Sundarbans Tiger Reserve | Wildlife Photography

The largest of all estuarine mangrove is Sundarbans National Park, which is situated at the southern most coast of West Bengal, India and it is the house of  the most lucrative of all big cat species that inhibit in the entire world, Royal Bengal Tiger. Now, the question that comes in our mind why they have the nomenclature as "Royal Bengal Tiger"? To get the answer we have to see the history of the area first.

The vast planes of India came under British rule from Mughal emperor-ship; Bengal Presidency officially formed in the year of 1765. During company rule, Calcutta, a city beside river Ganges at today's West Bengal, was the major trading center and during British Raj, the capital of India became Calcutta. Britishers and that time Maharajas always had an affinity towards killing the magnificent beast, the Tiger. A burgeon culture in and around Calcutta grew to showcase the tiger skin along with taxidermied skull. From that affinity, the tigers from all over India were known as Royal Bengal Tiger or just the Bengal Tiger. Later the Maharajas of other presidency became accustomed to this culture and thousands and lakhs of them were killed for the sole purpose of trophy hunting.
When the Britishers were gone, their habit came through the Indian blood line of Poachers, who in turn declined the entire population of tigers across India into thousands.

The presence of super predator in any national park depends on many major factors amongst which "a sophisticated prey base" is the most important one. Tiger population at its height were estimated as many as one lakh at the start of 20th century. Main cause of decline in population is the increase in urbanization; since the entire national park falls under the estuaries, thus practically urbanization were never been a threat for this mangrove forest, though some confirmed and unconfirmed report of human animal conflicts are common at the forest edge villages.

A typical estuarine fauna habitat. High tide level is up to the naked tree roots
(Click on the image to see it in full screen) 

During our visit to Sunderbans in the month of August '14, our team of six photographers managed to frame and record the presence of mammals like Spotted Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Irrawady Dolphin etc. On the other hand we were lucky in terms of birding too. Two of the rarest avian visitors in India had been photographed too. First one is Ruddy Kingfisher and another one is Buffy Fish Owl.

Beside Buffy Fish Owl and Ruddy Kingfisher one can also find find the some extreme mammals like Irrawady Dolphin. These euryhaline species are categorized as Vulnerable, according to IUCN red data. National level efforts are there to protect these elusive specie. Efforts from Forest Department, researchers, wildlife photographers and wildlife enthusiasts can prevent the upcoming Holocene extinction of the species.

Another species, that is worth mentioning in this post, is none other than Changeable Hawk Eagle. Both morphs of changeable Hawk Eagles could be seen here. The elusive dark morph of Changeable Hawk Eagle, that is found and seen here, are exclusive of all findings and spotting of the specie in general across Indian Subcontinent. The rarest of all, dark and crestless morph of the specie can be seen along the river side perched high in some of the tallest trees.

Other major key species that could be found and photographed here with ample opportunity are Water Monitor (Varanus salvator salvator), Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris humii), Spotted Deer (Axis axis) and Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).

Below are some key species that had been photographed from the tiger denizen.

Ruddy Kingfisher

Rhesus Macaque

Spotted Deer

Spotted Deer

Water Monitor

Bronzed Drongo

Changeable Hawk Eagle; A rare dark morph and crestless

Collared Kingfisher

Irrawady Dolphin

Other Helpful Information:

• Where to Stay: Stay options are ample. To make a wildlife photography trip in the mangroves jungle cruise boats are most important thing. Specialized boats with lesser vibration, knowledgeable guides, reputed cruise pilot and naturalists, who know the place well beyond others are the most important parameter to make a successful wildlife photography trip at this Tiger Reserve. All these mentioned logistic supports are arranged for the enthusiasts by GoingWild.

• Best time to visit: Try to avoid this place in the months of April and May, otherwise for the rest ten months it is a premier location for rest eight months. Early November to late May is the best time for birding and bird photography.

• Point of Contact: Send a mail to dibyendu@goingwild.in or support@goingwild.in mentioning your interest for birding and wildlife photography related queries.
One can also reach to +919681417974 (Dibyendu Ash) or +918017804277 (Soumyajit Nandy) or +919163631493 (Tamanud Mitra) for guided birding cum bird photography cum wildlife photography here. Arrangement for clean and subtle mud huts / eco-camps / eco resorts, dedicated boat for entire birding trip along with a naturalist-cum-birder are done by GoingWild.

Mimical Forms - A School science exhibition project of class VIII

This is visual diary which goes back in the year 2001, when I was a student of eighth standards in Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission. I still feel very proud to be an alumni of the institution, since it taught many a things outside the bookish knowledge to a student of 14 years of age.

Swami Vivekananda said, "You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita." Thus it was obvious for the students of RKM to become a man more likely qualified for a better society and a better India. Early stages of stewardship starts with learning and following the narrations of teachers and parents. Since, I believe, teachers play a major role in building the society, thus to be a nature and wildlife photographer, building blocks had to be made by the teachers like Subhas Mukhopadhya and Dibya Jasobardhan Roy. 

Thus, today's me would have been very different unless guided by those builders. Back to the topic now. It was late December of 2001, when like every year Swami Bidhanananda allowed us to organize interscholastic science exhibition. The exhibition was on for 1 week, the timing for this exhibition was from 10am in the morning to 5pm in the evening. Fifteen groups took part from Biology department, where each group consisted of not more than two students. In my group, I was accompanied by my friend at that time Subhojit Ghosh. Though most of the charts and diagrams was done by me single handedly. Pardon! 

Below are the in details, what we presented in that annual science exhibition -

"Mimicry is a special type of defensive adaptation. It is a physiological characteristics by virtue of which animals and trees mimic the structure, color and/or behavior of other living beings and/or materials. Broadly we can distinguish the characteristics of mimical forms in two segments -

1. Protective Mimicry
2. Aggressive Mimicry 

Protective Mimical Structures are common through out the forests of Indian and Tibetan Himalayas and all over the world; whereas Aggressive Mimical structures are rarely seen and found only in few places of Europe. Many specimen of examples can be seen through the river valley of Congo and Zaire. 

Protective mimicry can be further classified in two other forms - 

<i> Concealing Mimicry - Kallima Butterfly, Walking leaf etc.

<ii> Warning Mimicry - Asisaema

Aggressive Mimical Stuctures are found in few species of spiders from Europe, where they roost in the branches of trees as bird poops. That is why no birds or other animals pay attention to feed on these insects.

Phyllium:

Phyllium Scythe

Phyllium Scythe is an insect which falls under phylum arthropoda. Its head and thorax are very tiny compared to large abdomen. Its Flat abdomen is covered with transparent exoskeleton. A webbed formation in its abdomen makes it as a walking leaf in nature. 

Diapheromera:

Diapheromera

Diapheromera are known as Common Walkingstick. It is an example of Protective Mimicry. 

Schizura:

Schizura caterpillar

Specimen on twig

Geometrid Moth falls under phylum arthropoda. During larvae stage, coloration of its body becomes dark brown, which is perfect to camouflage with the twigs of trees around. 

Eupagurus:

Eupagurus

Eupagurus or Hermit Crabs houses inside the shell lefts of sea snails. When tiny creels or aquatic organism approaches to them unknowingly, it kills its prey instantly - an example of Concealing Protective Mimicry.

Arisaema:

Arisaema species

Specimen from Tungnath, Uttarakhand, India

Arisaema are tree species found mostly in Himalayan region. It has a spathe like the hood of poisonous snakes, in few species white spots are also present. Photographed one shown here is a specimen from Tungnath, Uttarakhand, at an altitude of nearly 3500 meters.

Kallima:

Kallima - a species of butterfly 

Kallima is a type of butterfly is a perfect example of Protective Mimicry. It seems much like a dried leaf when sits on the branches of trees.  

Salticus:

Salticus

Salticus is a very aggressive species among spiders. Its thorax and abdomen is reddish yellow in color, which seems much like a flower bud when sits in bush thickets. "

This was the product of my earlier days learning, now even after pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, nature tells me to be an observer and a humble student of nature. This is just a sample. Preliminaries like this one made me who I am and what I do. Rest lies in your understanding of nature and in the hands of God.

Birding at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (ii) | Padamchen / Phadamchen, Zuluk / Dzuluk, Gnathang / Nathang

This is the place bounded between Bedang Tso or Bedang lake and Nathu La complex of North-east Sikkim. The total area that falls under upper Pangolakha region can be segmented broadly into five different regions based on human habitat.

• Nimachen - Nimachen is a small hamlet after Lingtam on Old-Silk Route at an altitude of 6000 ft. The famous Keokhola falls which mixes with Rangpo river below passes through this area. This place is at a distance of 4 Km from Lingtam.

• Padamchen (or Phadamchen) - Padamchen, is a small hamlet in the old silk route, at a distance of 5.5 Km from Nimachen, which has 60 families and a small school along the northern slope of the hill. Entire population in this hamlet is as many as 300 as of 2014. Altitude of Padamchen is around 7000 ft and mostly covered by temperate broadleaf forests with thick undergrowth vegetation.

• Zuluk (or Dzuluk) - Zuluk has an army cantonment set up along side a very small human population. Stay options in Zuluk are homestays only. This place is at an altitude of 9000 ft and mostly covered by pines and steppe grassland. Few places have isolated forest patch due to ease of army surveillance. The main attraction of this area is the zigzag road. On clear days one can see the magnificence of mighty Kanchenjunga from a nearby Tambi viewpoint. This place is at a distance of 10 Km from Padamchen. Few areas in Zuluk are restricted for photographers, since those areas lie under army surveillance. From Padamchen to the highest point at Zuluk, one will cover more than 5000 ft within an hour car drive. All credits go to the magnificent zig-zag road architecture by BRO.

Zuluk Zig-Zag Road | Photographed during birding tour of May '14 | GoingWild

• Gnathang Valley - Gnathang valley, in one word, is a heaven! As soon as you cross Laxman Chowk, you will notice that vegetation in most of the places are covered by rocky outcrops, rhododendron shrubbies, steppe grassland and high-altitude marsh land. Gnathang Valley is at a distance of 22Km from Zuluk but lies above the snowline, ice shield covers this place for almost four months. When monsoon takes over lower regions, snow blisters and hail storm would take place in this area during that period. Altitude of Gnathang Valley is around 14000 ft and oxygen level is also lower by 1/3rd than that of plains. Since this place is a must visit for high altitude birders, GoingWild mentors will assist you for your successful birding trip in this cold desert climate.

Gnathang Valley | Photographed during birding tour of May '14 | GoingWild

• Kupup - Kupup is the last bordering village in Old-Silk Route at an altitude of 14200 ft and at a distance of 18 Km from Gnathang Valley. Jelep La pass (now in China) and Bhutan hills are within one's visible range. Though few places have restricted access for photographers, most of the places are so beautiful, that, it will be a memory to cherish all over your life. 

For birding and bird photography, this place is truly a heaven in East Sikkim.

Click here >> Bird list consisting of 91 Birds.

Below are the 6 Key birds that has been photographed in this area in the month of May '14:-

Himalayan Monal

Snow Pigeon

Red-billed Chough

Fire-tailed Myzornis

Golden-naped Finch

Dark-breasted Rosefinch

Other Helpful Information:

1. Where to Stay: Stay options are very limited. Arrangements are made in prior notice only. On twin and triple sharing basis home stays are arranged for enthusiasts by GoingWild.
2. Best time to visit: Try to avoid this place in the months of monsoon, otherwise it is a premium location for rest eight months. Early November to late May is the best time for birding and bird photography.
3. Point of Contact: Send a mail to support@goingwild.in
   One can also reach to +91-9681417974 or +91-8017804277 or +91-9163631493 for guided birding all over the Old-Silk Route. Arrangement for clean and subtle home stays, dedicated car for entire birding trip along with a naturalist-cum-birder are done by GoingWild.

First Lady of Bandhavgarh: Kankati Tigress

First Lady of Bandhavgarh: Kankati Tigress 

Here is a tale of a tigress called "Vijaya" aka "Kankati" from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The day started with probably the most favorable luck, when we saw her for 1hr 7mins at chakradhara at Tala zone of the majestic tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh - Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Special thanks to Mukesh Burman and Bikas.

Surrounded by hillocks, Chakradhara is a pristine place with arid grassland. The landscape itself is too harsh for the grasses to grow. Monsoon rainwater, stored in the pockets of limestone, helps the avi-fauna to sustain in this region. ____________________________________________________________________

For the first time when I saw her, she looked majestic as she looked in her previously photographed images. Lying on her back side, she was taking rest in Chakradhara meadows, not bothered of our presence and paid no attention to us. Rather she was keeping her eyes on a herd of deer yards away from her. ____________________________________________________________________

(Merged few frames: tracking down prey) All on a sudden she started moving towards the herd of deer grazing around 25-30 yards away from her. Watching her movement towards the deer herd pumped up my adrenaline and I felt very much thrilled inside. She was gem of Bandhavgarh. The name kankati means "who has ripped earlobe". Earlier she fought against a tigress called Laxmi and lost her left eye; while she was moving into her prime. ____________________________________________________________________

It turned into a flop, when she sat on the ground again. "Patience is the key in wildlife photography" - keeping these words in mind, me along with Tamanud and Soumyajit didn't move our gypsy a single inch and waited for long 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes was much like hell. Firstly, she was at a very distant place from us and secondly, all of us expected to see some real time action. Spent time as if we are the spectators of a silent era movie. ____________________________________________________________________

(Merged few frames: tracking down prey) That time she was around 20 yards away from the herd. Felt sleepy sitting in the gypsy, until she moved her arse again. I was not ready with my camera and acted like a full metal alchemist - Perplexed. Gathering hope, I was ready with my gun and took few snaps of stocking. Within a minute she covered a distance of 10 yards. She was 10 yards closer than that of her previous position. ____________________________________________________________________

(Merged few frames: tracking down prey) Time was running out very fast for the safari and at the same time I was running out of my budget memory card space of camera. Photographed her movement of stalking. Not again!! She did it again. She fooled all of us aging, sitting on the ground. ____________________________________________________________________

No she didn't sit idle. She was crawling, very slowly, very cautiously. Moving inch by inch. Trying to get closer to the herd without making a mistake. Moving on her knees, she showed patience. Impatience is a thing not to be proud of. You lack patience, you miss your meal. Perhaps this was the "Mantra", she ____________________________________________________________________

(Merged few frames: tracking down prey) This is how she moved as close as 8 feet distance from the herd. Palpitation, perspiration and camera shake. She didn't move a bit from her position for 1 minute. For a photographer this is a breath taking moment. At last success will come for both. ____________________________________________________________________

No!! The most wanted moment didn't appear. She was so upset so as we. One out of fifteen to twenty attacks are successful in their world. Poor Kankati!!! Her meal disappeared in front of her eyes. ____________________________________________________________________

The whole gallery of viewers from both end witnessed her frustration. Walking like a defeated/flop heroine she was leaving the floor of Chakradhara. We photographers were not ready to accept that. However, we took some welcome snap of her and greeted her. ____________________________________________________________________

Flehmen performed by kankati with the neck stretched and the head held high in the air. The behavior facilitates the transfer of pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ located above the roof of the mouth via a duct which exits just behind the front teeth of the animal. ____________________________________________________________________

Territory marking is another behavioral trait of tigers like other cat species around the world. By doing this they secure their territory and draw a invisible line from each other. A tigress at its prime can hold an area of around 5-10 sqkm. ____________________________________________________________________

Flehmen response can also be shown by curling back its upper lips exposing its front teeth. These are some beautiful behavioral traits of tigers. It may be performed over a site or substance of particular interest to the animal (e.g. urine or faeces). Here, tigress Kankati is doing both, urinating and flehmen. ____________________________________________________________________

Now for the first time we saw her closely from a distance of 30 feet. Lost her left eye during the fight with Langri aka Laxmi. Her right earlobe is also ripped for which she is known by such name - "Kankati". A healthy female like she is looked bold and beautiful. The awesomeness in her attitude tells us she is a perfect mother of two litters. For the first time she gave birth three and later she became mother of another four. On both occasions litters were fathered by the king of Bandhavgarh aka Bamera. ____________________________________________________________________

I got her perfect portrait. But the time she looked at me from a distance of around 20', I became perplexed again. Then she took her position beneath a nearby bamboo thicket. ____________________________________________________________________

This is definitely not the best shooted yawning picture at all. This is just a mere documentation of tiger behavioral trait. One can see from this picture that her right canine is blunt. Checked out thoroughly in Net, but didn't find any clue of such a dentary change. It may happen with age. But the time she was photographed, she is just 7. Can't put down any conclusion in my observation. Maybe some veteran can help out my problem. ____________________________________________________________________

Showing all these actions she moved out to quench her thirst towards a nearby talab. Talab (in hindi)means isolated pockets of water body in which water remains even in the driest seasons. Animals from different strata like ungulates, macaques come down to talabs. ____________________________________________________________________

Kankati drinking water from talab, to hydrate her body and to put resistance against scorching sun over her head. In most of the areas covering the central Indian plateau, temperature difference between day and night sometimes well beyond 30-35 degree. ____________________________________________________________________

After quenching her thirst she decided it is the time to leave the stage, she started walking parallel to the gypsy track. Stopped at few few places and scent marked that area and moved on. ____________________________________________________________________

This one is the last photograph of kankati on 19th just before crossing gypsy track. From that day I became one of the greatest fan of Kankati. Like elder Madhuri Dixit or recent time Parineeti Chopra she had a bold appeal. In recent time during our Bandhavgarh trip in April '13 also, I have photographed her and saw her twice on a single day. Well, this note is a documentation of the event with some information about Kankati. ____________________________________________________________________

Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary | Birding and Wildlife Photography

If one is interested to find out high biological diversity in the mountains, Fambong Lho WLS is a must visit for him. At an altitude as low as 524 mts and as high as 2749 mts, it houses some of the most skulking species in its montane forest lap.

Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary (or "फाम्बोन्ग ल्हो") is a wildlife reserve falling under protected area range is in the district of East Sikkim of the state of Sikkim in India. Around 30 kilometer east of the capital of Sikkim, i.e. almost an hour drive by road from Gangtok the state capital. Total area bounded under this protected area is 51 square kilometers. The hamlets which are present around the boundary of Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary are Dikchu, Panthang, Mangan etc. In north-west this sanctuary is connected with Khangchendzonga National Park and in north-east-east it is connected with Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary. Management authority of this protected area is the Forest Department of Sikkim.

Welcome to Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary. Here in this post I will upload some birding rarities. Hope you will enjoy each and every bit of it!

Image from Wikipedia: Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary. By -     
Dibyendu Ash





For details send a mail to support@goingwild.in and get in touch with GoingWild.

© Dibyendu Ash @ 2014 (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Date:
26th March - 31st March

Habitat: 
• Montane Forest.
• Temperate Coniferous.
• Broadleaf.
• Wetland.
• Riverine.
• Alluvial.
• Cultivation Land.
• Human Habitat.

Temperature Range:
<10°C ~ >24°C (Approx.)

Altitude:
1700m ~ 2200m (Approx.)

Bird Checklist (As per Birds of Indian Subcontinent field guide by Richard Gmimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp):
1. Hill Partridge
2. Black Eagle
3. Eurasian Cuckoo
4. Large Hawk Cuckoo
5. Mountain Scops Owl
6. Great Barbet
7. Scarlet Minivet
8. Ashy Drongo
9. Maroon Oriole
10. Yellow-bellied Fantail
11. White-throated Fantail
12. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie
13. Grey Treepie
14. Large-billed Crow
15. Green-backed Tit
16. Yellow-browed Tit
17. Black-throated Tit
18. Black-throated Prinia
19. Grey-sided Bush Warbler
20. Lemon-rumped Warbler
21. Green-crowned Warbler
22. Chestnut-crowned Warbler
23. Rufous-capped Babbler
24. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
25. Striated Laughingthrush
26. Streaked Laughingthrush
27. Scaly Laughingthrush
28. Black-faced Laughingthrush
29. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
30. Rusty-fronted Barwing
31. Strip-throated Barwing
32. Red-billed Leiothrix
33. Blue-winged Siva
34. Bar-throated Siva
35. Red-tailed Minla
36. Black-eared Shrike Babbler
37. Rufous-winged Fulvetta
38. Rufous Sibia
39. Whiskered Yuhina
40. Stripe-throated Yuhina
41. Rufous-vented Yuhina
42. Black-throated Parrotbill
43. Fire-tailed Myzornis
44. White-tailed Nuthatch
45. White-collared Blackbird
46. Grey-winged Blackbird
47. Golden Bush Robin
48. Black Redstart
49. Blue-fronted Redstart
50. Grey Bushchat
51. Little Pied Flycatcher
52. Slaty-blue Flycatcher
53. Verditer Flycatcher
54. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
55. Rufous-bellied Niltava
56. Large Niltava
57. Small Niltava
58. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
59. Mrs Gould's Sunbird
60. Green-tailed Sunbird
61. Black-throated Sunbird
62. Fire-tailed Sunbird
63. Russet Sparrow
64. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
65. Rufous-breasted Accentor
66. Grey Wagtail
67. Olive-backed Pipit
68. Pink-browed Rosefinch
69. Crimson-browed Finch
70. Red-headed Bullfinch
71. Little Bunting

Checklist in other forums:
• Facebook 
• India Biodiversity Portal

Images of Birds:

Bar-throated Siva

Chestnut-Crowned Warbler

   

Rufous-winged Fulvetta

Black-eared Shrike Babbler