Birding in Assam (Kaziranga National Park & Gibbon WLS, Assam - 17th March to 21st March 2013

In Sanskrit, "Asom" means unparellel or eneven. Both meaning suits the land of Assam perfectly. It is believed that the name Assam is derived from "Asom". Assam, a gateway to North-East India, is one of the hottest bio-diversity spots in India.

Nature India has meticulously planned and organized bird watching & wildlife trip to Kaziranga National Park and Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam from 17th March to 21st March 2013. Only few seats are available, hence please register very fast. (See details at the end).....

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Kaziranga National Park

A girl named Ranga, from a nearby village, and a youth named Kazi, from Karbi Community, fell in love. This match was not acceptable to their families and the couple disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again, and the forest was named after them as Kaziranga.

A world heritage site, Kaziranga NP, covers an area of 378 sq. km. Northern & Eastern boundaries of park are covered by Bramhaputra river. The park hosts two-third of the world’sGreat One-horned Rhinoceros. You can see a vast expanse of tall elephant grass (ideal for Rhinos), marshland and dense tropical moist forest. Kaziranga has one of the highest densities of Tigers among protected areas of the world, though sighting one is difficult in the tall grass. The park is also known for large breeding population of Indian Elephants, Wild Buffalo and Swamp Deer.

Declared as Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International, Kaziranga has about 478 bird species including resident and migratory birds. Some important birds seen in Kaziranga NP are Bengal Florican, Spot-winged Starling, Swamp Francolin, Green-billed Malkoha, Jerdon’s Babbler, Marsh Babbler, Bristled Grassbird, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Rufous-vented Prinia, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Lapwing, Hill Myna, Rufous-capped Babbler to name a few.

The park has three routes open for visitors, namely, Central, Eastern and Western. Central route is most visited one, as it covers high population of mammal species found in Kaziranga NP. Central route is also good for birds like Spot-winged Starling, Swamp Francolin etc. Eastern route, part of which goes along side huge Brahmaputra river is well known for waterfowls like Lesser-white Fronted Goose, Ferruginous and Bear’s Pochard and forest birds like Blue-naped Pitta, Green-billed Malkoha, Black-breasted Parrotbill etc.

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Birding in Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Eastern Assam

Perhaps the best known site to see India’s only Ape, the Hoolock Gibbon is situated in Jorhat district of Assam – The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. "An oasis in the desert" is the metaphor that well suits the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an island of dense evergreen rain forest patch in the midst of sprawling tea gardens all around. The sanctuary was officially constituted and renamed in 1997 and is approx.22 sq.kms. Set aside initially in 1881, its forests used to extend to the foothills of the Patkai mountain range. Since then, the forest has been fragmented and surrounded by tea gardens and small villages. In the early 1900s, artificial regeneration was used to develop well-stocked forest, resulting in the site's rich biodiversity.

The sanctuary has a rich biodiversity and is home to the only apes in India, the Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), and Northeastern India's only nocturnal primate – the Bengal Slow Loris. The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus), while the Nahar (Mesua ferrea) dominates the middle canopy. The lower canopy consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs. The Forest had been named after the species of trees - Hollong and Agar. The habitat is however, threatened by illegal logging, encroachment of human settlements, and habitat fragmentation.


Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is popularly known for its staggering primate community and it is one of the highest primate density areas in the world. Other primates include the Stump-tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides), Northern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina), Eastern Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis assamensis), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta), and Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus). Also found at the sanctuary are Indian elephants, tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), jungle cats (Felis chaus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), three types of civet, four types of squirrel, and several other types of mammal.

At least 230 species of birds are recorded from this small sanctuary making it a must visit for any birder visiting the nearby Kaziranga National Park. The varied birdlife here includes some North-east exotic species like Collard Treepie, Green-tailed & Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Sultan Tit, Rufous-bellied & Large Niltava’s, Beautiful & Long-tailed Sibia, Mountain Tailorbird, Abbot’s & Marsh Babblers, Great & Oriental Pied Hornbills, Speckled & White-browed Piculet, Ashy & Purple Wood Pigeons, Red-headed Trogon, Several species of Minivets, Woodpeckers, Owls, Parakeets, Barbets, Bulbuls, Bee-eaters, Laughing Thrushes, Yuhina’s & Flycatchers……an amazing density and diversity of birds !!

Click here to see the impressive list of Birdlife in Gibbon Sanctuary….
http://nebio.in/neceer/NeBIO_1_3_2010_Sunanda.pdf

Click on below links to see trip images by Nature India Participants...

https://plus.google.com/photos/117614774981231765207/albums/5590849179402182433?banner=pwa 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58304719@N04/sets/72157629773181324/

https://picasaweb.google.com/113088695439409059889/AssamMarch2010

Come, explore the amazing wildlife in Assam...

"Bogakoi Bogoli Boholai Bohise Bolukat Biyoli Bela"
.... a famous tongue twister in Assamese meaning,
"The white cranes are spreading their wings wide, sitting on the sand in the evening."

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TRIP DETAILS:

Date: 17th March 2013 (Sunday) 11.30 am to 21st March 2013 (Thrusday) aft. 4.00 pm (travel days included)

Mode of Travel :
Mumbai - Guwahati - Mumbai (by Air/Rail on personal expenses)
Local travel in jeep from Guwahati – Kaziranga – Jorhat - Guwahati (By Nature India)

From Mumbai to Guwahati & Back (To be taken care by participants themselves)

By Air:
By Air: We suggest you to book tickets for following flight;

Mumbai - Guwahati:
Jet Airways Flight No. 9W-619, on 17/03/2013 at 06.50 Hours reaching Guwahati at 11.20Hours.
 
Air India Flight No. AI-675, on 17/03/2013 from Mumbai at 06.10 Hours reaching Kolkata at 08.50 Hours & Air India flight No. AI-729, on 09/03/2013 from Kolkata at 09.55 hours reaching Guwahati at 11.05 hours.

Guwahati to Mumbai:

Spicejet Flight No. SG-894, on 21/03/2013 at 18.15 Hours reaching Mumbai at 23.25Hours.

Jet Airways Flight No. 9W-628, on 21/03/2013 at 18.45 Hours reaching Mumbai at 23.15Hours.
 
There are other flights also available.... Please check the arrival & departure timing at Guwahati for to & fro flights.

By Rail:
One can reach Guwahati by 5647 Guwahati express, but it runs only on Fridays and takes about 53 hours :-(

*Nature India will not assist in booking for air/train tickets*

1. Sunday, 17th March, 2013: Pick-up at Guwahati Airport at 11.30am…..Departure in jeep for Kaziranga NP. On the way stop over to see first lifer of the trip..... Stay overnight at Jupuri Ghar Resort, Kaziranga. 

2. Monday, 18th March, 2013: Kaziranga NP, morning safari in Eastern range...return to resort for lunch... evening safari in Central range - Return to Jupuri Ghar Resort, Kaziranga for night stay. 

3. Tuesday, 19th March 2013: Early morning Safari in Central range ... Lunch...proceed to Gibbon Sanctuary --- Evening bird-watching in Gibbon Sanctuary - Stay in Jorhat 

4. Wednesday, 20th March, 2013: Full Day  bird & butterfly watching at Hoollangapar Gibbon Sanctuary... Overnight Stay in Jorhat 

5. Thursday, 21st March, 2013: Early morning bird watching at Hoolangapar Gibbon Sanctuary - breakfast - Proceed to Guwahati and reach by 04.30pm.

More details on the iterinary will be given to those who register....

Trip charges : Rs.19800/- (Guwahati to Guwahati)….

Includes Stay in Twin sharing basis in Jupuri Ghar resort in Kaziranga and hotel in Jorhat, Pick-up & Drop from Guwahati Airport to Kaziranga / Jorhat, Local transport by Jeeps, Park entry charges, Safari by 4x4 open gypsies, local guide charges, All meals (Veg. / Non-Veg food), Articles on Gibbon WLS & Kaziranga NP and bird checklist, on board mineral water and snacks………

This does not include any other charges and also any individual camera charges ....Individuals will have to pay additional charges if any to the forest dept. as per the rules.

Stay Arrangement

Jupuri Ghar Resort, Kaziranga (Twin Sharing stay)

 PS: Unfortunately, if the flight from Guwahati to Mumbai is cancelled due to bad weather or for any other reasons, Nature India will not to be responsible for making stay arrangements. Although, Nature India will assist for hotel bookings.

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.9000/- after getting a registration mail from us. (The seats will only be confirmed after receiving the advance amount) …..the remaining amount can be sent by 5th Jan'2013.......Please Register at the earliest as only 12 seats are available. 

Payment terms:
Phase 1 - Rs. 9000/- as non-refundable Advance to be paid immediately. We need to forward this as an advance for logistics & to block our seats.
Phase 2 - Remaining amount by 5th Jan'2013.

Resource Persons: Mr.Adesh Shivkar & Mr.Mandar Khadilkar

Mode of Payment: You can either

1. Transfer the advance money directly to HDFC A/c : (please call Adesh @ 9869071091 for HDFC A/c no.) .... please mention your name, date and other details….
2. Courier a cheque of Rs.9000/- to the following address

Name: Mr. Adesh Shivkar
Address: D/8, The Adi Janata Society, Behind HP Petrolpump, Opp. Hotel Shangrila, Sion(East), Mumbai-400022

Please Note:

1. Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 9000/- is strictly non-refundable
2. Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on
   Nature India
   Tours
3. This is primarily a Bird-watching trip
4. Nature India will not be responsible for any days lost due to bad weather. 
5. Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with Nature India's rules and policies
   http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html
   
   
   
   

Please revert on naturindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification.

For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 / 9820455713(Adesh) or 9930318665 / 9967518665 (Mandar).........

Hope to see you for this wonderful trip

Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve

Weekend Birding in Thol Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad - 23rd to 24th Feb'13

Date: 23rd Feb'13 morning 06.00 am to 24th Feb'13 eve 8.00 pm (travel days excluded). The bookings for Thol bird sanctuary (Gujarat) bird-watching trip are on…..book your seats now (see the details at the end)..... A Perfect Weekend Birdwatching in one of the highly recommended birding hot-spots in India with Nature India.

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Thol Bird Sanctuary - A Birdwatching Surprise

Thol Sanctuary is located 40 kms northwest of Ahmedabad, in Mehsana District. This lake, created in 1912, covers 7 sq. kms of mostly open water. There are small marshes at the edges and some scrub forest on the sides of the high embankments.  In 1988, officially this Lake was renamed to Thol Bird Sanctuary. Thol name comes from the local village “Thol” situated near the lake.

Thol is in fact a man-constructed artificial tank utilized mainly for irrigation purposes that possesses 1450 hectares of command plot and 153 square kilometers of catchment plot. The shallow water reservoir speckled with reed beds gives it a distinct ambience while being an ideal dwelling for varied species of birds and insects. The agricultural land surrounding the lake provide ample amount of food for quite a number of birds while the hydrological ecosystem takes care of the others.

Thol promises a memorable birding experience and offers an incredible array of bird species, both resident and migratory. It is home to large nos. of visiting Great White Pelicans, Common Cranes and variety of waterfowls. One can even see (if lucky) some rare species like Mallard, Saras Crane, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-crested Pochard etc. It became particularly known in last few years when the critically endangered Sociable Plover were seen in the nearby areas.

 











Some other birds that can be seen in Thol are Eurasian Wigeon, Gargeney, Northern Shovellers, Common Teal, Common Pochard, Comb Duck, Spot-billed & Lesser Whistling Ducks, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Gray-lag & Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Several species of Egrets, Herons and Storks, Greater & Lesser Flamingos, Darters & Cormorants, Several species of Raptors that include Indian & Greater Spotted Eagles, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Steppe & Tawny Eagles, Booted Eagles, Marsh & Montagu’s Harriers, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Egyptian Vultures, Red-necked Falcon, Pregrine Falcon, Eurasian Hobby etc, Jacana’s, Swamphens, Waders and Grebes are abundant...
 

 

The adjoining scrubland and agricultural edges can fetch birds like Warblers, Prinias, Flycatchers, Robins, Redstarts, Bee-eaters, Stonechats, Starlings, Parakeets, Drongos, Woodpeckers and several other species of birds.

One of the finest places, a visit to this lesser known paradise is a must for all the enthusiastic birders and photographers alike. It is now slowly becoming a very popular birding destination in India.

Also on the way while going towards Thol we can see a place now wellknown for the critically endangered vultures, where atleast 3 species of vultures can be seen at a close range. This sanctuary has now become one of the most sort after places for bird photographers of India.

 

 
Nature India has organized an exclusive weekend Birdwatching trip to this paradise from 23rd Feb-24th Feb 2012 (travel days excluded).

Have a look at a couple of photoblogs on Thol Sanctuary, Gujarat

http://vijaycavale.blogspot.in/2010/03/thol-bird-sanctuary.html
http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=1299

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Trip Details & Itinerary
Date: 23rd February, 2013 morning 6.00 am to 24th February, 2013 eve 8.00 pm

Mode of Travel:

By Air:
Several option are available... Please book any flight reaching Ahmedabad on 23-Feb-13 by 06.00AM and leaving Ahmedabad on 24-Feb-13 by 10.00PM

By Train: Although several train options are available, but we suggest following trains, which suit the Itinerary.

Mumbai to Ahmedabad:
12901, Gujarat Mail (22.00 Mumbai Central)

Ahmedabad to Mumbai:
19144, Lokshakti Express (21.05 - Ahmedabad)
12902, Gujarat Mail (22.00 - Ahmedabad)

Train bookings are easily available.... Participants have to book their own travel upto Ahmedabad....However  Nature India can only assist in bookings if required. 

Ahmedabad to Thol & Back: Trax Cruiser Jeep (The best travel option to move around the places quickly)

Rough Tour Itinerary : (Ahmedabad to Ahmedabad)

Day 1: Saturday 23rd Feb, 2013 : Pick-up from Ahmedabad Station / Airport at 6:00 am – Breakfast – Proceed to Thol Bird Sanctuary (24 kms from Ahmedabad) - Full day birdwatching - Lunch - Continue birding in Thol - Checkin Hotel – dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel
     
 Day 2: Sunday 24th Feb, 2013 : Early morning breakfast - proceed for birdwatching at Thol Sanctuary – Packed lunch - continue birding @ Thol - Return by 6 pm to hotel - freshn up and leave to Board train from Ahmedabad

Trip charges (Ahmedabad to Ahmedabad : Rs.5700/- (Includes Stay in Hotel on  twin sharing basis, Local travel by Trax cruiser, Park entry charges, food , Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water)…….

These charges are Ahmedabad to Ahmedabad and participant has to make their own travel arrangement upto Ahmedabad and Back. This does not include any charges other than the above.

Group Size : 14 persons only

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmation mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying non-refundable advance of Rs.3000/- (and only after our registration confirmation by return mail .....) as per the payment guidelines given below…...

Stay Arrangement: A comfortable Hotel near Thol Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad. The Stay arrangement is on a twin sharing basis. The Camp Premises and toilets are clean and the food is wonderful……

Resource Person: Mr.Adesh Shivkar and Mr. Mandar Khadilkar

Mode of Payment: You can either
1) Courier a cheque in favour of "Mandar Khadilkar"of Rs.3000/- to the following address:
Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar

2) Transfer the money directly to HDFC A/c (Please call Mandar @ 9930318665).. please mention your name, date and other details….
Address: Flat No.2, Blossom Apartments, LM Road, Below Shantighan Hospital, Kandarpada, Dahisar-West, Mumbai-400068

Please Note:
1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 3000/- is strictly non-refunadable
2) The seats will be confirmed only against the advance amount on first come basis
3) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours
4) Nest Photography or any collection of specimens is prohibited
5) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with Nature India's rules and policies
http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html

Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification …..
For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 or 9820455713 (Adesh) or 9930318665 or 9967518665(Mandar)

Thanks for your patience.

Looking forward for a very rewarding trip with you all !!

Warm Regards,
Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect and Conserve