off to their safe homes miles and miles away!!
River tern lodge is 30 kms from shimoga approx.
Links to picassa album https://picasaweb.google.com/shrikanthhegde/RiverTern?feat=directlink

Sharavathi trip

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Panoramic view of Sharavathi River.from Forest Guest house, Haigunda, Uttarakannada,
We were here last week on a boating trail in Sharavathi river from Honnavar to Gerusoppa.This photo was taken from a hill in haigunda village which is an island in Sharavathi river . This hill also houses a small but well maintained guest house of forest dept . Though there is another watch tower adjacent to this guest house which would have provided a better panorama my inherent fear for heights prevented from climbing a small ladder leading to top of watch tower. The picture looks as if taken from a extreme wide angle lens but it is infact taken from a 35 mm prime lens. Actually it is not single photo but a series of 5 photos covering 150degrees of view and these 5 photos are stiched and a panorama is created. This is my first work with panorama and also photo stich. To craete a good panorama we need to take a series of 4-6 pictures covering as much as posssible and using same exposure and not changing any setting. ( Tripod is very essential and keep horizon similiar in all photos . Each subsequent photo should inclde atleast last1/3rd of previous photo and the panorama maker software can auto stich or we can manually stich these photos to get a panorama
Your comments are welcome

Another panorama using 3 photos from 18mm focal length

Of course this is not a panorama but a picture we got on our trail. Serene waters of Sharavathi in this trail can very well compete with back waters of Kerala !This water way not yet explored for tourism is to be experienced !
links to photos https://picasaweb.google.com/shrikanthhegde/SharavathiRiver?feat=directlink

Barred Button Quail -Chick

Grey Heron

Bush Lark ,also recognised as singing bush lark : It ias a small bird ,size of a sparrow ,and resembles House sparrow. Seen in small shrubs,and semi desert lands .it feeds on vegetable matter,small insects etc

Black Drango with prey

Today Morning I noticed this bird Black Drango in tree infront of my house ,When I took my gear to take picture he was preparing for his brakfast! Here are few takes

Black Drango is a common bird in small woods and open cultivation , has a black body with deeply forked tail. feeds on insects like bees,grasshoppers etc.