tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92006497434921482822024-03-28T02:13:24.322-07:00Rajesh SachdevRajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-18927473896304224262012-01-05T00:35:00.001-08:002012-01-05T01:16:03.967-08:00Photos of the year - 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdJ9tdOIYbXt-6vM9sDXdzEBNir6D6AObFaP6r5zpNtyme_z9lPaPIE-dqJXJpx9d9EMCpEaRMV2mn-4UJmj0_sQjcDFA1-dziItGKHWPfwaspD1K1ehz-v97YwG331Gnnp9v4qr6A3at/s1600/Yeoor.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdJ9tdOIYbXt-6vM9sDXdzEBNir6D6AObFaP6r5zpNtyme_z9lPaPIE-dqJXJpx9d9EMCpEaRMV2mn-4UJmj0_sQjcDFA1-dziItGKHWPfwaspD1K1ehz-v97YwG331Gnnp9v4qr6A3at/s400/Yeoor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694067557964406626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="file:///F:/Photos%20of%20the%20year/Yeoor.JPG" alt="" /> <img src="file:///F:/Photos%20of%20the%20year/Yeoor.JPG" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/PRIMEP%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/PRIMEP%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/PRIMEP%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN"><br />Bird of the year</span></u></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Name of the Species: <b style=""><i style="">Ocyceros griseus</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Name: Malabar Grey Hornbill</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Photographed on: 18<sup>th</sup></span><span lang="EN-IN"> Dec., 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Location: Siddhagad, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Habitat: Hill slope, moist deciduous forest; on the north-west part of the sanctuary. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Description: Taking a short-cut may be rewarding sometime, but</span><span lang="EN-IN"> not always and there are exceptions, such as this.<span style=""> </span>Avinash B</span><span lang="EN-IN">hagat, Sushant More and I were on two days outing in Murbad - Bhimashankar range for t</span><span lang="EN-IN">wo days, pr</span><span lang="EN-IN">actically in a</span><span lang="EN-IN"> field type excursion, documenting every form and sign of wildlife was the motive.<span style=""> </span>We took a short-cut to ascend towards the hill, leading towards the main road and then there was a loud shrill call. Avinash shouted “Hornbill”. All eyes were on the nearby trees, searching for this large forest bird. Camouflaged in the forest canopy, it was initially difficult to locate it but after continuous calls, this bird was making perhaps for its mate, we could locate it and photographed this endemic hornbill of Western</span><span lang="EN-IN"> Ghats.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKYVpqFoNNNIkXXW7zDoHbpIptzWn_CzX2nDl_mMMPUwr6gra09H1ieQhAzMD610OoimaXIQmpCP5USA6g86QoGr77TeVe2clQ0GE_1-msnn4kfOT3WmNFsA1kdvczpM3vggtvE61PZ-r/s1600/M+G+Hornbill.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKYVpqFoNNNIkXXW7zDoHbpIptzWn_CzX2nDl_mMMPUwr6gra09H1ieQhAzMD610OoimaXIQmpCP5USA6g86QoGr77TeVe2clQ0GE_1-msnn4kfOT3WmNFsA1kdvczpM3vggtvE61PZ-r/s400/M+G+Hornbill.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694064112727592978" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN">Flora of the year<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Name of the Species: <b style=""><i style="">Ceropegia vincaefolia</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Name: Forest Flytrap (English), Kharchudi Kandil (Marathi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Photographed on: 7<sup>th</sup> August, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Location : Jummapatti, Matheran-Neral Route, Maharashtra.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Habitat: Hill slope, open forest.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Description: Termed as endemic (Western Ghats) and rare/threatened plant of the region, we (Sushant & me) were not expecting to s</span><span lang="EN-IN">ee it in Matheran. Matheran although resembles most of Sahyadri (Western Ghats) but is not literally connected to the main ridge and perhaps that is the reason that we were not actually expecting this at the said location. This record has inspired me, by and large, to prepare the check-list of flora of this hill station. The documentation, field work, is likely </span><span lang="EN-IN">to start so</span><span lang="EN-IN">on and would go on</span><span lang="EN-IN"> for couple of years.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgQ7Zm_-_lG_rqQLEuiXrpOME5mkOAqfkRIUt_bG0jJG6XxgO96068JIks0Ma0L081LLAnfma8PzHuaXFITkUQPiBU8mWN4FHTQ-Zt3Bv7wEE52f7oCWNL9AiJvoFofxBwCEqcR1onKT9/s1600/C.+vincaefolia.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgQ7Zm_-_lG_rqQLEuiXrpOME5mkOAqfkRIUt_bG0jJG6XxgO96068JIks0Ma0L081LLAnfma8PzHuaXFITkUQPiBU8mWN4FHTQ-Zt3Bv7wEE52f7oCWNL9AiJvoFofxBwCEqcR1onKT9/s400/C.+vincaefolia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694064108922861826" border="0" /></a><br /><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN">Reptile of the year<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Name of the species: <b style=""><i style="">Calliophis melanurus</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Name: Slender Coral Snake</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Photographed on: 18<sup>th</sup> December, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Location: Siddhagad, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Habitat: Rock formation on the hill slope.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Description: Rare and dangerous. One of the most v</span><span lang="EN-IN">enomous snakes of the region could have gone un-attended, had I not stepped on the nearby rock. Basking under the sun light, this reptile was lazy enough to move or might have h</span><span lang="EN-IN">ad its meal and as it is known that the snakes relax for long time after finishing their prey. Well, my only request to those snake rescuers, who intend to bottle these snakes for the sake of photography or exchange, is that please don’t do this for such a lousy reason. The snake could die in the process and the definition of snake rescuing might be just other way round.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwKm4OTpWnD_KmWls-ZgP6R86pzWh72ISoG7Njdrn-Yqb4P16cyth_PEcvBalDuIzdXNkI-vX2U_78OfqmJhrueAsKNDT6r9EredHHF_t4giruK6dPk-LzdBSosFJU39mhx6x-cMhNwAJ/s1600/S+C+Snake.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwKm4OTpWnD_KmWls-ZgP6R86pzWh72ISoG7Njdrn-Yqb4P16cyth_PEcvBalDuIzdXNkI-vX2U_78OfqmJhrueAsKNDT6r9EredHHF_t4giruK6dPk-LzdBSosFJU39mhx6x-cMhNwAJ/s400/S+C+Snake.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694064117280594178" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN">Butterfly of the year<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Name of the species: <b style=""><i style="">Papilio polymnestor</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Name: Blue Mormon</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Photographed on: 5<sup>th</sup> November, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Location: Mukki Range, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Habitat: Under forest canopy of typical Sal forest of Satpuda Range.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Description: A usual talk with Vinay, a local naturalist, t</span><span lang="EN-IN">urned out to be productive when he pointed out to the large flying butterfly. Blue Morm</span><span lang="EN-IN">on, otherwise quick flier was looking for place to rest. And that was, the never lose, opportunity for me, which I grabbed. Otherwise, this chap is always far away from photographing. Termed as , if not rare, uncommon bigger butterfly of the region.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYd0AZ7ndumneV-3caJ4c_mTK3p5Me_bk3l7ql_nBgfti_yuJMw5Al05lXymxaC82apYqIs_d3rua-LSLkKAPnDEJzfmfqYpP3AEri-fOlJTh6PqS469K_UOslh2LnzQ8GoKNInAuGBkl/s1600/Blue+Mormon.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYd0AZ7ndumneV-3caJ4c_mTK3p5Me_bk3l7ql_nBgfti_yuJMw5Al05lXymxaC82apYqIs_d3rua-LSLkKAPnDEJzfmfqYpP3AEri-fOlJTh6PqS469K_UOslh2LnzQ8GoKNInAuGBkl/s400/Blue+Mormon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694064105693856338" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN">Mam</span></u><u><span style="line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-IN">mal of the year<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Name of the Species: </span><b style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);" lang="EN-IN">Cervus duvauceli brande</span></i></b><b style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);" lang="EN-IN">ri</span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Name: Central Indian Hard-ground Barasingha</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Photographed on: 20<sup>th</sup> October, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Location: Mukki Range, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN">Habitat: Reclaimed lake, fine grassland.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IN">Description: Huge building pressure for tiger sighting, people forget to feel the realm of something called endemism. Everyone is just behind the stripped beauty but get disappointed, if tigers, just, don’t show off. But is t</span><span lang="EN-IN">hat all about the great Indian Biodiversity?<span style=""> </span>Those promoting the TIGER TOURISM need to think and tour beyond tigers. Before I joined for my assignment, at Kanha, I was reminded to photograph and document the behaviour of these large ungulates. Unfortunately I had to drop my assignment for my family commitments but those working in this landscape, please pursue this study and it is worth a much.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMdocXgG4SWo58f4EUpuzezJKgnczPMXIayZmND6P4QLpIRTzyZco-5jCxyJkA6y3NMNcRMGldhNSIl9m76tXNSRHAqOarkrpJnRxAJmv2get4YiLo5EcT-cNeOhO_B7dAj4iFSIsw24_/s1600/Barasingha.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMdocXgG4SWo58f4EUpuzezJKgnczPMXIayZmND6P4QLpIRTzyZco-5jCxyJkA6y3NMNcRMGldhNSIl9m76tXNSRHAqOarkrpJnRxAJmv2get4YiLo5EcT-cNeOhO_B7dAj4iFSIsw24_/s400/Barasingha.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694064101595615106" border="0" /></a></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-8640596468137959832011-09-12T02:18:00.000-07:002011-09-12T02:32:08.849-07:00Report : Rajmachi Nature Trek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnosuxO2cU_AQm4lwKhKlBmbySoX2v2paUv_7HSBRZYzKOvIcDMzK1KTcUsrrj-k1IzdvY77k_T5zm-o2telkL8KloZc0Iu-f0rjsdst1a2TrDXfyrAZ1o9lDMiOmN2mYczAHHT3sqhRT/s1600/P9110150.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnosuxO2cU_AQm4lwKhKlBmbySoX2v2paUv_7HSBRZYzKOvIcDMzK1KTcUsrrj-k1IzdvY77k_T5zm-o2telkL8KloZc0Iu-f0rjsdst1a2TrDXfyrAZ1o9lDMiOmN2mYczAHHT3sqhRT/s200/P9110150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651403280027638850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS_v7y_izGttN3F0_fsc6o_BlkUFp8c6bRJjNBM79nTDV2fvxVgkXG99JOmzJsRBZydJERmypWh-pUzqpBoE-pDmVohN-pwUNNkaDTRItREeroaW-rBb7oui1EU15RJkJ0UkFRslzAPfe/s1600/P9100105.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS_v7y_izGttN3F0_fsc6o_BlkUFp8c6bRJjNBM79nTDV2fvxVgkXG99JOmzJsRBZydJERmypWh-pUzqpBoE-pDmVohN-pwUNNkaDTRItREeroaW-rBb7oui1EU15RJkJ0UkFRslzAPfe/s200/P9100105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651403278438418786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuspDvNQiYhU769smZcU0ECdldX15eZKEldnWomZwDjeBT6VX8yPJhKj3qIiiWUvl_uKuEGf_pFZmVU8Z8INpcDM-fPCBOx1nmxTMubCL5lJyqts-Bj2s1IalmR-5wif0fcjcHs4GWWKl/s1600/P9100101.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuspDvNQiYhU769smZcU0ECdldX15eZKEldnWomZwDjeBT6VX8yPJhKj3qIiiWUvl_uKuEGf_pFZmVU8Z8INpcDM-fPCBOx1nmxTMubCL5lJyqts-Bj2s1IalmR-5wif0fcjcHs4GWWKl/s200/P9100101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651403272841492162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje99q_X_e465NGrbsYEe2uIlgJwWwEvqzV8xOBAxPZpLV0fyoEMuo1IGejkEu23qEvM6Olc7-LwyQZ9eaKJlJ03Cz3yffh4CSXeZEsYo6V8cJjWNofGAoNEge2FQMdDNpy_3GnvlGr7fhf/s1600/P9100086.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje99q_X_e465NGrbsYEe2uIlgJwWwEvqzV8xOBAxPZpLV0fyoEMuo1IGejkEu23qEvM6Olc7-LwyQZ9eaKJlJ03Cz3yffh4CSXeZEsYo6V8cJjWNofGAoNEge2FQMdDNpy_3GnvlGr7fhf/s200/P9100086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651403268924210722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc5QSOGJu1kYkibeydoHlvKv3eSbmF0hH8_-38m-3i8r5AUkH2GrKa_R6PKZGeo3v-cgjUdmNDeQe1gi2rspiJfTXXVFwIaHN3y5EhYDKKn3xgAMLe_SKa9y4mpjJP0T1Nhz7XZGTTI2I/s1600/P9100065.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc5QSOGJu1kYkibeydoHlvKv3eSbmF0hH8_-38m-3i8r5AUkH2GrKa_R6PKZGeo3v-cgjUdmNDeQe1gi2rspiJfTXXVFwIaHN3y5EhYDKKn3xgAMLe_SKa9y4mpjJP0T1Nhz7XZGTTI2I/s200/P9100065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651403234421819474" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Amidst the natural calls of Brown Headed Barbet, Grey Jungle Fowl and Greater Coucal, my mobile alarm at 6`o clock performed the role of perfect alien and played no difference to us since we were little tired and decided to sleep for another extra hour, which was beyond the schedule. This was the story of the second day`s start at Rajmachi, which had heavy cloud gatherings on atop the fort, for which we were planned to explore on this day, but couldn`t. The first day, given us many sightings, few of them lifer, few were uncommon and few were expected but the second day, was not that much promising.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The Rajmachi Nature Trek got 6 participants, a very decent number, ensured good sightings. Specially, at such famous trekking destinations, where hoards of people drop in during weekends and disturb the whole environs, we were much comfortable in this size.<span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The 10<sup>th</sup> September, 2011, Sarang Naik, Tushar Parab, Sushant More, Manish Nakhwa, Advait Ghaisas and me started our trek from Tungarli village, after having our breakfast at Lonavala city, at sharp 9.15am, as pre-decided.<span> </span>Rajmachi, was a long trek, covering 16 Kms of uphill walk, the closest point for Mumbaikars in Western Ghats. The sky was filled with clouds with slight rains and limited light for camera savvys.<span> </span>Our day started with as usual Red Whiskered Bulbul right at the base of Tungarli Dam and finished with a filmy type fight between multiple frogs at night, for an earth worm. The stunning Ulhas Valley and River, mesmerized all of us, with its fate, further down at Karjat, where it is most polluted. The short discussion with the local villager, confirmed the number of wild denizens have declined over the last 4-5 years, along with tree cover as well. He affirmed that Hyeana, Leopard and wild boar are still seen at occasions and predators were blamed for carrying away the local poultry occasionally. He denied to have seen vultures from last few years, which used to be abundant here, earlier according to him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The second day 11<sup>th</sup> September, was spend much of trekking down on slippery hill slopes, on the way to Kondane caves and village, resulting in sudden fall on mossy rocks and getting hurt<span> </span>and obvious victims were Sushant, Advait and me. This day given us unforgettable sighting of an Orange Oakleaf, which was in my wish list, and was earlier recorded from Bhimashankar WLS. The surprising sighting was of Karvi, a single shrub, seen in blooming.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The two days nature trek went absolutely fine and all of us were very happy with the experience that we<span> </span>all had and promised to meet each other for our next trek to Kas (Maharashtra`s valley of flowers), Satara, scheduled in this month end. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Classified Sightings:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Birding –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Jungle Bush Quail</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Grey Junglefowl</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Peafowl (heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">White Cheeked Barbet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Brown Headed Barbet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Grey Hornbill (heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Small Blue Kingfisher</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">White Throated Kingfisher (heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Eurasian Cuckoo (heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Greater Coucal</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">House Swift</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Alpine Swift</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Laughing Dove</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Spotted Dove</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (observed at Karjat station)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Oriental Honey Buzzard</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Pair of Common Kestrel (probably have killed a wolf snake)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Little Cormorant</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Cormorant</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Rufous Treepie (Heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Large Billed Crow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Eurasian Golden Oriole</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Large Cuckooshrike</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Iora</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Malabar Whistling Thrush (Heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Oriental Magpie Robin</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Pied Bushchat</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Dusky Craig Martin</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Red Vented Bulbul</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Red Whiskered Bulbul</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Ashy Prinia</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Grey Breasted Prinia</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Jungle Babbler</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Sunbird (?)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Wagtail (?)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Scaly Breasted Munia</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Butterflies –</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Plain Banded Awl</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Malabar Spotted Flat</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Spotted Flat</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Tamil Grass Dart</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Rice Swift</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Chestnut Bob</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Tailed Jay</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Mormon</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Blue Mormon</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Grass Yellow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Jezebel</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Glassy Tiger</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Crow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Baronet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Castor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Chocolate Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Great Eggfly</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Lemon Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Orange Oakleaf</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Blue Oakleaf</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Common Hedge Blue</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Flora- (the name in brackets refer to local marathi name)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Costus speciosus (Koshta)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Clerodendrum serratum (Bharang)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Hibiscus Tetraphyllus (Ran bhendi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Helicteres isora (Murud Sheng)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Carvia callosa (Karvi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Ecbolium ligustrinum (Ekboli)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Lantana Camara (ghaneri)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Momordica dioica (Kartoli)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Thunbergia fragrans (Chimine)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Curculigo orchiodes (kali musali)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Curcuma Pseudomontana (Ran halad)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Hypoxis aurea (Sontara)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Zingiber neesanum (Nisam)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Eriocaulon sedgewickii (Gend)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Pinda Concanensis (Panda)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Begonia Crenata (Kapru)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Celosia argentea (Kombda)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Trichodesma indicum (Chhota kalpa)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Corchorus olitorius (Banpat)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Chlorophytum breviscapum (Phulkadi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Habenaria longicorniculata (sheput Habe-amri)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Impatiens balsamina (Terda)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Impatiens lawii (Jambhala terda)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Exacum lawii (Lahan chirayat)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Exacum pumilum (Jambhli chirayat)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Aeginetia indica (Gulab-dani)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Conscora diffusa (Kilwar)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Senecio bombayensis (Sonki)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Commelina haskarlii (Kamalini)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Acacia Torta (Chilarwel)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Commelina diffusa (Gandologi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Paracaryopsis lambertiana (Hirvi nisurdi)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Eclipta Prostrata (Bhringaraj)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Murdannia Spirata</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Murdannia wightii</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Murdannia versicolor</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">So, this was an end of the trip report………</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Best Regards</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Rajesh Sachdev </span></p><p></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-45746517330333356542011-08-22T04:32:00.000-07:002011-08-22T04:37:00.335-07:00Nature Trail to Matheran<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNaMo9Zc2k7CC_HFV7FKK2AGFnIJ1grtSL6ruq3jgRHt5uM7N8B4oNG26OcHJcqDhR1-28kBKvSw2wTvpXFxcuDOTnP454pKFgjQERV50gq2Zk7EZzOmcR_lyjgZq0nhsPRKull2Z7aB4/s1600/Eagle.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNaMo9Zc2k7CC_HFV7FKK2AGFnIJ1grtSL6ruq3jgRHt5uM7N8B4oNG26OcHJcqDhR1-28kBKvSw2wTvpXFxcuDOTnP454pKFgjQERV50gq2Zk7EZzOmcR_lyjgZq0nhsPRKull2Z7aB4/s200/Eagle.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643642812390942146" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSDopTYvLFlOnYvRYmL3lCUMKQc7Vt6_GFOkT7jIAgE1utbohWidHvclkAAMcrRqYJnZLRPQQpexJp_6txjKXiAOe2oLi-OdAmh_V4b2GGFgq__dFQKKTQypV8_V60cpjy4PQsUPPfvDo/s1600/Common+Tree+Brown.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSDopTYvLFlOnYvRYmL3lCUMKQc7Vt6_GFOkT7jIAgE1utbohWidHvclkAAMcrRqYJnZLRPQQpexJp_6txjKXiAOe2oLi-OdAmh_V4b2GGFgq__dFQKKTQypV8_V60cpjy4PQsUPPfvDo/s200/Common+Tree+Brown.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643642806143634466" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dAq_ocpTdBP45Wz-2_FfzVnM5Y7GnTzZDOTDfjcYkQGDz_6qB1AMamHCaXXKVt2oeH8XOl4ToXMekZFNsm5wX5i60l7b66FmoozwGAWQa5Sh3LOEsgUt0fMjMdwT9EUzeTeI_kF-4CBg/s1600/Commelina.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dAq_ocpTdBP45Wz-2_FfzVnM5Y7GnTzZDOTDfjcYkQGDz_6qB1AMamHCaXXKVt2oeH8XOl4ToXMekZFNsm5wX5i60l7b66FmoozwGAWQa5Sh3LOEsgUt0fMjMdwT9EUzeTeI_kF-4CBg/s200/Commelina.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643642806881173458" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLbna9yVLmxbi-p7aeX4wdt6AaP9vbeR8YebReiKRAYey2oF2kcPpHtWCIVXQ3T-lGuSZL21qWjL7BEDbezlBIsgEwvjmnM1oM589F_GvlOzwGDVkJIAtidM_ymQ8joK7tassF65F_I-y/s1600/ceropegia+attenuata.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLbna9yVLmxbi-p7aeX4wdt6AaP9vbeR8YebReiKRAYey2oF2kcPpHtWCIVXQ3T-lGuSZL21qWjL7BEDbezlBIsgEwvjmnM1oM589F_GvlOzwGDVkJIAtidM_ymQ8joK7tassF65F_I-y/s200/ceropegia+attenuata.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643642801948438930" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzMwLrtgPrUr_6ZMuZQAXNi85EHJ_sffquN45sT5vAO7mzbdEEAIVtR9kGmCaMORO6aZ4-BUqq5OBnHRngKJZTzqDdHL0r5FcgTnAmRYEEIETCDEyvq_hgPXxLziiMyenopr7eAHzrp1h/s1600/C.+vincaefolia.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 73px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzMwLrtgPrUr_6ZMuZQAXNi85EHJ_sffquN45sT5vAO7mzbdEEAIVtR9kGmCaMORO6aZ4-BUqq5OBnHRngKJZTzqDdHL0r5FcgTnAmRYEEIETCDEyvq_hgPXxLziiMyenopr7eAHzrp1h/s200/C.+vincaefolia.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643642803035884690" /></a>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">It was my preconceived notion that our day would be extremely good, if our first sighting, at Matheran, is Indian Giant Squirrel. At time and again, the Shakharoo (state animal of Maharashtra), had given me its appearance in this hill station at every alternative visit. The last visit, just two weeks ago, we (Me and Sushant More) saw one with its identical rattling cries. This time, although we were not optimistic for its sighting, but it would have been more welcomed, if at all any.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Ten suburbanites from Mumbai (Sarang Naik, Sushant More, Avinash Bhagat, Sonal Naik, Saurabh Gokhale, Tushar Parab, Anish Kadam, Nilesh Bhanage, Mandar Sawant and myself) attended the Matheran nature trail on August, 21<sup>st</sup> 2011 , a plain downhill walk (of apprx 15 Kms), along the Matheran- Neral toy train route. Our last visit, as mentioned, after seeing the Indian Giant Squirrel, was very much fascinating in terms of observing two Ceropegia species (<i>ceropegia attenuata</i> and <i>ceropegia Vincaefolia</i>), which are termed as not only endemic to Western Ghats, but also rare enough in the region. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At around 7.30 AM we all reached at Neral station, as pre-decided.<span> </span>After having our light breakfast, in nearby restaurant, we took shared taxis to Dastoori point (the last limit of motor vehicles), and started the trail. 10 people, with different mindset and different objectives to photography, ensured the group is not assembling or walking in bulk, but scattering oneself individually. Initially, me and Sushant scanned the nearby tree line for Indian Giant Squirrel, but later given up with perhaps no hope. Avinash, for his earlier leg injury, had to compromise on speed of walk, but we were not in hurry atleast for next 8 hours. The day started with small herb <i>Utricularia striatula</i> (local name chire-papni) and ended with Common Tree Brown butterfly.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Here is the classified list of our observations of the day.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Birds</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">White rumped shama</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Brown headed barbet (heard)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Peafowl (female)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Rufous woodpecker</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Greater Coucal</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">House swift</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>7)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Laughing dove</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>8)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Un IDed raptor (up for Identification)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>9)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Golden Fronted Leafbird</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>10)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Scarlet Minivet</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>11)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Malabar Whistling Thrush</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>12)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Red Vented Bulbul</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>13)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Red Whiskered Bulbul (the numbers of this most common bird of Matheran, is dwindling)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>14)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Ashy Prinia</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>15)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Thick Billed Flowerpecker</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Reptiles</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Bamboo Pit Viper</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Russel`s Viper</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian garden Lizard</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Keeled Grass Skink</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Butterflies</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Malabar Spotted Flat</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Spotted Flat</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Small Banded Swift</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Grass Demon</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Bluebottle</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Blue Mormon</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>7)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Grass Yellow</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>8)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Glassy Tiger</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>9)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Tree brown</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>10)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Fivering</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>11)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Chocolate Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>12)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Painted Lady</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>13)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Danaid Eggfly</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>14)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Blue Oakleaf</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Flora</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Terminalia arjun (Arjun)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Acacia torta (Chilarwel)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Helicteres isora (murud-sheng)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Lantana camara (Ghaneri)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Ceropegia vincaefolia (Kandil kharchudi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Tonningia axillaris (Bechka)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>7)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Chlorophytum tuberosum (kuli)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>8)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Curcuma pseudomontana (Ran halad)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>9)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Pinda Concanensis (Panda)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>10)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Begonia Crenata (Kapru)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>11)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Celosia argentea (Kombda)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>12)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Impatiens acaulis (Pan-terda)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>13)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Trichodesma indicum (chhota kalpa)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>14)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Sonerila scapigera (sonerila)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>15)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Rhamphicarpa longiflora (Tutari)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>16)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Impatiens balsamina (Terda)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>17)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Impatiens lawii (jambhala terda)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>18)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Neanotis lancifolia (Taraguchha)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>19)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Sesamum orientale (Rantil)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>20)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Utricularia striatula (Chire-papni)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>21)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Commelina Benghalensis (Kena)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>22)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Cynotis fasciculate (Nilwanti)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>23)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Smithia Sensitiva (Lajalu-kawla)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>24)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Aeginetia indica (Gulab-dani)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>25)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Senecio bombayensis (Sonki)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>26)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Acacia auriculiformis (Vilayati Babhul)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>27)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Solanum anguivi (Chinchurdi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>28)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Aeschynomene americana</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>29)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Commelina diffusa (Gandologi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>30)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Paravaryopsis lambertiana (Hirvi nisurdi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>31)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Ceropegia attenuate (Sada khantudi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>32)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Eclipta prostrata (Maka)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>33)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Murdannia spirata</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>34)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Sida rhombifolia (Sahadevi)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN"><span>35)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Chlorophytum ssp.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">PS .: There are few species (flowers, Amphibian and<span> </span>a raptor) still to be IDed, shall update the same ASAP. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The weather was cloudy and it rained at fewer occasions. We were carrying our supply of light food (mainly snacks and biscuits and sweets) and water and took breaks at pre-decided time. The good rain cover (umbrella, rain coat and rucksack cover) ensured that we were in position to photograph, even when it rained. It was thoroughly an enjoyable trek for all of us and train journey was also quite comfortable. <span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The next trip is planned for Rajmachi (Two days nature trek in the mid of September) and Flora Walk to Kas (two days trip in the end of September). And then the Great Himalayan Birdcount, in start of November at Dehradun.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">See you soon!</span></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-32754860635955561492011-06-28T00:45:00.000-07:002011-06-29T02:53:36.615-07:00Harishchandragad -trek, transformation or expedition to wildlife sanctuary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNYKqpjKyThsf_QELA91cbAwet776g0EEdSZatdxW0IIm6eRLDg81uQ8HoiFJEXbQURzL9XNzx6Tvdfi_O5EygORhd0SEOxWvXOP0ykLjDtZHk1b26Tf3UiMyPqCJN7E6IqWBVcBph7hR/s1600/Yam+Fruit.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNYKqpjKyThsf_QELA91cbAwet776g0EEdSZatdxW0IIm6eRLDg81uQ8HoiFJEXbQURzL9XNzx6Tvdfi_O5EygORhd0SEOxWvXOP0ykLjDtZHk1b26Tf3UiMyPqCJN7E6IqWBVcBph7hR/s200/Yam+Fruit.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623176071233839282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBybRknV02GoNXhp-1AgUQ6m90VOkBFQIbUORfNnoblMvtefEgyixJ0vX5NUKwpl4I702TRUcme3jkA-9_i72cpDNknYW3vbRJFTPTVfxCo65ruptffi0EMBZ1Tc2AJxsB2HxarlRRN8rh/s1600/Temple.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBybRknV02GoNXhp-1AgUQ6m90VOkBFQIbUORfNnoblMvtefEgyixJ0vX5NUKwpl4I702TRUcme3jkA-9_i72cpDNknYW3vbRJFTPTVfxCo65ruptffi0EMBZ1Tc2AJxsB2HxarlRRN8rh/s200/Temple.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623176068833458370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI36r7JlziXBw8v9DGKrNqM2shM3NNXAPu5YtCBd62qrBYbkjHpliWlJqHzVozsROwfUrGDCXNXorQ6RLgAqusPgpxBEWunwj626ScSreaOp4Utv-xRMrgvkYhfTjPrSpVoCjiBlKCEs4/s1600/Shilp+Kari.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI36r7JlziXBw8v9DGKrNqM2shM3NNXAPu5YtCBd62qrBYbkjHpliWlJqHzVozsROwfUrGDCXNXorQ6RLgAqusPgpxBEWunwj626ScSreaOp4Utv-xRMrgvkYhfTjPrSpVoCjiBlKCEs4/s200/Shilp+Kari.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623176066561688818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhSdse8uzPedjc4e1ML5PvOgqqYsVo5agYlPzP1Kw7xoXDJz6Xx-GAK2m9bC4hOSOut8VCPH9d21Yec85adi4U-30-5uR1G_O0xdb8V55XtYSCxeYKxvAQfshx7kn_0vQVBId7TEsipu8/s1600/Praying+Mantids.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhSdse8uzPedjc4e1ML5PvOgqqYsVo5agYlPzP1Kw7xoXDJz6Xx-GAK2m9bC4hOSOut8VCPH9d21Yec85adi4U-30-5uR1G_O0xdb8V55XtYSCxeYKxvAQfshx7kn_0vQVBId7TEsipu8/s200/Praying+Mantids.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623176062236716882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLDrOIeyqERT9730Hx3ITLP0vFAas_Y5JLN2nGyYnV2NXoLgltNoCpP9pJv4TVqumlCy6u7nQG7uwwmk6MdMdR816nKlSplS141Wx41ai2MnvZe-HH_k9cUBdI_WMUw4h-FtnqkwzRCHM/s1600/How+green+is+Sahyadri.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLDrOIeyqERT9730Hx3ITLP0vFAas_Y5JLN2nGyYnV2NXoLgltNoCpP9pJv4TVqumlCy6u7nQG7uwwmk6MdMdR816nKlSplS141Wx41ai2MnvZe-HH_k9cUBdI_WMUw4h-FtnqkwzRCHM/s200/How+green+is+Sahyadri.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623176057973932210" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">“ALL THE BEST”, was regular SMS from one of my friend, who responded to my regular Facebook status update, on countdown for Trek to Harishchandragad. I took it very offhandedly, since these comments are quite casual. But, was there any need of him SMSing me on my mobile? I was not able to understand, perhaps, till I descended down from this high altitude trek of northern Sahyadri or let’s say 5B zone of Western Ghats. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">This trek was organised by Kalavardhini Prathishthan, an organisation, which is in the field of trekking and mountaineering since last 10 years or so. Around 30 participants were suppose to attend it, which meant that planning of logistics and execution must be well managed. And that was the reason for the organisers to opt for a chartered bus, from the origin (Thane) to base (Khideshwar) and back, via Kalyan, for two days. I along with 5 more individuals were picked up from Shivaji Chowk, Kalyan at<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>1.00 AM on 25<sup>th</sup> June, 2011<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and rest 22 individuals were already in bus from the origin i.e. Thane. The formal introduction, without waste of any time was done in the bus itself. I realize that apart from four individuals, I didn`t knew any one, and these four individuals were also unknown to the rest of team, and thus we were called as “new comers”.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The drive between Murbad to Malshej Ghat tunnel was very much misty, even the professional bus driver had to negotiate with such non-visibility. At often and again, he almost zeroed down the speed on the Ghats, and fortunately at that point of time (between 4AM – 5AM), the traffic was also sparse. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Anyways, at around 05.30 AM we all reached at Khideshwar (base of our expedition), Saurabh Thakekar (one of the founder member of Kalavardhini Prathishthan and my good friend), instructed us to have rest for another hour or so, before we start this trek. I don’t know, who followed him, but there was complete silence during this hour. And at around 6.30 AM, after having cup of hot tea, we started our trek.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The start of the trek was clear plain walk (around a kilometre), with beautiful landscaped scenes, including typical village life, cattle, well , rice fields and gushing waterfalls from the surrounding tall mountains. From 2600 feet (Mean Sea Level) to 4100 feet, this was to be uphill trek of around 7 Kms. Thankfully, the route was clearly indicated with arrow marks, making it easy for climbers to head towards right direction.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Must to mention, Harishchandragad is part of Kalsubai – Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary, spread up in apprx 300 Sq. Kms of area, part of Nashik Wildlife Circle, in Maharashtra Western Ghats region, notified as protected area (PA) in 1986. This PA has few of the best surviving patches of northern evergreen forest types of Western Ghats, but majority of patches have declining close canopy forests, excluding the hills and hill tops, which are rugged and not easily accessible. Few of uncommon species which are reported in this PA , earlier, are Indian Giant Squirrel, Sambar, Indian Crested Porcupine, Leopard, Ruddy Mongoose, Hyena, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Palm Civet, Jungle Cat , Wild Boar, Indian Rufous Babbler, Bonelli`s Eagle, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Hanging parrot, White Bellied Minivet, Long Billed Vultures and White Rumped Vultures. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Anyways, coming back to my trip, the patch of the initial plain walk had Persicaria glabra ( Marathi Name: Sheral, Common English Name :<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Common Marsh Buckwheat),this plant grows along the marshy areas, in this case, there were flooded rice fields, where a White Breasted Water-hen also feasted on these fields. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thereafter, as the terrain became hilly, the abundant cucurma pseudomontana (Marathi Name: Ran halad, Common English Name: Wild Turmeric) appeared on the forest floor. The identical whistling calls of Malabar Whistling Thrush, Brown Headed Barbet and Orange Headed Thrush were often heard then seen. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">But the twist of the highly excited journey fussed, when my health collapsed, due to dehydration. My haversack was almost 10 Kgs in weight, which added up to another problem. The need of the urgency, as felt by my co-travellers, was to take away my bag and carry it up by them and to immediately offer me electoral mixed water, sweets and glucose biscuits. In honest approach, I was feeling ashamed, for all my preparations, which went in vain. Nilesh & Sushant took every step for my care and encouraged me at time and again that ALL IS WELL. I was afraid that all I ate, my stomach may throw out. But, we had to trek up and standing in the midst of rains was absolutely not the option.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">I think, <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was bit more comfortable, after we reached and relaxed for some time at Vyaghrashilp (a pass which connects, Khideshwar, Harishchandragad and Otur, at 3100 feet height), which is an ancient sculpture of Tiger, formed & worshipped by earlier nomads, in protection from wild animals. The team shared their meals and also shared, especially Nilesh, the knowledge, about this temple. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The need of energy was much high, hereafter, since we were suppose to traverse through Tolar Khind, a steep and erect terrain, with few old time railings on it and on top of it light showers. This steep hilly terrain would surely be a good platform for small herbs post monsoon, which are said to be endemic to Sahyadri or of medicinal importance. One among such important medicinal plant that I saw here was Tylophora indica (Marathi Name: Pitkari, Common English Name: Panacea Twiner). <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Well trekked and well landed on the small platue, after crossing Tolar Khind, I heard someone calling me my name and this voice was of none among them, who were with me on this trek. Sipping cup of tea and raising his hand towards me, this was Nikhil Bhopale, one of well known naturalist, working with BNHS and a known friend to me from last few years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His team of less than 20 individuals were here for one day trek and were suppose to return back the same day to Panvel. Nikhil & I were together hereafter, at some occasions parted as well, till the Temple, our destination at Harishchandragad. This walk was sometimes, plain, uphill and downhill, crossing few smoothly flowing streams, much slippery and full of moss. So I think at around 12PM we reached the top and took refuge in one among the caves to freshen up our selves. Wherein as Nikhil and his team said us good bye and decided to descend down to Khideshwar, after having their food. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Our team cleared up the caves and settled in to have the food, which we were carrying with us. It was enjoyable moment to share and pass on the food brought by everyone. I, still not all fine, decided to have some rest and went in my sleeping bag, immediately.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At 3 pm the instruction came that we all are leaving for Konkankada, Taramati and Rohidas hilltops. Unwillingly I also joined the rest of team, although my body was expecting more relax, which I ignored. We ventured in nearby areas and paid a visit to Kedarling, Ganesh Temple and Vishnu Temple. Near these ancient monuments, the vegetation cover was seasonal including arisaema murrayi. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">By now the wind pressure and the its speed had increased many folded and on top of that heavy fog, at the height of 4135 feet , it was impossible to see anything beyond 4-5 feet of distance and we were heading towards Konkankada. The instructions came that all are to unzip the raincoat and tie it at waist. This situation was most difficult for those, with slim built, me being one among them. It won’t be wrong to say that this wind pressure was almost in capacity to blow away any unfixed object on that part of the earth. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The monsoon vegetation had undone all the trace marks of human presence on this trail, making it difficult for leaders to find out the way. Up, down, here, there, left, right and where not, we tried all the directions, which could have lead us to Konkankada, but no success. And unfortunately, this area had no arrow marks, which only appeared from Khideshwar to Harishchandragad temple, only. Few of experts, tried to find out the trail, but again not to succeed. Raj, the technical resource person, in such attempt, had lost its way and didn`t returned in time, back to the group. The tensed group leaders realised that this is the time of dual crisis of not only one of the important member, who was missing but also of losing on the trail and our exact location of whereabouts.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Saurabh strategically chalked out a plan, by dividing the group in three unequal parts, one to find out Raj, second to find out the way and third to be at the present location. First two groups were given exact timing to return back, irrespective of results. This was 6PM and chances of any good finding were becoming grim by every passing minute. The second group came back in 5 minutes with no indication of finding the way to <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>caves. The situation became tenser by now and all hopes were to find out the only technical person, who could have lead us to the right direction, was himself missing. Suddenly, someone shouted “Raj is found”, oh what a sigh of relief it was! All hugged him and thanked god that our friend was back.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">We, within few seconds, decided to leave our quest for Konkankada or Taramati/Rohidas shikhar and to immediately return back to the caves and this was the need of the hour after the lost and found episode of Raj. We were hardly couple of hundreds of meters away from our caves, but in such environment, it took more than 30 minutes for us to reach back to caves.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At 7PM we all reached at caves, had a chit chat and shared our knowledge of earlier experiences, prepared food for night and at 11PM we all were slept. So, it was 22 degree Celsius temperature at 4135 feet height on 25<sup>th</sup> June, 2011. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Forgot to mention, Deepti in her loud voice, instructed all to wake up next morning at sharp 6.30 AM.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Next morning, Sunday, 26<sup>th</sup> June, was relaxing day. It was relaxing because, we were not in mood to go to the areas, which we were planned to go the previous day. We all had our morning routines and had our tea and breakfast.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Some gossiped and some played games and some done abstract photography of monuments. I was part of the group, which was busy in playing Antakshri and a Marathi game called “Kaan Goshthi”. My very little knowledge about Marathi added a little of spice and sense of humour among the other players, during this game, which I enjoyed and it also helped me get more grip on the language.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">By 11AM, we all were served with lunch and thereafter we packed ourselves to trek down to base i.e. Khideshwar. This trek was suppose to take 3 hours, depending on the rains, to reach down. I must say, in monsoon, trekking up is more easy then trekking down, specially at locations, which are of rugged terrain.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Considering my health problem, Chetan, Nilesh and Vaiibhav, helped me in by sharing my haversack at timely occasions and instructing me on where to put my feet and where to not.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At 4PM we all had reached down at Khideshwar, where we all had Poha and Tea. Few also paid a visit to nearby old Shiva Temple, which I and Mayuresh, didn’t opted for and relaxed at hotel. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At 6PM our way back journey from Khideshwar to Mumbai started and at around 9 to 10PM we all were back through our chartered bus, which was stationed for last two days at Khideshwar itself. In bus, we discussed and shared our review of our experience of this trek, which was much mixed up but all echoed it to be thrilling, adventurous and fantabulous trek with awesome food. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">And, it was an end of an exciting trek. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The Harishchandragad trek was neither as easy as understood by me nor as difficult as it was projected by my friends. But yes, it was worth a visit and another, if not in rains. </span></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-71245982032486998632011-06-13T05:49:00.000-07:002011-06-13T06:07:26.360-07:00Matheran Transformation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqCi7-kD0u-DMXm1j1e8deGmFakW5zmq7B1sMv7OACfPiAT-OS0-aaXL_BNEDcmqpuDviDIpvgOrF7aF6bk2m1Dcaue5qqZXtE73iWAZ-6QZWM-FQmUIDzAgRw6QK05h6VSF6KDxl96KU/s1600/Tonningia+axillaris+%2528Bechka%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqCi7-kD0u-DMXm1j1e8deGmFakW5zmq7B1sMv7OACfPiAT-OS0-aaXL_BNEDcmqpuDviDIpvgOrF7aF6bk2m1Dcaue5qqZXtE73iWAZ-6QZWM-FQmUIDzAgRw6QK05h6VSF6KDxl96KU/s200/Tonningia+axillaris+%2528Bechka%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617689280059291826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC-EBKr4sNSId1F2qtHcSo-2r8bJ0-BNuSUoHveX5j2AelKfm4HFVZtPDEGxlcPboBpmwap7cVpeWZv2VbhQQZpechAvqSduuoYvpEglhyphenhyphenIzR9vcTLGFtcQVqkCdU08_Po7v6JCzK5I_r/s1600/Tolypanthus+Lagenifer+%2528Pela+Band-gul%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtC-EBKr4sNSId1F2qtHcSo-2r8bJ0-BNuSUoHveX5j2AelKfm4HFVZtPDEGxlcPboBpmwap7cVpeWZv2VbhQQZpechAvqSduuoYvpEglhyphenhyphenIzR9vcTLGFtcQVqkCdU08_Po7v6JCzK5I_r/s200/Tolypanthus+Lagenifer+%2528Pela+Band-gul%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617689270567628946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWZJ9-efoCQ6cb25AwEQhtG5DnYR5oNxxwGEj1RnmhBqK6ZSZtWFL0bamYdScR6Lf6KsMt3xhM0r34sxfgEXLXY22c7qVAd2LyFzivwJPgGOb5ee-mWUZhhpLv3QZH2UruBL4-CgJ0RCE/s1600/Lamprachaenium+microcephalum+%2528Brahmadandi%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWZJ9-efoCQ6cb25AwEQhtG5DnYR5oNxxwGEj1RnmhBqK6ZSZtWFL0bamYdScR6Lf6KsMt3xhM0r34sxfgEXLXY22c7qVAd2LyFzivwJPgGOb5ee-mWUZhhpLv3QZH2UruBL4-CgJ0RCE/s200/Lamprachaenium+microcephalum+%2528Brahmadandi%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617689256503496082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR5VEC0xRhpQHKQA7Z4FYttyukdEFQ-x4tUncigQ7tJZ46rqRW9YUnh-ndG34Kuh44Hdm1KIDzyGPgmktqo-Aa4a1p5zYpCbmv7otZUMMBNnMYjCt1SX4mrFwETNXhCHcYY3FD6vaT1YI/s1600/Curcuma+Pseudomantana+%2528Ran+Halad%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR5VEC0xRhpQHKQA7Z4FYttyukdEFQ-x4tUncigQ7tJZ46rqRW9YUnh-ndG34Kuh44Hdm1KIDzyGPgmktqo-Aa4a1p5zYpCbmv7otZUMMBNnMYjCt1SX4mrFwETNXhCHcYY3FD6vaT1YI/s200/Curcuma+Pseudomantana+%2528Ran+Halad%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617689253016676962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9QttpkrItSPi5ju7TLO0G3h2NCzLuoEQKdIsQdqY-FaFUjSxHDuUCdNlsd4r8V1wvg9YxkReIkRNyi1WwwAQ7A9ExwiAnTL45IuRv4l6cYfEuONiHM2o6kH6X9ofC5-y_3TPTd3kVVCM/s1600/Cleome+rutidosperma+%2528Nili+Tilwan%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9QttpkrItSPi5ju7TLO0G3h2NCzLuoEQKdIsQdqY-FaFUjSxHDuUCdNlsd4r8V1wvg9YxkReIkRNyi1WwwAQ7A9ExwiAnTL45IuRv4l6cYfEuONiHM2o6kH6X9ofC5-y_3TPTd3kVVCM/s200/Cleome+rutidosperma+%2528Nili+Tilwan%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617689248709751890" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">“Sorry Rajesh, just can`t join you for Matheran trek, due to heavy spell of rains, shall do it next time”. This was SMS, from my Mumbai based friend, received in my mobile inbox at 01.30 AM of 12<sup>th</sup> June, 2011. I would say he was lucky enough to have his Camera saved from the heavy rains or was he unlucky enough to feel the magic that was transforming the ‘WILD MATEHRAN’</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">On Sunday, at Neral Station, Nilesh Bhanage and me were waiting for our two more companions, who were suppose to join us from Thane in next coming train. Neral station, being on the fringes of Sahyadri Mountains has several streams and small fresh water bodies, during the monsoon, with very good tree cover. This resulted in good birding activity with sighting of around 15-20 Black Crown Night Herons, more than 10 Little Cormorants, around 5 Indian Cormorants, pair of Oriental Magpie Robin, pair of Jungle Myna, solitaire Asian Pied Starling scavenging on litter and a lone hovering Shikra. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A toy train was just teaming up with its engine and tourists were ready to get aboard for their two hours journey to Matheran, which was not our plan. Our plan was to hire the cab till Dastoori and then walk till panorama point (3kms) and thereafter trek down through the narrow gauge railway tracks till Jumma Patti (10 Kms). Till the time, my two friends joined us, I photographed the flora around the station, including Cleome rutidosperma (Nili Tilwan), Heliotropium indicum (Bhurundi) and Tonningia axillaris (Bechka).</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;border:none black 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none black 0in;padding:0in; background:black;mso-font-width:0%;layout-grid-mode:line"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">The tourists were getting themselves photographed in front of train engine to pose “Yes, I was there” and we were waiting for our friends, having sip of tea. At 7.30AM my friends arrived and immediately we hired the cab to Dastoori (Around 7 kms of uphill drive).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">Viraj Kute (A botanist and photographer), Shubham Darveshi (A Class Tenth student), Nilesh and me adjusted in Taxi, reached at Dastoori Naka and had a quick breakfast and ventured into the deep forest, walking towards the Panorama Point. This patch of forest, in the heavy monsoon resembles to the rain forest of North East, very deep and dark, almost impossible to photograph anything without flash based camera.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">The start of this trail and we were greeted with sighting of Orange Headed Thrush (cynotus race) , perhaps no one could photograph it, since we were not suppose to use flash, to shoo away the bird. But photography was not a major concern for all of us, we wanted to document “the transformation” as much as we can, which had just started. A single Amorphophallus commutatus (Shevla), among the dry leaf litter, given us a satisfying pose. The continuous calls of Malabar Whistling Thrush, Brown Headed Barbet, Red Whiskered Bulbul, White Rumped Shama and Puff Throated Babbler were chasing us like ghost but not giving their appearance. And these birds had a reason to not give us the appearance. In every five minutes, there was hoard of people (tourists), wearing red, white, yellow and what not, passing through us, and shouting, on this trail. We allowed those tourists to go ahead of us, for at least 500 mtrs., so that we can have some sightings, in tranquillity. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">This traditionally used strategy worked well, Nilesh pointed out to a medium size bird perched high on a dry tree branch. The otherwise difficult to locate, in such dense tree cover, White Cheeked Barbet, at Matheran, was clearly exposed on this bare branch. The bird, which is endemic to Sahyadri, is my second sighting in last 7 years of birding, the earlier being at same place in 2009, during MBC birdwalk.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">The forest floor was full of monsoon flora such as Arisaema murrayi (Padhra Sap-kanda), Curculigon orchioides (Kali-Musali) & Curcuma Pseudomantana (Ran Halad). The shrubs of Carvia callosa (Ka</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;border:none black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none black 0in;padding:0in;background:black;mso-font-width:0%; layout-grid-mode:line"> </span><span lang="EN-IN">rvi) were also abundant, but with none among them flowering. My usual sighting of a parasitic shrub Tolypanthus legenifer (Pela band-gul) had its permanent location, which we all photographed. According to Viraj Kute (my companion of the day and Botanist as well), this shrub also flowers at Yeoor, which I am eager to document in the said area, during this monsoon. My search of unIDed flower is still not ending, which I have been looking for from 2009. And in 2011 I found another quest, one more flower to ID. We decided to have some pet pooja and after that we had a groupd photo as well. The place where we had taken our group photo, had a single small herb of Lamprachaenium microcephalum (Brahmadandi).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What Nilesh and others missed out was<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a single Crested Serpent Eagle, flew above me and went towards the town.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">The butterfly activity was absolute nil but several beetles and other insects were seen busy in mating. My team was high on hope for sighting (if not photographing) of Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) and Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta), but the heavy rain, that spilled over at 700 mtrs (MSL) of elevation, spoiled the game. But this rains also brought many Malabar Whistling Thrushes giving their identical whistle call at very other curve, perhaps every time in pair, since this is their breeding time (I assume). These birds, would surely not give us any photograph and perhaps with no more chances of photographing in such heavy rain, we packed up our cameras & binocs<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>, and decided to trek down to Neral via Toy Train railway track. This was suppose to be more than 15 Kms of route, but we were excited to JUST DO IT.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">As usual Nilesh was busy attending and forwarding his rescue calls and due to poor mobile network he had to speak loudly at occasions and often, which was little irritating, but that was part of his noble cause and was sustainable. The topography of railways tracks (Neral Matheran Railway Track)</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;border:none black 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none black 0in;padding:0in; background:black;mso-font-width:0%;layout-grid-mode:line"> </span><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>is based on hill slopes and is fantastic platform for opportunistic flora Photographers, I proudly claim to be one, but this was little early for the season, or late to say. Chlorophytum bharuchii (phulbhajji) has just started flowering and Pancratium triflorum (pan kusum), Ecbolium ligustrinum (Ekboli), Abutilon persicum (Madam) were over on this the 12<sup>th</sup> June, 2011. But finally we got few good sightings and record shot (With Nilesh) of Malabar Whistling Thrush, which was just an end of the day. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN">The calls of Malabar Whistling Thrush are yet echoing in my mind. Am I still near a stream of Matheran? <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The “Transformation” is series of my next few field trips and would be updated accordingly, having next destination at Malshej Ghat – Harishchandra Gad.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-52387912604285586342011-06-05T23:15:00.000-07:002011-06-05T23:21:45.629-07:00Tungareshwar Transformation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfNPBmV81UTF7TFlp8_xYgSNSMabYGCTYlBCQiqOWi5cP2amROpPFdZ8FqUZLPtLT3NIQuYlCIOeRQAWXZ8MR82rmrDAM-jirzU6ft97GqjEOQKfZE5HYyx4KgR_PoODkm3deHkKQfS1n/s1600/Looking+towards+South.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfNPBmV81UTF7TFlp8_xYgSNSMabYGCTYlBCQiqOWi5cP2amROpPFdZ8FqUZLPtLT3NIQuYlCIOeRQAWXZ8MR82rmrDAM-jirzU6ft97GqjEOQKfZE5HYyx4KgR_PoODkm3deHkKQfS1n/s200/Looking+towards+South.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614988054411826754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8J2ERoRX9o6PywgluI3FOADifM2Z_6eAzK0GM9j81OtR1KVNJBdfd0hgLYbFGh7vuFkIlmPMjyyud2Uo1wg5-YWE7zoXPjEsU1OOEcUbr1ZKjWlXYebXOzW3FlTQwFkQ2O4FUpOjKW7p/s1600/Fly.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8J2ERoRX9o6PywgluI3FOADifM2Z_6eAzK0GM9j81OtR1KVNJBdfd0hgLYbFGh7vuFkIlmPMjyyud2Uo1wg5-YWE7zoXPjEsU1OOEcUbr1ZKjWlXYebXOzW3FlTQwFkQ2O4FUpOjKW7p/s200/Fly.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614988043999064770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQkJKpiGq2UuwmBBTZvW-v7nSLKsFICMcVY04zmA_8rx1GRBKcCaNDtwYleHqzi-GQMj2ZTWj7G_qGDFqFO5GDnDSPkVVDZ8WrN9etx-6hJ-GCSFSbYKp5HuUAfsAQ8rk8LOjKEErCh3J/s1600/Bronze+Back+Tree+Snake.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQkJKpiGq2UuwmBBTZvW-v7nSLKsFICMcVY04zmA_8rx1GRBKcCaNDtwYleHqzi-GQMj2ZTWj7G_qGDFqFO5GDnDSPkVVDZ8WrN9etx-6hJ-GCSFSbYKp5HuUAfsAQ8rk8LOjKEErCh3J/s200/Bronze+Back+Tree+Snake.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614988041991716754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR67HKzWiarf8Gk51Qf-hx_mHHEIwYc_pvucQNItzbWrzd3R4kvTdR7SxOLqDue0DRIh6sVyBiTLiI0L-smOgPvwxY-9W9zvY4pz3n6j2_2fmGzDIuyJM1HGW5T8MVK7Y2u5f0Y6IRser5/s1600/BBTSnake.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR67HKzWiarf8Gk51Qf-hx_mHHEIwYc_pvucQNItzbWrzd3R4kvTdR7SxOLqDue0DRIh6sVyBiTLiI0L-smOgPvwxY-9W9zvY4pz3n6j2_2fmGzDIuyJM1HGW5T8MVK7Y2u5f0Y6IRser5/s200/BBTSnake.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614988031018231330" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">“Transformation” is the word, which inspired me in Adesh Shivkar’s blog last year, in which he depicted the thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance and characters of Mumbai`s Wildlife region and that is what the OXFORD DICTIONERY defined it too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Then, I had made up my mind that next year I would also gauge such transformation in hilly forests around Mumbai, including Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWLS), Matheran Hill Forest, Rajmachi , Bhimashankar WLS and my soul Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Tungareshwar was on priority having more pristine and closest approachable forest from Mumbai and around. On the World Environment Day, around 15 shutterbugs (mainly from Thane, Mulund and individuals from Dombivli, Vasai, Kandivali & Ulhasnagar) decided to feel such transformation at Tungareshwar. Most of these photographers were interested in macro world, two in butterflies, two in reptiles and four in birding etc. and this newly created WLS served us all that we were interested in, including heavy torrent rains.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Transformation, which changes the colour of forest floor, from brown leaf litter to fresh green grass. Transformation, which changes the mood of birds and reptiles, searching and running behind the mates. Transformation which enforces the spiders, butterflies, grass-hoppers, Mantids and other forest dwelling species to prepare new strategies to search for fresh food. Transformation, which changes the dry river beds to free flow fresh water streams, where several forms of aquatic life survives for these few months. But , this transformation also drives reptiles and amphibians to run behind their mates and sometimes get killed by uncontrolled speeding vehicles, even on the dirt roads of Tungareshwar.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">At 8.00 AM we all started from the forest chowki of TWLS and ended up our day till 02.00 PM at Tungareshwar Temple; what followed on this route is listed below.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">BIRDS</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Peafowl (sighting by Bhavik Thaker & Rajnikant Rathod)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Black Rumped Flameback</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Brown Headed Barbet</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Grey Hornbill</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Small Blue Kingfisher</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">White Throated Kingfisher</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">8)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Green Bee-eater</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">9)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Pied Cuckoo</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">10)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Asian Koel</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">11)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Greater Coucal</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">12)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Plum Headed Parakeet</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">13)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Asian Palm Swifts</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">14)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Black Kite</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">15)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Crested Serpent Eagle</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">16)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Shikra</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">17)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Little Cormorant</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">18)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Cattle Egret</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">19)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Pond Heron</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">20)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Golden Fronted Leafbird</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">21)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Rufous Treepie</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">22)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Large Billed Crow</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">23)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Black Drongo</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">24)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Greater Racket Tailed Drongo</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">25)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Asian Paradise Flycatcher (fully grown male)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">26)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Iora</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">27)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Jungle Myna</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">28)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Red Whiskered Bulbul</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">29)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Tailorbir</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">30)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Purple Sunbird</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">31)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Red Vented Bulbul</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">32)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">House Sparrow</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">33)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Myna</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">34)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">House Crow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Butterflies</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Malabar Spotted Flat</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Golden Angle</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Red Spotted Swordtail</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Lime Butterfly</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Rose</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Grass Yellow</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Great Orange Tip</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">8)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Psyche</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">9)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Plum Judy</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">10)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Striped Tiger</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">11)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Crow</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">12)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Bushbrown</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">13)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Baronet</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">14)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Yellow Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">15)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Chocolate Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">16)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Blue Pansy</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Reptiles</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Common Bronzeback Tree Snake</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify: inter-ideograph;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Forest Calotes</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Bronze Grass Skink</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">Monsoon Flora</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Hill Turmeric</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN">Indian Turnsole</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span lang="EN-IN">The “Transformation” is series of my next few field trips and would be updated accordingly, having next destination at Matheran.</span></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-78955962974222576442011-02-23T21:07:00.000-08:002011-02-23T21:10:56.334-08:00Man vs Wildlife vs Environemnt or simply birding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWCo3Lihu40BaZ4gh6lV2savInCCYIk1BNEjfXTjxdjQFOx0yqfc7dfSdY3WESk7vAwgMghpQQoNUdZzqxp2lfR0WULkFk1ZipCDPA_kxQmPNTjKa5t2lF3gP9VjYzV5IJkmE-wzjLxTj/s1600/Wagtail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577119019629550770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWCo3Lihu40BaZ4gh6lV2savInCCYIk1BNEjfXTjxdjQFOx0yqfc7dfSdY3WESk7vAwgMghpQQoNUdZzqxp2lfR0WULkFk1ZipCDPA_kxQmPNTjKa5t2lF3gP9VjYzV5IJkmE-wzjLxTj/s200/Wagtail.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX76Tj8Mk4QEN2V8q1RpKATINPL-kbS50KHf9UwDGCC_ZFW-pVv-C2TgtQ3G77wOhBeNORCed0XGLYZdSq-uyhFIt_V2aEG3rv7OS40cezGS35yLvOtJz9SQ6nP3MT4oWH9LsFHNRw56UU/s1600/tiger+centipede.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577119019883301010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX76Tj8Mk4QEN2V8q1RpKATINPL-kbS50KHf9UwDGCC_ZFW-pVv-C2TgtQ3G77wOhBeNORCed0XGLYZdSq-uyhFIt_V2aEG3rv7OS40cezGS35yLvOtJz9SQ6nP3MT4oWH9LsFHNRw56UU/s200/tiger+centipede.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcqnv7Q3iRl2EpleilpW5L1WzHjexMzusDbB3E944s4OreJwPOP2ilcB_eDNPbF1hpxhZb3IzgM24ZUNlS8ZohFYGuMSkc7raWtsf-PNm8xi5a-ETsj8qf1CgK0g1phk6uXIZ3ci_lRwO/s1600/Spotting+deer+or+painter.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577119018240110482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcqnv7Q3iRl2EpleilpW5L1WzHjexMzusDbB3E944s4OreJwPOP2ilcB_eDNPbF1hpxhZb3IzgM24ZUNlS8ZohFYGuMSkc7raWtsf-PNm8xi5a-ETsj8qf1CgK0g1phk6uXIZ3ci_lRwO/s200/Spotting+deer+or+painter.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1KmFm1Watn_9wbFW1SkNhXLgRLRM4K4PlZ-_01gWZl8RFZJ6jsAasZF0lkcnSlk0Pd-Xy0iJgSN57W1axovA-OhLpaK9KEy5Du9BfJ2fa745wT5H8HGYMvO2D3_DdOzvZ4X-J8jQUvGa/s1600/Sahyadri+Tiger+Reserve.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577119015653437858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1KmFm1Watn_9wbFW1SkNhXLgRLRM4K4PlZ-_01gWZl8RFZJ6jsAasZF0lkcnSlk0Pd-Xy0iJgSN57W1axovA-OhLpaK9KEy5Du9BfJ2fa745wT5H8HGYMvO2D3_DdOzvZ4X-J8jQUvGa/s200/Sahyadri+Tiger+Reserve.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3kmCSoDqcz5q5ubx0ugYHbeJcD_4aC5ol6qRPj5rHefQZ_GDoBkJzp-N1Lo46_rhFuDjG-kU72ydFOUalgjBr7d7cRmBr1DrhjfiNqCfh0QFUjC020eeoO9-i3Jtg6qQcflUy-cm1jsc/s1600/dead+common+crow+butterfly.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577119010795342354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3kmCSoDqcz5q5ubx0ugYHbeJcD_4aC5ol6qRPj5rHefQZ_GDoBkJzp-N1Lo46_rhFuDjG-kU72ydFOUalgjBr7d7cRmBr1DrhjfiNqCfh0QFUjC020eeoO9-i3Jtg6qQcflUy-cm1jsc/s200/dead+common+crow+butterfly.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">Few days ago a birder from distant suburb of Mumbai visited his home town near Satara. The most significant sighting that he was excited about was the Black Stork (ciconia nigra) of Ciconiidae family near his village Mendh in Dhebewadi, Taluka Phatan, District Satara, Maharashtra. The area falls on the outskirts of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, which was accorded in 1988, by Wildlife Institute of India, on the top priority for conservation in the Maharashtra state. 23 years down the line, the WLS sanctuary has pressure from windmills, mining, widening of the road, unregulated shifting cultivation and many more.<br />After returning to Mumbai, this birder uploaded the photograph of this large wader bird on his facebook profile along with GPS coordinates & on next photograph he captioned it “Cause of Destruction.” The birder photographed the stork in the excavated field, where a truck, carrying the debris, was seen passing through the bird. Honestly speaking, for me the cause of destruction was the truckload, full of debris. But for that fellow birder the cause of destruction was the stork, for whom a large catchment was being created in form of dam near the ESA (Environmental Sensitive Area) of newly created tiger reserve, Sahyadri (Sahyadri is Maharashtra’s fourth Tiger Reserve – 741.22 Sq. Kms , which is declared to be Critical Tiger Habitat, if the same is been approved by the Gram Panchayat under section 4(2)b and 4(2)c & 4(2)e of Forest Rights Act). Anyways coming back to the birder, he delightedly said that “we have a reason to be happy; once the catchment area is created these birds would float free in these high waters”. To remind it has been scientifically proved that these storks or cranes, even having webbed feet, spend most of time on land than on water. Was that a logically good reason for him to be happy? Did he forget that large patches of forests are being pulled down for the excuse of huge dams including Koyna, Narmada, Kali, Krishna, and many more. Have we forgotten, for time or forever, that every forest patch in India has not only birds, but mammals, reptiles, butterflies, insects and large variety of flora? On the name of such larger infrastructural development, these forest patches are being wiped out with no chance of repair for such great bio-diversity. Taking a fresh example, a recent newspaper article claimed, citing the name of top bureaucrat in forest Dept., that the wetlands of Uran would be reactivated again. Uran, which struggled to be listed as an IBA (Important Bird Area), considering its rich bird bio-diversity, took several years to establish itself as a refuge of winter/local migrants on the fringes of Thane creek. Uran was home of 160 bird species, including the first breeding (monsoon 2002) record of black-breasted weaver (ploceus benghalensis) of Ploceidae family, and all that is gone, including those jackals, jungle cats and perhaps striped hyeana, which were feeding on these wading birds. Several years or a perhaps decades of natural development was cleaned in less than 2 years by heavy machines. And it is being said that the area would regain its lost pristine glory very soon. If that is to happen, we all would be happy, driving down to Uran. But what are the chances for it to likely happen so? Most of remote areas including Thane Creek, Diva, Uran, Datiware, Talzan, Malad Creek, Nirmal & Kelve are known to be most promising but vulnerable area for birding. Deprived by uncontrolled development, some non-social activities always keep on happening there.<br /><br />With all above and many more, where do we birders go, if to do Birding in Mumbai? SGNP being off-limit for actual nature lovers, Tungareshwar being risky, Matheran being flooded with honeymoon packages, Karjat-Murbad being mushroomed with second home projects, Aarey Colony being highly disturbed due to vehicular movement, Alibaug being far off without personal vehicle. What are the options left to watch, observe and photograph the Flora and Fauna of Mumbai’s Wildlife Region. The answer is perhaps an old clock mounted on the wall, which is silent and not ticking. </div></div></div></div></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-10131923253693940732011-02-01T07:13:00.001-08:002011-02-01T07:15:29.984-08:00Life find its own way to survive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92O7iNiimiJoID-YW92CuZYjwWrY-cQjwnJMLd6ljzjyw_GebANXpuOy1WhPn4LtyuMV9L6izbKySf4OILXraA4hDeVZstIMylQzcC44TyZBg-73EiumY7_B8M3JUleu-glWyaAC1cXP-/s1600/P6090203.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92O7iNiimiJoID-YW92CuZYjwWrY-cQjwnJMLd6ljzjyw_GebANXpuOy1WhPn4LtyuMV9L6izbKySf4OILXraA4hDeVZstIMylQzcC44TyZBg-73EiumY7_B8M3JUleu-glWyaAC1cXP-/s200/P6090203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568739871524644354" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWrUVCISPcmUK5wFTJZBrxDeBHxfoYdC-O-1PubcGyH7Ya0ZPflJjNZ0j4EumebKJEbZNBXgZ4gmUABpIaGeoiQNjIyr4yO-gC47jxjV_8R9xn-sLwAFCna8Xkgb5ifS7EQs63d8ogLWw/s1600/P6090102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWrUVCISPcmUK5wFTJZBrxDeBHxfoYdC-O-1PubcGyH7Ya0ZPflJjNZ0j4EumebKJEbZNBXgZ4gmUABpIaGeoiQNjIyr4yO-gC47jxjV_8R9xn-sLwAFCna8Xkgb5ifS7EQs63d8ogLWw/s200/P6090102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568739866744740210" border="0" /></a>
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mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Hi All,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">During the 5<sup>th</sup> HSBC Mumbai BirdRace on 22<sup>nd</sup> February, 2009 my team saw our first sighting of Pied Harrier at Uran and what followed from thereon turned out to be the graveyard for the winter migrants in the area on the name of Infrastructural Development of MahaMumbai. Not on the contrary, I started assuming that perhaps Pied Harrier would never be seemed again in Mumbai’s Wildlife Region, since its only winter refuge is due for development. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">But life has to find its own way to survive and it has been proved during the evolution period of several billions of years and that is with every lifeform of flora and fauna of this blue planet or let’s say the green plant which is striving to survive despite several obstacles from all corners of manmade necessities. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">On 29<sup>th</sup> January, 2011 at around 9.45 AM I was travelling in Kalyan-Mumbai CST local and was standing near the door of first class compartment, where the train applied brake and was signalled red for some time. The area where the train made its halt is famous for its recent sighting of white stork, blackcapped kingfisher and ruddy breasted crake during the Dombivali Birdrace, Diva Mangrove Patch. Without equipped with Binocs, I started observing for birds. Wire tailed Swallows, White throated Kingfisher, solitaire cormorant & sometimes Black Shouldered kite are otherwise common in this area in the mornings. At 09.48 AM near Bhopar Nalla a white large bird took off from the mangrove patch and flew towards the creek, the same way our team observed it at Uran exact two years ago. The uncommon sighting of this day, which I observed, was a male Pied Harrier.<span style=""> </span>Pied Harriers near Diva-Dombivli belt are not new. I recollect perhaps Adesh or someone else telling me that the area has record sightings of this winter migrant in late 90s or so. But this was my most exciting sighting in last 6 years of birding.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">The train moved on with green signal and I also moved on towards my corporate life, with utter joy and remembrance of famous quote of Dr. Elen Grand from the movie Jurassic Park “Life finds it’s own way to survive”. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Regards</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN">Rajesh Sachdev</span></p> Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-65026841117563109232011-02-01T06:58:00.001-08:002011-02-01T07:12:35.166-08:00The Great Himalayan Birdcount - 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzJWzN3sin1_iW7Sg4qLl9miOMNnUhQgDuctRYmthWzWEN0IK1oI1tCc5dqhtonkIV3HB-eqG1VguhMaBwDKB6-hb2W7vekDBHZRpReRygyhAxgSqFsJpSsDRkHNyrfU5MRIvyER7Ci0S/s1600/PA290091.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzJWzN3sin1_iW7Sg4qLl9miOMNnUhQgDuctRYmthWzWEN0IK1oI1tCc5dqhtonkIV3HB-eqG1VguhMaBwDKB6-hb2W7vekDBHZRpReRygyhAxgSqFsJpSsDRkHNyrfU5MRIvyER7Ci0S/s200/PA290091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568738902120263378" border="0" /></a>
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style="text-align: center;" align="center">Time: 11.00 AM <span style=""> </span>Date: 27<sup>th</sup> October, 2010<span style=""> </span>Place: Manthan, Dehradun, Uttarakhand</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The smile on Prateek’s face, this time, was more confident and charming, when he addressed the entire gathering of more than 120 participants and 30 students during the inaugural session of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Great Himalayan Birdcount. His dream/ambition of bringing Uttarakhand on global birding map seemed not to be remote possibility and his role of being a state coordinator of IBCN would definitely bring him close to his objective. Required is the help/support from the fellow birders of this great nation to concretize the road to the Uttarakhand – the entry gate of Migrant birds to India, through Himalayas. His role of managing the logistics of such great event was highly applauded from all the corners at Manthan. The logistics of putting 5-6 birders in every group, heading towards Himalayan kingdom, was perfectly penciled by the team of Dr. Banerjee, Mr. Kumar and Mr. & Mrs. Panwar. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Prateek Panwar had surprise question for me as and when I entered in the conference hall. He asked “Rajeshji what made you and your team travel 2000 Kms for the birdcount?.” My team, yes, my team travelled literally beyond 2000 Kms from Kalyan to Dehradun in search of birds and I owe thanks to Sanjay Kulkarni, Pradnyavant Mane, Paresh Gosavi and Harishchandra Mhatre for teaming up with me for this annual event of birding. My answer to Prateek’s simple question was little complex “Prateekji, I am here in search of what is unseen in the mountains of Sahyadri (Western Ghats). Himalayan Range is the gateway of Migrant Birds to India and Uttarakhand is such door, which welcome these feathered friends. <span style=""> </span>Knowing the density of Birds being sparse, but status of these birds would be either rare or regional endemic or altitude migrants or local migrants”. With the same thinking I feel more then 50% of birders in the hall were from rest of the country and not only from North India. One such famous birding personality Mr. Abhishek Sahay Verma, thankfully brought and handed over Altimeter watch, imported from USA, which shall be helpful to me for reading altitude levels, temperature and wind pressure along with local weather forecast. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Finally after team allotment and birding and medical kit I, the team leader of Group No. 5 along with my team, asked our tour assistant-cum-driver Mr. Naushadji to take us to Yamunotri via Yamunapul, Barkot, Hanumanchatti and Janakichatti. At around 02.30 PM we all left Manthan and headed towards Musoori for some shopping of woolen clothes. Although we took little more than 2 hours for shopping in the Mussoori, but it was exciting to negotiate with local traders. Perhaps Naushadji was little annoyed with us for being late and was little hesitant for our vehicle being allowed to pass through Jamta after 08.00 PM, as restricted by the state government. And thankfully our vehicle reached Jamta 07.30PM and we were allowed to pass on through the barrier. The road from here to Barkot was in severe bad conditions due to recent heavy rains in September. The movement of vehicles was almost zero during this time. Perhaps this was the only opportunity for us to encounter wild mammals and one such sighting was a Fox and then it was road travelled with such more sightings of Jackals and Porcupine. We reached Barkot Forest Rest House (FRH) at around 09.30 PM, it was at 1264 Mts altitude and was built way back in 1965. The minimum temperature recorded here on this night was 15 degree Celsius. We are thankful to Mr. Rawatji – The FRH guard for his hospitality.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On 28<sup>th</sup> October 2010 from Barkot FRH to Hanuman Chatti we travelled apprx 25 KMS in vehicle birding at culverts, curves and streams. Listed below are the sequence and altitude and place of birds recorded on this route.</p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Sr. No.</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Name of Bird</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Location</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Altitude</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">01</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Grey Treepie (few)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">02</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Red Billed Blue Magpie (few)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">03</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Grey Faced Woodpecker (single)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Near Barkot FRH</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">1264 Mtr</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">04</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Blue Whistling Thrush (several)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">05</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Spotted Forktail (Single)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route (Stream)</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">1390 Mtr</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">06</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Himalayan Griffon (several)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">07</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Grey Hooded Warbler (Single)</p> </td> <td color="-moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color" style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">08</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Himalayan Bulbul (few)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">09</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Great Tit (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">10</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Grey Wagtail (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">11</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">White Capped Water Redtstart (few)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">All along the route (Streams)</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">12</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Whiskered Yuhina (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<br /></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 16.65pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 16.65pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">13</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 16.65pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Plumbeous Redstart (single) </p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 16.65pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Dodati Pool (sayanachatti)</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 16.65pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">1832 Mtr</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At mid of the day, we reached Hanumanchatti – which is a small village with mere 20-25 families live and survive on the local product such as potato and peas. The village is situated near Ramganga River Project and is at height of 1947 Mtr. We had another cup of tea here and discussed with villagers about the local name of the birds. <span style=""> </span>Hereafter we started our drive-cum-birding to Janakichatti, which is few kilometers of drive, uphill. Another list of birding follows on the route.</p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Sr. No.</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Name of Bird</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Location</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Altitude</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">14</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Green Backed Tit (Very Few)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">15</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Bartailed tree Creeper (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">16</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Lammergier (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Hovering above the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">17</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Warbler (?)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">18</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Himalayan Wood Pecker (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">2113 Mtr</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">19</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Small Raptor (?)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At 06.30 PM we reached Janakichatti FRH (at 2548 Mtr, Built in 1974) and were greeted by the hostile staff. Mr. Rana, who paid special attention to us and left no stone turned in our care. That night we were served food brought from outside and at 09.00 PM we went to sleep, whereas the temperature was just below 15 degree Celsius.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Next Morning 29<sup>th</sup> Nov at 06.00 AM the temperature was 6 degree Celsius and it was literally freezing our blood, but we were decided for birding from the FRH to Yamunotri shrine (3049 Mtrs). We were supposed to climb more than 500 mtrs through 5 kms of uphill trek. Ranaji excitedly agreed to join us for birdcount. After having our breakfast (maggi mania) and hot black tea, we left for yamunotri shrine at 07.00 AM. Below is the list of sighting.</p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Sr. No.</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Name of Bird</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Location</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Altitude</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">20</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Khaleej Pheasent (2 Male & 1 Female)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route<span style=""> </span>to Yamunotri</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">21</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Snow Pigeons (40+)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route<span style=""> </span>to Yamunotri</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">2800 Mtr</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">22</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Eurasian Griffon (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Hovering above the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">23</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Golden Speckled Warbler (One)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route to Yamunotri</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">24</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Pink Browed Rosefinch</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">2 Kms from Yamunotri shrine</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">25</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Rufous Gorgeted Flycatchers (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style=""> </span>Back to FRH</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">2700 mtrs</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">26</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Golden Eagle (Single)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Above Yamunotri Shrine</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">These 5 kms uphill and reverse really took our entire day and we were almost exhausted reaching FRH at 06.30 PM. Pradnyavant Mane given up on his health, perhaps because of dramatic change of altitude pattern in oxygen. By 9.00 PM we decided to return back to Barkot FRH, so that we can cover next day for birding from Barkot to Dehradoon. By 11.00 PM we all reached Barkot and slept immediately. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Next morning 30<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 the climate was comparatively hot (18 degree C) and we drove down from Barkot (1264 mtr) to Dehradoon (635 mtr) in search of few more sightings.</p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Sr. No.</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Name of Bird</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Location</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: black black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Altitude</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">27</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Rufous Breasted Accentor</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">28</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Russet Sparrow</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">29</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Red Vented Bulbul</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">30</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Hill Pigeon</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">31</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Grey hooded Warbler</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">32</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Little Swift</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">33</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Himalayan Bulbul</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">34</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Common Kestrel</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">35</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Goshawk (?)</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">36</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Scaly Breasted Munia</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">37</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Oriental White Eye</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">38</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Crimson Back Sunbird</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">39</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Rufous Vented Tit</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.8pt;"> <td style="width: 41.4pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="55"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">40</p> </td> <td style="width: 175.5pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="234"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">Variegated Laughing Thrush</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.7pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="194"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">On the route</p> </td> <td style="width: 56.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color black black -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.8pt;" valign="top" width="76"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">-</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""> </span>And this was all an end, when we reached Manthan at 03.00 PM, here we promised and paid our token of next year’s birdcount in advance. And yes, on the way to Mumbai from Delhi, we saw 3 pairs of sarus cranes, wooly necked storks, Vultures and blackbucks near the railway tracks in Rajasthan.</p> Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-24804388934386222122010-06-10T21:41:00.002-07:002010-06-17T02:08:32.177-07:00My Monsoon Program<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_vxyhy3F63PMEOOlSkcQvUQLxS6A82gTgKIpYJc-5uCBY3S8WLNzHK5KFUbhDjEDhnP7A-UVMOS2G1wUsFPLKE7UvQMzMRFL5p64num1L0g5eG6PliS_TuJNRv8wf1zLcj88-8xKVIg1/s1600/P6090125.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_vxyhy3F63PMEOOlSkcQvUQLxS6A82gTgKIpYJc-5uCBY3S8WLNzHK5KFUbhDjEDhnP7A-UVMOS2G1wUsFPLKE7UvQMzMRFL5p64num1L0g5eG6PliS_TuJNRv8wf1zLcj88-8xKVIg1/s200/P6090125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481372768446663826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmNwHgSCWdXhOl2RpR2lQRZ56DSOCdc2wkoh3w_4nswWnSco-ldifNQcfb9urzaEq31sBtkiIz096ow0OlubPJmkfjj75LrxgaSib8vS0hGciVG7JSGBWyXppk3ZGhY5dW3xhHg6-mEE7/s1600/P6090185.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmNwHgSCWdXhOl2RpR2lQRZ56DSOCdc2wkoh3w_4nswWnSco-ldifNQcfb9urzaEq31sBtkiIz096ow0OlubPJmkfjj75LrxgaSib8vS0hGciVG7JSGBWyXppk3ZGhY5dW3xhHg6-mEE7/s200/P6090185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481372754605761250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRgKyje6p22p7oPtc_qr6yevATgCEYXVX3GDaCmjMFWybDSNtFdkCHkbWDVSutnAYKnq2hNvrBcB4Q-V6itiqPRxCb7H_UtZEVAZqXfIoLWkXqHY9yoZOznIUkfLE42P3MRHuxecQlCHI/s1600/P6090051.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRgKyje6p22p7oPtc_qr6yevATgCEYXVX3GDaCmjMFWybDSNtFdkCHkbWDVSutnAYKnq2hNvrBcB4Q-V6itiqPRxCb7H_UtZEVAZqXfIoLWkXqHY9yoZOznIUkfLE42P3MRHuxecQlCHI/s200/P6090051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481372750865450434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Hello all,</p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazsM44eKv4hppFZH2nN-QtWsWhgKe9PIvHQ_5nrIbxAdD3GB5EjL1cK9FkXJk_30IuxO8CWUKIH6pR2qxYoADAftj8sixNkF5yuCva3vr26wnhdNUlMzGHS6OjwoLuLo7MCfQqxtriELD/s200/P6090054.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481372735664656850" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHirBalzOaklH_bRN9AUBOkw1eLRxb6TAeeSxQaBsx2BwJ1dg9meOJRFNYNkXSucj3Nf5eOGH6uwsAa4copdZMgNVej_7MnABuc0fIx-AvtVU-WRnJTEDg3aBi_PbIzXhq7WanCppuV9rD/s200/P5260009.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481372731834994418" /><p class="MsoNormal">Monsoon has knocked the doors of Western Ghats and soon it would pour heavily. Slowly gradually the dry leaf litter would turn in green foliage. The carpet in jungle would be erupted with Hill Turmeric, Yellow Ground star, Ground Lily, Spiral Ginger, Sensitive Smithia, Ringed Flower-vines, Pinda & Begonia. The floral life in Western Ghats would see dramatic change and that is much welcomed. Hill slopes, platues & gushing waterfalls would give new lifeform to the flora & fauna of the region. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hence, my camera , my rucksack, my trek pant and my wind sheet all are desperate to go out in midst of that green foliage, that we’ve been waiting for from last 8 months. My favorite treks would be as usual to Matheran, Rajmachi, Nagla, Karnala, Tungareshwar, Malshej, Yeoor, Chinchoti, Bhimashankar, Kas & SGNP.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have limitation of weakly offs; hence I am only suppose to go on Wednesday, which is my compensatory off. Being working in Real Estate from last 6 years, I am aware that Saturdays/Sundays I’ve to be in office and have to attend walk-in customer, who look for buying new property.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am listing my upcoming schedule, I am sorry if it is not on weekends.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">9<sup>th</sup> June , 2010 to Tungareshwar WLS (Vasai Road-E).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">23<sup>rd</sup> June, 2010 to Yeoor Forest Range (northern part of SGNP, Mumbai)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">30<sup>th</sup> June, 2010 at Matheran (in search of elusive unIDed flower at Panorama point in Western Ghats)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">23-25<sup>th</sup> July, 2010 on long monsoon trek to Lonavala-Bhimashankar Route (Western Ghats)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">11<sup>th</sup> August, 2010 to Karnala Bird Sanctuary (10 kms from Panvel Bus stand, in Western Ghats)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">18<sup>th</sup> August, 2010 at Southern gate of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">25<sup>th</sup> August, 2010 to Malshej Ghat (in Western Ghats).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">08<sup>th</sup> September, 2010 to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Mumbai.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">15<sup>th</sup> September, 2010 to Nagla Block (northern part of SGNP)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">22<sup>nd</sup> September, 2010 to Chinchoti (Southern part of Tungareshwar WLS)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">29<sup>th</sup> September, 2010 to Kas (near Satara, in Western Ghats) </p> <p class="MsoNormal">6<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 to Matheran (backtrek from Matheran to Neral Railway station)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">AND then, in end of October, I am busy for Himalayan Bird Count, Dehradun (The Great Himalayan Mountain Range).</p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-37589276149379495842010-03-24T20:05:00.000-07:002010-04-05T10:30:04.897-07:00The Himalayan Bird Count 2009- A Report<div><br /><br /><div>“Deepakji, gaadi dheere chalaiye, main nahi chahta ki 1800 mts. ki uchaai se, directly main niche giroon aur bilkul bhi na bachoo”(Drive slowly Deepakji, we are almost at height of 1800 mts. and I don’t want to fall down from this height, with no chance of survival). I told, our driver which was driving our vehicle from Dehradun to Jharmo La pass in northern part of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the northern state of India, falling in western Himalayas. Deepakji said in typical Garhwali tone “Sahib, yeh dev bhoomi hai, kuch hua bhi to mukti yahi milegi” (it is land of god, if anything happened; you would directly go to heaven, where god lives). But, did I really come to this part of country for “Mukti” all the way from Mumbai almost 2000 Kms away? No, I am here to see, what is unseen in Western Ghats. What is said to be only endemic to this terrain of snowy mountains. I am here to see Vultures (rare in Mumbai), pheasants, nut-hatches, Fork tails (before leaving for Himalayan Bird Count, saw a pic of Spotted Fork tail by Clement Francis, Martin on INW) and soaring raptors hovering on high thermal.<br />The 2nd Great Himalayan Bird Count was scheduled between 7th Nov-10th November, 2009 in Uttarakhand by Mr. Prateek Panwar and his family of Association for Research and Conservation in Himalayas (ARCH, Dehradun). I left from Mumbai on 4th November night from Bandra in Dehradun Express and almost spending 42 good hours in this train, passing through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand (perhaps part of Haryana too) , I reached at Dehradun on 6th November at evening. My stay arrangements were done at Hotel Pathik, where I saw few other birders from different parts of country in next to our rooms. Thankfully, the hotel was occupied by all birders for that day. Abhishek Sahay Verma (Haryana), Hrishi Chandrapurkar and his friend (Pune) and Narsimha Damodaran (Chennai) & I (Rajesh Sachdev) drove down, the next morning 7th November, in Rickshaw from Hotel to the place of event (Manthan hall, Forest Dept, Uttarakhanad State) where the hall was almost empty, but few have already settled in the campus. Mr. Anil Kunte and his team from Thane-Mulund (Mumbai), Mr. Sayed Abdullah Hussain (Karkalla) and Hussian Poonawala (Bangalore) are few of them, whom I knew in person or through internet. Dr. Bharat Bhushan and Mr. Gadgil (of Yamuna/Aravali Bio-diversity Park) along with Prateek Panwar were seen in centre of campus chatting to each other. Slowly gradually everyone started coming in the hall. Birders and photographers from every part of this country were seen filling up the declaration form and doing other pending formalities of registration. At round 11.00 AM we were almost more than 50 people, with our luggage and rucksacks, occupied the chairs and waiting for the State Forest Minister to start the bird count. Officials from Tourism Dept and PWD were in line of dignitaries and there was Mr. S A Hussain, the famous ornithologist and Dr. Bharat Bhushan who were special guest and mentors of birders. Mr. Banerjee started presentation for the 2nd Himalayan Bird Count, prepared for ARCH. Parallely team allocation was also done by Mrs. Panwar and Prateek was seen talking over the phone to those, who were still to come. Half past eleven the State Forest minister entered in hall and introduced us with the Dev-bhoomi Uttarakhand’s Bio-diversity. In honorable minister’s short speech of the great Himalayan State, we got our first off-hand opening to world’s greatest bio-diversity. Dr. Bharat Bhushan also seconded the minister and informed everyone to please carefully watch for the Himalayan (Mountain) Quill. The Bird was last reported more than 130 years ago and has not been seen since. While Dr. Bhushan & State Forest Minister were busy with their speech, we were almost allotted our vehicle, the driver and team members and route map along with the report card of last year’s bird count. Soon after the completion of the process of team allotment, we headed towards the campus and had our lunch and packed up our vehicles with luggage and food for next four days and drove for our count destinations.<br />I was part of team No.:2, which was headed by famous bird Photographer of Haryana Mr. Abhishek Sahay Verma and other team members were Tarun Sharma (Wildlife Photographer-Dehradun), Dr. Bharat Patil (Trekker- Dehradun), Anuvrat Verma (Business tycoon – Dehradun) and I. My team was named as Jharmo La pass team and our route map was to cover Purola via Yamuna Bridge, Jharmo La Pass, Sandra, Thadiyar, Tyuni & back to Dehradun. We five full of excitement, kicked off our drive from Manthan towards Yamuna Bridge via Masoori and famous Kempti falls.<br /><br />Way to Kempti falls and Yamuna Bridge is all but zig-zag through Himalaya range and varies between altitudes of 3000 to 6000 ft above sea level. The moment we crossed Kempti falls, our co-traveler Tarun Sharma received call from his home about his daughter’s health problem, for which he decided to return back. It was sad to see him returning back, he was surely a good bird watcher and photographer as well, equipped with knowledge of flora and fauna of Himalayan kingdom. Tarun handed his DSLR camera to Abhishek Verma, so that atleast he won’t miss the birds on his computer screen and his facebook profile. We all including Tarun had our last sip of tea together and hereafter Tarun went back to his home and we all headed to Yamuna Bridge. This was just start of news; our journey had another fate to wait. Right at Yamuna Bridge, our vehicle faced some problem in its engine. Deepakji (our driver) couldn’t make out the exact problem of the engine and still tried every hard to find out the solution of engine failure. 4.30 pm to 6 pm we were caught up near Yamuna River and temperature had started going down. My first ever experience to face temperature below 15 degree Celsius. Sun was just to set for the day and in between one more count vehicles (targeted to go some other destinations Yamunotri & Janki Chatti) passed by; with little help they did to resolve the issue, but in vain. The second count vehicle (targeted to go Purola Nauri) had some space inside, enabling all of us to get in it till the next base village. Deepakji and the driver of Purola Nauri count vehicle tried little of their bit to solve the problem of our vehicle for last time. But this time they succeed. Although temporarily, but our vehicle was repaired for next few kilometers of drive. It was almost 09.00 PM we reached Purola Rest House; the winter was chilling at the Forest Rest House ( 1433 Mtr altitude), which was our temporally shelter for few more minutes, till we are being dropped by another vehicle to our base camp Jharmo La Rest house. No one could resist having a cup of hot tea, which we were served by the rest house staff, at 11 degree temperature. Purola rest house is said to be frequented by a resident leopard, preying upon the local stray dogs and poultry. This was also confirmed by the staff of the rest house and our driver, who is also local. According to the staff of the Rest House, the predator goes down the hills in the peak of winter, when snow falls. The last heavy snow fall was reported way back in 1970s, when the valley and peak was full of snowy clad roads and the vehicles were hard to be seen during those days. Alas, Earth is heading towards GLOBAL WARMING, and what is today is just a symptom of that. Anyways, at 10.30 PM of 7th November, 2009 we were picked up by count vehicle for Jharmo La pass Rest House which was merely an hour of drive from Purola. Mid-night of 12.00 we were slept, hoping to get-up early next morning and to start our day for bird count on the banks of the River Tons passing through our next count destination Sandra.<br />Next morning (8th November, 2009), perhaps Abhishek was first one to wake up earliest of all of us at 06.30 AM in the freezing morning, where the temperature was 16 Degree Celsius at 1646 Mtr. altitude, I wonder, how Abhishek got up so early. Quickly we all freshen up ourselves, having cup (infact two cups) of hot tea, we birded around the rest house and made a quick trip to Jharmo La pass. The Rest House was so-so good for birding having seen our first Black Lore Tit at the rest house we started our birding with Himalayan flame back woodpecker (single sighting in flight and then perched), Oriental White Eye, Jungle Crow and a solitaire but quite vocal Raven at the top of Jharmo LA pass, near Lord Hanuman’s Live Size Statue, from where the naked snowy peaks of Kedarkantha Mountains were visible. Exactly from here, our birding started, at every another step, there was another bird waiting to be posed or to be seen by our binocs. We decided to full our stomach at the rest hose and then to start our trek to Sandra which is few kms of trek. At the rest house, the staff (very friendly and obedient) served us organic green peas and boiled potato along with another hot cup of tea. We were very much delighted with food, especially me after eating the organic food. With promise to visit Jharmo La next year during the bird count, we did farewell to the rest house staff.<br />The moment we got out of the rest house, the staff of State Forest Dept was waiting for us to accompany till next village, which is 3 kms away. The beat officer, on his routine visit, told us about the origin of River Tons, on whose bank we were passing by. I must acknowledge that our best birding day of the trip was just started. With sighting of few Himalayan Bulbuls, we were trekking down towards Sandra through the Bank of River Tons, talking to the Forest Dept personal about the cause of conflicts between man & animal and probably extinction of Himalayan Quill, on which a sanctuary was notified (?) in the upper part of the state. The job of the bird count management was already awarded by Abhishek to all of us, in such way, that there was no chance of overlapping of ones responsibilities to other. I was told to look for birds, Dr. Bharat Patil was told to photograph them, Anuvrat Verma to make notes and Abhishek to ID them. Dr. Patil was also told to arrange for food at the rest houses as per the availability with the staff. As River Tons falls within the sanctuary of reserved forest, fishing is banned, hence Dr. Patil was tempting to go out of the Forest limits to look for the fresh caught fish, for which he had to wait for few more kilometers of walk, till we reach out of forest limits. Meanwhile, during birding, we observed that on the rocks in the river Blue Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper seems to be abundant in this area and so were White Capped Redstarts. At distance of every another 100 Mtrs. these birds seems to be present. If there were uncommon birds, they were forktails, we came across very few Spotted Forktails and a pair of Little Forktails, whome we branded as bird of the day. Suddenly near a stream, there we came across a mix hunting party; there were Great Tits, Flycatcher (?), Green Backed Tits & Grey Bush Chats at and near the Apricot Tree. By now, we were near a village, where the River Tons forked in two little tributaries, to merge at little distance away. An incident, reminded me of my friend Aniket Vyas, who told me, once in the field in Mumbai’s SGNP “Rajesh, when you come for birding, please do that only, what have you come for. Don’t gaze here & there looking for reptiles, butterflies & flowers.” I uttered, sorry Aniket (Jungle Boy fame on Orkut) I can’t resist myself photographing a ground gecko. This reptile gave me 20 beautiful poses on a rock stone, near the house of the village, later where we were offered cup of PAHADI CHAI (Himalayan Tea) by the villagers, thanks to the FD personal for that tea. The Forest Dept Personal was with us till this village, from where we were to depart for our destination of the day Sandra Rest House. With a 24 carat smile, we did farewell the Beat guard and thanked him for being with us. It was post 01.00 PM and the time had come for raptors to hover above. With sighting of two Common Buzzards, hovering on high thermals, we saw a single Crested Serpent Eagle being followed by a Shikra, for the snake that eagle was gripping in its claws. The Eagle seems to be securing its catch, and Shikra seems to be determined to get the hold of it. Dr. Patil surely got as many as posses as he could, from that 70mm screen show. I wonder, how all of sudden so many raptors appeared, one after other, in the horizon of the sky. One Eurasian Sparrow Hawk and Black Kite seems to chase each other, may be snatch away one other’s catch. By now, we all were tired at the peak of the day. We wanted if our vehicle (gone for repair) would appear at the last curve, and would pick and drop us at Sandra Rest House. But Deepakji’s (our Driver & Guide) Cell Phone (& even our’s as well) was out of network coverage. I think Prateek was right in saying that only BSNL has got its full coverage in the valley. We had no other option, but to wait for the vehicle to come, and bird around the two merging streams. With excitement and shout, I pointed all to the Himalayan Treepie (Grey Treepie), infact there were many to be seen at this point of the River Tons. It wasn’t just Himalayan Treepie, but even famous Red Billed Blue Magpies were also abundant in that area of valley. On the electricity pole, a lone Eurasian Craig Martin was seen perched and looking at us birding. At 3.00 PM we’ve reached Mori Village, which is just 2 Kms away from Sandra Rest House. We were still optimistic about Deepakji’s arrival, who was suppose to meat us before this village. Not only me, but all, were tired and exhausted, unable to walk further up. With little of arrangement of food (Fresh pierced raw mutton), bought by Dr. Patil, to be prepared by him at the rest house, we waited for Deepakji’s confirmation of his whereabouts through wireless conveyed to Jharmo La pass staff. We received instant response from Jharmo La Staff that they have no information on Deepakji’s location, and same was also affirmed from Purola Staff through wireless. We had no other option, but to proceed towards Sandra through the bank of River Tons. On the way we did little of birding, as the environment was little humid. Perhaps, that’s something routine in the Himalayan Valley. With few more sightings of Brown Dipper and White Capped Redstart, we headed towards the destination. Thankfully potable water is not the problem here in the state, where the origin of river/streams starts from the statue of Cow’s mouth (Gaumukh in Hindi), installed at every 500 Mtrs distance. That was the source of our water supply as well, which we filled up in our bottles. We were almost a Kilometer away from Sandra; where we were meet a father and his two sons. These were said to be local tribal (Van Gujjar) and were on the way to their village, further beyond Sandra. These boys were accompanied by the pet dog, who was belted an iron belt on the neck, with spines made of steel on it. They said it is for the security of the pets from the predators such as Foxes and Leopards frequented in the area. They said & we agreed, knowing the kind of problem existing in every part of country today, giving rise to Man VS Wild Conflicts. This tribal family accompanied us for another few hundreds of meters, till we hit the rope bridge. These bridges are common in Himalayan region, every here and there, above the gushing rivers. This rope bridge was our connectivity to the Sandra Rest House. The bridge was made of wood (quite ancient), built in 1900s in colonial time, perhaps 110 years old. Finally one by one (as warned on wall plaque), we crossed the bridge and reached the rest House. The rest House was built way back in 1876 and was still charming, thankfully well maintained by the Forest Rest House Staff. We four (Abhishek, Rajesh, Anuvrat & Dr. Patil) were allotted 2 bedrooms (with in-built fire place with chimney) and were also served hot cup of tea instantly. Later at night the Forest Officer, at the dinner, informed us that our driver had left from Purola and shall be reaching at any point of time at the Sandra Rest House. We were desperate to see our vehicle, since our cloths and other stuff was in it. The Forest Officer, informed and suggested us to ask the organizers for rescheduling the dates in January, for the bird count, if possible, next time onwards. According to him, the birds are still to settle in the valley, after spending their monsoon on the peak. Hence, the chances of good sighting are grim, but do exist. We Okayed his suggestion, and promised him to take it forward to the organisers. At 11.00 PM, we were informed that our driver has come and he after having his dinner would sleep in the vehicle itself. What a relief it was, to get our clothing and other stuff back. Anyhow, so it was an end of the day, after trekking for 10 KMS in beautifull pine forest from Jharmo La to Sandara, we slept at 11.30 PM on 08th November, 2009 at Sandra Forest Rest House, on the bank of River Tons. Oh ya! Forgot to mention, that night we eat goat mutton served by Dr. Patil, and it was very delicious.<br />Next morning at 06.30 AM, I got up earliest than anyone else and also made everyone waken from the drowsy night. We were served biscuits and hot cup of tea, later after having breakfast; we left for Thadiyar Rest House. The road to Thadiyar, was much promising, and better diverse of flora and fauna on the way. We were expected to see, what was expected from Himalayan Region. The pheasants, the magpies and tree pies were waiting for us to be posed on camera. Our day started with a sighting of White throated Kingfisher, who caught its first fish of the day at River Tons. This bird sighting on the road followed by Black Bulbul, whiskered Yuhina, Grey Hooded Warbler, Spotted Forktails, Brown Dippers, White Capped Redstarts, and rain. Yes, you heard right……lot of rains. Oops, it rained that day in Himalayan region and it rained for long time. It seems that there might be snow fall on the peaks. Anuvrat said that it is drizzling, but it was more than that. It was just not drizzling, but they were heavy showers. And this rain ruined our day, till the time, we got into our vehicle for the shelter. And thereafter, it was long drive till Thadiyar Rest House. Unknowingly, we were passing through the rich pine forest, along the river bank, and suddenly we saw two black colored ground birds. Abhishek said “Rajesh, this is Khalij.” I was stunt, after realizing that we are just 15 feet away from a beautiful pair of Khalij Pheasant. But, it was raining, and unfortunately we couldn’t get out of our vehicle, to photograph it. The birds were there for good 5 minutes, picking & eating something from the ground. Perhaps, Dr. Patil didn’t want to lose this chance. He got out of our vehicle and photographed the endemic pair of, pheasant. Why should be I or Abhishek be legging behind? We also got out of our vehicle and photographed the pair of birds. Few clicks and the birds dispersed from each other and hide in the bushes. And we left that place in isolation and drove towards our next destination Thadiyar. I must acknowledge that movement of traffic is very sparse here, and you may not come across another vehicle for couple of kilometers. At four in evening, we got some relief from rains. And as usual, I had my evening cup of tea at village, near some Tibetan monastery. Dr. Patil, Abhishek and Anuvrat (even Deepakji, our driver also) went to the temple and offered their pray. Here, we saw a flock of Plum Headed Parakeets. It must be just assumption to say that there were 20-25 birds in the flock. Hereafter, we headed to our Rest House, which is again in connectivity to the rope bridge, built above River Tons. The temperature at the Thadiyar Rest House, built in 1920s, was 13 degree in the evening at 6 PM. After little of discussion, we had our dinner served by the staff and the birder duo from North India, also managed to have drink with dinner. Since, the atmosphere was humid, we all went for sleep early, in hope to get early next morning and do little birding, before starting, our journey to Dehradun. So it was another end of the day on 09th November, 2009 at 09.30 PM we all were slept, when the temperature went down to 9 degree Celsius and was blood freezing outside.<br />Next morning Dr. Patil, woke up earliest and give us very big good morning, with news that there is awesome birding activity, just outside the Rest House. It was indeed, great day to start, for our last birding exercise of the day, for the 2nd Great Himalayan Bird Count, 2009 (team two). There was a solitary Great Barbet on huge tree, not all silent, but not much vocal. We without even brushing our teeth went out for birding. The atmosphere outside was not less than that of Amazon forests, as described by Abhishek. The First sighting of the day was the Great Barbet, followed by Slaty Headed Parakeets, Chestnut Bellied Nut-Hatches, Blue Throated Barbets, Scally Breasted Woodpeckers, Himalayan Treepies, Red Billed Blue Magpies & Himalayan Bulbul. All appeared near the guest house in a very short span of time. Dr. Patil, Abhishek and Anuvrat paid a visited to Deity’s temple nearby, where on the way they encountered the Himalayan Griffon, in flight. They were busy doing birding near the temple, and I was doing the same near the rest house. Where the tits and nut-hatches were in playing mood, and later joined by Russet Sparrows. Behind the rest house, the peaks of snowy clad mountains were visible, and the staff of the rest house told me, that at Yamunotri, it was heavy snow fall last night. I was envy with Hrishi Chandrapurkar (group Five) and his team, led by Sir Bharat Bhushan, who all were at Yamunotri during the bird count, that day and saw the great Monal Pheasant. This was just not Hrishi that I was envy with; I was also envy with Anil Kunte’s (Group Twelve) team who all saw the Yellow Rumped Honey Guide somewhere on the way from Kakargaad to Okhimath. All these & other surprises, would I realize the moment I reach Manthan, Dehradun. But Dr. Patil, Abhishek & Anuvrat were not at all ready to leave Thadiyar and were hard nuts for me to crack. After lot of requesting and making them feel the importance of reporting at Dehradun, as early as possible, they got convinced. We without having fine breakfast, left at around 1100 AM from the Thadiyar Rest House for Dehradun. The road from Thadiyar to D’Dun, via Chakrata (highest point on our route) & Tyuni (near Himachal Pradesh Border) was one of the best road that we travelled. The road that I am writing about is finest dense Deodhar Forest, at the peak and thereafter pinewood, possibly planted (afforested) by the state forest Dept. But, unfortunately few truckloads were seen carrying chopped trees on mass. Anyhow, without looking much onto it, we were crisscrossing the Himalayan roads. Passing through many river valleys and the Samadhi of tallest tree in Garhwal, and doing little of birding, if time permits, we were heading towards D’dun. It took 6 good hours for us to reach Manthan Forest Campus, Dehradun. And on our way to Dun, we came across several huge Eurasian & Himalayan Griffons, Snow Pigeons & Black Shouldered Kite (near D’Dun). I know, at 5 clock in evening, we were too late to reach the Manthan. But, we were not alone; there were other teams, which were even reaching late. Everyone was suppose to report at Manthan and submit our log books and to share our experience with the guest of honors. Our team leader Abhishek & I (lone birders left in our team) were asked to share our experience of BirdCount, which we did. Anyhow, at 08.00 PM Prateek & his team concluded the event with vote of thanks to everyone, especially to Mr. Sayed Abdullah Hussain, Tom Alter, Negi Sahib & Dr. Bharat Bhushan for chairing the event. Mr. Anil Kunte was applauded for sighting of Himalayan Honey Guide preying upon abandoned beehive. Thus we all concluded our journey in Himalayan state, and everyone backpacked themselves for their backward to home, with promise to Prateek to revisit the Himalayan State, during next bird count. And we all dispersed hereafter for our journey to North, South, East or West part of this country. So, it was an end of our expedition on November 10th, 2009 and we all had great time in expedition and most of us, do look forward to participate in the next winter season.<br />Next morning 11th Nov., I took same Dehradun Express, for Mumbai, and coincidently, my co-travelers were the same, who travelled with me from Mumbai to Dehradun…..Such a small WORLD, it is.<br />By the time, I write this report, the Ornithological world of birders, have lost a great personality of Mr. Sayed Abdullah Hussain, who took his last breath before 2010 could’ve set itself. We all birders of this great expedition had rare and last chance to sit and chat with him about his career with word WILD and its fascinating world.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTi8uGyDXZOHmgAvL-NlAZiTutZU7zKsvYeKaVNKfTbY2KxfYTbCGE2YCWQIbUapAO7EIRjZZ6Qah6WoGh7aVjvIoOX03094kvMRRltwFZ2GTXrQ9p_SxjcDsPUtyKG_TPser7cMWrNIn/s1600/The+Bridge+at+Sandra+Rest+House.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452406915618823266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTi8uGyDXZOHmgAvL-NlAZiTutZU7zKsvYeKaVNKfTbY2KxfYTbCGE2YCWQIbUapAO7EIRjZZ6Qah6WoGh7aVjvIoOX03094kvMRRltwFZ2GTXrQ9p_SxjcDsPUtyKG_TPser7cMWrNIn/s200/The+Bridge+at+Sandra+Rest+House.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h74tVw7djWl2z8SlY-ynmFWD7csc4_7KyVZaMNnZRrykAtkV427hqyeEu5sQ5EGA_1nJq9e8SRCh3Qjd7eQIZDrg1pwFqtDlrEwE5PZ_oqQ25VGJASo0mCyWmWGY7tGWebBmXUBrx34y/s1600/OgAAANCLfa6oF3oc8bHuBNXlU_QqUFub8sG_21vG0IW6BVry1AxE__RD4pa3zUR1WHSx8n4Zhp-bXo_uX_jgRVv5SOIAm1T1UH_zZDvyKXAiQsS_nuZ-NFFcE0gz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456704693478504354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h74tVw7djWl2z8SlY-ynmFWD7csc4_7KyVZaMNnZRrykAtkV427hqyeEu5sQ5EGA_1nJq9e8SRCh3Qjd7eQIZDrg1pwFqtDlrEwE5PZ_oqQ25VGJASo0mCyWmWGY7tGWebBmXUBrx34y/s200/OgAAANCLfa6oF3oc8bHuBNXlU_QqUFub8sG_21vG0IW6BVry1AxE__RD4pa3zUR1WHSx8n4Zhp-bXo_uX_jgRVv5SOIAm1T1UH_zZDvyKXAiQsS_nuZ-NFFcE0gz.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFSUZKfEVgbItiFINAraH_2LqUrkZCoSBCTizhyphenhyphenBWEiif_rOwv9NY4ltx0r0HZYcHJzodgkG9JISlD-15fRdSULwrWoZ9ZlrQ9JyLGyKwMTrtpHBAPDCeni7P9H-0ltiz-3mNL2uQGr2W/s1600/The+Team.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452406920453642850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFSUZKfEVgbItiFINAraH_2LqUrkZCoSBCTizhyphenhyphenBWEiif_rOwv9NY4ltx0r0HZYcHJzodgkG9JISlD-15fRdSULwrWoZ9ZlrQ9JyLGyKwMTrtpHBAPDCeni7P9H-0ltiz-3mNL2uQGr2W/s200/The+Team.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgYO14hn-peqZUma0ISD-0rjxKLjV5JTx76ndxcSUl9pDzQalKAL-NlY6vUm3ItncfAkU0tFPvgrHJUUeSLcX7WX7hwvVPQkKFRq8uzlAN5i0cjQOtjMll9Oh-ao1oie-RvkiHedS60ZN/s1600/OgAAABKEQxY2s7QqoSuDNQccz9otJ9km4tsnh9pei6bid-hPirsBD_Lw5ozQMFf5xzp0y5dR2oYJLlohBU74UOUyaCMAm1T1UEPQjla2x_qWGLe8zzZlA0520mON.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456704198680199506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgYO14hn-peqZUma0ISD-0rjxKLjV5JTx76ndxcSUl9pDzQalKAL-NlY6vUm3ItncfAkU0tFPvgrHJUUeSLcX7WX7hwvVPQkKFRq8uzlAN5i0cjQOtjMll9Oh-ao1oie-RvkiHedS60ZN/s200/OgAAABKEQxY2s7QqoSuDNQccz9otJ9km4tsnh9pei6bid-hPirsBD_Lw5ozQMFf5xzp0y5dR2oYJLlohBU74UOUyaCMAm1T1UEPQjla2x_qWGLe8zzZlA0520mON.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-70293467190836491462009-12-24T05:55:00.000-08:002009-12-24T22:49:52.200-08:00Photos of the year - 2009<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Find below selection of my own photographs </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">clicked in wi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ld in the calendar year 2009.</span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">----</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bird of the Year - 2009</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div class="gmail_quote" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6BPBejGP95bGnpr-tojmxb5wkoYNW3vZ5XL0IaqbMgpfdV7DNM-Q4ZdMr9hpLPi3BzSMAq376g6EaoEaFk1gN1calfI9C6HgynuHrKCyAvvyDjahwBOXMZFK8GzcY3AWgZSsHOsP0h3u/s200/Eurasian+Sparrowhawk.jpg" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 166px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419055649641854978" /></span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></b></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Name of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Specie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">s: </span></b><span style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Accipiter nisus</span></b></span></span></span></b></span></b></div><span style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Common Name</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">: </span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Eurasian </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(or Northern) </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Spar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">rowhawk</span></span></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Family: </span></b><span style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Accipitridae</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></b></i></span></b></div></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; ">Photographed: 08th December, 2009</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Location: </span></b><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Panorama</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Pt.</span></b></span><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, Matheran</span></b></span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Camera: </span></b><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">OLYMPUS SP570UZ</span></b></span></div><div><span style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lens: </span></b><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">OLYMPUS ED LENS AF ZOOM 4.6 - 92 mm, 1:2.8 - 4.6</span></b></span></div><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">----</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Flora of the Year - 2009</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrMkNps9t7pFXyoYsGsL9Hbs4VnbgCugsWMWQ-UEMlhEPqXtJRPF1vxfWjbaGr1Fq5X6hbvHrAz0ZsDbrHrZCO6PB4OeSOsO1nWzuIO2MgdZ8FaaEHMmYhsjvQ5sUjuxWrKPpFeuud9fO/s200/P7210093.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419057697395586114" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Name </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">of Species: Arisaema tortosum</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Common Nam<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">e: </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cobra Lilly, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sapkanda.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Family:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Araceae</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photographed: 21st July, 2009</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Location: CEC L</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">and, South G</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ate, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Camera: Olympus SP570UZ<br />Lens: OLYMPUS ED L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ENS AF ZOOM 4.6 - 92 mm</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: medium;"><b>----</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Butterfly of the Year - 2009</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSscfKUeaOm1pJ40z17jjTjF4GQ8g7PkOkR91m60bfq-M3RNKlMhAAuEev6q5yYch7IuuUSPy-LARC6WeeNwp8QR0hp2O7r_EeCHxmZomU4dPXNaJEbA2mxgIegpNv2WE6RlKEKQe-NqXs/s200/PA200262.JPG" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419056453580481826" /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Name <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">of Species:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Bibasis sena</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Common Name: Orange-Tai</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><wbr>l Awl</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Family: Hesperiida</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><wbr>e<br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photograph</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><wbr>ed: 20th Otober, 2009</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Location: Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Near Alibaug</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Camera: OLYMPUS </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">SP570UZ</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lens: OLYMPUS ED LENS AF ZOOM 4.6 - 92 mm, 1:2</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.8 - 4.6</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>----</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Reptile of the year - 2009</span></b></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrlbbghXOWp7OWZyz1SCeC8kNHsi33lJgOqgDX2W64wTkdRpqIqjPukBNUZHPedA4bJyrmq-M956CH6m9ShXVrkL0mGx7AJ_G2IRw66rd_BjbuJYe021ow2TQMUSVkvvphhNCXiTRR1RH/s200/P2220033.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419057066091789362" /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Name of Species: Sitana ponticerana</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Common Name: Fan-throated Lizard</span></span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; ">Family: Agamidae</span></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Photographed: 22nd Feb.,2009</span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Location: Barvi Dam, Badlapur, Maharashtra</span></span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; ">Camera: Olympus SP570UZ</span></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Lens: OLYMPUS ED LENS AF ZOOM 4.6 - 92 mm</span></div></b></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>----</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mammal of the Year - 2009</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left; "><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx46Lt1V6FTyluSP6LLAMWFqIXP3CjircFW1mBRmId3y9dqZYW6j_pfGjMUsdAG5MmdKMHaQFFh5a5RP8Ae6oxrWo8tSh3Zr99ZALk8X-lO5keLfbFqlBqnMwZvqFOxtMndQedUM-eGSr/s200/P6170014.JPG" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419059545206236578" /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; ">Name of Species: Axis axis</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Common Name: Spotted dear</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Family: Cervidae</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Photographed: 17th June, 2009</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Location: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Camera: Olympus SP570UZ</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lens: OLYMPUS ED LENS AF ZOOM 4.6 - 92 mm</div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">_____________________________________________________________</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Landscape of the Year - 2009</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwbSwW0Y92Q7gaHe-i8fN3a3GUwqboJkhQasv0R-d1h20DlVJKvjcwt8-veZQkct53fDEMwrF_4d6QsHLHhRtz19XR2Dq_Xk5HgoZnRlThQnuUqeYOb30ViRMGRoT37DNX6jERkFeQbKw/" /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photographed on 21st July, South gate, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.</span></b></div></div></div></span></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-79362507871370205472009-08-06T00:42:00.000-07:002009-08-06T04:01:39.286-07:00Mesmerizing Matheran<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkbnCkUs5gh9SR-i8XVN7-JkEx2uO2FJH-VKLg9OibT1mXFKvT15uDsObh8qTEqSnp0T5iclX09Nd72sA62rymDMrgJIwXK5joEdA4mfFT4PNkWw64DoZbs8O_8BZFsbbD1Z7D8o7n4lq/s1600-h/P8040072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkbnCkUs5gh9SR-i8XVN7-JkEx2uO2FJH-VKLg9OibT1mXFKvT15uDsObh8qTEqSnp0T5iclX09Nd72sA62rymDMrgJIwXK5joEdA4mfFT4PNkWw64DoZbs8O_8BZFsbbD1Z7D8o7n4lq/s200/P8040072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776334156930258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf621W-rFuvH2uPejpK7N3fMtT7LHlYxz_lD-1PnCYKUjHefTDd7lLBYX_Z5qmSmpD9IEy7n5rYmLYC0gpSOMc-KxefsbvUM6m78Flujj5CEipc8sQtW9UEBjFClP6PP5kwLHYVavJCF0N/s1600-h/P8040079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf621W-rFuvH2uPejpK7N3fMtT7LHlYxz_lD-1PnCYKUjHefTDd7lLBYX_Z5qmSmpD9IEy7n5rYmLYC0gpSOMc-KxefsbvUM6m78Flujj5CEipc8sQtW9UEBjFClP6PP5kwLHYVavJCF0N/s200/P8040079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776326088815058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXqP1Im_1YAeG4Gp4eKeU_W7Ioj6PhJktffYWxsOg9wreqYHDZKIio5ctDebiWeazSQSw5Jbda-uKzx0iUHXCnp1gxMd4sbjem5JZV3VlviH8YrcKW3SxHnnyOnaY18Y0xlJJ04PvJ2Wq/s1600-h/P8040041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXqP1Im_1YAeG4Gp4eKeU_W7Ioj6PhJktffYWxsOg9wreqYHDZKIio5ctDebiWeazSQSw5Jbda-uKzx0iUHXCnp1gxMd4sbjem5JZV3VlviH8YrcKW3SxHnnyOnaY18Y0xlJJ04PvJ2Wq/s200/P8040041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776312536318098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyfcD2HWOJ5KmFV_wWmvnN4VjR5b1TvPBPl1C83GJtLmzPuLbgnqzbADRXqgbv4c9ueMYN4hZzqjdUI8S7D8v4zwWAIUnc9eI51YnVtcCXw3m_TWyP8oV4KFehIN3yZmPi55P8m3xAsAu/s1600-h/P8040191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyfcD2HWOJ5KmFV_wWmvnN4VjR5b1TvPBPl1C83GJtLmzPuLbgnqzbADRXqgbv4c9ueMYN4hZzqjdUI8S7D8v4zwWAIUnc9eI51YnVtcCXw3m_TWyP8oV4KFehIN3yZmPi55P8m3xAsAu/s200/P8040191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776304561095474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC8BqVFWETw7cjGS7o6p7spjzM5u2vDm9DXAvg7Dh-4Q9n-ars9hodesNTa3YmUzu_BL4dZ_lX2lbTt3C_JHWx96lNo1vMgpSAbk2ResfTcWKaYLLprspw5RORNnosOUUVGGRnjV_9qfV/s1600-h/P8040108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC8BqVFWETw7cjGS7o6p7spjzM5u2vDm9DXAvg7Dh-4Q9n-ars9hodesNTa3YmUzu_BL4dZ_lX2lbTt3C_JHWx96lNo1vMgpSAbk2ResfTcWKaYLLprspw5RORNnosOUUVGGRnjV_9qfV/s200/P8040108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366776302617181490" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">While my train was moving from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ulhasnagar</st1:city></st1:place> to Neral, I was peeping out of my window and was looking at the green carpet and several water bodies generated by the rains. Moving train and passers were few Ibis, single greater coucal and spotted doves and solitaire wire tailed swallow perched on electrical over head wire.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The 4<sup>th</sup> August of 2009 at 07.00 AM, these sightings in the rainy morning of monsoon were giving good indications that my tip to Matheran would be fruitful. This trip was specially designed to pic up a specimen of flower, which I photographed last time, just a month ago, in Matheran. The flower couldn’t get the attention of experts to ID it, hence a fresh sample was required. Here is the link of flower, I am talking about <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3675867054/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3675867054/</a> the flower is actually a small herb, photographed at Panorama point last time. Anyways, come to my report for the day. We three Jayesh Minde, Suhas Shirke & Me took a taxi from Neral stationa and headed to Dastoori point. Jayesh was excited about the day, since he is very fresh in photographing; especially birds and tigers are his main attraction. We reached Dastoori point at 08.00 and had some pet pooja and started our trail to Panorama point, which has become my hot spot for this hill station. Our day started with a whistling call of Malabar whistling thrush and a red vented bulbul just passed by our trail. Brown headed barbet’s distant calls were echoing in the valley. My first sighting was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">begonia crenata</i> which had come up on the entire trail and even in the slopes of hill of Matheran, which we observed while descending. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Pinda Concenenisis</i></b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788210273/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788210273/</a> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">justice procumbens</i></b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788242693/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788242693/</a> dominated the carpet in little while, where the forest opens. My favorite flower was also just around the corner which was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Tolypanthus laganifer</i></b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789054152/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789054152/</a> Suhas and Jayesh took lot of time in photographing this flower from every angle. It drizzled thereafter for little time and we took shelter under tree canopy. I was in high spirits to collect a sample of the flower, hence didn’t invested much time in photographing the landscape. But, the serenity of this Sahyadri’s hot spot eco-sensitive zone was fresh after heavy rains. This time orchids were in bloom at the last part of trail, where earlier it was a grass land. I photographed <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">Habenaria Grandifloriformis</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788242263/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788242263/</a> and <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">habenaria foliosa</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial; color:#222222"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788243229/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788243229/</a> . All my happiness vanished the moment I realized that flower, I have come to photograph and pick, is missing. I scanned the area, but it was disappointment for me. Although <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sonerila scapigera</i></b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789022460/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789022460/</a> given quite good shots, but all of those flowers couldn’t make me feel happy. Even this sonera <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">Hypoxis aurea</span></i></b></span> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789022198/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789022198/</a> If anything at Matheran is worth to photograph, is only best of landscapes, if Flora and fauna is missing. I tired my hand on it and photographed the silver line of stream gushing down from hilltop to the plains <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788241973/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788241973/</a>. We had our pet pooja again here, with a packet of biscuits and lot of gossip, we decided to return back. Perhaps this is time, when our cameras were not ready to photograph, which was there just round the corner. A full grown Male alpha languor along with its troop and Matheran’s pride Shekaroo (Indian Giant Squirrel <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rafuta Indica</i></b>). We had to track down from Dastoori point to Naral station, which is said to be apprx. 7 kms of walk. The walk, literally on hill slopes had much to offer for those who are into flower photographing, especially during monsoon. The Mathern was Fluorescent green and so were its waterfalls blue <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788244389/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788244389/</a> . A bracket fungus and another bracket fungus we photographed with bit of photographing locha <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788209897/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788209897/</a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here a Forest Calotes, a garden lizard and Monitor lizard shown us their presentation. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788209893/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3788209893/</a> & <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789056678/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789056678/</a> In a little time, we descended very fast and also photographed some rare flora of sahyadri such as <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">Impetiens Balsamina</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057852/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057852/</a> <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">Trichodesma indicum </span></i></b></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057424/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057424/</a> & <span class="apple-style-span"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#222222">Neanotis Lancifolia</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Arial; color:#222222"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057138/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/3789057138/</a>. By now it was 02.00 PM and all of us were exhausted with no stamina to go further down, we had our pet pooja again and took a rickshaw for Neral station. Thus ended our day at my best backyard of Sahyadri……MATHERAN.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">For detailed photographs click on </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/</a></p><p></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-74379230078136291392009-07-14T10:57:00.000-07:002009-07-14T11:01:29.053-07:00Monsoon fascinates @ Tungareshwar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0SI5WbMSnxN7j5nGwib7HRbh0nNizloQVq-bowyZyjOgUFhOFj-uJlPqnLUCcWx2Y7ODPMVPqmahi010UMuZpozPPCd5YHnEhvNjMs1XI6ui9mUM8lEGBaEUNC0Lfs6-xIAJ83Ntnro/s1600-h/P6230126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0SI5WbMSnxN7j5nGwib7HRbh0nNizloQVq-bowyZyjOgUFhOFj-uJlPqnLUCcWx2Y7ODPMVPqmahi010UMuZpozPPCd5YHnEhvNjMs1XI6ui9mUM8lEGBaEUNC0Lfs6-xIAJ83Ntnro/s200/P6230126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358377353821257170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMykggTcxfoidiyunU6dekpxkEi2A2-1kSPxtb_TrkMqnYv5Dj-ezdrdZNTiIBQw454X-j0PXpHmHVUcoZBAM1_cnqUBaO_jxAzpaO8AwDVg2b8r79S69ldjUz-7U4FbfuRKi4WJ9At5p/s1600-h/Tribal+on+it+way.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMykggTcxfoidiyunU6dekpxkEi2A2-1kSPxtb_TrkMqnYv5Dj-ezdrdZNTiIBQw454X-j0PXpHmHVUcoZBAM1_cnqUBaO_jxAzpaO8AwDVg2b8r79S69ldjUz-7U4FbfuRKi4WJ9At5p/s200/Tribal+on+it+way.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358377344833972306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-g2g3TIXrxoxOvbP7kjj0z4prls9nxkTvz3tM3BLUPnJuM2O44ZGDYl5UOb4ai0K62JDtrWX_BLjlGN44OKCnAGixYy7nq5dBuq5AjKQACUXmpvR1zyaQ53ps8SEhtV6VBe5D5nJbRYT/s1600-h/yellow+ground+Star.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-g2g3TIXrxoxOvbP7kjj0z4prls9nxkTvz3tM3BLUPnJuM2O44ZGDYl5UOb4ai0K62JDtrWX_BLjlGN44OKCnAGixYy7nq5dBuq5AjKQACUXmpvR1zyaQ53ps8SEhtV6VBe5D5nJbRYT/s200/yellow+ground+Star.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358377339958547154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx8fVWkdbRmByDdgCy92sPImX_DX-cRC9kopZ9wtaLYPS7GBsqo2LnuayU7BRy3HPfSGOuQwuxNQS7fB0jb4idWdGaxRVJr6vh0gvLwKSKv2Ma9wyCEFjxF2q-RAT3Zj6-fD6xOCk27Nh/s1600-h/Indian+Turnsole.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx8fVWkdbRmByDdgCy92sPImX_DX-cRC9kopZ9wtaLYPS7GBsqo2LnuayU7BRy3HPfSGOuQwuxNQS7fB0jb4idWdGaxRVJr6vh0gvLwKSKv2Ma9wyCEFjxF2q-RAT3Zj6-fD6xOCk27Nh/s200/Indian+Turnsole.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358377339405474866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-mkyjBTJcm7dVK9pqv4qkuoy_v2vbY5uKduzT3ryLzuu2VAeuLs3L52sQ3oPjNmJwkCbSGzRVKCj35EbklOJUV4pUq80CvnpgbBuRDPcRKLEKcpDDJBRJS7owsAaubAWV7XJ0T47LA-R/s1600-h/Agnosia+orneus+-+Female.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-mkyjBTJcm7dVK9pqv4qkuoy_v2vbY5uKduzT3ryLzuu2VAeuLs3L52sQ3oPjNmJwkCbSGzRVKCj35EbklOJUV4pUq80CvnpgbBuRDPcRKLEKcpDDJBRJS7owsAaubAWV7XJ0T47LA-R/s200/Agnosia+orneus+-+Female.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358377322568058242" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Monsoon fascinates everyone who is found of wild watching. So was I, along with my botanist friend Ugam Govari, who lives much close to Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Pre-decided to meet at vasai Rd. railway station, he was waiting for me at 06.30 AM of 23<sup>rd</sup> June, 09. Journey from my town started two hours before the scheduled time which is 60 kms away from Vasai. Having Idli and garma garam tea, at vasai station, we started our one day expedition to the holy world of WILDLIFE.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to welcome call of racket tailed drongo, just near the entrance gate of the WLS, ensured and guaranteed that this dense forest would be more rewarding in terms of sightings of flora and fauna of this less travelled PROTECTED FOREST near Mumbai.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A rat snake criss-crossed our way and went into a burrow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Scarlet minivet gave us good pose to photograph it, but the lighting was other way round, which we given up. The flora of this pristine forest was at its bloom, as the monsoon had just started. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wild Turmeric, Yellow ground Star and Forest lilies were seen on the forest floor, throughout the trail. Few activities of butterflies and birds, since it was sporadically drizzling on the day. But insect world was at its peak. Beetles, Bugs and flies were all around on every another step of the sanctuary. We ventured into a stream bed, where we saw red spurfowl last time, expecting similar sighting as well this day. But we were disappointed, when we saw that this stream bed seems to be lusting place for those who thinks this forest to be place for different enjoyment of teenage life. Packet of used condoms, cigarettes and broken bottles of beer were everywhere on the bed of this stream.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The sanctuary was named after the Temple of Lord Shiva known as Tungareshwar in 2003, and at such holy sanctuary, these thing are never expected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Blaming on the attitude of people, we headed towards the temple. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A Local tribal woman, searching for jungle suran, gave few abusive words to us. I don’t know for what reason.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Ignore her, was the only way out, to let her go ahead, on her way. Anyways, my tea addiction was not allowing me to focus on flora or fauna, but to search for tea stall. Having tea at stall near temple, we thought of taking<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>water fall trail, which is just behind the temple, gushing down to the entrance gate. Here a local wished to guide us till the gate through this unknown waterfall trail. Which we agreed and with due respect, we offered him snacks and tea, which we had at temple. This local seemed to be a factory worker, a regular to the forest.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Narrating his brief background and his attraction to the WLS, he spoke about his regular sightings in the sanctuary. He took us through the rocky terrain, where an Indian Spectacled Cobra was waiting for its feast. Slight movement and this reptile rushed away to the nearing burrow. But, its feast was really around, a garden lizard and forest calottes, on the branch of next tree to each other.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a little time, our cameras came in deep trouble. Unequipped with proper rain gears, we welcomed or unwelcomed I should say the heavy rains. This is when I took my first WILD SHOWER on the stream of the season. But, how long I could have taken shower, concerned about my camera. I took a shelter in chakmak baba temple, nearing the gate. This temple is on the left hand side of the WLS, just after the main gate. A female land crab, carrying her next generation in her womb, given us good pose and so did a cicada, perhaps last of the season.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sightings of the day</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Flora<o:p></o:p></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urena lobata</p> <p class="MsoNormal">helicteres isora</p> <p class="MsoNormal">heliotropium indicum</p> <p class="MsoNormal">datura metel</p> <p class="MsoNormal">solanum surattense</p> <p class="MsoNormal">cucurma pseudomontana </p> <p class="MsoNormal">chlorophtum tubersom</p> <p class="MsoNormal">currculigo orchiodes</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>amorphophallus commutatus</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Galinsoga parviflora</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Reptiles<o:p></o:p></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Calotes Versicolor</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Calotes rouxi</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mabuya carinata</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Naja naja</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ptyas mucosa</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mabuya macularia</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>Birds<o:p></o:p></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gallus sonneratii (heard)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Megalaima zeylanica (heard)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Megalaima haemacephala</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cypsiurus balasiensis</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stretopelia chinesis</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Milvus migrans</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Spilornis cheela</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pericrocotus flammeus</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dicrurus paradiseus</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-43454726203898854102009-03-04T07:49:00.000-08:002009-03-04T08:19:16.650-08:00Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary on 28th Feb., 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIAxxZYC8mP2v83sdv4fnqCYSUKfVGgE4WBfrf1jOAExA5aWJJk5ZU_npf5Imfa4TP0RXGT9-7q9eHyQJALioHCENh0sKnKojYI7dINH0ou3WEcMvfV9EBrbzfzmHnqvTcNB4bP2WLy4j/s1600-h/P2280095.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIAxxZYC8mP2v83sdv4fnqCYSUKfVGgE4WBfrf1jOAExA5aWJJk5ZU_npf5Imfa4TP0RXGT9-7q9eHyQJALioHCENh0sKnKojYI7dINH0ou3WEcMvfV9EBrbzfzmHnqvTcNB4bP2WLy4j/s200/P2280095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309367318498160706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qW3JWKZRx0YNEo9eIeoaN7zfQDf7u8ci8qeUeB_YMRY-FIU8Hu6Zv3IWto5HTssUXwKmdkl25mucheglPAqSwu4k4wejUIwPkIt7gNzLjbkhOhN7Mip08GOtq-L-dv1NQJV02ZQ7lyOk/s1600-h/P2280096.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qW3JWKZRx0YNEo9eIeoaN7zfQDf7u8ci8qeUeB_YMRY-FIU8Hu6Zv3IWto5HTssUXwKmdkl25mucheglPAqSwu4k4wejUIwPkIt7gNzLjbkhOhN7Mip08GOtq-L-dv1NQJV02ZQ7lyOk/s200/P2280096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309367317348501010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQe6riNmxm8LH_afREAMJm9o0xQu99jtJRIB5AI8dfrTVLTIh5Gq8yW_rf1O_a3tDS4RvcH4KngSEu9A_O0JU33iduP6XJcU6bcA6XuGhiR70ZUgSjkg0lCJhsiEp4mCcdZB4L-EwkrTs/s1600-h/P2280073.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQe6riNmxm8LH_afREAMJm9o0xQu99jtJRIB5AI8dfrTVLTIh5Gq8yW_rf1O_a3tDS4RvcH4KngSEu9A_O0JU33iduP6XJcU6bcA6XuGhiR70ZUgSjkg0lCJhsiEp4mCcdZB4L-EwkrTs/s200/P2280073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309367310818921250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63UeFGD0p-sMXHZ_IcNnWzmPSfgu1iAwTaqrG_AMJWmJFhMIcp3nugoq5hN0cVJ3at8jUZ3RGsxnot1OBzds0gd_-eHmjhiY4Rmi6fzvUFTIRfOdO3t0d9lrT21-jRpgIM7NX-FAmi1UH/s1600-h/P2280070.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63UeFGD0p-sMXHZ_IcNnWzmPSfgu1iAwTaqrG_AMJWmJFhMIcp3nugoq5hN0cVJ3at8jUZ3RGsxnot1OBzds0gd_-eHmjhiY4Rmi6fzvUFTIRfOdO3t0d9lrT21-jRpgIM7NX-FAmi1UH/s200/P2280070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309367304769223042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBmT13ljTa9SsZliRSJzt8TJm2AFanxaj5Af60rtMgy1wSuXlpKScu8DNyCGK_DjCg6Lowf1X_17rOO7dC4TVP8oztndccbbYihw8mQPpDPVQeKrXzIvWpaLdSEVV8NMyl2DQ-ocifv8x/s1600-h/P2280053.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBmT13ljTa9SsZliRSJzt8TJm2AFanxaj5Af60rtMgy1wSuXlpKScu8DNyCGK_DjCg6Lowf1X_17rOO7dC4TVP8oztndccbbYihw8mQPpDPVQeKrXzIvWpaLdSEVV8NMyl2DQ-ocifv8x/s200/P2280053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309367299532183586" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">06.30 AM was the time pre-scheduled for all we four (Ameesh, Niel, Saurabh & me) to assemble at kalian railway station platform no. 02. From here we were suppose to take train to Atgaon, which would have arrived at the atgaon station at 07.00 AM. No thanks to Saurabh for missing the train, and making us wait at the Atgaon station for almost 45 minutes. Another delayfull thanks to the Cab driver, who made us ait at the station for another hour of time, thus resulting in poor birding at tansa WLS. Anyways, having some Vadpav and cup of garma garam Tea, we left for Tansa WLS in the cab. We reached at around 10.00 AM at the main gate of Tansa WLS and after checking with the Forest guard Mr. Mhatre, we did bit of birding at the lake. Other than few garganeys and pond heron, cattle egrets, there was nothing, but few of tribal women washing their cloths with detergents at the edge of the lake. Far ahead, a guy was seen in tyre tube, catching the fishes of the lake. A single kestrel, few plum headed parakeets and lone hornbill made us feel their presence with single glimpse. Very soon Mhatre and two more guys joined us in the field trip. This field trip organized by Mr. Punam Singvi (Honorary wildlife warden of Thane Wildlife Division) to analyze the presence of predator-prey base in the degraded forest land of Tansa. Equipped with Binocs, Field guides on Mammals, reptiles, Birds, Flowers & Butterflies we decided to spend the whole day in search of anything which comes on our way, forming the base of wildlife. A first sighting on the Lake-Forest Rest Hose beat was of four common kestrel hovering above us in the sky. Soon, a spotted dove was chased away by single shikra. A rufous woodpecker and flameback woodpecker crossed our way. The flowerpeckers and sunbirds soon started dominating the sparse wooded area of the jungle. A rufous treepie and tickel’s blue flycatcher sat on single tree of Bombax Cieba near the rest house. A lesser spotted Eagle and black kite were seen up above the sky. By now it was almost 11.00 AM, and as usual I was desperate to have another cup of tea. My requested was granted and the FD personal agreed to serve us a black tea. Sipping the cup of tea and birding from the chair placed at Balcony, we spent five good hours talking about the fate of Indian wildlife and our experience to counter it. By 04.00 PM we were out again in the field. A lined birding was waiting here for us, with many surprises. The drongos and orioles were herewhere at many old grown trees, and so were the bulbuls and golden chloropsis. A sudden shout from Saurabh (actually excitement) invited all of us to look at the tree branch, he was looking at. It was none other but the Malabr Trogon, lifer for all of us. But, this excitement went of next second, when I realized, my camera’s battery went off, before could I had catch the snap of this bird. Anyways, it was fate of my luck, not to capture this momentous in my camera. We went ahead, by now we reached at the open grassland, near dry bed of stream. Argemone Mexicana (Dhotra in Marathi) dominated this dry bed stream, where the water existed some months back. This flower requires limited moisture to sprout, and that is I had seen this flower during the year, except monsoon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Oops, forgot to mention, suddenly few ladies and many cattle (goats and cows) appeared n the grassland. And also a wasp searching for salt in our body. By now this was about 05.45 Pm and we had to return back to the office of sanctuary. We decided to pack off our day here and revert back. That walk took us another 30 minutes to reach the office, on the way we were interrogated by the BMC officials, patrolling the catchment area of the lake.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">Finally after saying bye bye to FD guard Mr. Mhatre we took cab from the sanctuary to Atgaon station. On the way back to station, we were puzzled by the forest fire engulfed by the villagers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph">With a commitment to revisit this BIRD rich area, we sat off to our home.</p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-10095281487851898412009-02-24T23:38:00.001-08:002009-02-24T23:38:49.489-08:00Sariska Relocation - A reasonable move<p class="MsoNormal">End of 2004 Sariska lost its last tiger, and the state government took another 6 months to accept this bare fact that there are no more tigers in one of the best tiger reserve of this Nation. The State Government needed the evidence to prove that there are no tigers in its own Sariska, which were provided to them from the nation run WII.<br /><br /><br />Perhaps these were the evidence, strong enough to ensure that there can't be any tigers until unless these issues were not solved.<br /><br />(1) 11 villages inside the tiger reserve, with 1000s of families living upon the forest resources - some having background of poaching ( AS PER THE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF TR).<br />(2) One of non-regulated traffic ( Round the calendar, round the clock ) running on state highway passing through the sanctuary.<br />(3) A <st1:city><st1:place>Temple</st1:place></st1:City> in the epic of the Tiger reserve having heavy influx of devotees twice a year.<br /><br />All 22 ( As per the last census report ) tigers were wiped out by the poachers and illicit traders making money on wildlife trade, and so on. Does Sariska deserved the Tigers any more, after losing its every tiger due to sheer negligence of the state apathy and FDs commitment to save its wildlife.<br /><br />In my opinion, The State Government didn't deserved the Sariska TR. It would have been better if Sariska would had been de-notified as TR and renamed as mere Wildlife Sanctuary.It would had been better if the current relocation should not had taken place, and 3.5 year male tiger , which was radio-collared and lifted with the help of Chopper of Indian Army. It would had been better if the Government of State would have lost its largest tiger reserve, due to its own mistake of not keeping any eye on its own pride.<br /><br />One male tiger was relocated in Sariska on Saturday 28th at 12.34 PM from Ranthambore, keeping media out of the event ensured that there is no cross questioning and counter productive statements within the conservationist and state FD and WII officials. The second tiger ( female ) would be relocated by the end of this week. And three more would be brought in by the end of this year. <script> <!-- D(["mb","\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eBut, are we still positive that the tigers tribe would prosper ? The villages are still inside, the highway still taking toll and also substitute of carrying the wildlife trade out of the borders of state, the temple is more controversial due to its position being in the core of the  TR.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe questions remained unanswered  from years passed away and would remain unanswered years to come, down the line.\u003cbr clear\u003d\"all\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-- \u003cbr\u003eRegards\u003cbr\u003eRajesh Sachdev\u003cbr\u003eWild Mumbai Nature Conservation \u003cbr\u003e",1] ); D(["mb","\u003cspan class\u003dsg\u003e--\u003cbr\u003e\u0026quot;The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate.\u0026quot; - Mrs. Indira Gandhi\n\u003c/span\u003e",0] ); //--> </script><br /><br />But, are we still positive that the tigers tribe would prosper ? The villages are still inside, the highway still taking toll and also substitute of carrying the wildlife trade out of the borders of state, the temple is more controversial due to its position being in the core of the TR.<br /><br />The questions remained unanswered from years passed away and would remain unanswered years to come, down the line.<br /><br />--<br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation<br /><span class="sg">--</span><br /><span class="sg">"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." - Mrs. Indira Gandhi <script> <!-- D(["mi",8,2,"11ad85a2ea168d46",0,"0","Rajesh Sachdev","Rajesh","rajeshdsachdev@gmail.com",[[["ukaranth","ukaranth@gmail.com","11ad85a2ea168d46"] ,["raghu.baavan","raghu.baavan@gmail.com","11ad85a2ea168d46"] ,["rajeshgopal","rajeshgopal@vsnl.net","11ad85a2ea168d46"] ,["qnq","qnq@wii.gov.in","11ad85a2ea168d46"] ] ,[] ,[] ] ,"12:52 pm (5 minutes ago)",["ukaranth@gmail.com","raghu.baavan@gmail.com","rajeshgopal@vsnl.net","qnq@wii.gov.in"] ,[] ,[] ,[] ,"Jun 30, 2008 12:52 PM","Sariska Relocation - A reasonable move?","",[] ,1,,,"Mon Jun 30 2008_12:52 PM","On 6/30/08, Rajesh Sachdev \u003crajeshdsachdev@gmail.com\u003e wrote:","On 6/30/08, \u003cb class\u003dgmail_sendername\u003eRajesh Sachdev\u003c/b\u003e \u0026lt;rajeshdsachdev@gmail.com\u0026gt; wrote:","gmail.com",,,"","",0,,"\u003c2a89d14e0806300022m12cdc9bbia5ff79c50a910d4@mail.gmail.com\u003e",0,,0,"Sariska Relocation - A reasonable move?",0] ); //--> </script></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="post-authorvcard">Posted by </span><span class="fn">Rajesh Sachdev</span><span class="post-authorvcard"> </span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a href="http://wmnc.blogspot.com/2008/06/sariska-relocation-reasonable-move.html" title="permanent link" rel="bookmark"><abbr class="published" title="2008-06-30T00:26:00-07:00">12:26 AM</abbr></a> </span><span class="item-controlblog-adminpid-409788201"><a href="post-edit.g?blogID=3902532041635231811&postID=2487999713523913554" title="Edit Post"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3902532041635231811&postID=2487999713523913554" title=""Edit Post"" style="'width:13.5pt;height:13.5pt'" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\b\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" href="http://www.blogger.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/b/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" class="icon-action" shapes="_x0000_i1027" border="0" height="18" width="18" /></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p> <h4><a name="comments"></a>1 comments: <o:p></o:p></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="c7834461512410960029" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="profile/17801039489456142820">Abhishek</a> said... <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Yes i agree with you here Rajesh, naming it a wildlife sanctuary should have been better rather then the prime focus of having a viable population of tigers surviving in Sariska. To have the dynamics healthy we need to focus on areas and ask questions to why it went on a decline in the first place.<br />Many factors should have been looked into rather then the prime focus of being relocation. I am not against relocation and i think it’s important to understand that it was encouraging enough to see FD tackle the process well. Media was kept away from the relocation but now it is sure that there is a male in the park along with 11 villages a highway and many other distractions.<br /><br />The existing problems in Sariska have not been wiped out. How are they going to tackle that? These are questions which should have been discussed and thought before the relocation. They may have been thought about by the FD but areas like human interference etc are very crucial points. The other factors like a SWOT analysis should have been made and problems linking to the Tigers disappearance in 2004 should have been areas which needed to be tackled before the shift.<br /><br />Sariska should have not been once again created but now it has and we have to help and watch that it does not repeat 2004. I heard somewhere that the state govt is trying to keep away tourism from the park. Not so clever moves if it’s true as tourists are one of the prime eyes to an informal anti-poaching unit. A battle for us conservationist, but i guess with a positive start to relocation i hope it is a reasonable move.<br /><br />Abhishek Behl<br />TOFT <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span class="comment-timestamp"><a href="http://wmnc.blogspot.com/2008/06/sariska-relocation-reasonable-move.html?showComment=1214819460000#c7834461512410960029" title="comment permalink">June 30, 2008 2:51 AM </a></span><span class="item-controlblog-adminpid-1622807786"><a href="delete-comment.g?blogID=3902532041635231811&postID=7834461512410960029" title="Delete Comment"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=3902532041635231811&postID=7834461512410960029" title=""Delete Comment"" style="'width:9.75pt;height:9.75pt'" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\b\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.gif" href="http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_delete13.gif"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/b/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.gif" shapes="_x0000_i1028" border="0" height="13" width="13" /></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-52505962765471866092009-02-23T10:34:00.001-08:002009-02-23T10:42:05.490-08:00HSBC Mumbai Bird Race - Osprey team<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4kJ04ykfGxp03u2Vde-u_xMN_1qitb7rth6zqO_HEqREfcSZMVqI71OXfueRHleHiWOBY91h8qp2DP_Aj2SfjWRA_ztC-owXXVEL6huzy78KJZvpESVcjflW0Q0IH2IAuXo2g9TOIaKf/s1600-h/P2220100.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4kJ04ykfGxp03u2Vde-u_xMN_1qitb7rth6zqO_HEqREfcSZMVqI71OXfueRHleHiWOBY91h8qp2DP_Aj2SfjWRA_ztC-owXXVEL6huzy78KJZvpESVcjflW0Q0IH2IAuXo2g9TOIaKf/s200/P2220100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306064507123007698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScSucedyinLsfGMVga3mFjXNkRkGWUS_0VwitQ36oHqzN1hSIqif3lQedv6OfaYYvT3wYV48TmPoMRHWcFK43uuVGD92BESIN62thp4rkBr6YeLN9pCIdxpK_xyBcaMBnyyJIlL07ZPpV/s1600-h/P2220033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScSucedyinLsfGMVga3mFjXNkRkGWUS_0VwitQ36oHqzN1hSIqif3lQedv6OfaYYvT3wYV48TmPoMRHWcFK43uuVGD92BESIN62thp4rkBr6YeLN9pCIdxpK_xyBcaMBnyyJIlL07ZPpV/s200/P2220033.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306064500466265074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0Z2wqV5xtnYn2Lu1MnrA_Pr5WhVOdh1K4E9lDKNOwRx-CfxVMm4YoS4zrdGRicVsC-rmsxTV9WFHRNBhZR3tP0hT49Utt_QmXK5Dc7JGLOUkvJVW_6U6lwRHxU3fNW3Mv_fnYVjSJsik/s1600-h/P2220020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0Z2wqV5xtnYn2Lu1MnrA_Pr5WhVOdh1K4E9lDKNOwRx-CfxVMm4YoS4zrdGRicVsC-rmsxTV9WFHRNBhZR3tP0hT49Utt_QmXK5Dc7JGLOUkvJVW_6U6lwRHxU3fNW3Mv_fnYVjSJsik/s200/P2220020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306064494412702258" /></a><br />Hello All,<br />The Osprey team, although not found a single osprey during the expedition, but had great chance to see many birds for the first time in life. And one among that as Pied Harrier, for which we won the "Bird of the day"category award.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; "><div style="margin-top: 1ex; margin-right: 1ex; margin-bottom: 1ex; margin-left: 1ex; "><div><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:180%;"><b>Team OSPREY</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Rajesh Sachdev</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Rajendra Shelar</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Prashant Bhagat</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Dr. Sushama Ketkar</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Sanjay Kulkarni</span></p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Prgyavant Mane</span><br /><p></p><p>Shailesh Masulekar<br /></p><br /><p>The areas we covered were Dombivali-Baravi-Matheran-<wbr>Uran-MNP</p><br /><p>There were two beautiful sightings of the day (a) The Indian Giant Squirrel -Matheran (b) and the Pied harrier -Uran<br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><u>List of Birds </u></span> <br /></p><ol type="1"><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Indian pea fowl - heared<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Lesser whistling duck</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Spot Billed Duck</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Lesser Golden Backed woodpecker</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Brown headed barbet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Coppersmith barbet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Indian roller</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">White breasted kingfisher</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Small Blue kingfisher</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Green bee eater</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Chestnut headed bee eater</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Blue tailed bee eater</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Asian koel</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Greater coucal</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Rose ringed parakeet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Plum headed parakeet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Alexandrine parakeet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Asian palm swift</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">House swift</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Bran owl</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Rock pigeon</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Laughing dove</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Spotted dove</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Yellow footed green pigeon</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">White breasted waterhen</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Purple swamphen</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common coot</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common coot</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black shouldered kite</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black kite</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Shikra</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Changeable hawk eagle</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common kestrel</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Little cormorant</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Little egret</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Cattle egret</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Indian pond heron</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black ibis</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Golden fronted leafbird</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Bay backed shrike</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Rufous backed shrike</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Long tailed shrike</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Southern grey shrike</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Rufous treepie</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">House crow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Jungle crow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Eurasian golden oriole</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black hooded oriole</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black naped oriole</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Large cuckooshrike</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">White throated fantail</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">White browed fantail</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black drongo</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Greater racket tailed drongo</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Ashy drongo</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Asian paradise flycatcher</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Asian brown flycatcher</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common iora</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Oriental magpie robin</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Indian robin</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Pied bushchat</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Brahminy starling</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common myna</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Bank myna</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Jungle Myna</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Dusky crag martin</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Red rumped swallow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common swallow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Wood swallow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Bran swallow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Red whiskered bulbul</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Red vented bulbul</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Gray breasted prinia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Jungle prinia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Plain prinia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Ashy prinia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Jungle babbler</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Greenish leaf warbler</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Indian bush lark</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Rufous tailed lark</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">sky lark</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Thick billed flowerpecker</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Purple rumped sunbird</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Crimson backed sunbird</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Purple sunbird</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">House sparrow</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Paddyfield pipit</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Scaly breasted munia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Intermmediate Egret</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black-headed Munia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Red Munia</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Garganey</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black-tailed Godwit</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common Greenshank</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common Sandpiper</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Marsh Sandpiper</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Little Stint</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common Redshank</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Black-winged Stilt</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Whiskered Tern</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Little Tern</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Gull-billed Tern</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Western Marsh Harrier</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><b><u><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Pied Harrier Bird of the day<br /></span></u></b></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Brahminy Kite</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Western Reef-Egret</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Grey Heron</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Common stonechat</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">Asian Pied Starling</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Bronze winged Jacana</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Pheasant tailed Jacana</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Tailorbird</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Crested Serpant Eagle</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Pied Avocet</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Whimbrel</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Eurasian curlew</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Terek sandpiper</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Northern Shoveller</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Cotton Teel</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Common snipe</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Spoonbill</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Northern pintail</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Black headed gull</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Gadwall</span></li></ol></div></div><br /><span style="color:#888888;"><br />-- <br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wildlife Activist & Photographer<br />Mumbai, India.<br /><a href="http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/wild_mumbai/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(87, 151, 176); ">http://in.groups.yahoo.com/<wbr>group/wild_mumbai/</a><br /><a href="http://www.rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(87, 151, 176); ">www.rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.<wbr>com</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoparguy/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(87, 151, 176); ">http://www.flickr.com/photos/<wbr>leoparguy/</a><br /></span></span></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-65337795392651910862009-02-04T01:20:00.001-08:002009-02-04T01:20:50.787-08:00Wings of delight - An article on Mumbai BirdRAceThe city's birdwatchers flock together<br />The hunt is not an exercise of will<br />But patient love relaxing on a hill<br />To note the movement of a timid wing<br />—Nissim Ezekiel in <br />Poet, Lover, Birdwatcher<br /><br /><br />Years ago, Nissim Ezekiel drew similarities between a poet, lover and birdwatcher in one of his much appreciated poems. Over the years, the number of those who will agree with his words has only multiplied as the community of birdwatchers has increased in the city and continues to grow.<br /><br />"Since Mumbai has the advantage of being a coastal city, it has a wide variety of bird species. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded over the years in the Mumbai surrounds," says naturalist Sunjoy Monga. Nearly 50 per cent of these species do not breed here, these are the various type of migrants or seasonal visitors to the region, he adds. And they are the ones who make the otherwise dull winter in Mumbai interesting. And bird-lovers take out their pairs of binoculars and reference books before setting out on the trail of two-winged creatures.<br /><br />"Most of the people who come for our bird-watching outings in Mumbai are learners. These trips teach them how to use binoculars, reference books as well as study and document bird movements. They later on go to the spots outside Mumbai where birds population is higher," says Avinash Kubal of the Maharastra Nature Park. "With the surge in the number of birdwatchers, the documentation of birds has also got a boost," says Sujit Narwade of the Bombay Natural History Society.<br /><br />Though with flamingoes, the Sewri Bay, especially the jetty, has become a famous stomping ground of birdwatchers along with the Uran wetlands, these nature lovers have found many other places across the city where the chances of sighting of birds—resident and rare—are high. Rajesh Sachdev's favourite haunt is Sanjay Gandhi National Park. "Any time of the year, one can spot at least 30 species of birds in the park if you spend a couple of hours there," says Sachdev, who is involved in the Mumbai Bird Race. The annual evented scheduled on February 22 is organised in the city since 2005.<br /><br />In fact, it was after sighting a beautiful Paradise Flycatcher in the park three years back that he converted into an avid birdwatcher. Rajmachi and Matheran are the two other favourite weekend<br /><br />getaways for Sachdev to study birds.<br /><br />There are more: Elephanta Island, Vikhroli grasslands, Thane creek and<br /><br />margins, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, near Vasai, Lotus Pond on the Malad-Marve Road and Talzan Hills in Charkop. According to Monga, several city parks and groves too attract birds. "Actually, birds exist all around us. One just needs to learn to notice them," says Neeta Deb. She admits to being a<br /><br />"beginner birdwatcher" and tries to spend as much time as her nine-year-old old allow her to be with the nature.<br /><br />Bird-watching has also become a<br /><br />perfect excuse to get wildlife activists and lovers together. On February 1, Rishi Agarwal is organising one such event at Lokhandwala Lake. His motive, other than spotting the winged creatures, will be to draw attention to the condition of the lake. In 1999, he, along with a group of friends, had stopped the BMC from dumping garbage at the lake. His inspiration might have come from a bird-watching trip to the area that this environmental activist had undertaken with a group. "We had spotted 45 species of birds that day," he recalls, and adds, "On a regular day one can spot pond heron, bar-headed geese, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher and medium egret among others there."<br /><br />The pollution, concrete growth and demolition of forest have taken a toll on the bird population in Mumbai. Sachdev wants vultures, who are now extinct in the city, to be back. Till that happens the sighting of 'Indian pitta', locally known as 'navrang' can make him happy.<br /><br />http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/wings-of-delight/417684/<br />-- <br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wildlife Activist & Photographer<br />Mumbai, India.<br />http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/wild_mumbai/<br />www.rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.comRajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-79177221558032761722009-01-11T23:26:00.001-08:002009-01-11T23:33:14.924-08:00Chinchoti – A paradise ignored.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP9ZEt0iDJOG5o34j0D1QImGsJ6qJkucxx3Yd87DIkztI9ZlicKmqOpJ6nG-ABflJ8qNvkf1Ymkbg_IzjXnK7iflAJdORHQ_cpG51MEUupQWunNX1cP0UpyWxw9Snq9mYvn1WcWXi7c3V/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290306211590782594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP9ZEt0iDJOG5o34j0D1QImGsJ6qJkucxx3Yd87DIkztI9ZlicKmqOpJ6nG-ABflJ8qNvkf1Ymkbg_IzjXnK7iflAJdORHQ_cpG51MEUupQWunNX1cP0UpyWxw9Snq9mYvn1WcWXi7c3V/s200/clip_image002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>48 Kms away from Mumbai South, is the world in is own velocity. Raptors, Beetles, Butterflies, spiders and Wildflowers, all are there a naturalist would think of about. At the highest point of this forest, there is a deep valley, given me the feel of being in the evergreen forest of Dandeli in South India. But, I am not in Dandeli; the place I am writing about in this report is “Chinchoti”. 9.5 Kms of steep track and you are in the finest woods of the least represented Malabar Coast of Western Ghats, in continuity with Mumbai’s SGNP and is part of Tungareshwar WLS. There are 3 waterfalls (virtually forming Chinchoti Nalla) in Chinchoti and as per the locals saying that all of these are seasonal during monsoon and starts getting dry by the onset of summer.<br /><br />As and when I along with five of my co-travelers (including 2 Canadians) started the track through the open scrub land and few of human settlements, we were greeted by the Petronias, Bulbuls, Drongos, wood swallows and Sunbirds. A Hoopoe flittering here there and chasing away a common myna was a scene which was much of excitement for all of us. At the water body near the settlements, a white wagtail and White breasted kingfisher started our day. Suddenly, the Drongos and Bee-eaters dominated the forest, as we went it bit deeper. Eranthemum roseum and Hibiscus hirtus were on the tail seen on both the sides. A scat of predator was seen on the rock at lower waterfall, this is also the place where I encountered day’s first blue oakleaf butterfly and it was around 09.00 AM, perhaps too early for this creature. We went on in search of more wild world, and every another step turned out to be the fruitfull not only for us but also for those locals who live nearby. A group of 5 men and 3 women were active nearby for cutting trees. One among them carrying headload of wood allowed me photographing him in that position.<br />By now at around 10.30, the temperature risen to 24 degree and butterflies started basking on the plants. Psyches, grass blues and darters were all around. Tawny coaster, angled perriot and bush brown were scattered here there. Spotted dove and plum headed parakeet, along with brown headed barbet felt us their presence through their identical calls. The Red cotton tree was just in bloom and couple of trees had good flowerings throughout the trail. On the upper waterfall, we took some rest, and had some pet pooja. Suddenly, the group started staring at the lone bird perched on the high anjan tree. Pravin, wondered to identify it as Eurasian Black bird, whereas we had some reservation on its timing. I am of an opinion that I had seen this specie at the Tungareshwar & Rajmachi in monsoon season, where as the bird was just off late. Anyways, leaving this bird on its tree, we headed ahead.<br /><br />Now, at 1.00 PM the day started becoming hot and we were just on the dark and steep woods of Teak and drying pods of Karvi. Urena lobata and Blepharis asperrimawre was seen on the green carpet of this dense region. Raptors were hovering above in the sky. The Serpent Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle and others were out on the hunt. The bracket fungus on the ground also started drying. On one among the teak branch, here we came across a beetle, which we have never seen before. Jennifer got mesmerized looking at this insect, Although I shown her so many anything on the forest floor or under the canopy of leaf litter, but this was the one among, whome she photographed as memory to take it in her home land Canada.<br /><br />By 02.30 PM we were on the top of the forest, Leon said it to be the upper upper water fall. We took some rest here looking at the raptors of the horizon and many tiny creature in and around the place. Like minded people (Naturalists or nature lovers) are still to short list this area as their preferred outing in Mumbai. But, some other element took lead in frequent around this area very commonly along with the bottles of wine and what not. This is the most polluted part, full of bottles, wrappers and …..The time passed by nicely having the food, we were carrying along with us. By 3.30 PM we decided descending down. Leaving alone, one of the best Wildlife Habitats at its own. </div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-44355514523138149142008-09-29T02:31:00.000-07:002008-09-29T02:35:13.271-07:00Dam-m-ing Rajmachi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOoA3J45achFUlZUVfcIDBXNES4KNfV93-2vM4inQtWH29KN8kNkdQZgAgFDlbIdUeXXMOr6Djx3xgwrqLlSLTuaMAXlZ-1r6arPwc36AxoEu9OTuKQW4w6IlHDAspZs0XSdaqqiOlSS_/s1600-h/Image021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOoA3J45achFUlZUVfcIDBXNES4KNfV93-2vM4inQtWH29KN8kNkdQZgAgFDlbIdUeXXMOr6Djx3xgwrqLlSLTuaMAXlZ-1r6arPwc36AxoEu9OTuKQW4w6IlHDAspZs0XSdaqqiOlSS_/s200/Image021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251374388314087762" border="0" /></a><br /><div id=":1lz" class="ArwC7c ckChnd"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">Peooww…Peooww – The calls of Indian Peafowl were echoing in the valley of Ulhas at Rajmachi ( the proposed Protected Area waiting for its notification as Father Santapau Wildlife sanctuary from last few years). The twin calls of this magnificent pheasant were attracting me and my co-traveler Mane who traveled all the way from distant suburbs of Mumbai – Kalyan to Lonavala. We both were looking forward for a sighting of stripped hyeana at the </span><span lang="EN-US">Ulhas</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Valley</span><span lang="EN-US">. Re-collecting the sighting of this carnivore just 2 years back made me more optimistic.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">This was worth leaving home at </span><span lang="EN-US">05.30 AM</span><span lang="EN-US"> in the early & mist morning of Wednesday 24<sup>th</sup> September, 09. Through the doors of Indrayani Express, the sightings of Karvi between Lonavala & Karjat were much beautiful. The hill slopes of this </span><span lang="EN-US">Western Ghats</span><span lang="EN-US"> zone ( Sahyadri) were painted purple ( Karwi ) Yellow ( Graham's groundsell) and Magenta (Impatiens Balsamania).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">We finally reached at </span><span lang="EN-US">Tungarli</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Village</span><span lang="EN-US">, the base of Rajmachi Platue at </span><span lang="EN-US">08.30 AM</span><span lang="EN-US">. The shrikes (Long tailed Shrike) The Sunbirds (Purple Sunbird) and Bulbuls (Red Vented & Whiskered) were much vocal near Tungarli dam. The base of dam structure is parallel to the road (tar road) leading to Rajmachi via Upperdeck resorts & Captain's resort.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Before could I give the report of few of the best sightings, here I must share that a new dam is being constructed near these resorts. Possibly, a huge forest land was cleared to create the catchment area for the dam. This is of surprise to me, since I am frequent traveler to this area from last 3 years, but this was something new to me.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Anyways, proceeding ahead was the only option for us. Despite of a single sighting of common flameback woodpecker, we wanted to leave that area dam-m-ing area, because of noise coming out of JCB machine excavating the soil near the dam structure.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">After a walk of 10-12 minutes we started hearing calls of an Indian peafowl, infact there were two peafowls, the other was somewhere down the valley. Slowly, gradually we were heading towards the culvert from where the call was coming. And there we saw one. I was fully enchanted with this blue pheasant, when Mane shouted and pointed towards a solitary Scarlet Minivet – Male. Very soon we were disturbed by two fully loaded tourist vehicles full of British, who traveled from Pune for tracking in Rajmachi. These trackers were in much hurry, and were rushing towards the fort situated atop the Platue.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">But, we were not in hurry, it was just </span><span lang="EN-US">11.00 AM</span><span lang="EN-US">, we were waiting for raptors and Butterflies to come out. Before Raptors could come out, what we saw was White Napped Tit, an unspectulated sighting of the bird resident of South – West and </span><span lang="EN-US">North-East India</span><span lang="EN-US">. <span> </span>Nothing else, but I shot an instant SMS to Adesh Shivkar on this sighting.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">By now the day was hot, apprx. </span><span lang="EN-US">12 PM</span><span lang="EN-US"> and actually un-sustainable for me in person. We decided to roll back to Lonavala. My decision turned out to be right with<span> </span>sightings<span> </span>of Raptors such as Vulture, Shikra, Eagle and Kestrel.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">With a promising commitment to visit Rajmachi again & again and again to document the untamed wilderness of this "CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT". I would come back here.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Compiled list of my sightings…………</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Birds</span></span></span></u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">White napped Tit</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Indian Peafowl</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Scarlet Minivet – Male</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common Flameback woodpecker</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Brown headed barbet</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Spotted dove</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Crow pheasant</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">White rumped vulture</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Crested Serpent Eagle</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Shikra</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common Kestrel</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Golden Fronted leaf bird</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Long tailed Shrike</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common Iora</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Blue tailed bee-eater</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Great egret</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Flowers</span></span></span></u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Porona Malabarica</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Smithia setulosa</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Ipmoia NIL</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Impatiens Balsamania</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Trichodesme Indicum</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Solanum Anguivi</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Carvia Callossa</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Commelina forskalaei</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Chlorophytum bharuchii</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Butterfly</span></span></span></u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common Mormon</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common Rose</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Common leopard</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Gaudy baron</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Baronet</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Chocolate pansy</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Great Eggfly</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Blue Oakleaf</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> --<br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation<br />--<br />"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." - Mrs. Indira Gandhi</div> </div><div class="LYI6Sd ckChnd"><div class="eNXyxd"><table style="width: 176px; height: 28px;" class="EWdQcf"><tbody><tr><td class=""><br /></td><td><br /></td><td class=""><div class="XymfBd X5Xvu" idlink=""><img class="DTkpKe" src="http://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif" /><span class="qZkfSe"></span></div></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td class="bEgJye"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-6724086503582558522008-08-14T01:58:00.000-07:002008-08-14T02:01:11.940-07:00Who needs freedom in India?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_lzMECOGZYteJu30As_42dM90Q8WhW5wYrvQvexCgpJ9gxbo8a8CqB9l7zjszGTym_E4fIaYBZHWIl1QV41ciuKWP1I11hCeQbYLHxyaAeoEWS0hyphenhyphenof6Uw5U8s27Wa0CilBGuJLiVZE/s1600-h/cause+of+conflict+-+human+invading+in+leopard+territory.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_lzMECOGZYteJu30As_42dM90Q8WhW5wYrvQvexCgpJ9gxbo8a8CqB9l7zjszGTym_E4fIaYBZHWIl1QV41ciuKWP1I11hCeQbYLHxyaAeoEWS0hyphenhyphenof6Uw5U8s27Wa0CilBGuJLiVZE/s320/cause+of+conflict+-+human+invading+in+leopard+territory.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234295637643506450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hi all,<br />Since last 60 years we Indians are free. We are in democracy, we are entitle to do anything, speak anything and go anywhere. But, what about the poor wildlife. They are still to get freedom from Human presence. They need inviolate space. They need complete isolation from Human being, not humanity. The attached picture was shot in the world famous "City Forests" - SGNP. in the pic. there is track near culvert No.: 12 at Vihar lake where a leopard cub passed by. in very few minutes a human followed the same track. This shows that the critical wildlife habitats are not away from the human greed, we humans use the forest resources for our very personal use, but also we degrade the forest land by felling/cutting trees, clearing the forests on the name of infrastructural development such as Hydro-Electric power plant, Nuclear plant & Water dams - reservoirs.<br /><br />Do we have any other planet where we can shift, if all the resources from this earth are finished. If we kept on degrading our forests then, there will be no forests- no wildlife- no water and perhaps no humans. </div>--<br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation<br />--<br />"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." - Mrs. Indira GandhiRajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-32020466825695686502008-07-25T03:19:00.000-07:002008-07-25T03:29:14.016-07:00Matheran - An untamed panaroma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFBAc7IUFRIxDNzzhkxojU__Pmc8IcFFxnPjLAfRLRLM99Rl_oXSn86hKehCflz9ioGkrCF48AcqGDwHQJi6tCMzwRH2mXgIu9_t-g2Q0WItbS3SgNKru1ZCrMwuiXJ2yT6oudMd6g0sm/s1600-h/flower_%231.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFBAc7IUFRIxDNzzhkxojU__Pmc8IcFFxnPjLAfRLRLM99Rl_oXSn86hKehCflz9ioGkrCF48AcqGDwHQJi6tCMzwRH2mXgIu9_t-g2Q0WItbS3SgNKru1ZCrMwuiXJ2yT6oudMd6g0sm/s200/flower_%231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226896275391921698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBrjF4CuhNwOaf3AHkmmCvuPiFVwz7bwjidxbqs7gFdcql7goRma5xZaXZoxWC83-QgJQUzAGF2nvPanytkvp2IGg6kwIDRCPEDOC4espzbu9MjQ_HfHV9Cp84dGw6yaDu5LyNy9237B_/s1600-h/flower_%237.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBrjF4CuhNwOaf3AHkmmCvuPiFVwz7bwjidxbqs7gFdcql7goRma5xZaXZoxWC83-QgJQUzAGF2nvPanytkvp2IGg6kwIDRCPEDOC4espzbu9MjQ_HfHV9Cp84dGw6yaDu5LyNy9237B_/s200/flower_%237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226896281390951330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBeUclT81_kyc8C0sROT319a9XmLw9YWGhdxnm4l59AxMj2Y98my5RpujmrWIrxkZ1oVGd8-7s7sMAs5NkJ2yBuATFPumDf_69ZI3tW_sJA1MoxZttt8SsmJb9wMuVhKKkoVnhdN1lfK2/s1600-h/flower_%235.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBeUclT81_kyc8C0sROT319a9XmLw9YWGhdxnm4l59AxMj2Y98my5RpujmrWIrxkZ1oVGd8-7s7sMAs5NkJ2yBuATFPumDf_69ZI3tW_sJA1MoxZttt8SsmJb9wMuVhKKkoVnhdN1lfK2/s200/flower_%235.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226896280257361026" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ehsdIdCrYUfs6lm8BP5u1spomEmwnhMyZhaRf1gzr-M44_rzslfhK5LMVSOvPI57WQna4Vm3c7KRbi0oMtB8a4OFts2LH9LI5PMmEKZlZXu1wiwWUpszWb_NDx2DwjrEHWnaZNz90bt/s1600-h/flower_%236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ehsdIdCrYUfs6lm8BP5u1spomEmwnhMyZhaRf1gzr-M44_rzslfhK5LMVSOvPI57WQna4Vm3c7KRbi0oMtB8a4OFts2LH9LI5PMmEKZlZXu1wiwWUpszWb_NDx2DwjrEHWnaZNz90bt/s200/flower_%236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226896285577197426" border="0" /></a><br /><div id=":18c" class="ArwC7c ckChnd"><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS-LO5gEviwf69Vqtu6t9EmXrA3zITh0LXQSjw90-F4PaCdCOfUkE8Qt4ldq26pt93heRTcJulVcuFjcminj9zEMx7wL8-h3EO8jXiUk_p7ysezLJX8GCkEOME4_f4nqAvmF_IWgi64BE/s1600-h/flower_%233.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS-LO5gEviwf69Vqtu6t9EmXrA3zITh0LXQSjw90-F4PaCdCOfUkE8Qt4ldq26pt93heRTcJulVcuFjcminj9zEMx7wL8-h3EO8jXiUk_p7ysezLJX8GCkEOME4_f4nqAvmF_IWgi64BE/s200/flower_%233.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226896280519490818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was unimaginable to see the highly endangered specie right on the way to the bustling hill station of Mumbai - Matheran. Yes, guys, it was none other than the state animal of the Maharashtra the <strong><u>SHEKHAROO</u></strong> an<em> Indian Giant Squirrel.</em> Trust me I didn't expected this chap to come on my way, i remember to had seen it last time in Dandeli in October, 07. Perhaps, this is because of those who dreamt to make Matheran non pollution ECO Sensitive Zone, which is in the Hot spot of Bio-Diversity the Western Ghats. I know whome i Shall say Thanks for keeping Matheran what is it meant for ?</div> <div> </div> <div>Me, Mane & Amish decided to spend the first day of week at Matheran on 21st of July. We reached at Mathearn at 08.00 AM and started the trail to Panaroma Point which is apprx. 5 Kms from the station ( 2.5 Kms from Dasturi Check Naka ). It was drizzling for the whole day. But, we had our preparations ready for it. I knew that the god of Rains will not let me see the good sightings of the denizens, but indeed he was much in good mood.</div> <div> </div> <div>Here comes what I saw...................</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>BIRDS</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>1) Malabar Whistling Thrush - 5 sightings on the way and back Panaroma Point</div> <div>2) Crested serpent Eagle - 3 sighting continuous shrilling and hovering above sky</div> <div>3) Changeable Hawk Eagle - 1 Sighting in pair</div> <div>4) Brown Headed Gull - 1 sighting , right at panaroma hill top</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>FLOWERS</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>1) Tolypenthus logenifer</div> <div>2) Pavetta crassicaulis</div> <div>3) Pinda concanensis</div> <div>4) Solanum anguivi</div> <div>5) Sonerila scapigera</div> <div>6) Habenaria rariflora</div> <div>7) Cucuruma pseudomontana</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Butterflies</strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div> <div>1) Great Eggfly</div> <div>2) Danaid Eggfly</div> <div>3) Malabar Spotted flat</div> <div>4) Blue Mormon</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Mammals</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>1) Indian Giant Squirrel</div> <div> </div> <div>These 6 hours of tracking was indeed very much promising and thanks to Terence Delima for advising the right trail. </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><strong><u>Experts kindly confirm how rare and how common is the Giant Squirrel at Matheran and also please confirm what the brown headed gull was to do at panaroma point?</u></strong></div> <div><br />--<br />--<br />Regards<br />Rajesh Sachdev<br />Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation<br /><span style="color:#888888;">--<br />"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry, and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." - Mrs. Indira Gandhi </span></div> </div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-66470948005702044432008-06-13T00:40:00.000-07:002008-06-13T00:48:40.444-07:00World Bank ofer rejected...Why?<div align="justify"></div><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYgobRDWNp0hnw4Rtv0Bbo7nqsjOvz5hl-spSDur12x0ZLwAJggrAcKymmr9d_0AdyGS_BR3bq6MH3k_4V0SGJOt-467as3JUnPqivoJelNgQkIWArrtpTBDMZ3Xz6COnHIT_zZZT6wVm/s1600-h/DSC00242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211268687130621762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYgobRDWNp0hnw4Rtv0Bbo7nqsjOvz5hl-spSDur12x0ZLwAJggrAcKymmr9d_0AdyGS_BR3bq6MH3k_4V0SGJOt-467as3JUnPqivoJelNgQkIWArrtpTBDMZ3Xz6COnHIT_zZZT6wVm/s200/DSC00242.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">HI all, Click on the link and also do read the comments written by me right after the link:<br /><br /><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3124934.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3124934.cms</a><br /><br />The Government of India rejecting the World Bank (WB in short ) offer sound strange. I mean, when several NGO are running their show on the funds provided by the Multinational banks and industries. When several NGO's in India have their offices located somewhere in the other part of the world. When the Importance of the word TIGERs and Leopards was made understood by the British national ( Jim Corbett ), till than we were branding these big cats as Aadamkhor ( man eaters ) irrespective of they were or not. When the Indian Tiger Conservation Programme is in its dark face, and every another day there are the reports of Tiger Poaching, Tiger Killing and other stuff. Whenever the FD probed, the only answer come across is the short of funds.THEN, WHY SHOULDN'T WE ACCEPT WORLD BANK OFFER TO FUND FOR THE TIGER CONSERVATION PROGRAMME IN INDIA?<br /><br />Even the recent declaration of Indian Government providing 600 CR for such a giant project to protect 37000 Kms of Tiger Reserves and conserve the umbrella specie would be nothing, Most of amount would be spared for back office expenses, overhead expenses in administration and travel to delhi and State head quarter ( mantralaya or Sachivalaya, by the PA managers & TR Directors ). No amount would be paid towards afforestation , Reforestation and rehabilitation of Eligible people outside the TRs. No fencing or the boundary wall would be erected , where the man-animal come in conflicts.<br /><br />Let us calculate 600 CR allotted for 5 years in 30 TRs of India is nothing more than 3.33 CR for every Tiger reserve. Every TR in this part of world had more than 2 CR of expenses on Admin and other expenses till 2005, now the situation is rather worst, the recent CAG report would state more than that much.<br /><br /><br />We should also consider that the WB is an organisation which is already active in many environmental projects in the several parts of World ( Specially wildlife rich African Sub-continent & Bio-diversity rich South-East Asia )<br /><br /><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=218616&piPK=217470&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=224076&category=simsearch&pagenumber=1&pagesize=100&sortby=BOARDSORTDATE&sortorder=DESC&query=wildlife&status=ALL" target="_blank">http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=218616&piPK=217470&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=224076&category=simsearch&pagenumber=1&pagesize=100&sortby=BOARDSORTDATE&sortorder=DESC&query=wildlife&status=ALL</a><br /><br />and most of its project are either active or closed after its final completion. I did download the 2500 MB size of its report of project the WB carried in the several parts of Africa, South East Asia and other poor countries and I am quite convinced with it.</div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-9054242962751016082008-06-10T06:28:00.001-07:002008-06-10T06:28:49.085-07:00A leopard cub, lost its wildernessOn Monday, a leopard cub was rescued by the forest department in Yeoor range of Thane forest division. The news came in most of national news paper circulating in Mumbai. The Cub was being chased away by the feral dogs and was noticed by the local, who informed the Forest department and the action of rescuing was taken upon.<br /><br />Now, if we go to flash back and try to re-collect an incident where the kittens of Jungle cat were rescued at Aarey milk colony almost a year ago. The veterinary doctor and Forest department took every another step to ensure the survival of kittens. But, unfortunately, the poor kittens could not be saved and perished away in captivity. We must know that these small cats/kittens can't stay away from their mother and must be with the care taker for almost 2-3 years of their initial age. This not only allows them to understand the method of hunting down the prey, but also to understand the life system of the CAT family. The FD is claiming that the cub would be released once; it is able to hunt down its prey at its own. But, my question is that who is going to teach the leopard cub the method of learning and bringing down its prey. No matter, the leopards are opportunistic and have almost no strategy to prey on the hunt. But, chasing and killing the prey is the technique which every cat has to adopt and understand from its parents.<br /><br />I am in doubt, if the poor cat could survive in absence of its mother. And even in any case if it could survive, there is no chance for him to get back to its jungle at its own or otherwise, this leopard has lost its wilderness.<br /><br />OR Shall we say that this is another loss of leopard that would never go back to its wild and would be in captivity for rest of his life the way other leopards are in.Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200649743492148282.post-38262608823229258732008-06-08T23:01:00.000-07:002008-06-09T05:31:49.290-07:00Rajmachi - an urgent need of hour<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209858051839988962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1IZ4yk-X_Ke4YOuRdaPtolGrFHsYxgiCGAP1kcwyQsM9AiImSgotLtTODc4iIS_RKj5QOwAg7p-_pkGMz8wuso5QfqtnK1pxZmNLVhrOe7uK061QN5oGFe0TWRlqeUUQYlDGHiZWQfK3/s200/forest+-+water+originators.JPG" width="244" border="0" /><br /><div><p align="justify">The Rajmachi has its own intimate history of conservation. It not only has two of forts, but is also one of most potential & successful habitat for the wild ungulates. The forest lies in the 5A zone of Sahyadri range, and is easily accessible from Lonavla Stn. or Karjat Stn. near Mumbai. Way from Karjat Stn. to Kondavane base village is roughly around 17 Kms. and hence it is drivable. And then from Kondavane, one has to literally track for another 5 Kms. which is very steep terrain. This enable the trackers not only pass through the dense forest, but also to encounter the wildlife, which is endemic to Sahyadri only. The walk from Lonavla Stn. to Rajmachi fort at the top is 14 Kms. and is trackable or walkable. The Protected area is likely to get the wildlife sanctuary status and which is actually awaited by the state government. The forests of Rajmachi as I said have the great potentiality of wildlife habitat, is because of its hilly terrain, undisturbed forest zone (Lonavla-Tungarli- Rajmachi- Dhak & Vadap Base ) of over 400 Kms. which is the origin of Ulhas River. The river which originates from Ulhas valley cross over 97 Kms. before meeting Arabian sea at Mumbra and Dahisar on Mumbai’s eastern and western shoreline respectively. The river which gives birth to several rivulets on its way and those rivulets give new greens to the cultivation. The Valley has several perennial and seasonal streams forming its origin. These streams which flows from the top of Rajmachi forms the catchments area of several ponds and reservoirs on the way before entering the plains of Karjat-Dhak range. Rajmachi forests spaces more than 195 forest and scrub bird species. The most vulnerable species are vultures, which are almost extinct in its neighboring town. Not only bird even predators like hyenas and jackals are also seen here in sizeable population. I have spent couple of monsoons, winters and summers in this forest, exploring the possibility of big cats in the untamed green and hilly terrains of this region. The results are bit sheer clear and are otherwise exiting to know that the leopards are still ruling the forests, and their signs of presence are clearly seen. Not only leopards, but even hyenas and jackals droppings are the clear evidence of these forests being the best habitat of these predators, preying on the wild ungulates. The track to Rajmachi from Lonavla is more or less drivable, and the road has hills from one side and valley from the other side. And in the early mornings one can encounter a lone Sambars grazing on the plains of the forest. The burrows and the droppings of mongoose and porcupine are also the direct evidence of these insectivorous. The plains of the Rajmachi are not only the grazing area of Sambars, but also of spotted Deers. The over growing population of Chitals in the region are significance of how undisturbed these forests are till some extent. These Chitals otherwise easily to spot are difficult to locate due to the inaccessibility of the forest by the outsiders because of its terrain in Rajmachi. One of my friend, who just been back from Rajmachi sighted a hoof mark of Sambar overlapped by pugmark of a jungle cat. It is not that way, me only being talking about mammals, but this forest is paradise for the birds, reptiles and butterflies. Few of major or commonly sighted raptors of the terrain are Crested Serpent eagle, Black kite and Common Kestrel. The very uncommon raptors would be long billed vultures & White rumped vultures as well. A month or two ago, the bird watchers from Pune confirmed the sighting of vultures scavenging the Caracas. These scavengers have always made sure that everything is well consumed in the forest. These raptors not only scavenge the dead bodies found in the jungle, but also hunt the live prey. Serpent eagles and Shikra are known to prey on spotted dove and little brown dove. Spotted dove and The Little Brown Dove which are otherwise common and abundantly available in these forests, are one of the regular hunts of these raptors. Not only these raptors, but the bats like false vampire and others also target these small ground birds. The other common birds of Rajmachi are Rufous Treepie, Plum headed parakeet, White rumped Shama, Indian grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill and paradise flycatchers. The local winter visitors like verdict flycatcher and Black Necked Storks are also sighted near the watering bodies at the fort. The list of birds although big enough, but speculates, the birdwatchers, that how and on what these forest birds would be feeding upon, in this semi-deciduous forest. Ofcourse there are several trees to take shelter on, but there are very few fruiting tress in this forest. Further ahead, the long trackable road is also ground for several mud-puddling butterflies. These butterflies like Swordtail, Pansies and several other species. The most common encounter would be common<br />crow, tiger striped and blue bottle. The Rajmachi is also breeding ground for the world’s biggest Atlas moth. The moth which is endemic to South East Asia only has been seen in many parts of Rajmachi forests. The moth has very small span of life during monsoon season, and hence the sightings of such a species are restricted during the season only. Now, coming to reptiles, the reptiles of Rajmachi have also created much of excitement in the herpetologist community. Right from Spectacled Cobra, Common krait and vipers, Pythons to geckos & lizards. The easiest sightings of the area are green vine snake and Malabar pit viper along with several lizards.<br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">May god maintain the pristinity of the forest, as safe ground for the wildlife-dé-Sahyadri</span></strong> </p></div>Rajesh Sachdevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00381405438030989041noreply@blogger.com0