Impressions (Tale Four of Four)

Continued from the previous post. Slytherin! I was busy observing a sandpiper catch insects on the banks of the pond and tentatively scanned the surface of the placid waters half expecting to sight the usual flared snout of an odd turtle or two. Instead there was this pair of eyes set on an olive brown …

Impressions (Tale Three of Four)

Continued from the previous post. Three to Tango! The pond heron was absolutely still, contemplating whether it was time yet for breakfast. The egret was halfway through its breakfast picking at the finest fins sagaciously. The waterhen was at its best fowl behaviour, running away from a meddlesome me, breakfast be damned. On the scene …

Impressions (Tale Two of Four)

Continued from the previous post. Eavesdrop Moment! I was being my usual annoying self, attempting to frame the rear of a, for once, disinterested bull when the bull paused grazing and stood still. I did likewise – stood still I mean. Head raised, it oriented its bulk a few degrees east and stared straight ahead. …

Impressions (Tale One of Four)

Every picture narrates a tale; though it is for the beholder to unravel it commensurate to the empathy towards that subject. The photographer graciously allows the frame to be the storyteller, except when there is a compelling story behind the shot. And if one is a nature photographer, in all probability, there invariably exists an …

Not just another Lifer

The 238 steps leading to the top of the hill, which were usually worth only a trifling effort, seemed like an arduous task. Even at 6:30 am the air was uncharacteristically still and a heavy blanket of humidity weighed down on me, the first trickle of sweat already running down my spine a quarter way …

The Four Cubs of Bhanuskhindi (T-17) and Chota Matka (T-109), Tadoba

By now there were eleven jungle safari vehicles gaping at the tigress even as she eyed us with nonchalance (see previous post here). And as she turned and walked away into the bamboo thickets to the left, all eyes instantly started scanning the long patch of tall grasses to the right of the path. This …

Female tiger, Bhanuskhindi (T-17), Tadoba

The wind-chill that winter dawn was pronounced due to the speed of our open jungle safari vehicle hurtling, and at times bouncing perilously, down the dirt road. Our safari guide had specific information of tiger movement that morning and we had to reach the location – a good half an hour drive away – before …

Male tiger, Tala (T-100), Tadoba

Two sets of fresh pugmarks led away from the shores of Anandvan lake – a male and a female tiger walking away after a drink in the early hours of the crisp winter morning. The chill at dawn was suddenly replaced by a rush of adrenaline-infused warmth as the hope of a tiger sighting stoked …

Un-Pheasant Truth

The sparse brown brush was fast fading into a parched and shrivelled tangle as the once sinewy roots now groped for traces of moisture in the dusty grit and gravel. A haze of sooty flecks hung in the air settling slowly as a deathly shroud over the singed leaves. Unfamiliar sounds brutally assaulted the tenor …

World Sea Turtle Day 2022

Today is World Sea Turtle Day and BaiManus Media House has released a special video to mark this occasion. I am grateful to Prashant Pawar, Editor of BaiManus, for giving me this opportunity to express my thoughts through this video, and to Team BaiManus for this excellent edit! Watch this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtNX8MizaKc The video …