Wildlife Sound Recording in Northern India
with Chris Watson

A unique opportunity to record the rich sounds of the jungles of Northern India accompanied by experienced wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson.

Our base will be Camp Forktail Creek - a forest home surrounded by a dense Sal forest and moist jungles and the only ‘jungle’ camp of its kind within Corbett Tiger Reserve, offering exclusivity in game viewing, great walks and explorations on foot. Corbett National Park was the first National Park founded in Asia and being an excellent habitat for the Bengal Tiger, “Project Tiger” was launched here in 1973. Corbett is also rich in avifauna with counts of over 600 bird species.

From Camp you could get great sound recordings of Great Hornbill, Slaty Woodpecker, Oriental Scops Owl, Spot bellied Eagle Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Large Tailed Nightjar, Indian Cuckoo, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Cheetal, Barking deer and monkey alarm calls and if lucky a leopard sawing.

As can be seen below, we have a fantastic itinerary planned with walks, game drives into various parts of the park, night expeditons, and, with luck, elephant-back safaris. Although the focus will be on recording wildlife and natural atmospheres there will also be opportunities to record the wonderful sounds of the people and villages of the area. As April is wedding time in the area we may get lucky with a wedding in the village or a prayer ceremony in a local temple.

Accommodation will be in large mud huts (see left) or safari tents (sharing two people per hut/tent), elevated on wooden floors. Each tent/ mud hut has an attached, fully functional toilet. Wonderful meals will be prepared daily by the camp chef.

Click for photos from the previous trips: April 2009

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart (British Airways London Heathrow plane BA 257 departs1735)

Day 2: Arrive at Camp Forktail Creek
0620 touchdown. Early morning depart from Delhi, in a private bus for Camp Forktail Creek, a drive of 7 hours. Packed lunch en route.
After wash and change, sort out the gear and then we would take you on an escorted nature and bird walk into the Sal forests surrounding camp. It is an excellent opportunity to walk in the cool of the forest, to be so close to nature and to appreciate the varied plants, insects, birds, mammals and reptiles that inhabit this part of the country.
Back to camp by sundown for campfire and dinner. Then it is time to relax once again and enjoy carefree chatter by the fireside whilst feasting on the unique sounds and smells that your exclusive location offers, before retiring to bed.

Day 3: Around Camp
Early morning walk around Camp for bird calls. Breakfast and then depart for a long walk in the forest around Camp which would include a picnic lunch by a forest stream. Lots of opportunities to film and sound record birds, animals & folk from the village and observe the local lifestyles of the area. Visit the village school, local homes, the farms and cultivation around the village. As a whole a visit to the village helps one understand the methods of farming and cultivation, the local lifestyles, interaction with the local folks etc.
Back to Camp by sundown. Maybe some night recording.
Campfire, dinner and overnight in Camp.

Day 4: Full day game drive into the Bijrani range
Early morning, depart for a full day game drive (jeep safari) to the Bijrani range of Corbett Tiger Reserve to observe the wildlife of the area. Breakfast and lunch would be served at the Bijrani FRH, specially packed by our chef at Camp.
After a full, action-packed day in the forest, we head back to camp by sundown, just in time for that hot cup of tea.
After a quick wash, join your hosts by the campfire for drinks and snacks and resume the discussions leftover from the previous night. For those of you weary from the long day, dinner would be ready under the Thatch after which you could settle into your comfortable beds.

Day 5: Camp to Dhikala range
Early breakfast and then depart in jeeps for the FRH at Dhikala. Enter through the Dhangari gate - a mere 6 kms from Camp. Our route today would take us via Gharial pool, Champion pool on Champion road and High Bank – each one of them, great observation points on the Ramganga river.
April is a good time for huge herds of elephants that pour out of the forest into the grasslands and then cross over to cool in the waters of the Ramganga reservoir.
Arrive at Dhikala by lunch. Post lunch game drive to the Dhikala “chaur” – grasslands, to observe the varied bird and mammal species found in the area. Back for an evening wildlife movie, dinner and overnight stay in rooms at the FRH in Dhikala.

Day 6: Full day game drive at the Dhikala range
A brand new and exciting day to view the wildlife & birds at Dhikala. Viewing would be split on elephant back (subject to availability as it cannot be booked in advance) and game drives. We would be back to Dhikala for breakfast and lunch but otherwise the entire day we would be out in different areas of the Park viewing, filming and recording the interesting flora and fauna. Back to Dhikala by late evening, followed by an early dinner and the comfort of your bed.

Day 7: Dhikala to Camp
We start the day early with a game drive to your most favorite part of the area, from your experiences in the last couple of days.
Back to Dhikala for breakfast, after which we drive back to Camp Forktail Creek, 35 kms away, with a packed lunch.
We would drive past and visit High bank, Champion Pool, Gharial Pool and the interpretation center at the Dhangari gate. Arrive at Camp by evening where you can take a leisurely wash and join your hosts by the campfire. This time it’ll be you telling the stories!

Day 8: Patharia and then a full day game drive into the Lohachaur range
Early morning, post breakfast, drive to the ridge behind Camp where on clear winter days one can get really nice views of Himalayan peaks. In April it‘ll be good for landscapes and raptors.
Then we drive on for a full day game drive (jeep safari) to the Lohachuar range to observe the wildlife of the area. We would be amidst some excellent patches of fern laden, moist sub tropical jungles and would encounter a variety of birds. Lohachaur would be especially good for close recording of birds. This zone has the added advantage being allowed to walk with jeep support.
Packed lunch by the Mandal River; return to Camp by early evening. Campfire, dinner and overnight in Camp.

Day 9: Around Camp
Early morning walk around Camp for bird calls.
Breakfast and then spend your last day in and around Camp. Walk in the forests, to the village, to the stream, film from the Machan, record at the Acre (all spots in camp), spend time at the waterholes…
Back to Camp by afternoon. Pack and then enjoy your last campfire. Dinner and overnight in Camp.

Day 10: Depart for onward journey
Wake up at leisure and have a lavish breakfast at Camp. Bid goodbye to your naturalist and the rest of the team and depart for Delhi after breakfast. Packed lunch en route. Stop off at Imperial Hotel in Delhi for farewell dinner. Check in at airport.

Day 11: Return Home (BA 142 Delhi flight take-off at 0215, touchdown Heathrow 0645)

What Wildlife will you see?

Corbett boasts a rich variety of faunal species. About 50 species of mammals, about 600 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and many insect species are found in the reserve.

Besides, being home to the Bengal Tiger, Corbett is also the northern most tract of habitat for the Asiatic Elephant and one can see large herds in the grasslands during the summer months. Other mammals of the reserve include the Leopard, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat 4 kinds of deer Sambar, Hog Deer, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Rhesus monkey& Langur monkey, Ghoral or Mountain Goat, Wild boar, Sloth Bear, Indian grey mongoose, Small Indian civet, Indian crested porcupine, Asiatic Jackal, Yellow-throated marten etc.

The Mugger or the fresh water Crocodile, Gharial, Common otter, Smooth-coated otter, Small-clawed otter, turtles and a variety of fishes; Golden Masheer, Goonch, Trout, etc are seen in and around the Ramganga River. Reptile species include Monitor Lizard or the Bengal Monitor, King Cobra, Indian Rock Python, Indian Trinket Snake, Common Indian Krait, Spectacled or Indian Cobra…

Corbett is also a bird watchers paradise and some of the avian attractions include a variety of Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Hornbills, Parakeets, Shrikes, Barbets, Drongos, Minivets, Storks, Owls, Pheasants, Eagles, Vultures, Harriers...

Personnel

Chris Watson (pictured right - experienced sound recordist specialising in wildlife - Chris also runs courses in wildlife sound recording and post production at the BBC Natural History Unit, and lectures internationally on location sound and sound design. He has worked closely with two of the most high-profile natural history presenters in the business, David Attenborough and Bill Oddie. He is Oddie's favourite sound man and the TV veteran says of Watson: "I don't know anyone who is so intense yet so splendidly frivolous." Chris became a sound recordist in 1981 when he joined Tyne Tees Television and is now widely regarded as one of the most creative sound artists in the business. His recent credits include the hugely popular Springwatch and Autumnwatch, and he received the Wildlife Film Asia Award for the BBC's Galapagos: Born of Fire. Watson also creates for the radio, with credits including Soundscape: The Sea Swallow, Watersong and The Estuary all for BBC Radio 4. See www.chriswatson.net)

Piers Warren - Principal of Wildeye - Piers is well known throughout the wildlife film-making industry as the editor of Wildlife Film News and producer of wildlife-film.com, which he created in the 1990s. With a strong background in biology, education and conservation, he has had a lifelong passion for wildlife films and has a wide knowledge of natural history. He cut his teeth in the industry as a sound engineer and multi-media producer, running a studio for many years. He is one of the founders of the international organisation Filmmakers for Conservation and was Vice President for the first three years. Piers is the author of many magazine features and several books including Careers in Wildlife Film-making and Go Wild with Your Camcorder - How to Make Wildlife Films.

Plus experienced local guides and drivers from Camp Forktail Creek.

Travel Information

Visas: Required. Cost UK£30. Further information and form from http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Immunisations: Check with your health clinic and Fit for Travel or MASTA - you can obtain a Health Brief by telephoning the Travellers Healthline on 0906 8 224100. Advised to be in date for; diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis;hepatitis A; typhoid.

Malaria: Protection recommended - check with your health clinic
See Travelpharm.com for travellers' medication and health supplies

Insurance: It is essential you take out comprehensive travel insurance. Whichever insurance you choose please ensure it provides adequate cover for both you personally and also for any equipment you may be bringing with you.

Dates:
Next trip expected February 2011

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Costs:
To be confirmed

Includes all local travel in India, accommodation and full board (apart from expenses of personal nature like phone calls, postage, laundry, tips, alcoholic beverages. The final dinner at Imperial hotel is also not included.)