Day 2: 15th May 2017
Around 12.30 am or so, the rain gods decided it was time for a downpour and it rained pretty heavily for a couple of hours. I wake around 4.40 am thanks to the continuous alarm calls, it went on for a good 20 odd mins. I refreshed myself and Mano got tea for me as I was heading back for a safari. Another guest wanted to join for the safari too and he decides to take his Duster out. We reach the safari gate and get to know that the rains all night ensured the morning safari is cancelled as the trails will be slippery and would risk the vehicle getting stuck. Though the JLR vehicle is 4 wheel drive, the department does not allow JLR vehicles. A quick discussion among ourselves, we decide to simply drive via the forests towards Veeranahosahalli and then back towards the resort via Bavali.
The weather was brilliant with a bit of chillness in the air. Did not bother to get the camera out of the bag, just enjoyed the drive with the soothing weather. Though we spotted a good amount of animals/birds, I simply enjoyed the drive and keeping the task of taking pics for another day. The list of animals spotted
1. Male Sambar Deer on the road
2. Two young spotted deer stag having a mock fight
3. Crested Serpent Eagle
4. Dholes (pack of 6) crossing the road
5. A herd of elephants (5 in number) and one elephant taking a mud bath
6. Indian Roller
7. Another couple of elephants near Moorkal
8. Racket Tailed Drongo
We reach the other gate and drive towards Veeranahosahalli. I meet Basil (from JLR) and briefly discuss about the safaris. We continue towards HD Kote and took the Bavali route. Not many sightings on this route apart from a Tusker. We turn towards Tholpetty at Kattikulam. A few kilometers post the check-post, a couple of dholes are stalking a calf close to the road side. The woman who was herding the cows and the calf had no clue about the dholes around. We could not wait as the bus behind started honking
Reached the resort around 9.40 am, a nice breakfast was waiting for us. Post breakfast, I decided to skip the walk around the farm as my ankle was injured and could not risk a twist again. The other guests who I went along with decide to go for a walk with Mano. They spot a tiger barely 15 feet away. Mano describes that the tigress who was sleeping lifted its head, gave a small growl and disappeared in to the bushes on the other side. The other guests were so stunned at the tiger, they did not want to go back from the resort post that experience.
Had lunch at 2 pm and headed out for the afternoon Safari at Nagarahole.
With the usual routes we took, found the loads of spotted deer, a few birds. In one of the waterholes the elephants were taking a mud bath.
Langur
Crested Serpent Eagle
Mud Peddling Butterflies
Elephant Mud Bath
Finally a drink before moving on.
A colorful butterfly
Spotted Deer
Painted Stark
Monitor Lizard
We come back to the water hole where the elephants were present earlier. The forests had a weird calm all around, very few spotted deer. While going slowly, I spotted 4 spotted deer a bit alert and giving calls. Immediately asked the driver to switch off. I zoom the camera in the direction of the bush where the deer was looking towards and giving calls. Voila, there is a leopard. Apart from me and the driver no one else got to see the leopard, thanks to the problems associated with a noisy safari crowd.
To give a perspective of the habitat where its camouflaged
A wild boar on the way back.
Happy that the spotting was done, headed back to the resort to chill out for the evening. Post dinner Mano, Myself and one more guest just headed out towards Thirunelly temple to see if can spot any wildlife. We do spot a couple of mouse deer and a huge male guar by the road. We come back around 11 pm and it was time to snooze off for the day.