Flame-of-the-forest trees (Butea monosperma) provide a welcome splash of colour to the dry woodland at Gir in the dry season.
With forest owlet on the potential menu later in the trip, it was time to fully familiarise myself with its much commoner congener - the spotted owlet.
Two days at Gir started the Central India trip off, and what a start. We did well for leopards with close but brief views on each of our first two morning drives. The lions performed well albeit to order. Birding is always good too here, my first white-bellied minivet was a male and just superb. This species has been high on my most-wanted list for decades and did not disappoint. Sadly no photographs, I could not take my eyes off it!
Disparoneura quadrimaculata - dry season dragonfly faunas are always rather depauperate but this one is flying year-round and it is a little stunner, Gir remains the only place I have ever seen this species.
Lion around. Last year you could walk in after the Asiatic lion at Gir (under supervision), but now the lions are shepherded to the roadside for your enjoyment. A slightly plastic zoo-like experience sadly.
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