Nagzira…Small Wooded Heaven
Place – Nagzira Sanctuary (Gondia district, Maharashtra)
Date – June 6th to June 11th 2012
Members –
- Mihir Kolekar
- Giri Tol
- Surendra Tambe
- Tushar Nidambur
- Abhijit Avalaskar
News of some amazing, “sure-shot sighting” of Tigers was so tempting for me to visit Tadoba for the 3rd time that I almost had fixed it up when Tushar and I changed the plan and decided to visit Nagzira Sanctuary on June 2d weekend (co-incidently, my 3rd such consecutive wildlife outing in this period of the year). Ignorant of the staying facility, I personally wasn’t very keen in taking too many people along and hence, we restricted only to a group of 4 – with addition of young, enthusiastic chap – Mihir – just a day before leaving (and we had fun with this cute, little boy :-)).
Here are some of the images taken during 5 jungle safaris @ Nagzira !
- This was the first bird I shot and this is my best ever shot of this colorful bird. The Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) is a medium-sized passerine bird. It breeds mainly in the sub-Himalayas and winters in southern India and Sri Lanka. These birds are found in thick undergrowth and are often more easily detected by their calls. I badly missed sound recorder to record call of this and numerous other beautiful bird calls !!!
This is a lovely raptor who loves eating snakes (and hence the name). It is also one of the raptors with peculiar call.
These are the widespread langoors in Indian jungles. It's fun watching this creature spending time resting at the base or top of trees with newborns. Along with Deers and Sambars, they are the most reliable informants of Tigers/ Leopards in the jungle 🙂
First day late evening, this guy gave us shots from extremely close distance in the vicinity of our tents. This was the only time (evening session) that I could use the gimbal head effectively (1/20 , F5.6, ISO 400, EV -0.67). Without gimbal head, shot at 1/20 sec shutter speed wouldn't have been possible @ 900 mm effective focal length. The Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Lesser Goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian Subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and black rump .
Staying in this small forest guest house was one of the highlights of the tour (thanks to Mr. Tambe). Wonderful rooms with wooden flooring & furniture situated opposite to lake, with big garden in between gives this place a romantic touch !
I have always maintained the fact that Jungle Safari's are not just about tigers for, this animal dictates his own terms in the jungles and sighting of it is merely a matter of chance. No matter how many years you have spent in studying this animal in the jungle, you can never assure anyone of the sighting. All we have to do is enjoy the birds, their chirps, trees, other mammals .... "that unforeseen moment" may come any time. And when it comes, you are bound to lose your senses...you get totally lost. You simply watch him wander around, drink water, relax and go... everything seems to happen so fast !! This was my closest encounter with this majestic animal in last 6 years !! (This is a almost 2 years old male cub)
Loved the snaps and the lively description!
Thanks for sharing
Abhi….
Comment by Abhijeet — June 16, 2012 @ 12:43 am
Khupach bhari photos especially the woodpecker and of course the tiger
Comment by Ashwin — June 16, 2012 @ 12:49 am
Amazing snaps! Thanks for sharing!!
Comment by Roopali — June 16, 2012 @ 8:15 am
The jungle which I read through the books of Vyankatesh Madgulkar, Maruti Chitampalli.. seeing it through your pics. Looking forward to visit this place. Brilliant pics as always!!
Comment by Animish — June 16, 2012 @ 9:45 am
Friend , just truly majestic photos … you are very lucky man buddy …
Comment by Manoj — June 16, 2012 @ 11:06 am
Awesome pics…hoping to learn it sm day… 😀
Comment by Abhidnya — June 16, 2012 @ 11:28 am
Amazing stuff ! Probably one of your best visits in the wild. Loved all the photos. please Keep sharing. thank you.
Comment by Neeraj Chawla — June 16, 2012 @ 12:24 pm
Wonderful story and spledid images Abhijit ! I can feel the exciting experience you must have had.
Comment by Saleel Tambe — June 16, 2012 @ 9:32 pm
Great pics…how can u keep cam steady when Tiger is so close…
Comment by Amaresh — June 16, 2012 @ 10:43 pm
Awesome pics. I am your fan
Comment by chandrahas dabke — June 16, 2012 @ 10:45 pm
Awesome pics. I am your fan 🙂
Comment by chandrahas dabke — June 16, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
wow loved all the snaps 🙂
Comment by Gouri — June 16, 2012 @ 10:59 pm
super duper awesome pics an also the splendid description !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by tanuja — June 16, 2012 @ 11:02 pm
Excellent Brilliant Super…
Comment by sanjeev — June 16, 2012 @ 11:03 pm
super duper pics an awesome description !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by tanuja — June 16, 2012 @ 11:05 pm
Sharp Images..beautifull.
Comment by sameer pawar — June 16, 2012 @ 11:14 pm
LOVE IT, super duper ;D
Comment by Mona — June 17, 2012 @ 12:25 am
Hi, You will understand how much I appreciate your email when you read my blog on Tadoba. I love your narration and pictures are par exfellence : http://nandansphotos.blogspot.in/
Comment by Nandan Tavanandi — June 17, 2012 @ 8:44 am
Lovely shots Abhi…
Comment by bhushan — June 17, 2012 @ 12:37 pm
kadakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Comment by Ajit A. Satam — June 17, 2012 @ 2:24 pm
I missed this trip… Superb photos… Tiger photos are too good!
Comment by Atul Kolhe — June 17, 2012 @ 8:13 pm
Coooooooool Collection n as usual nice captures…. 🙂
Comment by Nitin Shinde — June 18, 2012 @ 8:59 am
ultimate no words abhijit
Comment by Kaustubh — June 18, 2012 @ 9:43 am
aaplyala lesson hota Nagzira cha ..athvatoy ka?
Comment by Alapini — June 18, 2012 @ 10:46 am
Amazing Shots Sir………….inspired
Comment by Lalit Pawar — June 18, 2012 @ 11:57 am
Amazing shots sir…..what you said is RIGHT…….no one should run after the tiger only…..
Comment by Lalit Pawar — June 18, 2012 @ 11:58 am
Superb Images sharp and crisp! The write-up is very nice in precise words
Comment by Sudheer Dharmadhikari — June 18, 2012 @ 3:15 pm
super…vgha che tar laich bharii… 🙂
Comment by Trupti — June 18, 2012 @ 3:27 pm
Mast ale ahet pics. Specially, the tiger cub, his looks are quite dreadful. You were lucky to get a site 🙂
Comment by Shridhar — June 19, 2012 @ 11:14 pm
As usual class abhijit….amazing collection….:)
Comment by Anand M Bhide — June 20, 2012 @ 9:27 am
Superb pics abhi !! crisp and very colorful pics…amaizing ….
Comment by Harish — June 20, 2012 @ 7:51 pm
what sort of camera have u used….i have visited nagzira too…but not lucky to get the view of tigers
Comment by angelina — June 28, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
Just wondering… How could you make them pose for you!?
Comment by PraKaant — July 13, 2012 @ 2:04 pm
Top class shots with lovely description… felt very prominently richness of Nagzira Forest…its wildlife and and also a beautiful jungle house.. Thanks Abhijiit… feeling like.. i should have come with you.. !!
Comment by Prakash Pitkar — July 25, 2012 @ 6:51 am
Top class images…. with lovely descrption…. expeirience the richness of Nagzira Jungle.. and Jungle lodge…. GREAT Abhijit… now feeling that i shd have come with you…..!!!!!
Comment by Prakash Pitkar — July 25, 2012 @ 6:55 am
well captured photographs..
for more information on Nagzira .. please click/visit here
http://www.amazingmaharashtra.com/2012/10/nagzira.html
Comment by Shridhar Mhatre — January 13, 2013 @ 11:57 am
Khup chan photographs ahet Abhi 🙂
Comment by Sameer — March 11, 2013 @ 5:17 pm
Amazing Pics Abijit dada , I finally bought Sigma 150 – 500 before going to Kenya / Tanzania , had a awesome trip , 6 national parks ( serengeti , mara , gorongoro crater etc ) Will send u some pics . Please give your email id . Mine is mihirkolekar@hotmail.com.
Comment by Mihir Kolekar — November 10, 2013 @ 1:30 pm