I started on my second trip to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in 4 months to look at the terrain in a different season and capture some bird life. Last trip was in April 2010 – peak of summer. I heard from Manish Varma that there has been plenty of rain (that means tiger sighting can not be the priority) and the forest is having a good green cover. Manish took care of all arrangements for both the trips and I like him for his perseverance and crisis management skills!
If you need to remain in contact with the world Reliance GSM phone is the best option. Remember the park is closed on Tuesdays.
After an overnight heavy rain, morning sky was clear and we entered through the Moharli gate at 6 a.m. Day started with the sighting of a Honey Buzzard. I was happy with myself for spotting a Monitor lizard on the trunk of a tree. Since it was stationery, after a few shots, I decided to experiment HDR photography in the wild. Here is the image.
I do remember an earlier trip to Sikkim (5 years back) where I was shown a Spotted Dove and told that it is uncommon to sight the bird! Tadoba was full of them. When I saw one of them on the tree top, I remembered the hot discussion going on within the Photographic Society of Madras Google Group on the need (or not) of a light meter for nature photography. I decided to do two sets of images and will post them soon.
Returned back to the resort for a plate of Poha and a good 2 hrs rest. I was worried about the afternoon because of a heavy downpour that lasted for an hour. Fortunately the sky cleared around 2.30 p.m. and we were back in the Tadoba region by 3.15 p.m.
It was a Shikra in a lovely perch with nice background to be followed by a pair of Spotted Doves. After a drive into the pristine forest with a lovely smell (I did Pranayama for 10 minutes in the Jeep).
I could smell the love in the air of Tadoba!
I decided to focus on the spotted doves. At that moment popped up a scene for a few seconds, I am sure I will not see in the wild again!. A pair of spotted doves was engaged in the most romantic conversation which culminated in the obvious act. I was there to capture them all in a burst of 20 frames. Thanks to Ramnath for his guidance on creating the movie from still images using Imovie. Click here to see movie.
I had the opportunity to have tiger darshan on day 3 for ten seconds and was able to capture two images. On the fourth day I was with a male tiger for over one hour. Thanks to noisy visitors and shadowing jeeps he decided not to cross the road (which was perhaps his intention) and to rest under a tree and finally move to the interior of the forest.
During my return by GT, friendly attendants in the train decided to get soft iddlies and excellent sambar from Warrangal station. I enjoed the dinner and had a good night sleep to wake up again in the concrete jungle!!!
I hope to be in Tadoba again soon. This place fascinates me…..
