Pench Tiger Reserve, Bird Survey, 15-171223

Entrance to Pench Tiger Reserve

Hathigota Camp, Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

Booked tickets on 12975 Mysore-Jodhpur Express (2nd a/c, cost around Rs.2650), W/L 8 till the date of departure (1310 hrs dep from City Station) got confirmed at 8am.

Return,booked on 12650 YPR (Yeshwantpur) Sampark Kranti Exp. W/L 5 till 1pm, so cancelled. Returned by New Diamond Bus from Nagpur to Hyderabad, overnight, cost Rs.1200 . Very difficult to get tickets. Guru managed with the help of a tout. He booked TSRTC (Telengana State Transport) double axle bus to Bangalore Majestic, very comfortable, cost Rs.1300

From Nagpur to Amaltas camp, shared taxi, 4 people with Ishita, Rs.900. From Amaltas Camp to Nagpur, shared taxi, cost Rs. 750 (4 people with Manjula Rao)

Taxi from Paradise stop to MGBS (Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station) Rs.65 (3 people)

No Airtel connectivity after Paoni. Only Jio works there, not even BSNL.

Got food poisoning, probably contaminated food at closing ceremony lunch (did not eat anything else). Suffered through the bus journeys as toilet stops are always an issue. Sick through the bus journeys back so no photos. Left my sweater on the bus. Got the TSTC website and got the driver’s number. Went back and found the cargo office, found the driver and the bus and got back the sweater!

Should book the train early as one registers for a survey. Can be cancelled later. Last minute waitlisted tickets cause problems.

Flickr:

151223, Travel,Nagpur, Amaltas Camp, Hathigota:

https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720313317926 (44 photos)

161223:

Morn survey: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720313473335/ (69 photos)

Afternoon, butterflies/insects around camp:

https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720313473710/ (30 photos)

Eve survey: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720313473785/ (28 photos)

171223:

Morn short survey: (19 photos)

Drive through other camps back to Amaltas Camp, and eve safari: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720313501274/(50 photos)

FB: 151223: Nagpur-Amaltas-Hathigota Camp:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160294703303878&type=3

161223: 

Hathigota morning camp: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160294796893878&type=3
Afternoon butterflies and others:
Evening survey: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160295089568878&type=3  

171223
Morning survey:

Afternoon and evening safari:

eBird: 151223 eve: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156725587 (21 sp)
161223 morn: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156726531 (38 sp)
161223 eve: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156726793 (49 sp)
171223 morn: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156726910 (46 sp)
171223 drive/safari:https://ebird.org/checklist/S156727192 (76 sp)

  Trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/183611 (102 sp overall)

iNat: 151223 eve: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-12-15&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any

  161223 morn, and eve, all are 

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-12-16&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any

 171223 : https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-12-17&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any

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Kapil, Shubham, Anusha, Narendra

Simple but piping hot and tasty food made by Kapil

Pond Spreadwing:

Beautiful sunray on the sylvan scene

Gram Blue

Oriental Turtle Dove

Scopula pulchellata Moth

Alexandrine Parakeet

Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk

Brown-headed Barbet

Ruddy Shelduck

Northern Lime Swallowtail (Common Lime)

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher

Roundleaf Chiretta (Andrographis serpyllifolia)

Common Snipe

Dam on Pench River

Videos

161223:

0017 Racket-tailed Drongo drying itself after bathing:

0025 Black-hooded Oriole calling: 

0042 Common Rose nectaring on Chromolaena:

 0046 Common Roses nectaring on Chromolaena: 

171223:
0012 Processional Ants taking a dead roach:

0067 Ruddy Shelducks:

0093 Leopard in tree:

0145 Little Ringed Plover:

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