Another Sussex Birder's Observations: Tiger Direct to India February 2023

Tiger Tiger!- India February 2023 Part 1 Pench

A childhood ambition was to see a wild Tiger and after scouring the wildlife holiday brochures i found a trip offered by Nature Trek that took me straight to Tiger country without all the hassle of large cities and long train journeys. Booking the last place on their Tiger Direct tour, on the 18th February I set off to Heathrow Airport late Afternoon.

Parked the car in the Terminal 4 long stay car park, a bus took me to departures from there a 10 minute walk along the covered walkway I checked into The Terminal 4 Premier Inn for the night. The airport check in for Qatar Airlines opened at 5am and I joined a long queue which was managed reasonably well.

Heathrow Terminal 4 hotel walkway

The 8.05 flight departed on time for the 6.5 hour flight to Doha arriving ahead of schedule, a 2 hour wait for the connecting flight to Nagpur which again left more a less on time, 4.5 hours later we arrived in Nagpur around 2.00am their time. Passport control and customs were reasonably quick, exchanged currency and met up with our guide and the rest of the group. A 15 minute drive and we were at the Radisson Blu Hotel for our first night. Checking in here was slow and then had to wait for our luggage to be delivered and by 3.45 finally got to bed.

Radisson Blu Hotel room

The alarm went off at 7.30 am as breakfast was at 8.00 and we departed Nagpur at 9.00. seeing a Laughing Dove and a flock of House Sparrows in the drive.

Laughing Dove

A 2.5 hour journey along good roads took us to Pench National Nature reserve where we arrived at The Tuli Tiger Corridor Lodge to find the rooms were not ready (could have had an extra hour in bed). eventually checked in and got the keys to our rooms. A little time before lunch so a wander around to the lake where I saw some Spot-billed Ducks and a Little Cormorant.

Little Cormorant

Spot-billed Ducks

A buffet lunch of varoius curries naan bread and dessert of fruits were to be the meals for the next week, retiring to my bungalow I managed a 40 minute nap.

Bungalow Bathroom

Bungalow Bedroom

Pench Bungalow

A typical meal

Meeting up at 3.00pm in the reception area we were allocated to our groups of 4 which were to remain for the rest of the trip.

Tuli Tiger Corridor Lodge Reception.

A 2K drive took us to the nearest gate, once assigned to our local guide we set off on our first safari, A 3 hour drive around found several birds and mammals but no Tigers.

Gaur

Grey Langur

Golden Jackal

Open-billed Storks

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Samba Deer

Samba

Spotted Deer

Indian Wild Boar

Indian Elephants (working)

Working Indian Elephant

On the way back just as it was getting dark a Spotted Owlet was seen on the roadside near the lodge.

Spotted Owlet

After dinner a good nights sleep was had.

Tuesday 21st, we met for coffee at 5.45 am and set off with our packed breakfasts entering the park at 6.30 just as it was light a drive around the park saw more birds and mammals but still no Tigers. arriving back at the lodge just before 12 a freshen up and lunch and another nap before setting off again at 3.00 for our afternoon safari. That morning one group had seen a Tiger so our hopes were raised.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Green Bee-eater

Golden Jackal

Indian Grey Hornbill

Great White Egret

Crested Serpent Eagle

Crested Hawk Eagle

Common Myna

Chestnut-backed Petronia

Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole)

Alexandrine Parakeet

Peafowl - Peacock

Peahen

Red Wattled Lapwing

Rhesus Macaque (baby)

River Tern

Ruddy Shelduck

Spot-billed Ducks

White-eyed Buzzard

White-throated Kingfisher

This afternoon's safari we also had Sangit (Nature Trek guide) in our safari vehicle who found the Wild Dog which was a rarity, as the light was starting to go we made our way back to the gate with a bit of disappointment as we had still not seen a Tiger. As we rounded the last bend on the track to the gate Sangit called Tiger Tiger as there was one sitting by the track. This was a mature male who was nervous as there was a motorcycle following us. The motorcycle stopped and the Tiger got up and slowly walked across in front of us and disappeared into the undergrowth - what luck.

Tiger named Swastik

Swastik

We had less than a minute with him and with the light going the camera settings could have been better - but what a relief and what an experience that i'll never forget. The pressure was off. At dinner an extra glass of wine was had.

Wednesday 22nd once again an early start for the morning safari seeing similar birds and mammals as the previous 2 days but no Tigers today.