We truly saw the best of the Indian forests this summer around all our properties! Thanks to summer playing a part in wildlife sightings (giving us more visibility for instance) there were plenty of sightings across the wildlife spectrum, from large mammals to small birds. Here’s a quick insight into the various observations around our wildlife lodge in Tadoba, our resort in Kabini, and even our resort in Gokarna!
Bar Headed Geese at Red Earth Resort Kabini:
Bar Headed Geese are northern birds that make their way down south every winter in one of the world’s most unique migrations! They spend most of their time flying at high altitudes to get here. Some speculate even as high as Mount Everest. Siddhartha from Bangalore was lucky enough to capture a magnificent flock of Bar Headed Geese from our resort in Kabini. Here’s what he has to say:
In the Frame – The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is a goose that breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and winters in South Asia, as far south as peninsular India. It lays three to eight eggs at a time in a ground nest. It is known for the extreme altitudes it reaches when migrating across the Himalayas.
Changeable Hawk Eagle At Red Earth Resort Kabini:
The Changeable Hawk Eagle is one of Kabini’s most common forest raptors. It gets its name due to the fact that it is dimorphic and can have different color morphs! Why is this so? We believe it may be an evolutionary characteristic! You can always discover for yourself when visiting Kabini!
You can usually spot this eagle when driving on the main roads to the safaris, gazing at you from a high perch. If not see, you can definitely hear its high-pitched kee-kee calls in quick succession.
Muggers From Red Earth Resort Kabini:
Muggers are some of the more silent inhabitants of the backwaters behind our resort. You may find some lazing about, sunning themselves, or slowly drifting away in the waters. But do not mistake laziness for lack of energy; a single bite from these impressive reptiles can tear through even the biggest antelope. Don’t believe us? Come see for yourself.
Tigers Galore Near Red Earth Resort Tadoba:
Kavya, our resident naturalist at Red Earth Tadoba, had a wild time (pardon the pun) sighting tigers near Zari and Kholsa, the isolated sectors of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. This beautiful tiger family was spotted at the iconic Telia lake where there have been several generations of famous tiger families ruling over different parts of the lake!
Nightjars At Red Earth Resort Tadoba:
Wander around any Indian forest in the evenings and you will unfailingly hear a “chuck, chuk chukooo”, often one after the other as if in response to each other. The Indian Nightjar is easier heard than seen thanks to its nocturnal habits and uncanny camouflage blending into almost any environment! There are several species of Nightjars with the two most common being the Indian Nightjar and the Jerdon’s Nightjar.
Angling At Red Earth Resort Gokarna:
Did you know that Gokarna is a prime angling spot? Here’s a catch by our naturalist, Paul! This is a Gold silk Seabream (acanthopagrus berda), a species of bream found around India’s coasts. Paul makes sure that all catches are safely returned to the ocean, so no harm comes to them!
An Endemic Snake At Red Earth Resort Gokarna!
Look who we found on a trek near Red Earth Resort Gokarna! The Whitaker’s Sand Boa is a species of boa endemic to the Western Ghats, named after herpetologist Romulus Whitaker himself. Who said Gokarna was devoid of wildlife?
