A quick refresher at Dundiganahalli Lake/Dam

The plan was something else but destiny swayed us to the Dundiganahalli dam. Our last visit was during wet weather and we couldn't much enjoy in water. This time kids enjoyed well in water and the shore was safer as well. With exams due, we allowed kids only surface play with promise of soaking whole body after exams :-)

Apart from the recreation, the nature beauty hosts wide avian creatures. Our visit was at 3:30PM and hence most of the avian species were in their home. Not much interesting bird captures this time except for the omnipresent white browed wagtail. The juvenile was seen pestering parent for food by making repetitive noise :-) or was the parent teaching kid to find its food?

The tree stood tall alone amidst the barren field and yet shining! The terraced backdrop is reserve forest and entry is prohibited

The path through the idyllic rustic village is mesmerizing as well. Just before dandiganahalli lake, a large water body greets us. I am sure plenty of migrant birds would visit this area. Being outset of summer, most of them would have vacated OR I am not sure if I was on wrong time. I saw only herons and egrets.

Looks like a goose farm also nearby.

The authorities permit certain villagers to fish in this lake. The Woman was disentangling the net hoping for better output!

The dundiganahalli dam has three routes. I prefer the route via Jakkalamadagu for obvious reasons. It has that charisma to attract nature lovers and why not unlimited avian enjoyment.

Here is a instagram reel for you!

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Asian Brown Flycatcher

March 18, 2023

Nowadays Amruthahalli lake is surprise. Recently I wrote about spotting the Common Hawk Cuckoo which was happy to be around humans exposing itself openly. The cuckoo is still hanging around the lake and comes out only after 6PM. The cuckoo was the one who inspired me to carry camera during every stroll!

Initially I missed capturing common sandpiper. That disappointment did not last long! Today was yet another surprise. While sauntering around lake, I spotted this tiny beauty and quickly recognized it as Asian Brown Flycatcher. It was darting all around the thorny bushes in search of evening meal. The foliage was complex and light was feeble which consequently terrified the camera focus. Not even a single picture caught. The bird flew away and I thought hunt is over.

Stepping ahead, the bird showed up again. Whoa! This time over a blooming tree which was relatively bland. It was like bird helped me to click its pictures by moving onto a brighter area where evening sun was shining. I caught couple of pictures before the bird moved to its previous perch point.

The bird was not all shaky with people movement or my angles. Its astonishment was only due to creepy shutter noise of antique 550D. I took some more pictures before moving away. Even though the bird was tiny, the light was feeble and the foliage was complex, the bird's proximity and its immobility allowed me to capture good pictures even with 1/100s shutter. Here is complete set to respect the tiny bravo :-)

Thunderstorms are brewing all over Karnataka. The sky looks amazing with cloud/sun play. Here are some colorful plays to conclude the post.

Hope to see such beautiful avian surprises eternally! The presence of yet another surprise has now mandated me to carry camera during every walk!

Check out my Bird Series blogs here : NKBirdSeries

Birding at Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake, Bengaluru

05 March 2023

Yelahanka Puttenahalli lake situated in North of Bengaluru has been declared as Bird Reserve and is one of the prime hotspots for bird enthusiasts. The lake is not that vast but ecology is well supported to accommodate aquatic and wetland birds. My last visit did not fare well primarily due to misguided navigation.

Today the visit was perfect and entry was on right spot. The initial walk over the lake path gives a forest impression. The dead leaves were strewed all over the path, nearly zero walkers. Only fear was surprise vipers which park under the dried leaves. Here is my first look.

The lake has couple of  islands where birds can thrive without human disturbance. It also has established sewage treatment plant to maintain sanity of lake.

The first bird to be spotted was the grey heron. They are plenty in number and easy to photograph.

The next generation is lined up

Moving on, the next bird is the great cormorants resting over stone cluster. Every time I spot them, the birds are perched at distance. On this occasion, the bird was relatively closer but not close-up.

Couple of bird cabins are setup for bird watchers. They are useful to capture shy-birds. The walk path is well maintained except for last patch which is rugged or rather natural. Its better to leave them natural.

The Puttenahalli lake is shallow at west end and downstream flows to Yelahanka lake and further to Jakkur lake. Some views from intermediate view point

As I moved far into lake, wonderful vistas of lake opened up.

The painted storks were busy wading through the shallow part of lake. The couple seem to have disturbed by my presence and were contemplating whether to resume hunting or watch over me. When I moved forward, they resumed hunting!

I walked till the end of lake where sewage was channeled to treatment plant.

The neighboring field hosted pied bushchat perched on the fence. Since the capture was against the Sun, the picture is average

On the way back, this cinereous tit posed for a while. The final image did not turn out well thanks to poor light and skittish bird. I still do not have clear image of this bird till date. Hope to succeed soon!

The hunting actions of Painted Stork in a collage

On your mark

get set

go

While concluding the walk, I chit-chatted with fellow bird enthusiast who lives nearby. He asked me to visit during core winter to spot migrants. We shared our expeditions and interests before parting ways.

Overall a great place for bird enthusiasts and walkers. Since place is exclusively meant for bird conservation, no recreation facilities are constructed. Hence children may get bored here.

What I missed to capture:

The white beauty Indian Paradise Flycatcher was a surprise in Bengaluru. The bird was enjoying evening dip with its signature voice. It hid behind entwined foliage which made difficult to focus. Soon the bird would leave towards North India concluding its winter migration.

The white eyes were missed yet again. I saw them, heard them but its agility is unmatched. 

I did not capture the egrets, heron, black-headed ibises and white-browed wagtails. 

Check out my Bird Series blogs here : NKBirdSeries