Nagarahole Tiger Reserve-Day 3

Day 3 in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve began early, meeting the rest of our group for coffee and biscuits before heading to the gate. Assigned to zone B, we followed the same route as the day before along the main track. We started checking a few of the waterholes, as we hoped some for some movement of predators. On the way, we spotted a large male tusker sleeping peacefully on the ground.

After confirming with our guides that the elephant was okay, we continued along the park’s boundary, stopping by a waterhole to observe some new bird species. Including a pair of Shikra, three white-throated kingfishers displaying, small minivets, and a coppersmith barbet. We spent some time at a pond, observing a checkered keelback snake with a leech on its head and various birds and mammals,. These included bulbuls, Jordan’s leaf bird, spotted deer, and a common sandpiper, coming to drink. However  the predators remained elusive apart from a Crested-Serpent Eagle near the exit gate. We returned to the lodge and met for breakfast.

Back for Breakfast

After a satisfying breakfast, our guide, Kaustubh, showed us around the lodge’s grounds. We visited a fruit bat roost and encountered the troop of bonnet macaques that spend time around the lodge’s grounds. Then we explored the butterfly garden, where we also watched a Cuckoo, Common Iora and a Large Cuckoo-shrike

The Storm

In the afternoon, we embarked on a safari in Zone A, with threatening skies looming. As we drove along we heard alarm calls from spotted deer in an area where a tigress had been seen with her cubs. Unfortunately, there were no signs of them. However, nearby we managed to capture images of the green bee eaters that frequented a pool. As we watched an Elephant with a young calf came down to drink. Then we also had good views of a Grey Mongoose.

As we checked one of the tracks, we caught sight of a large Bengal Monitor scouring the forest floor. We took several close-up photographs before it disappeared into the undergrowth. Shortly after this encounter, the looming storms caught up with us. Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning forced us to pull down all the plastic screens on the jeep and head back to the lodge. After drying out, we met in the bar for a drink, ran over the checklist, had dinner, and retired for the night