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Continued halt at Doyang River camp |
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Clear morning, free from mist. I was up at 6.30 a.m. A small pack of Red Wild Dogs passed quite close in front of the camp & within a few yards of my tent, evidently hot on a trail. I had a splendid view of them. They swam across the river to the right bank, raced along that side & disappeared. Later I saw an otter, about the size of L. vulgaris, probably the Clawless Otter. I stayed in camp most of the morning, but spent an hour in the jhum fields photographing etc. Saw some quails. I got letters from home & prints of some of my negatives which had been developed in Calcutta. They were disappointing as the view-finder must have been out of adjustment. I went up the river bed in the afternoon. A pair of Black-backed Kalij Pheasants flew across near me; padi egrets & spur-winged plovers, & numbers of small swallows or martins were seen; also a White-capped Redstart (white crown, black cheeks, neck, shoulders & wings; back, tail and underparts bright, warm red; tail also red with black tips. It flirted its tail up & down vigorously). On my way back I watched cantering along the opposite bank for about 1/4 mile a pair of Himalayan Martens. They were large & very badger-like in appearance, but had long, thick tails. (Head yellowing-white with black streak along the cheek, throat yellow, back & sides greyish yellow; hind quarters, tail & feet dark brown). They were evidently following a hot scent & travelled at a good pace. Several monkeys were in the trees on the far side. Mills caught 2 or 3 mahseer during the day & we had some for dinner. |
