Birds of the Himalayas - Sattal and Pangot, February 2021

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Birds of the Himalayas - Sattal and Pangot, February 2021

General Information

Sattal is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in the Lower Himalayan Range near Bhimtal, a town of the Nainital district in Uttarakhand, India, the region is nestled within fragrant forests of oak and pine. At an altitude of around 1,370m, Sattal is one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater biomes in India. These lakes are a paradise for migratory birds. Year-round, hundreds of species of birds are drawn to this picturesque, forested freshwater habitat. That makes Sattal a popular destination for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers. It's a place where there is an excellent chance for photographers to capture some striking frames as well.

Pangot on the other hand is also a major tourist attraction, is located about 15km from Nainital. It is an incredible place for birdwatchers and adventurous activities such as mountain biking and trekking. The road from Sattal to Pangot passes through Vinayak, Cheena peaks, characterised by mixed forests dominated by thick oak, pine and rhododendron. The forests of Pangot attract a variety of birds, over 150 species have been sighted in the region. Many bird species are found on the premises of the Kafal house, making it a haven for nature lovers, birders and butterfly watchers.

Target Species

Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Blue-winged Minla, Red-Billed Leiothrix, Himalayan Woodpecker Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-Headed Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Verditer Flycatcher, Black-chinned Babbler, Speckled Piculet, Red-Billed Blue Magpie, Spotted & Slaty-backed Forktail, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Grey Treepie, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, White-Throated Fantail, Ashy Bulbul, Himalayan Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Cheer phesant, Khalij pheasant, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, redstarts, laughing thrush's, Barbets, Finches etc are the names small amount of one can see. If we’re lucky, we might even sight the Yellow throated marten, European goldfinch, Tawny Fish Owl and the Fire-fronted Serin.

Itinerary

Scheduled dates: 28th February - 3rd March 2021 (3 nights 4 days)

Day 1

Tour starts as soon as you reach the hotel, which is located at the core heart of Sattal after an hour’s drive from Kathgoadam railway station. After taking tea/coffee join our wildlife photography skipper for a round of introduction and talk about the wildlife (mainly birds) in Sattal and Pangot region. You can start the bird photography in the hotel itself post introduction. After taking breakfast we’ll drive to Chaffi stream for Long tail Fortail, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, White-crested laughingthrush and other small other species of birds. After visiting the stream, we’ll head back to the hotel for lunch. Post lunch we’ll visit to the happening Sattal studio that is called a paradise for bird photographers. We’ll witness lot of different bird species at the studio and one can make excellent frames at eye level. We’ll have tea/coffee followed by delicious dinner in the hotel.

Day 2

We will start early morning and we’ll drive to Shyam khet forest where we can photograph lovely species of birds like maroon oriole, treecreeper, woodpeckers, minivets, nuthatch, black bird, white browed shrike babbler. After lunch we’ll do one more round of photography in the hotel hide itself. We’ll have tea/coffee followed by delicious dinner in the hotel.

Day 3

We’ll check out from the hotel early morning and we’ll drive to Nainital. We’ll stop enroute to horse stables where we can photography different bird species like Rufous bellied and small niltava, yuhina, tits, laughing thrush, and thrushes, some sunbirds etc. After breakfast and lunch we’ll drive to Ghugukhan forest where we’ll get a chance to photograph different bird species. Dinner and overnight stay in Kafal house lodge.

Day 4

We’ll start early with packed breakfast and we’ll visit to Vinayak for koklaas and cheer pheasant. After that we shall conduct a short trail in the forest till 11am. Our expedition ends here. Our return is from Kathgodam railway station. You will be dropped to Kathgodam station. Preferred train is Kathgodam NDLS/New Delhi Shadabdi Express (12039), which departs from Kathgodam at 15:25 hrs and reaches New Delhi railway station at 21:05 hrs.

Gallery

Getting Ready

The following safety kit is provided free to all registered participants

Things to carry

Telephoto lenses – preferably above 400 mm
Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
Carrying a Tripod is a must for all bird photography workshops
Carry a big towel / cloth to protect your gear from dust
Carry a big cloth / bandanna / scarf to protect you from the dust
Body Warmer for the chilly early mornings.
Sun screens are very important
It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you.
Please carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites.
Carry a pair of good binoculars

Equipment available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com.

DO's & DONT's

Maintain social distancing with other participants.
Use mask and face shield all the time.
Sanitize your hand frequently.
Alcohol is not permitted.
Carry Personal medicines if any.
Be humble fellow photographers.
Do not litter the place.

Field Learnings

On field learning from the experts is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skillsets. Our expert will hand hold you at every possible step for a better understanding of perspectives, camera controls and how to make use of the best opportunities to get better images. The training will focus on the following

Different modes of shooting (Av / A, Tv / S, M and P)
Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
Mastering metering techniques (Spot, partial, center weighted, evaluative)
Mastering auto focus, focusing points, AF locking and focus tracking for moving subjects
How to get sharp images of moving subjects
Framing and composition in the field

DCP Expert

Shivayogi is an IT Services industry veteran with over 18 years experience and holds a Bachelors degree in Computers. He has traveled extensively across the globe as part of his career and is now based in Pune. His love for nature started during the college days and enjoys spending time in the serenity. A visit to photography exhibition in 2014 ignited the hidden passion for nature & photography and kept growing as the years have passed. He enjoys photographing birds and mammals and has traveled across the country and abroad photographing wilderness. His work is regularly featured at various exhibitions that include Kirloskar Vasundhara, PPL Kalakriti, DCP Annual Exhibitions to name a few. He is associated with the group as Panel Expert - Team DCP Pune

Stay

We will be staying in decent hotel with separate beds. Hotel will be well sanitized before we check-in and in between. To avoid cross contamination and to keep social distancing beds are placed accordingly. Hotel staff are well-trained and keeping social distance.

Package Cost

Rs 23,000 per head inclusive of all taxes.

Cost includes

* Insurance is subject to eligibility. Insurance claim process & settlement is purely between customer and insurance company and DCP is not involved in any claim process & further disputes. Insurance is subject to rules governing the policy as specified by the insurance company.

Accommodation for 2 nights in Sattal and 1 night in Pangot.
Pick and drop to Kathgodam railway station
Veg breakfast, lunch and non-veg dinner during the stay.
3 Tavera Taxi to various regions of Sattal and Pangot.
All park charges, entry fee etc.
DCP photography expert and guide for 4 days.
Covid-19 hospitalization insurance of Rs. 50,000*.
Discount Coupon for testing Covid-19 RT-PCR
Disposable Face Shield
10 Surgical masks
2 pairs of gloves
100 ml sanitizer
All taxes and service charges

Cost does not include:

Travel from New Delhi - Kathgodam – New Delhi.
Camera-fee at sanctuaries.
Mineral Water, Soft Drinks, Laundry Charges, Phone Calls, Tips etc.
Any kind of insurance, Medical or/and Emergency Charges.
Any extra meals not included in the above itinerary.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations before 30 days of the event date - 100% credit
All cancellations between 20 - 30 days of the event date - 50% credit
All cancellations within 20 days of the event date - No credit possible

Registration

Please click on the 'Register for Workshop' tab on the top / bottom right corner of this page to register yourself. Once you fill in your details and click submit, you will be redirected to the online payment page. Your registration is completed and confirmed only after a successful payment process. Once you complete the online payment, you will receive an auto generated email from CC Avenue, our online payment portal. Consider the same as a confirmation of the transaction. Our team will soon revert with further details of the tour. In case of any difficulty, please connect with us through any of the following route - Land line: 022-61818464, Fax: 022-61214950 Mail: info@dcpexpeditions.com

Birds of the Himalayas - Sattal and Pangot, February 2021

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