Feathered Bipeds & Me.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
12/12/2004: Nandi Hills Birding
On Saturday evening, while I checked my mails, I saw a mail from Suresh V, with a stunning pic of an ultramarine flycatcher, shot at Nandi hills. Soon, Praveen called me. (He must have also been checking his mails at that time) He mentioned the importance of this record for Karnataka, and persuaded me to go to Nandi hills and spot it again. I called up Suresh & convinced him to make a 2nd trip the next day itself.
We left Cox town by 6:15am, and reached nandi hills at 8:15am, thanks to the “nice” road. We had a couple of brief stops for Suresh to do some road-side shooting. Taking tickets, we left straight for the “ultramarine-spot”, and setup our tripods and sat in wait. In between I got restless seeing a red-throated flycatcher stay close, but beyond shooting distance and tried to go behind it & get a shot, but couldn’t. I returned to the waiting spot. Probably after 1-1.5 hrs of waiting, the ultramarine flycatcher showed up. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. It was stunning, like a pretty jewel glistening in the sunlight. I shot 10+ frames. Hope at least one comes out well. After some 10-15 minutes, it flew away. Suresh then started “chasing” a paradise flycatcher male, while I again tried in vain for the other flycatcher.
Our next aim was to walk along the edge of the hill, to spot raptors. Near the dormitories a flock of rufous-bellied babblers gave me a shot or two, and got to see a blue-capped rock thrush & and another male paradise flycatcher in the undergrowth. Right near the cliff, a common buzzard soared away from me, but got enough time to see the carpal patch and ID it. On the way to the temple, we also saw a white-phase booted-eagle, with its black trailing edges and black-tipped tail. Just past the temple, we waited at the rocks for the vultures. Soon, a pair of adult Egyptian vultures came in, probably a nesting pair. A huge swift flew by, with darkish wings & pale underbody. Alpine swift, I guessed. Before we walked back, we saw an UID aquila being chased by a black kite.
Near the guest house, a blue rock thrush was seen catching insects from the grass. Suresh managed a shot or two. I had packed up my stuff, and it was too far a shot, anyway. As we drove back, I held Suresh’s camera, ready for any surpise sightings. A buteo was seen perching on a tree near one of the bends, giving a good eye-level view. Without bothering to remove the helmet, I took a few shots of it using Suresh’s camera. I got down, bowed below the wall and started setting up my camera, but I was too late, it got wary & had flown away.
After a brief walk along the pathway near the coconut-vendor, and a couple of naariyal-ka-paani drinks, we headed back for Bangalore.
We left Cox town by 6:15am, and reached nandi hills at 8:15am, thanks to the “nice” road. We had a couple of brief stops for Suresh to do some road-side shooting. Taking tickets, we left straight for the “ultramarine-spot”, and setup our tripods and sat in wait. In between I got restless seeing a red-throated flycatcher stay close, but beyond shooting distance and tried to go behind it & get a shot, but couldn’t. I returned to the waiting spot. Probably after 1-1.5 hrs of waiting, the ultramarine flycatcher showed up. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. It was stunning, like a pretty jewel glistening in the sunlight. I shot 10+ frames. Hope at least one comes out well. After some 10-15 minutes, it flew away. Suresh then started “chasing” a paradise flycatcher male, while I again tried in vain for the other flycatcher.
Our next aim was to walk along the edge of the hill, to spot raptors. Near the dormitories a flock of rufous-bellied babblers gave me a shot or two, and got to see a blue-capped rock thrush & and another male paradise flycatcher in the undergrowth. Right near the cliff, a common buzzard soared away from me, but got enough time to see the carpal patch and ID it. On the way to the temple, we also saw a white-phase booted-eagle, with its black trailing edges and black-tipped tail. Just past the temple, we waited at the rocks for the vultures. Soon, a pair of adult Egyptian vultures came in, probably a nesting pair. A huge swift flew by, with darkish wings & pale underbody. Alpine swift, I guessed. Before we walked back, we saw an UID aquila being chased by a black kite.
Near the guest house, a blue rock thrush was seen catching insects from the grass. Suresh managed a shot or two. I had packed up my stuff, and it was too far a shot, anyway. As we drove back, I held Suresh’s camera, ready for any surpise sightings. A buteo was seen perching on a tree near one of the bends, giving a good eye-level view. Without bothering to remove the helmet, I took a few shots of it using Suresh’s camera. I got down, bowed below the wall and started setting up my camera, but I was too late, it got wary & had flown away.
After a brief walk along the pathway near the coconut-vendor, and a couple of naariyal-ka-paani drinks, we headed back for Bangalore.
12/11/2004: TG Halli Birding
Nick Lethaby, who was on his usual year-end business trip to India, Praveen & self planned a half-day birding trip to the southern banks of the TGHalli (short for Thippegondanahalli) reservoir, known to be a haven for wintering harriers.
As planned, we met up at Koshy’s on ST Mark’s road at 6:45am, and set off to TG Halli. After reaching there, we got off the car just off the main road & walked towards the reservoir. The first sighting of the day was a lark sitting up in a tall shrub. After scoping it, we found it was a jerdon’s bushlark. When we reached the reservoir, the sight that we saw was both good & bad news. Good news first. There was lot of water. Ok, here is the bad news. More water means less ducks. As usual, I walked ahead of Nick & Praveen, and while walking back after an unsuccessful attempt at shooting a weird-looking paddyfield pipit, I had a small fall, falling on my bum, my shoe having slipped on the wet grassy slope. Luckily nothing happened. I gathered myself up & scrambled to join Praveen & Nick, who had by now walked more north-westward, along the length of the reservoir. Soon we could spot a small flock of ~20 bar-headed geese. Seeing us, they took off. Not far from the bank, on a tree that overlooked the reservoir, a female kestrel sat, facing away. I slowly crept up to attempt a snap, but my stealth was useless against its keen senses.
Soon again I found myself walking ahead. I spotted a “pied” harrier flying about ahead of me. I shouted “pied harrier”, only to be corrected by Nick later, who pointed out the black wing bar, distinctive of the male montagu’s harrier. All I could manage of this one was a single speck-in-the-frame shot. Walking a bit ahead I got pretty close to a couple of Little Ringed Plovers but the shots I could obtain were disappointing. Returning to a point good for getting the harriers fly in close, I sat on the ground, hoping to hide my figure among the low shrubs. The montagu’s harrier female did come in, but couldn’t get a shot. The female & the male were flying together. Were they a pair?
Later we went towards the other end of the long reservoir. There we saw a small group of rufous-tailed larks, which was another “tick” for Nick. We saw some suspicious sandmining, which I documented on film. While walking back to the car, a tawny eagle came and landed on the old nest-site. Soon it took to the air and soared for a few minutes right above us, giving us ample time to view the features.
The last sighting of the day was a white-phase booted eagle we saw while driving back. By 12:15pm, we were back at MG Road.
As planned, we met up at Koshy’s on ST Mark’s road at 6:45am, and set off to TG Halli. After reaching there, we got off the car just off the main road & walked towards the reservoir. The first sighting of the day was a lark sitting up in a tall shrub. After scoping it, we found it was a jerdon’s bushlark. When we reached the reservoir, the sight that we saw was both good & bad news. Good news first. There was lot of water. Ok, here is the bad news. More water means less ducks. As usual, I walked ahead of Nick & Praveen, and while walking back after an unsuccessful attempt at shooting a weird-looking paddyfield pipit, I had a small fall, falling on my bum, my shoe having slipped on the wet grassy slope. Luckily nothing happened. I gathered myself up & scrambled to join Praveen & Nick, who had by now walked more north-westward, along the length of the reservoir. Soon we could spot a small flock of ~20 bar-headed geese. Seeing us, they took off. Not far from the bank, on a tree that overlooked the reservoir, a female kestrel sat, facing away. I slowly crept up to attempt a snap, but my stealth was useless against its keen senses.
Soon again I found myself walking ahead. I spotted a “pied” harrier flying about ahead of me. I shouted “pied harrier”, only to be corrected by Nick later, who pointed out the black wing bar, distinctive of the male montagu’s harrier. All I could manage of this one was a single speck-in-the-frame shot. Walking a bit ahead I got pretty close to a couple of Little Ringed Plovers but the shots I could obtain were disappointing. Returning to a point good for getting the harriers fly in close, I sat on the ground, hoping to hide my figure among the low shrubs. The montagu’s harrier female did come in, but couldn’t get a shot. The female & the male were flying together. Were they a pair?
Later we went towards the other end of the long reservoir. There we saw a small group of rufous-tailed larks, which was another “tick” for Nick. We saw some suspicious sandmining, which I documented on film. While walking back to the car, a tawny eagle came and landed on the old nest-site. Soon it took to the air and soared for a few minutes right above us, giving us ample time to view the features.
The last sighting of the day was a white-phase booted eagle we saw while driving back. By 12:15pm, we were back at MG Road.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
12/4/2004 : Birding at Hebbal Lake
12/4/2004:Saturday and later.
I was playing host to delhibirder Dr Sudhir Oswal, who was in town for the much spoken-about cardiological conference. I suggested we pay a visit to Hebbal lake, probably the only good birding spot within bangalore city limits.
We planed to meet there at 7am. For company, i invited Kousik+Sumana, Suresh, Clement & Atanu+Shukla. The first four agreed to tag along.
Myself & Suresh reached first, & then Clement. We slowly proceeded towards the north side. Enroute, Myself & Clement got great views of a white-throated kingfisher lit by the first sunrays of the day. While we were shooting the kingfisher, Kousik & Sumana joined us. They were rather unfortunate to have missed the Kingfisher.
Based upon's Clements reports on the peregrine at Hebbal, I was keen to see it & probably shoot it also. We proceeded to his favorite perch on the penultimate power pylon. My quick feet took me there ahead of the rest. There he was, sitting & probably enjoying the view of the sunrise. We spent quite a bit of time in that area, breaking into two groups, myself Suresh & Clement in one group and Kousik & Sumana in the other.
While Suresh ventured on his own for a while, myself & Clement got a cuckoo, probably a bit larger than Common Hawk Cuckoo, up close, but partly obscured by foliage. Though we couldnt ID it at that instant, we kept clicking before it flew and sat on the fence. As i struggled to get a line-of-sight view, it got wary & flew away, robbing Clement of a good opportunity. He must have cursed me like hell ;-)
While I slowly walked back towards the entrance, i saw Dr Sudhir, who got delayed thanks to an absent driver. We introduced ourselves & I took him to the falcon-spot, but it wasnt there.
Taking my leave, i proceeded to the park entrance. We could spot a hide on the otherside, facing a sparsely leaved shrub in the water. Two small blue kingfishers were perched there with fishes, and a telephoto lens poked out of the hide towards them. We guessed that it would be Ganesh.
Myself, Clement, Suresh, Kousik, Sumana, "disturbed" Ganesh by walking past his hide, to get to the other bank of the lake. That route was the least fruitful. Slowly Ganesh's patience ran out (he was sitting there since 6am and had shot two rolls already) and slowly packed up his stuff. After a chat with him for some time, Clement, Kousik,Sumana left.
Myself & Suresh decided to wait a bit, and try to shoot the small blue. My thighs got cramped, squatting on the ground in wait. I checked out a small tree 50 ft away, saw the KF there, went pretty close, but a millisecond before i was about to click, he flew and sat on the old shrub, right "into the mouth" of Suresh, but obscured by twigs. I scampered back, but in vain. We waited for a bit more time, and then went back to the cuckoo-spot, hoping to help Suresh get a shot of it.
There i saw another UID cuckoo among the reeds, back lit, and reminding me of a brahminy kite, by the palish head & front-side. We had no luck in shooting either cuckoo.
We parted our ways with a plan to target the small blue kingfisher the next day morning, but i dropped out due to cricketing plans. Suresh visited on sunday, and got some good shots. Wish i had been there.
Later, the cuckoo that Myself & clement shot was identified as Eurasian Cuckoo.
Yippee, a good species to my collection!.
I was playing host to delhibirder Dr Sudhir Oswal, who was in town for the much spoken-about cardiological conference. I suggested we pay a visit to Hebbal lake, probably the only good birding spot within bangalore city limits.
We planed to meet there at 7am. For company, i invited Kousik+Sumana, Suresh, Clement & Atanu+Shukla. The first four agreed to tag along.
Myself & Suresh reached first, & then Clement. We slowly proceeded towards the north side. Enroute, Myself & Clement got great views of a white-throated kingfisher lit by the first sunrays of the day. While we were shooting the kingfisher, Kousik & Sumana joined us. They were rather unfortunate to have missed the Kingfisher.
Based upon's Clements reports on the peregrine at Hebbal, I was keen to see it & probably shoot it also. We proceeded to his favorite perch on the penultimate power pylon. My quick feet took me there ahead of the rest. There he was, sitting & probably enjoying the view of the sunrise. We spent quite a bit of time in that area, breaking into two groups, myself Suresh & Clement in one group and Kousik & Sumana in the other.
While Suresh ventured on his own for a while, myself & Clement got a cuckoo, probably a bit larger than Common Hawk Cuckoo, up close, but partly obscured by foliage. Though we couldnt ID it at that instant, we kept clicking before it flew and sat on the fence. As i struggled to get a line-of-sight view, it got wary & flew away, robbing Clement of a good opportunity. He must have cursed me like hell ;-)
While I slowly walked back towards the entrance, i saw Dr Sudhir, who got delayed thanks to an absent driver. We introduced ourselves & I took him to the falcon-spot, but it wasnt there.
Taking my leave, i proceeded to the park entrance. We could spot a hide on the otherside, facing a sparsely leaved shrub in the water. Two small blue kingfishers were perched there with fishes, and a telephoto lens poked out of the hide towards them. We guessed that it would be Ganesh.
Myself, Clement, Suresh, Kousik, Sumana, "disturbed" Ganesh by walking past his hide, to get to the other bank of the lake. That route was the least fruitful. Slowly Ganesh's patience ran out (he was sitting there since 6am and had shot two rolls already) and slowly packed up his stuff. After a chat with him for some time, Clement, Kousik,Sumana left.
Myself & Suresh decided to wait a bit, and try to shoot the small blue. My thighs got cramped, squatting on the ground in wait. I checked out a small tree 50 ft away, saw the KF there, went pretty close, but a millisecond before i was about to click, he flew and sat on the old shrub, right "into the mouth" of Suresh, but obscured by twigs. I scampered back, but in vain. We waited for a bit more time, and then went back to the cuckoo-spot, hoping to help Suresh get a shot of it.
There i saw another UID cuckoo among the reeds, back lit, and reminding me of a brahminy kite, by the palish head & front-side. We had no luck in shooting either cuckoo.
We parted our ways with a plan to target the small blue kingfisher the next day morning, but i dropped out due to cricketing plans. Suresh visited on sunday, and got some good shots. Wish i had been there.
Later, the cuckoo that Myself & clement shot was identified as Eurasian Cuckoo.
Yippee, a good species to my collection!.