Thattekere, Gattalu Kere and Harohalli Kere

After seeing some of the photographs of Thattekere online I decided to checkout the place myself. I asked my wife if she is willing to join me for which she agreed. So we decided to wake up at around 5AM and start towards the place.

On Sunday we woke up early as planned packed our food and water and started our journey towards thattekere. The route we chose was through Ragihalli. Since we would be entering a part of Bannerghatta Nationa park we decided we will go slow and make sure we enter the national park area only when there is enough light to avoid any surprises. I was hoping to see some guards near the checkposts but I did not see any.

By the time we reached Ragihalli area we had already seen good number of birds. On the way we made sure not to get down or take breaks inside the national area but we did stopped at couple of place to click some photographs without getting down. The drive through this area is beautiful. Not many vehicle is seen and even not many people around.

On multiple enquires regarding the direction to Thattekere we found the destination after some struggle. We reached the place around 8:30AM. Near Mahadeshwara temple there I could see some people gathered for some ceremony. Even near the lake there were people. Its a beautiful lake which has not been polluted yet. I hope it stays like this for long. On enquiring few locals I was told Elephants do come down to the lake for water in the mornings. We did not spend much time here since it was part of BNP.

From thattekere we decided to head towards Gattalu Kere which is on the way to Harohalli. I was hoping to see some water in the area but there was none. Even the bird activity was very less. But I was very happy to see a good number of Grey Wagtails which were feeding there. I could see atleast 80+ wagtails there. Also found good number of Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark there. After having breakfast their we headed towards Harohalli to check if I can find more birds there.

It did not surprise me to see lot of activity in the Harohalli lake area. There were Ibis, Coots, Jacanas and Herons in plenty. All in all a wonderful Sunday trip.

We were back home by 1PM.

List of Birds seen during the trip.

1. Pied Bushchat
2. Indian Robin
3. Small Minivet
4. Green Bea Eater
5. Purple Rumped Sunbird
6. Purple Sunbird
7. Paddyfield Pippit
8. Indian Roller
9. White Throated Kingfisher
10. Indian Cormorant
11. Great Coromorant
12. Cattle Egret
13. Little Egret
14. Median Egret
15. Bay Backed Shrike
16. Long Tailed Shrike
17. Brown Shrike
18. White Browed Wagtail
19. Grey Wagtail
20. Ashy Prinia
21. Plain Prinia
22. Yellow Billed Babbler
23. Jungle Babbler
24. Red Rumped Swallow
25. Black Drongo
26. Ashy Drongo
27. Golden Oriole
28. Sparrow
29. Rose Ringed Parakeet
30. Common Myna
31. Crow
32. Purple Moorehen
33. Pond Heron
34. Grey Heron
35. Purple Heron
36. Common Hoopoe
37. Scaly Breasted Munia
38. Red Wattled Lapwing
39. Black Ibis
40. Black Headed Ibis
41. White Cheeked Barbet
42. Red Vented Bulbul
43. White Browed Bulbul
44. Spotted Dove
45. Laughing Dove
46. Black Kite
47. Brahminy Kite
48. Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark
49. Common Tailor bird
50. Rock Pigeon
51. Indian Silverbill
52. Bronze Winged Jacana
53. Eurasian Coot
54. Rosy Starling
55. Jungle Prinia

                                                                 Small Minivet(Female)

                                                                           Golden Oriole

                                                                 Rosy Starlings?

                                                                     Indian BushLark?

                                                                  Scaly Breasted Munia

                                                                          Plain Prinia

                                                                           ID? (Some kind of Cuckooo)

                                                                   Red Rumped Swallow

                                                                  Laughing Dove

                                                                Common Hoopoe

                                                                   Brahminy Kite

                                                                    Indian Roller

                                                                    Black Kite?

                                                               White Browed Bulbul

                                                                        Pippit

                                                                  Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark

                                                                  Grey Wagtail

                                                                       Red Wattled Lapwing  

                                                               Rose Ringed Parakeet

                                                                    Drongo

                                                                   Jungle Prinia

                                                                 Black Headed Ibis

                                                                      Grey Heron

                                                            Bronze Winged Jacana(Immature)

                                                        Bronze Winged Jacana(Adult)

                                                                   Purple Moorehen

                                                                   Eurasian Coot

 

Hoskote trip to attend Friends Wedding

One of my close friends wedding was at Hoskote this weekend. Since the wedding was at 11:30AM I decided to visit the Hoskote lake first and then head towards the function hall.

I read there were lot of waders in the Hoskote lake which was true. I could see lot of birds near the lake but could not photograph much. But somehow managed to get some shots. There were lot of Ducks of which I'm not sure of the ID.

Birds seen at the lake.

1. Indian Roller
2. Spotted Dove
3. Grey Francolin
4. Pied Bushchat
5. Indian Robin
6. Grey Tit
7. Purple Rumped Sunbird
8. Red Wattled Lapwing
9. Scaly Breasted Munia
10. Silver bill
11. Green Bea Eater
12. Wood Sandpiper
13. Black Headed Ibis
14. Pond Heron
15. Grey Heron
16. Purple Heron
17. Purple Moorehen
18. Plain Prinia
19. Black Kite

                                                                  Wood Sandpiper

                                                                       Grey Heron

                                                                         Spotted Dove

                                                                              Pied Bushchat

                                                             Silverbills & Bushchat

                                                                            Grey Tit

                                                            My Life Partner(Swetha)

                                                                        Indian Roller

                                                                              ID?

 

First Birding trip to Hebbal Lake

So this time I decided to go to Hebbal lake with the "bngbirds" group to Hebbal Lake. The usual schedule of the group is

1'st Sunday of the month to "Hebbal Lake"
2'nd Sunday of the month to "Lalbagh"
3'rd Sunday of the month to "Areas around Bannerghatta"
4'th Sunday of the month to "Sarjapur"

I have gone with this group to Bannerghatta few time and have came across this group lot of times when visiting the Lalbagh. There are lot of Experts who help the beginners in understanding our Avians a lot better. It's really a great place to learn with so many experts around in the group.

For this outing Subbu sir was leading the group. It was a privileage to meet him.

The bird walk is held near the Hebbal park area. It's a very nice park with lot of beautiful birds. People do come here for morning walks. And some people knowingly/unknowingly disturb the birds daily routine. One such scenario happened right in front of us. A morning jogger had crossed a gate onto the concrete structure where he was trying to exercise. Subbu sir was explaining us how that place is used by birds regularly to perch. He said usually they see Kingfisher there. Subbu sir asked the gentlemen to leave and he left after a while. After sometime we saw a "Common Kingfisher" which settled nicely at the same place where the gentlemen was walking. This was my first sighting of a "Common Kingfisher". I was really happy to see this fellow. Got couple of good shots before he flew away.

There were a group of around 30-40 kids in the park who had come for a nature trail I guess. Subbu sir helped the kids in identifying different birds and how we can classify.

Meanwhile I got my queries cleared regarding the classification of Indian Coromorant and Indian Coromorant from Arun sir.

You get learn new things about the nature everytime from this group. It's amazing that this group has been continuing this bird walks for more than 25 years now. Amazing.

Next to the park there is tank which is used to dump the Ganesha Idols. We saw some of the idols had been dumped into the lake too.

In this tank we found a Yellow Wagtail. Amazing!!! Ended the day in a Happy note.

List of Birds seen during the trip.

1. Common Myna
2. Purple Rumped Sunbird
3. Rose Ringed Parakeet
4. Koel(male and female)
5. Grey Tit
6. Yellow Wagtail
7. Common Kingfisher
8. White Throated Kingfisher
9. Pond Heron
10. Grey Heron
11. Spot Billed Pelican
12. Painted Storks
13. Black Headed Ibis
14. Spot Billed Duck
15. Little Cormorant
16. Great Cormorant
17. Little Egret
18. Median Egret
19. Red Wattled Lapwing
20. Common Sandpiper
21. Tickell's Flowerpecker
22. Tickell's Blue flycatcher
23. Red Vented Bulbul
24. Ashy Wood Swallow Lark
25. Purple Moorehen
26. Black kite
27. Brahminy Kite
28. Ashy Prinia

                                                                          Common Jay?

                                                                  Humans and Birds Conflict

?

                                                     ID of the duck behind Spot billed duck?

                                                                    Grey Heron

                                                                   Great Coromorant

                                                                      Keelback?

                                                                    Spot Billed Pelican

                                                                  Common Kingfisher

                                                                Median Egret

                                                                    Painted Stork

                                                                   Brahminy Kite

                                                                      Little Egret

                                                                  Common Sandpiper

                                                                   Yellow Wagtail

                                                                 Plain Tiger