A view a-top a bridge just before reaching Anshi Nature Camp. The season was dry, and only little pools were the source of water, inhabited by frogs and insects.
That's the bridge I'm talking about. I explored a little on the dry river bed, looking for all the living things.
This is the opposite side of the previous picture. The river here ran totally dry. If u walk a little longer, you will get to see Anshi Nature Camp towards the right. It was a magical view, with light filtering through the leaves, and the rustle of wind on the riverbed.
These are the roots of a massive tree, which remained dead.
These are the root systems, which came seeking water through those rocks, into the yellow soil of the river bed.
After walking a little ahead, I came across this beautiful scene. With a tree fallen by a naural cause, a pond to sustain life, and the green leaves, was a perfect place to explore for insects and other animals.
It is the same fallen tree as in the previous picture. I went closer, and thought this view looked better too!
This image was taken at Kumbharwada, from a view point at Kaneri Nursery. You can see the remains of Kaneri River, and the lush green forests surrounding it. The rocks are actually a bed of the river Kaneri.
Baargada, one of the most beautiful places around, with the remains of a dried up river made a perfect place for birds and fishes.
A fallen tree on the river bed in Baargada.
Another view!
This is the same fallen tree, the picture taken from the opposite side of it.
A tree, standing tall. The rainforest contained massive trees, which was difficult to photograph. This one stood just at the bank of the river and is a perfect example of these untouched forests.
The seeds of a small plant, no idea about its identification. The pod was broken and exposed these wind-dispersing seeds on the river bed at Kaneri Nursery
Entada sp. Commonly called Elephant Pod, these are the most massive pods I have ever seen! Picture taken at Anshi Nature Camp just behind the dormitory.
Same pod, with it's sibling. Entada sp. is a woody climber (a Liana). It is the biggest pod of India.
A tiny grass on the river bed.
Fallen ruins of what seems like an old temple in Baargada, on the way to Anti-Poaching Camp.
Food being cooked at the Anti-Poaching Camp.
A fallen empire - This huge termite mound in the premises of Anshi Nature Camp, reminded me of a fallen empire. With leaves adoring this magnificient creation, the mound was abandoned, with its inhabitants long gone to clean up the debri on their castle.
An Ant Trail - The procession ants - Leptogenys processionalis, are called so because of their habit of walking in a procession.
A close-up of these ants, carrying something in their mandibles.
A single Procession Ant, that acts as a unit function of the whole colony.
Myrmicaria brunnea, known for its down-turned abdomen - rather gaster - was seen foraging on a damp, moist and littered forest floor.
Camponotus sericeus, or the Common Golden Ant, or Golden Backed Ant, seen here tending to something on a dry river bed.
An individual Camponotus sericeus. These ants did not form an ant trail like the Procession Ants (seen earlier) but they scouted the place near a stagnant pond looking for food and stuff. This ant show's a peculiar behaviour if it is disturbed. It will freeze at one place for an instance, and then dart off under a stone or fallen leaves, again freeze, and go on to the next hiding place!
This is the same ant as the previous pic.
The Weaver Ants -Oecophylla smaragdina, identified by its large, orange colour and the peculiar weaver-ant-nest. These ants were omnipresent, whether in a rainforest, a deciduous forest or a dry river bed. This image was taken besides a dry river bed, where the individuals were busy doing about their daily chores.
Oecophylla smaragdina, seen here carrying a dead Cricket on a dry river bed. There were no trees around for atleast 10 meters on all sides. I wonder where they lived, with no leaves around!
On the Kaneri river bed, there were small pools of water, excellent for this parasite to grow in. Here, the commonly called Tiger Mosquitoe had emerged from its larval life.
A beautiful, small, impatient damselfly - Black Winged Bamboo-tail, Disparoneura quadrimaculata, was the only damselfly seen at a pool in Kaneri Nursery - amidst all the dragonflies. Now dragonflies are known to prey on damselfly. I guess this one was just lucky!
Black-tipped Forest Glory, Vestalis apicalis, was most common at the Tiger Reserve, they were always near a dry river of a stream that was thickly covered by dense overgrowth. One fantastic damselfly, huge in size, and very cautious!
A nymph moult that of a dragonfly which I'm guessing is of a Darner.
Fulvous forest Skimmer, Neurothemis fulvia, female. A beautiful dragonfly that is mostly seen in forestlands.
Neurothemis fulvia, male.
Neurothemis fulvia, female. Another dragonfly perched on a bare branch, capturing all the sun's rays in its veins - was quite a view to watch!
Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk, Orthetrum pruinosum. One common dragonfly at the Tiger Reserve.
A Darner, which is yet unidentified.
A Grasshopper nymph that never wished to look me in the eye, or into my camera's lens!
Long-legged Fly, belonging to a huge family of Dolichopodidae.
A huge, measuring about One-inch fly, was everywhere! And these followed our jeep where-ever we went!
Cicada nymph moult. Although I saw many adult cicadas, I couldnt capture a single one. This moult was seen at Kaneri Nursery. And if u look closely, you will see a TICK just below it's eye!!
A Tree-hopper in a white colour!
A Flatid, relative of the Tree hopper!
Macrobrochis gigas, got the ID off the internet. A dormant fellow, did not seem to fly freely.
Nigger, dry season form. A butterfly I always wanted to see and capture. The Wet Season Form looks even better than the dry one (seen in this picture)
Ctenidae, Wandering Spider
Same spider, similar pose.
An Spider belonging to Tetragnatha.
Frog eggs!
A frog, unID
another unID frog
A Fungoid Frog-ling?
Forest Calotes, Calotes rouxi, male.
Another male.
The profile shot of the male.
...and the female!
Draco dussumeri.
Gecko unID
Bombay Leaf-toed Gecko, Hemidactylus prashadi
Skink, it was really long!
The same sking, basking.
Vine Snake at Anshi Nature Camp
Vine Snake
Vine Snake chasing the sun!
Vine Snake head shot.
Chestnut tailed Starling at Kulgi Nature Camp, near the Interpretation Center.
Eurasian Golden Oriole at Kulgi Nature Camp
Racquet Tailed Drongo, fairly common at the Tiger Reserve, shot at Anshi National Park, on the banks of the dry river (pictures seen at the beginning)
Velvet Fronted Nuthatch. They were abundant everywhere!
Lesser Yellownape. Picus chlorolophus, is a widespread woodpecker.
Brown Headed Barbet, at Kulgi Nature Camp.
Malabar Whistling Thrush, at Anshi Nature Camp.
Hanuman Langoor at Kulgi Nature Camp, the most common mammal of the Tiger Reserve!
