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Birds of the Himalayas - Sattal and Pangot, February 2021

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  3. 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

  1. Telephoto lenses – preferably above 400 mm
  2. Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
  3. Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
  4. Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
  5. Carrying a Tripod is a must for all bird photography workshops
  6. Carry a big towel / cloth to protect your gear from dust
  7. Carry a big cloth / bandanna / scarf to protect you from the dust
  8. Body Warmer for the chilly early mornings.
  9. Sun screens are very important
  10. It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you.
  11. Please carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites.
  12. Carry a pair of good binoculars
Equipment available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com.
 
DO's & DONT's
  1. Maintain social distancing with other participants.
  2. Use mask and face shield all the time.
  3. Sanitize your hand frequently.
  4. Alcohol is not permitted.
  5. Carry Personal medicines if any.
  6. Be humble fellow photographers.
  7. 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

  1. Different modes of shooting (Av / A, Tv / S, M and P)
  2. Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
  3. Mastering metering techniques (Spot, partial, center weighted, evaluative)
  4. Mastering auto focus, focusing points, AF locking and focus tracking for moving subjects
  5. How to get sharp images of moving subjects
  6. 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

  1. All cancellations before 30 days of the event date - 100% credit
  2. All cancellations between 20 - 30 days of the event date - 50% credit
  3. 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  

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We boast of one of the best panel of experts in the country comprising of established wildlife photographers, naturalists, conservationists, taxonomists, microbiologists, scientists, environmental biologists and veterans in the field of digital photography.

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Education and Training
85%
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Contact info

  • Address:
    Regus Platinum Business Centre, 13 Platinum Techno Park, Sec. 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - 400705
  • Phone number:
    +91 226 1818 464
  • E-mail:
    info@dcpexpeditions.com
  • Working hours:
    Mon. - Fri. 08.30 am - 06.00 pm; Weekend 08.30 am - 01.00 pm

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Testimonials

  • My association with DCP is about two years old. During this time the nurturing and attention that I have recieved from some of the top wildlife photo artists and photo journalists has been an unparallelled experience. The warmth of 'family' along wit... Read More

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    2014-02-25
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    2014-02-07
  • DCP for me has been a welcome boon. I was always an avid traveler who captured those wonderful moments through my point & shoot. It was only when I joined DCP for its wildlife & macro workshop in 2013 (3rd batch) did I realize that there is more to p... Read More

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    2014-02-06
  • I was a student of DCP's first batch of Wildlife Photography Complete Learning Course (WPCLC), and those 8 weeks really changed the way I looked at Wildlife Photography. It gave me insights of making of best Wildlife Images. The course content was aw... Read More

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    2014-02-05
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