Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) A report based on a mammal-watching oriented guided trip (with a focus on Primates) to the lowland forests and floodplains of the Bramhaputra in Assam, northeast India. Mammal Highlights included superb species like Gee’s Golden Langur, Stump-tailed Macaque and Western Hoolock Gibbon among six species of primates, One-Horned Rhinoceros (aplenty) among largeContinue reading “Stump-tailed Macaque, Golden Langur and other wildlife of Assam, Feb 2020: Trip Report”
Author Archives: ficustours
Western Ghats: Lion-tailed Macaque, Brown Palm Civet and other endemic mammals, a trip report
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) A brief, mammal watching oriented guided tour, with a focus on endemic primates, to the Anamalai mountains of the southern Western Ghats, produced all primates of the region (including Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and Slender Loris), Brown Palm Civet and Nilgiri Tahr among 21 species of mammals. While birding was decidedlyContinue reading “Western Ghats: Lion-tailed Macaque, Brown Palm Civet and other endemic mammals, a trip report”
Great Indian Bustard and more at Desert National Park, winter 2019: Trip Report
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) Travelling to the extremities of a country as large as India always produces birds (and other wildlife) that are regional specialists – either as an extreme of their global range or local endemics. The Thar Desert, in the extreme northwest of India, is one such location, with a handful birds thatContinue reading “Great Indian Bustard and more at Desert National Park, winter 2019: Trip Report”
Report: Birds and wildlife of Maguri Beel, Dihing Patkai and Namdapha, March 2019
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) A birding tour to the famed wetland/Terai grassland of Maguri Beel (Dibru-Saikhowa NP), Dihing Patkai WS (among the last remaining lowland evergreen forest in NE India) and the biodiverse, but troubled Namdapha NP in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas revealed some fantastic species including, Red-headed Trogon, White-crowned Forktail, Sapphire Flycatcher, PaleContinue reading “Report: Birds and wildlife of Maguri Beel, Dihing Patkai and Namdapha, March 2019”
Report: Caracal! and other wildlife from Kutch, April 2019
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) A report from a mammal watching oriented tour, with a specific goal to see/identify potential sites for the rarely seen, locally endangered (within India) Caracal, to Kutch (Western India) in April 2019. Highlights included a sighting of Caracal (!), Leopard (a rarity in these parts), Jungle Cat, Indian Long-eared and Indian Hedgehogs and Indian Porcupine, among 17 species of mammals in 5Continue reading “Report: Caracal! and other wildlife from Kutch, April 2019”
Astrophotography – Imaging the Deep Sky splendours (Part 2)
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) This is a follow-up to the basics post (which might be of interest if you are just starting out on this pursuit and looking to experiment with the gamut of subjects). In this post I will elaborate on my work flow to photographing the faint deep sky subjects (Nebulae, Milky Way regions, Galaxies,Continue reading “Astrophotography – Imaging the Deep Sky splendours (Part 2)”
Astrophotography (from one amateur to others) Part 1 – The Basics
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) The Genesis Among the privileges of visiting natural areas is the potential to gaze at dark night skies and the countless pinpoints of light that fill it. On good nights, this can be a truly mesmerising experience, that touches the depths of your soul! While I have been smitten by these celestialContinue reading “Astrophotography (from one amateur to others) Part 1 – The Basics”
Nilgiri Marten – two personal sighting records of the elusive mammal
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) Why are there Martens in south India Six of the world’s seven species of Martens – reputedly pugnacious mammals, in the same family as weasels and otters (among other mid-sized carnivores) – have a largely Eurasian distribution, with one of their kind in the Americas. All species either occur in temperateContinue reading “Nilgiri Marten – two personal sighting records of the elusive mammal”
Flashlight Review: ThruNite Catapult V6 with Nitecore Red Filter for wildlife observation at night
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) Introduction An oft arising ethical dilemma for any nature enthusiast is where to ‘draw the line’ in pursuit of appreciating our natural world. Without a doubt, any attempt at observing wildlife, has some impact on the natural system – indirectly, at the very least. Observation efforts at night, by flash-lighting, are obviouslyContinue reading “Flashlight Review: ThruNite Catapult V6 with Nitecore Red Filter for wildlife observation at night”
Report: Birding in Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, March 2018
Author: Ravi Kailas This is brief note from a bird-watching oriented trip to Roing Grasslands and Mishmi Hills (Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary), in the Eastern Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh Please follow link for a complete picture gallery from this trip Dates: 17th to 23rd March 2018 Locations: Roing Grasslands – Sally Lake – Mishmi Foothills – Tiwari Gaon – CoffeeContinue reading “Report: Birding in Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, March 2018”
Ficus Wildlife and Natural History Tours 