Field Trips
Field Trips
The maximum sighting and discovery of butterflies happens when I go for field trips. This normally starts around 6.00 am in the morning and goes till 12.00 to 2.00 pm in the afternoon. Both butterflies and birds are photographed. These photographs are then edited, cropped to fit the size for uploading. At the same time identification is made. Normally the first step is to upload the image on iNaturalist and look for nomenclature suggestions. In case of confusion I wait till the ID is approved through peer review and rated as Research Grade. In case of delay or confusion, I refer to various resources on Internet and try to complete the identification process. After this the images are uploaded here. There still may be some incorrect identification/ naming which is rectified on review.
Every field trip is filled with excitement; as either a new variety is seen and photographed or a new clearer image or a new perspective is clicked. I share these very interesting sojourns with you.
Field Trip: Wednesday 11 October 2023
From Gummu Baand on Shalaghat-Arki road a 14 km field trip by road and foot till Shaktighat (Kasauli)
As usual I started around 6 in the morning, it was slightly cool and a lazy sun was coming out. I drove through Siswan (Panjab), Marranwala (Haryana) and entered Himachal on a hill road. Driving past Haripur I reached my first stop at government nursery located on banks of a Khud on on Shalaghat Arki Road. I parked next to bridge and had cup of hot tea while I made my first bird sightings of the day ( Grey treepie, Grey Wagtail, Thick billed crow, Himalayan Bulbul, Blue Whistling thrush). After tea I drove till Baandh, from here I took the steep uphill road on the right towards Shaktighat-Kasauli. Within a few 100 metres the blooming Lantana bushes assured me that there will be abundance of butterflies. I drove another few hundred metres and then stopped besides two tall trees. It was around 7.40 am as I waited for things to settle down. I made my first sighting - Grey headed pygmy woodpecker, Plum headed parakeet, a courting pair of Great Tits, Crimson Sun bird and a few warblers which did not come out well in photographs. Then I drove another hundred metres. It was quiet, lonely and very green. No butterflies as yet but lot of bird chorus. Finally I reached my first planned stop a small khud which leads to Bhagori primary school. I parked on the side and started the small steep trek along the side of the khud. I saw Alexandrine parakeet (nesting in mango tree), Crimson sunbird, Indian white eye (a dozen), Red billed Leiothrix, Red billed blue Magpies. I climbed further and met the only school teacher of the primary school. We chatted about the school and the impending landslide near the school because of the road construction. I then walked along and into the Khud where I found several Common Sailor and Common Jester butterflies salting in sand. I also saw my first Indian Owlet-moth. I also saw western Himalayan Pied Flat, Common Flat, Yellow grass and Malayan. I roamed around and clicked some Himalayan bulbuls and Grey bushchat juv. As I was moving back I caught a glimpse of a rusty red bird. I clicked rapidly as I knew it was a lifer. I later identified it as Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler. On the way back I passed the school, bid by goodbye and saw a Paris peacock. Just below the school there was a small water tank which is used to store the water of the khud. I saw Rustic, Yellow pansy and Sailors. I had such enjoyable time clicking the Rustic from all possible angles. After that, I started to come down towards the car and saw a red butterfly. i knew it was a Flash. I waited for it to settle and then clicked it- a Red Flash. However could not get an open winged shot. I also clicked Blue marsh Hawk and Great Tit. I also clicked some more shots of the Sailors. I then started to drive and got struck in a narrow stretch against a huge log wood laden truck. A lot of reversing and siding by me and finally it was able to pass and I drove further. I saw another small khud with a water outlet on road side. I knew there would be more butterflies here. It was already around 10.30 with bright sunshine. No disappointments. Lot of butterflies were salting Rustic, Common Jester, Common Sailor, Southern sullied sailor, Line blue. More clicking. The it landed- a Vagrant . I identified it but it was very bright and deep orange (turned out to be vagrans sinha). Saw some narrow winged jesters but looked slightly different. As I clicked closed winged I realised they were common Lascars. I saw another orange butterfly salting I thought it was Angled Castor, I clicked it anyhow, (it was a Tabby). Also clicked several Megisba mylan. I then drove further and stopped on road side. Here I saw Common hedge blue and Himalayan Common beak, Common Leopard and Mormons and Treebrowns. I drove another kilometre or so. This place was very moist, shady and green. Here I saw Snow flat later identified a Deep spotted Snow flat and another Jester which looked different later identified as Himalayan Yellow Jester, saw another sailor like butterfly which I realised was Himalayan Admiral. Also saw some Common Flat. Next stop again was a bowli ( covered water source) I saw Bamboo Treebrown, Southern sullied Sailor and Common sailor. I also clicked a mating pair of Blue marsh Hawk and it was the most interesting combination.It was around 1.30 pm. Sun was getting hot and butterflies getting very flitty. I had run out of drinking water. So I decided to call it a day. Drove another 7-8 km to Kasauli-Dharampur through Shaktighat, Garkhal road and had my Lunch at Dippy's. A refreshing cup of tea and I was back home after another two hours of driving via Himalayan Expressway. I was very tired but full of endorphins and a camera full of new discoveries.
As usual I started around 6 in the morning, it was slightly cool and a lazy sun was coming out. I drove through Siswan (Panjab), Marranwala (Haryana) and entered Himachal on a hill road. Driving past Haripur I reached my first stop at government nursery located on banks of a Khud on on Shalaghat Arki Road. I parked next to bridge and had cup of hot tea while I made my first bird sightings of the day ( Grey treepie, Grey Wagtail, Thick billed crow, Himalayan Bulbul, Blue Whistling thrush). After tea I drove till Baandh, from here I took the steep uphill road on the right towards Shaktighat-Kasauli. Within a few 100 metres the blooming Lantana bushes assured me that there will be abundance of butterflies. I drove another few hundred metres and then stopped besides two tall trees. It was around 7.40 am as I waited for things to settle down. I made my first sighting - Grey headed pygmy woodpecker, Plum headed parakeet, a courting pair of Great Tits, Crimson Sun bird and a few warblers which did not come out well in photographs. Then I drove another hundred metres. It was quiet, lonely and very green. No butterflies as yet but lot of bird chorus. Finally I reached my first planned stop a small khud which leads to Bhagori primary school. I parked on the side and started the small steep trek along the side of the khud. I saw Alexandrine parakeet (nesting in mango tree), Crimson sunbird, Indian white eye (a dozen), Red billed Leiothrix, Red billed blue Magpies. I climbed further and met the only school teacher of the primary school. We chatted about the school and the impending landslide near the school because of the road construction. I then walked along and into the Khud where I found several Common Sailor and Common Jester butterflies salting in sand. I also saw my first Indian Owlet-moth. I also saw western Himalayan Pied Flat, Common Flat, Yellow grass and Malayan. I roamed around and clicked some Himalayan bulbuls and Grey bushchat juv. As I was moving back I caught a glimpse of a rusty red bird. I clicked rapidly as I knew it was a lifer. I later identified it as Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler. On the way back I passed the school, bid by goodbye and saw a Paris peacock. Just below the school there was a small water tank which is used to store the water of the khud. I saw Rustic, Yellow pansy and Sailors. I had such enjoyable time clicking the Rustic from all possible angles. After that, I started to come down towards the car and saw a red butterfly. i knew it was a Flash. I waited for it to settle and then clicked it- a Red Flash. However could not get an open winged shot. I also clicked Blue marsh Hawk and Great Tit. I also clicked some more shots of the Sailors. I then started to drive and got struck in a narrow stretch against a huge log wood laden truck. A lot of reversing and siding by me and finally it was able to pass and I drove further. I saw another small khud with a water outlet on road side. I knew there would be more butterflies here. It was already around 10.30 with bright sunshine. No disappointments. Lot of butterflies were salting Rustic, Common Jester, Common Sailor, Southern sullied sailor, Line blue. More clicking. The it landed- a Vagrant . I identified it but it was very bright and deep orange (turned out to be vagrans sinha). Saw some narrow winged jesters but looked slightly different. As I clicked closed winged I realised they were common Lascars. I saw another orange butterfly salting I thought it was Angled Castor, I clicked it anyhow, (it was a Tabby). Also clicked several Megisba mylan. I then drove further and stopped on road side. Here I saw Common hedge blue and Himalayan Common beak, Common Leopard and Mormons and Treebrowns. I drove another kilometre or so. This place was very moist, shady and green. Here I saw Snow flat later identified a Deep spotted Snow flat and another Jester which looked different later identified as Himalayan Yellow Jester, saw another sailor like butterfly which I realised was Himalayan Admiral. Also saw some Common Flat. Next stop again was a bowli ( covered water source) I saw Bamboo Treebrown, Southern sullied Sailor and Common sailor. I also clicked a mating pair of Blue marsh Hawk and it was the most interesting combination.It was around 1.30 pm. Sun was getting hot and butterflies getting very flitty. I had run out of drinking water. So I decided to call it a day. Drove another 7-8 km to Kasauli-Dharampur through Shaktighat, Garkhal road and had my Lunch at Dippy's. A refreshing cup of tea and I was back home after another two hours of driving via Himalayan Expressway. I was very tired but full of endorphins and a camera full of new discoveries.