15th to 17th May 2015-Pangot and Sattal.
It was a family outing once again to our favorite place-Pangot. Kafal House is our second home and we have only to  find an excuse to head for it. This time the excuse was that we were awaiting the Class XII board results of Ishani. She was apprehensive that once her results are declared, she would not be in a mood to undertake any travel.  Buji my favorite disciple was suppose to join us next day [eventually he joined us two days later as he missed his train for reasons which he is famous (or infamous) for. For  more details on this aspect of his character please read my famous article http://sandeepjajabor.blogspot.in/2014/01/sattal-jan-2014-all-expenses-paid.html].

 15th May 2015(Friday):We started from Delhi on 15th by Kathgodam Shatabdi which departs at 0615 hours from Anand Vihar Raillway station.  We reached Kathgodam at 1130 hours which is ten minutes before the scheduled time. Our trusted old Driver-cum-guide Shri Harish Joshi was waiting eagerly at the station and we soon started for Pangot. It takes 1.5 hours from Kathgodam to Pangot. The weather was the finest we could expect. However, soon after we crossed Nainital it started raining which after a few minutes, turned into a severe hail storm. Although for a Delhite hail stroms are not rare, what we were witnessing was something rare.  Harish kept on driving despite the very poor visibility, for the only reason that if this hail storm continued for more than half-an-hour we could be stranded.  Since all the hail from the slopes were accumulating on the road, the roads soon turned white. Driving was becoming a serious business now. Tension on the face of Harish was visible and that also made me nervous. The memory of being stranded on 16th August last year at about the same place was too fresh in my mind to allow any optimistic thoughts. Ishani and Anjana were however, blissfully unaware of the possibilities of continuing hailstorm and were thoroughly enjoying videographing the phenomena.

Fortunately the rain abated in 20 minutes and by the time we reached Pangot at 1.45 PM it was sunny again. By now we were very hungry and the first thing we did, after we had checked in, was to have our lunch. One of the special attraction in Kafal House is the food. Hemu -the chef in Kafal House is an exceptional cook besides being a fine bird watcher.

The forktail visits the small poodle in front of this abondoned house
at Timla Pani. 

Immediately after lunch we went to Timla Pani in search of the Spotted Forktail which unfortunately eluded us that day. However, there was a large flock of wedge-tailed green pigeon which we got to shoot from very close range. The pair below were shot without getting out from the jeep. 

wedge tailed green pigeon or Kokla Green Pigeon

wedge tailed green pigeon

16th May 2015: Early morning at 5.30 AM we went out to try our luck for Cheer pheasant. Pangot is the place to sight Cheer pheasant with high certainty. The way to the area where Cheer is found is also full of two other most beautiful pheasants namely Koklas and Kaleej. In my all previous visits to Pangot, never ever I have failed to sight Koklas. This time also, we sighted koklas within minutes of starting our journey. Unfortunately, we could not get a good click and were feeling disappointed. Our disappointment was short lived because, from nowhere came flying a female kaleej (see above) and landed in front of our jeep. Since I was sitting in the front, I got a very good opportunity to click the specimen. I was extremely lucky that by this time it was almost six and the first rays of the sun were falling on it to allow me a decent shutter speed of 1/80 despite the high ISO.

Rufous bellied niltava

 Although we were unlucky with cheer this time, yet the satisfaction of the kaleej shot was compensatory. On our way back we also got very good shot of a pair of fork tail and a rufous-bellied- niltava(see above).  At around 5.50 AM, Buji's short crisp and cryptic message came that "I have missed the train. Feeling horrible. Do not call back".  It was a disappointing news for all three of us because we were eagerly waiting for Buji to join us. After conjecturing and debating on five to six reasons for the disaster, we settled for the most probable reason for which  you may read http://sandeepjajabor.blogspot.in/2014/01/sattal-jan-2014-all-expenses-paid.html.

By tenthirtry we arrived back at Kafal House and 

Breakfast

Kafal House

At chaffi

Buji and Ishani at Chafi trying to shoot the forktail. Harish searching for one

This is the small bridge at Chafi where we normally shoot the Forktail

In search of the Forktail at Chafi

KMVN-Sattal

At 'STUDIO' in Sattal.(few photographers on the other side waiting for the arrival of APFC)

At Studio -Sattal

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time pass

Blue capped rock thrush

Blue capped rock thrush

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Small niltava at Sattal

Small niltava at Sattal

Rufous sibia

Emerald dove-I finally got it 

Brown wood owl(at sattal early morning at 6 AM)- detected only because few white crested LT were chasing it.)