4 nights and 5 days of a bird photography expedition to a bio diversity hotspot in north west Rajasthan and a birding paradise in the winters – Tal Chappar and Bikaner.
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As the day breaks, the tall grass glistens in the early morning light and reveals its inhabitants from the Blackbuck heard to the numerous harriers marauding in search of food, the spiny-tailed lizards get out of their burrows to feed on the grass carefully observing the sky for predators hovering. This is Tal Chappar, a bio diversity hotspot in north west Rajasthan that comes to life in the cold winter and hosts a number of migratory birds.
ex Tal Chhapar
Tal Chhapar
4 nights 5 days
Tal Chhapar
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.
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The nearest airport is in Bikaner (148 km). One can reach Bikaner via flight from most of the major cities. Jaipur airport is around 215 km away.
Nearest railway station is Ratnagarh (37 Km). Bikaner station is around 132 Km
Tal Chappar is well connected via road with most of the cities of Rajasthan. Jaipur is 215 Km away.
Things to carry:
Equipment available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com
All the participants will report at Delhi on the previous evening by 9:00 PM in order to board the train to our destination that starts at 11 PM. We immediately retire to the comforts of the AC Coach to get rest. We should reach Tal Chappar by 5 AM, just before the day breaks.
After checking in at the resort, freshen up followed by quick breakfast, we will drive through the sanctuary looking for blackbuck herds which provide excellent opportunities for silhouettes and creative frames in the early morning mist along with different raptors. We will wrap up our first session by 10 AM or later depending on the lighting conditions.
Our 2nd session of the day will only start around 3 PM until then, have lunch and relax. We would be targeting Laggar and Red Necked falcons in the 2nd half primarily and your skipper will assist you with positioning yourself within the vehicle, approaching birds to get beautiful images without disturbing them. The evenings again offer excellent opportunities for silhouettes of blackbucks, cranes and some amazing frames in the golden light. We would be reviewing images from the day until dinner is served and retire early to get rested for next day.
Winter mornings in Tal Chappar will be cold and start our safari within the sanctuary / around Tal Chappar depending on the sightings (Local naturalist will update us). Our primary targets for the day will be Tawny, Steppe and Imperial Eagle along with Harriers and buzzards. We will have breakfast in the field to maximize time. We will also wait for the raptors to come at waterhole for a dip n drink as the sun rises up. Will be back to the hotel by lunch time, after a delicious lunch and relaxation we will head out again looking for Cranes, Indian Fox and Painted Sandgrouse’s around Tal Chappar. Your skipper will pick your images from the day and help you process a couple of images to enhance your post processing skills.
Evenings will be spent reviewing images, tips on post processing along with Q&A session to address the queries of participants.
We would be driving to Bikaner hence an early start is essential. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Bikaner and we should reach Jorbeer Conservation Centre by 7:30. This place offers very close encounters of Vultures (Cinnerous, Griffon – both Eurasian & Himalayan, long billed & white-rumped) along with many other raptors. This place is also home to the rare & critically endangered Yellow-eyed Pigeon. We will be spending the entire day around this place and return back to Tal Chappar by dinner time, retire for the day post dinner.
Leverage the fog and early winter sunlight to make some memorable images this morning, Chinkaras, Nilgais or raptors will provide very good opportunities. Post the early morning session at the grasslands, head to salt pans for discovering the winter migrants like Pied Avocets, Godwits and Terns. These salt pans may throw surprizes in terms of species as well as providing opportunities for some unique frames. Head for breakfast at a local eatery and savour the local breakfast.
Post lunch and quick rest, we will head out again looking for Cranes, Indian Fox and Painted Sasndgrouse’s. Your skipper will pick your images from the day and help you process a couple of images to enhance your post processing skills.
It’s our last day today and we hope to add more images to our collection in the first half before returning to resort for breakfast. Pack up and check-out of resort by 12 PM and head to the railway station for the train back to Delhi.
This expedition is in North west Rajasthan and temperatures get very low (-2°C) at night hence it’s advisable to carry warm cloths, thermals and caps to cover yourself. Your skipper will help you with list of essentials to be carried.
On-field learning from the experts is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skill-set. 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. How to approach wildlife in the field
2. Different modes of shooting (Av / A, Tv / S, M and P)
3. Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
4. Mastering metering techniques (Spot, partial, center weighted, evaluative)
5. Mastering auto focus, focusing points, AF locking and focus tracking for moving subjects
6. How to get sharp images of moving subjects
7. Framing and composition in the field
8. Ethics in Wildlife Photography
Image processing workshop
To maximize and complete your photographic learning, join our evening session of informal discussions on digital image processing. Our Expert will work on few of his own images or a few of yours (which you have clicked during the day) and demonstrate various techniques of image processing to give a final shape to your artwork. The following will be discussed
Rs 35,000 per head inclusive of all taxes
*To know charges for foreign nationals please write to info@dcpexpeditions.com
Cost includes
Cost does not include:
Tal Chhapar
27.812619076652588 74.43455256918375Cancellation policy
There are very limited twin sharing accommodation available. Please mail us to know availability
Yes certainly. However, the cost will remain the same
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