It just keeps getting better and better here in Ranthambhore! I don't think I have ever started a trip quite as well as this one. Things started happening early today, as just before the Misadera gate we spotted a leopard high on the cliff at about 6:00am. Leopards and me don't really work, I have never taken a decent photograph of one in Ranthambhore and have seen just 4 in all my time here. So I was delighted with this effort, taken with the 1.7x attached to my 400mm lens. Moving on into the park we travelled through zone 4 and did all the usual checks of the same waterholes we have been watching all week but to no avail. Machali, our chief target, is proving to be more elusive than usual, which is a big surprise to Nafees as prior to my arrival she was seen almost everyday in Aridan.
We then moved on to Malik Talao where we found T17 resting in the shade of the same cactus tree as on day 3. I fired off a couple of frames and as she was resting we decided to head towards Mandook. Mandook was were we had left the Star Male late last night and as we approached the area we saw a crowd of jeeps which meant only one thing. Tiger. Not one, but two, just off from the road in good light. One was the giant Star Male and the other T19, sister of T17 and in the opinion of many people the most beautiful tiger in the whole of Ranthambhore. I got a nice head shot of her before we concentrated on the Star Male who was resting 30ft away from her on the other side of the road. I sat down on the floor of the jeep to get as low an angle as possible and just as I got in position he started to growl and snarl right down my lens! He then nervously approached the waterhole, snarling at the vehicles that blocked his path. After easing into the pool he began to relax and I took full advantage of the opportunity with both the 400mm and 70-200mm lenses, grabbing one or two portraits that I am really pleased with.
In the afternoon we headed back to Mandook in the hope of catching them together again but they had either left the area or were lying just out of view. In temperatures of over 45 degrees we sat for 3 hours waiting but our effort was in vain. Despite a quiet afternoon today was the best day of the trip so far!
Leopard
Star Male
Star Male 1
Brilliant images again mate, why so many male tigers? - i think we saw just the one in the cave with the tree roots when i was with you last year - leopard, very jealous.
ReplyDeleteAnyway - hope all is good, not like you to drink 7 Kingfisher!!!!! - you needed my good influence - lol.
I'm all good here - lots happening - i'll email you in a few days =- going to the Melepo Hills tomorrow with a photographer friend of mine.
Take care and i'll check again at the weekend.
Great pictures Chris. Some superb ones of them snarling at you!!
ReplyDeleteI think me & Jess are going to save up for next year and come on one of your trips for sure.
Speak soon
Paul