TATR - (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - A Trip Report

Saugata, nice one's again!!

Thanks Chetan, sorry I missed out your response.

Thanks for the clarification on the birds. I knew I am not good remembering their names, but I never realized that I made a mess

Thanks once again.

Thanks kunal for the continuous encouragement.

I think that's because I have added links from flickr??

Thanks, please can you help me identify the birds of the last post?

The birds are jungle babbler (as you rightly guessed), black drongo and Oriental Honey Buzzard female

Thanks Chetan. I have updated the post now.

It is evident that you are an expert on the birds and an avid nature lover.

I have learnt many new things through this TR. Indiamike really rocks!

Really enjoying your trip report Saugata. Eagerly waiting for the rest.

If it is any help, I highly recommend the following book as a companion to your future trips.

Birds of Indian Sub-continent

Regards,
Kartik

Thanks Kartik. You shall be surprised to know that I have ordered this book a couple of days back, waiting to be delivered anytime now

And, I am looking forward to complete the last 3 safari logs over the weekend.

That's right sougata,

Now my eyes are pleased...

Day 4 4th May 2012 - 5.30 am - The Fifth Safari

We started our journey in the early morning, which has now become a routine for us.

We started with an Eagle, whose silhouette looked amazing under the little morning light available.


A Barking deer was crossing the road in his full agility:




The sun has started to wake up slowly:


Some jungle fruit:


And plenty of them:


An Indian Gaur and its companion for breakfast:




We went towards Katijhori once again, where a female barking deer was roaming around hither and thither:


A kingfisher:


Spotted Dove:


Green Pigeon:


Crane??


Kingfisher (frontal view):


A tree which have seen never before:


Crow:


Now came a barking deer (male), who looked to be surprisingly timid and extra cautious. We came to know that they are like that only.




Green Pigeon, once again:


The sighting of these birds made us really joyous but we were looking for the King so we moved on to a different spot. The jungle on the way looked too good:


Now we appeared to different spot, where we could a number of cars together. The people are not uttering a sound, so we moved ahead and we saw one Tiger resting beneath a tree, from pretty close.


It was male cub of 1.5 years. He was busy looking around:






Suddenly our guide pointed towards another direction. Far away another tiger was on the move. He was in the mood of a ‘Kill’:




He then sat under a tree and patiently waited:


On the other hand, the first cub was trying to get some sleep, but he was curious by the number of cars inflowing:


So he was frustrated after almost 30 mins and started to disappear into the jungle:




He slowly disappeared, after 5 minutes we could not spot where he was:


Time to come back, we passed by the Forest Rest House inside, Bantu advised that it was prohibited for the tourists since 2008.


We saw this beautiful animal to mark the end of our journey.


Hope you have liked the post. If you would like to see some more pictures, please see my blog below:
http://saugatabagchitravelogues.blog...i-at-tatr.html

Wow Saugata....good snaps once again....Crop one face up of the tiger to give a good close up....Like the one of the indian Gaur in the 2nd snap...

Hi Kunal, thanks!

I had a plan to do the same but somehow I forgot

Will try to post in the next update though.

Regards

Thanks DJ. The next version is now uploaded also, please check

Oh!! My patting pal, you deserve enough patting from me!!!

Now just

You did proper justice with the Great Stripped One

[I'm feeling so unhappy with my own Tadoba-trip!!!]

Day 4 4th May 2012 – 2.30 pm The Sixth Safari

Within 10 minutes of entering the jungle and just within around a couple of kilometres of the Moharli gate, we saw the ‘Big Boss’ of Tadoba – a full grown male. As per our guide, when he was younger, he used to chase the gypsies, but now he has stopped doing those petty activities. He was going into one of the waterholes after a heavy meal.






He sat in the water for a long time, with only head out and he was watching the cars that were queued up, curiously but evidently he didn’t care. After around 45 minutes or so, he planned to leave and disappear into the jungle.


As he vanished, we also moved on. A Sambar was really in a curious mood.




Another family were in a deep thought whether to cross the road or not.


But this family decided to cross the road.




Inspired perhaps by the deers, the sambars also crossed the road.


And once they did, they were still curiously staring at us, as if they are watching some strange animal, while they are on the safari!


Moving on, we came to the place where we got the glimpse – a long glimpse – of the tigers in the morning and the place again did not disappoint us. One tiger was sitting beneath a tree.


He was watching the group of spotter deer, sambar who came to drink some water from the lake, just besides him. There were too many of them.




We hoped to see a chase, but in vain. The big cat was still sitting but he was not bothered by so many food items.


Almost for half an hour we waited, but no movement from him, so we checked out from that place and went to a nearby waterhole, where another tiger was on a playful chase to a couple of spotted deers.






But he returned in vain and we were more disappointed than him perhaps.


After so much diligence, he planned to take a bath and dipped himself into the water.


Bathing and drinking as well.


After some time he also planned to leave.





This safari made us really ecstatic. Even Bantu and Roshan, for whom the tiger sightings are considered almost a daily ritual, were in a jolly mood – anyway they are always smiling faces.

On our way back we watched a curious thing. A skull of a sambar was hanging from a tree.


The day was not over yet, returning back we saw the ‘Big Boss’ again leaving into the jungle from his waterhole – he spends most of his time here only.


We planned to take a round of Teliya lake, but couldn’t see anything but a spotted deer to start with.


The lonely watch tower, once again:


End of the day, the birds were returning to their nests just like us.


Grazing deers:


Amazing reflection of sun light:




A dancing peacock, who showed us its back only:


The sun was setting fast now at the horizon:




We returned to MTDC, literally speechless – today was indeed the day of tigers.

Hope you have liked the post. If you would like to see some more pictures, please see my blog below -

http://saugatabagchitravelogues.blog...i-at-tatr.html

Stupendously Fantastic Saugata!!!!!!......I really envy you.....hhhahhah jokes aside...Snaps as usual tooo goood...The Big Boss as you have nicknamed seems to be really large...the sambar close ups was also good...Great Sightings buddy...Cheers...

Kunal.

Thanks Kunal.

The big boss is also called Shivaji by the local people. It is the father of many cubs of Tadoba today.

Another log is pending from the trip, stay tuned for the same Should be uploaded tomorrow.