India Tour 2012 - Day Seven and Eight Wildlife
December 02, 2012 at 8:49 AM
India Photo Tour Day Seven and Eight
November 25 & 26, 2012
Ranthambhore and Bird Sanctuary
I’m sure you have noticed a few days without posting again ... our last few locations have not been very good for internet connections so I’m now posting all our updates from the balance of the tour. We are now home safe after an incredible 14 day photo trek to India.
Today was a full day of Safari’s at Ranthambhore National Park, we divided the photographers into three groups for traveling through the park. One of our groups of photographers were lucky enough to see a tiger today who was on the hunt.
After our morning safari some of the group stayed in the jungle and had breakfast at the old hunting lodge then hiked up to Ranthambhore Fort and the Ganesh Temple located up on the mountain ridge. Pilgrims heading to the temple, monkeys, architecture from 900 AD to 1600’s and an amazing view of the jungle were the reward for the hike.
The following morning we departed for Keoladeo National Park which is home to the Ghana Bird Sanctuary. We rode through the park on rickshaws in the afternoon and were treated to a beautiful sunset and rising of the full moon.
We have one evening at the park and in the morning depart for Agra, were we will be visiting the Taj Mahl at sunset, under the full moon and then the following morning for sunrise.
Enjoy the images of our two days of our journey in the National Parks.
Patti and Darinka staying warm and protecting themselves from the dust as we entered the park. Mornings are cool on the edge of the desert.
Black Stork looking for food
A second Black Stork
Getting ready to fly
Black Stork in flight
Hubbles at work ...
The canters that took us into the jungle, each canter had a driver and naturalist.
A red tip singing his morning call
A Tiger Bird
Monkey watching from a safe distance
Proud parents showing off their baby
So cute ....
On the run ...
Breakfast at the hunting lodge after our morning safari ..
Hiking to the fort
Pilgrims trying to keep an aggressive monkey away from the food they carry to the temple
Another baby monkey
The monkeys were everywhere as we hike up to the fort
Panorama of the National Park from the fort look out
Panorama of one of the man made pools once we reached the top
The ruins of the senate building inside the fort
Pilgrim ladies bath prior to visiting the temple
Another view of the bathing lake near the temple
Sidney paying our admission fee ...
Oh and more monkeys ...
I’m ready for my close-up
The monkeys love to eat the marigold flowers from the necklaces that are placed at the temple
Pilgrims at the market close to the temple
At the market
Beautiful faces ...
Mom ... can I have some too!!!!
No photos please!!!
This is how the supplies for the merchant stalls in the market get up the mountain
A mongoose on our afternoon safari
India duck
A crocodile near the edge of the lake ...
A hunting post within the park ... India royalty once hunted here
Another view of the hunting observation post
Ring neck parrots
The wetlands ... so much activity as it is just post monsoon season here
Catching a ride as the sambre deer wades through the marsh
The birds often fish from the back of the deer
Almost like an aircraft carrier for birds ....
Fisher soaking up the evening sun
Spotted owl
Another Fisher
Two baby spotted owls
A purple heron
View of the hunting lodge from the other side of the lake
Tiger birds are quite friendly, image by Rob Paterson
A great place to watch everyone ... image by Rob Paterson
Time to leave ... image by Sidney Siu
Sloth Bear ... image by Tom Hopkins
Sloth Bear running, it is rare to see these bears in the open ... image by Tom Hopkins
Tiger on the hunt ... this was as she chased her prey ... image by Dan Fraser
Heron reflection ... image by Tom Hopkins
The gentleman on the left is Mr Singh he met with the group to tell his story of being attacked by the tiger and nearly killed only 18 months ago. It was great for him to be able to join the group and tell his story. Image by Sidney Siu.
Evening trip into the Bird Sanctuary by rickshaw.
Nanciellen and Marcy as we entered the park
A beautiful ride deep into the wetlands
There is much activity as the evening approaches
Painted storks start flying about
As the sky turns to a golden colour more painted storks take flight
The evening sky becomes full of birds in flight
A green heron by the shore
Again royalty hunted here years ago ... look at the amount of kills in one day. This is all now protected land.
Another painted stork
Coming in for landing
Notice the heron at the top of the tree at sunset
Now look to the east and a beautiful rising moon
Another shot of the moon rising
Painted Stork with the moon behind him
It was a beautiful evening
Tom and Bill returning to our motor coach via rickshaw as the sun sets behind them
It was two great days of wildlife photography and a great experience to visit these two beautiful national parks. We hope you have enjoyed the images. We depart in the morning for Agra for our last two days of our journey.