Monarch Butterfly in Pacific Grove

Its November and time for going Butterfly Watching! Well, Monarch butterfly watching in Monterey, California! I am posting the pictures of butterflies which I took in the past years! You can get much info about this most familiar North American butterfly in Wiki. But, the amazing thing is that these tiny delicate living beings migrate from Canada to Mexico to escape harsh winter! Do they live that long??!!

National Parks- Anshi-Dandeli, an adventure destination of Karnataka

Just 85Kms from my childhood hometown Hubli, Dandeli has been a frequent destination for me and my family. I had been to this place many times in the past, like pre-2005 years. I have done extensive trekking and wildlife viewing those days. In the last decade Dandeli has emerged as a destination for adventure activities around Kali river. For me Dandeli is synonymous with 'river rafting'. For bird watchers it means Hornbills and much more!!!

National Parks- Redwood, Trees that kiss the skies!

Tall stately trees, mist mixed with sunshine, fern covered cliffs, slow moving streams, cool air are enough to tell about Redwood National and State Parks. Home for tallest and oldest trees on earth, this place also protects 40-miles of coastline and other wildlife. Located in the northern California the park is a wonderland of Ents :)

Birds- White Ibis at Everglades National Park

I have posted so much about Everglades National Park and I have so much more to share! It doesn't seem to end very soon! Here is one picture of back-lit white ibis. I took this picture from the boat in Gulf Coast area of Everglades.

Wildlife- Ladybug, A Bug Photogenic!

Ever since I bought a Macbook Pro I wanted to shoot a Ladybug! Now, what a Ladybug has to do with a Mac!? Well, my Macbook Pro has a default background image of a ladybug. It is so very beautiful that it made me go searching for ladybugs in every damp forest!

Bird Sanctuary- J N 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge at Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a shrimp shaped barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The island popular for migrtory bird populations is home for J N 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge which was established in 1976 to protect the largest mangrove ecosystem and named for cartoonist and environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling. 

National Parks- Biscayne, The Underwater National Park!

Biscayne Bay underwater National Park, is another gem in southern Florida. One of the popular scuba diving locations in USA, it preserves the barrier reefs and some of the unique marine wildlife. 95% of the park is underwater! Like other national parks of USA there is an entry fee of $10.

Call of the Wild- Everglades National Park, An Alligator Alley

Compared to the west I haven't explored east coast of USA much. I have reached south-east as far as Florida, the southern tip of continental USA. I went on a road trip to Southern Florida covering Miami, all the three national parks and Florida Keys. One of my friends was pulling my leg ... Are you going hunting pythons? or wrestling with alligators? or riding a Florida panther? ... Ha ha ... I wasn't sure! I would have been lucky to sight a Florida Panther or a giant python! But, I did see a Black tipped shark and also a Florida Manatee :) Only thing I was worried about was the hot-and-humid weather!! But, the trip was worth every penny I spent.

Hawaii- More from Big Island!

Big Island of Hawaii is popular for its most active volcano Kilauea. But, there are many other places one could enjoy this island's volcanic beauty. As any other island it has numerous beaches on the western coast and waterfalls on the wind and rain swept eastern coast. If you take a drive along the perimeter of the island numerous viewpoints await you.

National Seashore- Point Reyes, The beautiful coast

Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the gems of San Francisco bay area. Point Reyes peninsula is surrounded by the peaceful Pacific ocean. The seashore is just not a beach where one can hangout, it is an array of habitats for marine wildlife. Beaches, bays, lagoons, estuaries, tide pools and so on ... The  National Seashore was established to protect the delicate wilderness and ancient tribal culture and now it is a natural sanctuary for hundreds of plants and wildlife and also to the human spirit. The seashore offers long stretches of sandy beaches, hiking trails many other recreational activities. One of my favorite places where I went looking for photo-opportunities, inspiration and solitude!

Call of the Wild- Denali National Park, An abode of Grizzly Bears!

Early rays of Sun on Mt Denali

Home of North America's highest peak Mt Denali (20,320ft), Denali National Park is a vast wild land of high alpine tundras and snowy mountains. The highest mountain, more popular by the name Mt McKinley, is the 'roof' of North America. Denali means "the high one" in Athabascan native language. It seems only 20% of the total visitors happen to have a glimpse of this mountain! And I am one of them!

Birds- Cormorant Expressions

In one of my earlier posts I had mentioned about cormorants. I repeat again ... I love to interpret their expressions ... Anticipation ... Don't these cormorants look like they are waiting for something? I think so :)

Call of the Wild- National Chambal Sanctuary, The river of Gharials

Gharial

Well, I was in Gwalior and the time wasn't right. There was a lot of tension in Gwalior ... Travel agencies advised me not to venture out. And I wanted to visit the National Chambal Sanctuary which was very few KM away from the epicenter of all the tension- Morena. Next morning, I thought of giving a try than sitting in the hotel room. First, I reached Morena (38KM). I enquired in that dusty bus stand about reaching the sanctuary by public transport. Well, people were very helpful and I boarded another bus. Looked like everyone in the bus knew that I was getting off at the boating terminal. When the bus arrived at the place most of them spoke out ... 'yeh chokri, yahaan utar jao' (get off here) ... Well, I got off ...

Wildlife- Croc in the pool

I love this picture. The clear water, one can even see the bottom. And those tiny floating leaves! Look at the shadow of the croc! But, with that muted green all around lacks a bit of color. Ask me again ... I love the picture :)

I took this picture at Everglades National Park, Florida

Call of the Wild- Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska where the ice age lingers!

My trip to Alaska has been a great experience.  Never happened to post articles about the amazing national parks, glacier hikes, cruise, and wildlife earlier to this! I think about Alaska and replay my experiences ... every moment of it ... the severe cold, sleepless nights because of no night hours, day-long cruise on a rough ocean and sea-sickness, spectacular wildlife, snow-ice-and-glaciers, cheap hostels, road accident and so on ... Believe me ... unforgettable!! Kenai Fjords National Park- ice fields, glaciers, wildlife and lush forests! A place on earth where the ice age lingers!

Butterflies- Butterflies of Florida

Bees sip honey from flowers and hum their thanks when they leave. The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him - Rabindranath Tagore 

When butterflies fly by they delight our souls. God must have been a very happy person the day he created them :) So very light, colorful and so volatile and restless. Unknowingly the eyes start following them ... During my visit to Key West, Florida I shot many butterfly photos. And I thought of adding some beautiful quotes by great people on these wonderful creatures.

Call of the Wild- Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park, popular for the tiger tourism in India, was a must see for me even after I had visited Kanha and Pench in the same month. Reaching the place using public transport took little too long. From Jabalpur I took a bus to Katni, then to Umaria and then to Tala. It was too very hectic in the old noisy buses which were filled with humans. Believe me there wasn't even an inch of free space. I felt world is so big when I disembarked at Tala gate :) Took a room for two nights in forest rest-house paying Rs. 3000 and extra for food. My plan was to go for safari and next day to the fort. It is a clean accommodation with no TV right at the national park gate at Tala.

Call of the Wild- Pench National Park

Madhya Pradesh has great number of national parks and tiger reserves popular being- Kanha and Bandhavgarh. One of the lesser known national parks is Pench. After my Amarkantak trip I took a break for few days only to return back t Nagpur. From Nagpur I was looking for a bus to Khawasa, nearest village few KM away from the park. In the beginning I asked for the bus to Pench national park. Nobody seemed to know. I wondered!! Then a person advised me to ask for Khawasa and not to say national park but say Abhayaranya (which means protected forest which in turn means national park). It worked!

Birds- A portrait

Today is 12-12-12 ... lifetime event ... many theories ... many speculations ... end of the world ... end of a calendar ... beginning of new story ... I wish all this is true ... I wish we humans undergo some kind of transformation ... that this corruption and violence come to an end ... let there be a new beginning ...

Wildlife- Baby Elephant Seals

Elephant Seal ... yes! I saw them by hiking 3 miles on California coast. Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero is a place where the habitat for migrating Elephant seals is protected. Lesser known place indeed! Until I reached the place I wasn't sure what was there for me! And I was so happy like a child when I saw these pups just a few feet away on the other side of the fence! Aren't they adorable?