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Sunday, 13th February, 2011
(My team and I arrived in Bandhavgarh one day early to do a reccee in this National Park which was new to all of us. This is what happened along with the bird count on Big Bird Day)
Crested Serpent Eagle
The day, that is Big Bird Day, started early at 5am with all excitement, hope, and a lot of tittering – no tits of course, too early – just jabber, Jabber, jabber!
Like: “Got the glasses?”
Fumble, fumble… “Yeah, I’ve found six – we’ll all have coffee.”
Scream, “Oh no! I mean the binocs idiot !”
Dirty look. “Please watch your exit pupil diameter.”
Splutter. “Don’t forget the monopod for my camera,” bellow from the toilet.
Silence followed by jumbled mumbles rising to a crescendo.
Etc, etc, for fifteen minutes or may be more…
Time flew.
“Do you think we’ll see more tigers today?”
Reprimand. “Today is Big Bird Day! Think of nothing else… but our Official List…”
One hopeful… “Ours will be the longest !”
One not so hopeful, “Ozzie Bozzie will be there.”
Puzzled “Who’s Ozzie Bozzie?”
Team Leader’s second-in-command, “
Someone hurt and jealous… “O.K. Everyone, let’s go ! The jeep has come; exactly 6:30 !”
Jungle Babblers, Crow Pheasant, Indian Roller – one, only one on bare branch. Plum-headed Parakeets, Jungle Crow… no, Large-Billed Crow… someone looked up the book.
“Hey, look up there. Kites or vultures?”
Chorus, “Vultures, vultures, vultures !”
Praduman, 9 years old, youngest team member, “My Daddy told me vultures are rare now and…”
…excitement from the LHS, “Wow, then Dr Oswal will not have vultures on his list !”
Glee, “You bet !”
“Call me a Red-Vented Bulbul !”
Shocked Birder, “Why?”
Hoarse whisper, “There’s a tiger coming down the path straight towards us !”
Team Leader swinging around with lens zooming, “Shots taken. Now they’ll have to believe this !”
Mixed feelings. Mixed emotions. Mixed birding !
On safer ground ! Sigh of relief, “I am a Red-Vented Bulbul !”
“Look there, a Woolly-Necked Stork !” And one for Nikhil, a Black Stork.
Black Stork
“A tigress and two nearly full grown cubs. More photos or else no one will believe… US !”
5:30 PM. FINAL SCORE:
Thirty three different species.
NINE TIGERS !
Where is our PRIZE !?
Love, have lots of fun, and I repeat, as Nik says, “May you always hear the whisper of wings and the ROAR OF TIGERS !!!”
Maurice Ryder
Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel
COMMENTS BY READERS
Monday 14th Feb., 2011 Time: 10:03 PM
The best report I ever read. You are a real writer. Thanks for making us see the preparations for birding.
With best wishes and hope to see you sometime.
Rita
Tuesday 15th Feb., 2011 Time: 1:25 PM
Lovely report…a very different and hilarious one.
Regards,
Nilanjana Sengupta
Tuesday 15th Feb., 2011 Time: 11:32 PM
MEANIE, we missed out on all the fun but thanks for sharing !
Purobi Menon
Noida
Wednesday 16th Feb., 2011 Time: 10:43 AM
Dear Maurice,
J J J Well that’s how my face was all the while that I was reading your e-mail.
That was indeed a very interesting, fun way to put things, can only imagine, what fun and excitement must be around you guys.
Hope to meet you soon, some day…
Cheers & take care…
Anshula Chaturvedi
Explore. Discover. Experience
Wednesday 16th Feb., 2011 Time: 11:51AM
Dear Dr Ryder,
I love this piece.
Great job.
Warm regards,
Shariq
Wednesday 16th Feb., 2011 Time: 5:14 PM
Excellent !! Well written !! This seems like an excerpt. Expecting more of your write up on this encounter.
Please upload couple of pics on Facebook. For smooth and quick uploads, please reduce the size of the pic and then upload.
Best Regards,
Sritama Biswas
Friday 18th Feb., 2011 Time: 7:17 AM
Thanks Dr Ryder. It’s a lovely Pic. Rahul will be ecstatic.
Monica
Noida
Friday 18th Feb., 2011 Time: 3:59 PM
Sounds like you had another great adventure & I am looking forward to the photos.
John
Saturday 19th Feb., 2011 Time: 9:57 PM
Sounds like a marvelous day !! You must have the right touch – I went to tiger reserves 2 different times and saw not even one tiger !! Good for you !!
We miss our friends in
Love,
Sister Tanner
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