Since there was good number of rains in last couple of months we thought we would visit TG Halli and see if there are any good number of water birds. We decided to start very early on Sunday and reach there by 6:30AM. Since most of our group members were busy and at the end it was just me, Raghu and his wife who made the trip.
For the first time I woke up late, infact if it was not for Raghus phone call I would have slept through the morning:-). I started at around 5:45 from my house and reached Raghu's house in 15 min. We started from Raghu's house after a nice cup of coffee.
It was a beautiful drive to TG Halli, weather was good with not much traffic. We spotted a Flameback woodpecker but before we took out our cameras he was gone. But still amazing sighting for the morning.
After reaching the backwater of TG Halli the first thing that hit me was the change that has happened from the last time that I was there. The water was more but the very bad thing to see was there was increase in the soil mining that has happened near the shore. I think all the Brick factories on the road get their mud from this place. It was really sad to see what was happening here. I hope someone takes action for whats happening there.
In terms of bird life we did not see lot of birds but enough of them to keep us interested:-) There were spot billed ducks, common coots in huge numbers, Grey herons were in good numbers too. Couple of Purple herons were seen too. But the biggest spotting of the day was "Citrine Wagtail". And seeing this fellow in summer was very surprising and it looked to be in breeding plumage too. Amazing amazing sighting. Another winter visitor seen in summer for a consecutive week. Last week we saw a Green Sandpiper in Muthanallur lake and this week a "Citrine Wagtail". And this is my first sighting of this species too:-) We could not believe our luck.
Then we saw couple of Indian Hoopoes which were very co-operating with us. Gave us some good photographs and left. Then came the time to see the bird which signals the onset of monsoons, the Pied Cuckoo:-) I was waiting to see this bird this summer. Last week Raghu had seen one when he visited chunchi falls. Again a good spotting for the day.
Lot of larks were seen along with Babblers and bulbuls. Saw a common kingfisher hovering to catch its morning breakfast. Few pied kingfishers were seen too. Had our breakfast which Raghu's wife had prepared and left from there towards Savandurga forest.
On the way in one of the lakes we saw a white-breasted waterhen and Bronze winged Jacanas. We did not see much activity while driving through Savandurga but still the drive was amazing. One sighting was of a Blue Faced Malkoha in the forest.
List of birds seen for the day.
For the first time I woke up late, infact if it was not for Raghus phone call I would have slept through the morning:-). I started at around 5:45 from my house and reached Raghu's house in 15 min. We started from Raghu's house after a nice cup of coffee.
It was a beautiful drive to TG Halli, weather was good with not much traffic. We spotted a Flameback woodpecker but before we took out our cameras he was gone. But still amazing sighting for the morning.
After reaching the backwater of TG Halli the first thing that hit me was the change that has happened from the last time that I was there. The water was more but the very bad thing to see was there was increase in the soil mining that has happened near the shore. I think all the Brick factories on the road get their mud from this place. It was really sad to see what was happening here. I hope someone takes action for whats happening there.
In terms of bird life we did not see lot of birds but enough of them to keep us interested:-) There were spot billed ducks, common coots in huge numbers, Grey herons were in good numbers too. Couple of Purple herons were seen too. But the biggest spotting of the day was "Citrine Wagtail". And seeing this fellow in summer was very surprising and it looked to be in breeding plumage too. Amazing amazing sighting. Another winter visitor seen in summer for a consecutive week. Last week we saw a Green Sandpiper in Muthanallur lake and this week a "Citrine Wagtail". And this is my first sighting of this species too:-) We could not believe our luck.
Then we saw couple of Indian Hoopoes which were very co-operating with us. Gave us some good photographs and left. Then came the time to see the bird which signals the onset of monsoons, the Pied Cuckoo:-) I was waiting to see this bird this summer. Last week Raghu had seen one when he visited chunchi falls. Again a good spotting for the day.
Lot of larks were seen along with Babblers and bulbuls. Saw a common kingfisher hovering to catch its morning breakfast. Few pied kingfishers were seen too. Had our breakfast which Raghu's wife had prepared and left from there towards Savandurga forest.
On the way in one of the lakes we saw a white-breasted waterhen and Bronze winged Jacanas. We did not see much activity while driving through Savandurga but still the drive was amazing. One sighting was of a Blue Faced Malkoha in the forest.
List of birds seen for the day.
| 1 | Myna, Common |
| 2 | Myna, Jungle |
| 3 | Babbler, Yellow Billed |
| 4 | Babbler, Yellow Eyed |
| 5 | Babbler, Large Grey |
| 6 | Wagtail, White Browed |
| 7 | Wagtail, Citrine |
| 8 | Bulbul, Red Vented |
| 9 | Bulbul, Red Whiskered |
| 10 | Bulbul, White Browed |
| 11 | Egret, Little |
| 12 | Ibis, Black Headed |
| 13 | Heron, Pond(Breeding plumage) |
| 14 | Heron, Purple |
| 15 | Heron, Grey |
| 16 | Kingfisher, Common |
| 17 | Kingfisher, Pied |
| 18 | Kingfisher, White Throated |
| 19 | Roller, Indian |
| 20 | Hoopoe, Indian |
| 21 | Barbet, Coppersmith |
| 22 | Cuckoo, Pied |
| 23 | Koel, Asian |
| 24 | Plover, Little Ringed |
| 25 | Stork, Wooly Necked |
| 26 | Stork, Open Billed |
| 27 | Moorehen, Common |
| 28 | Moorehen, Purple |
| 29 | Jacana, Bronze Winged |
| 30 | Waterhen, White-breasted |
| 31 | Shikra |
| 32 | Buzzard, un-ided |
| 33 | Kite, Brahminy |
| 34 | Kite, Black |
| 35 | Eagle, Tawny |
| 36 | Lapwing, Red Wattled |
| 37 | Prinia, Ashy |
| 38 | Prinia, Grey Breasted |
| 39 | Lark, Un-ided |
| 40 | Lark, Ashy Crowned Sparrow |
| 41 | Pipit, Un-ided |
| 42 | Tailor Bird, common |
| 43 | Swallow, Red Rumped |
| 44 | Swallow, Barn |
| 45 | Woodpecker, Flameback |
| 46 | Dove, Laughing |
| 47 | Dove, Spotted |
| 48 | Pigeon, Rock |
| 49 | Duck, Spot Billed |
| 50 | Duck, Un-ided |
| 51 | Coot, Common |
| 52 | Sunbird, Purple Rumped |
| 53 | Sunbird, Purple |
| 54 | Silverbill, Indian |
| 55 | Weaver, Baya |
| 56 | Bushchat, Pied |
| 57 | Robin, Indian |
| 58 | Robin, Magpie |
| 59 | Shrike, Long Tailed |
| 60 | Malkoha, Blue Faced |
Multiple places where the mud has been removed
Indian Roller
Pied Bushchat
Brahminy Kite
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Citrine Wagtail
Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark
Sykes's Lark?
Plain Tiger
Sykes's Lark?
Indian Hoopoe
Pied Cuckoo
Pippit ID?
Red Wattled Lapwing
Common Kingfisher
Little Ringed Plover
