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Indoor Meeting - Friday 9th December 2005
At the indoor meeting, on Friday 9th December, the Heathcote duo – Peter and Pauline – provided the KOS with an excellent presentation of their several visits to this fascinating part of the world. Either as a couple, or with friends, they organize their trips through an Indian contact, hiring a comfortable vehicle, driver and guide at the various ports of call, linked by internal flights. They often go off the beaten track, favouring a more leisurely approach, finding their own birds and sending their records to the relevant ornithological establishments. During the evening, we were taken to widely contrasting areas such as the Himalayan foothills around Naini Tal, the Thal desert, the salt flats of the Raan of Kutch and the forests and wetlands of the Western Ghats, visiting Goa and further south to Cochin.
As would be expected, the bird life was as diverse as the scenery and both were extremely well illustrated, along with occasional glimpses of the culture and way of life. Those attending will all have their particular favourites. I recall the wonderful shots of Demoiselle Cranes, wintering in their thousands, the flight views of Lammergeier, the close-up of a River Tern and of course the colourful Indian Pitta. Their love and appreciation for this country and its wildlife was undeniable and throughout the evening I frequently felt transported to share their experiences – I would happily have sat in the boat with them, as it drifted close to a Greater Thick-knee, a wader species I’ve yet to see.
The forty or so members that were there enjoyed a very special evening and those who didn’t make it certainly missed out. Thank you Pauline and Peter.
Don Taylor |