WanderLust: March 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011

Birds of Orchha, Madhya Pradesh

The Betwa Retreat - the Madya Pradesh Tourist home in Orchha - consists of cottages and tents set in a beautifully maintained garden on gently rising ground with a wonderful view of the Betwa river. The Betwa Retreat is a bird watchers paradise. In the space of a few hours, we would have seen perhaps 20 different species. Below are a few captured on camera.

Pipit (which one?)

Indian Roller

Black Redstart

Small Green Bee-eater

Brahminy Mina

Long-billed Vulture sitting atop a Cenotaph

Indian Robin

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Birds - Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh

We reach the National Park in Shivpuri after a 2 hr drive from Orcha on a newly laid highway. We are admitted into the park, though at 11 AM, we have missed the official morning opening window. Our guide to be assures us that we will see birds and even some four legged animals as they return after taking a mid morning drink in the lake. And as it turns out, we do spot Chinkara, Barasingha and Nilgai.

As we drive along a dusty mud track, I capture a few birds (below) wading in shallow waters or standing along the shores of the Sakhya Sagar lake (right).

A Black Winged Stilt

Whistling Teal

Darter (Snake Bird)

Large Egret

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Himalayan Peaks

Banderpoonch range seen from the Taluka to Seema section of the Har ki dun trail - April, 2011

The Banderpoonch range (Peaks - Banderpoonch I, II and Kalanag) seen on a May morning from Dayara Bugyal (May 2012)

Banderpoonch - I closeup from Dayara (May 2012)

Kala Nag in the background - Dayara, May 2012

Kala Nag peak seen from the Har ki dun trail ( Taluka -> Seema) - April, 2011

Swargarohini in the early morning sun seen from Har ki dun - April 21, 2011

Nanda Devi, the east ridge and Nanda Devi East peak seen after noon from Khaliya Top near Munsiyari - Feb 2011.

Below, view of Nanda Devi from Binsar, Oct 2011