Multitasker: February 2018

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

In the dreaded Chambal Valley with the BNHS on a birding expedition !!

The Bombay Natural History Society BNHS has been arranging camps and trips to various nature reserves for many years. I was with them on the Chambal, Bharatpur and Ranthambore camp.

The group was basically a birding group, a fact that I had overlooked in my desire to see Ranthambore. Have you ever been with birders ???? They are amazing . People talk of politics, cars, how the share market is going, women (when none are present), life, children etc. This lot talks of birds – the winged variety. I sat there dumb struck on the Chambal sands (we were waiting for the second group to return from their birding / boating trip) whilst they discussed the particular green shade of some bird ... for 30+ minutes. Crazy.

This was an animated discussion in all seriousness. Another fact: they have incredible eyesight and intuition. They can identify a bird species, just by hearing its call or looking at its posture – is the tail up or down, is the head at a particular angle, is it a particular colour.

I learnt that sub species are being created so the need to keep updated. As a guy who knows only the non feathered variety of birds, it was a true learning experience.

18^th November New Delhi to Dholpur

Date	Time	Mileage	Dist	comments
18/11	6.35	186650		NDLS stn
	8.00 - 8.50	186753	103	Tea break at Shiva Dhaba
	11.30-11.45			Loo break
	12.15	186852	202	Dholpur
	1.45 – 3.00			Lunch break
	3.15	186963	313	Chambal River
	3.40 to 4.50 pm			River cruise Birding Grp. 1

Charge is Rs 1560 for 6 pax for one hour. Camera fee Rs 40.

Date	Time	Mileage	Dist	Comments
19/11	9.15			Depart for cruise
	9.15 – 10.30			Political picnic
	10.45 – 11.45			River cruise Birding
	11.45 – 12.45			River cruise Birding – 2^nd group
	1.00	186982		Left beach for Bharatpur

there are over 1,100 gharials in the river

This was wonderful experience for me. The group was great and now I am off to the north east with BNHS to see more birds and rhinos.

Don’t forget, if you like animals or birds, go on a BNHS tour. You don’t have to be a member.

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A surfeit of tigers in Ranthambhore but will we see one ?

this is where we saw the tigress

Bharatpur to Ranthambore

Date	Time	Mileage	Distance	villages passed
21/11	8 am	187142		Naya Gaon Magi / Mahwa / Mehndipur Balaji
	1.10 pm	187381	239	Arrived Sher Garh Ranthambore

The Bombay Natural History Society BNHS has been arranging camps and trips to various nature reserves for many years. I was with them on the Chambal, Bharatpur and Ranthambore camp. We arrived here from Bharatpur Bird sanctuary. A long tiring drive.

There are many hotels. Most of them have the word "sher” in them; so it gets very confusing. Try and stay near the entry for zones 1 to 5 as it’s easier in the early mornings when you have to go at 6.00 am.

Enough has been written about Ranthambore. Suffice it to say that tigers are aplenty but it all depends upon luck.

If you have time and money, hire a jeep. Takes six pax. Cost Rs 30,000 for half day, Rs 60,000 for full day. Advantage is you can go to any zone. Chances of seeing a tiger(s) shoot up.

If you are in a group or want to go on the standard tour, you are forced to take the zone allotted to you. You can change the zone if the allotment is repeated. You can also request a zone... it all depends upon how you treat the concerned officer.

Ranthambore 1700 sq kms; 20% open for visitors; 10 zones. 1 to 5 in one area near our hotel and the most popular. Other zones # 6 to 10 about 13 kms away.