Mavathur Lake/Dam, Kanakapura, Ramanagara District

25 February 2023

The rural world bounding the Bengaluru city is enrapturing for city residents like me. Individuals who miss the native village like me, these rural beauties bring back memories. One such lake is Mavathur dam located near Kanakapura. We decided to visit the Mavathur lake situated south of our location. Visiting South beauties is time consuming for us since more than an hour is needed to penetrate city traffic. This does not reduce enthusiasm to explore the natural beauties.

We started around 11:30AM and reached Kanakapura around 1:45PM. The city traffic was manageable and the car moved in medium pace. It was only after 15kms into Kanakapura road, the car took pace. The highway 4 lane is intermittently completed with unfinished stretches seeing no signs of development.

The problem happened while following google maps to the destination. The map shows shortest route but not the appropriate route needed to drive. Unfortunately, we turned back in between due to narrow and weak roads. First attempt frightened us. The overflowing water from field was draining down the path over the weak base. So out of fear, we backed out. On the way back, we consumed the packed home lunch and decided to skip the dam and move to different location. When enquired with locals, they said car can easily go and asked us to try other route.

The other route was easy but the entry gate was closed. We saw few vehicles which crossed us from distance. We decided to drive back and see if we can make it in second attempt. A picture before we retry!

Trust locals and not maps for rural navigation

Next attempt, we thought of giving it chance. Serendipity struck us! A villager rode behind us and showed us right path. He stopped us and guided us to take wider alternate route. He confirmed that the one shown by google maps is not fit for four wheelers. Since it was detour, google maps did not show that path for driving. He also expressed that google maps shows the route which we opted but actual route is the different deviation. In fact, that was the most appropriate road for driving four wheelers. Before we decided to take the right route, I stopped nearby the fields prepared for cultivation. Perhaps, paddy cultivation? But there were birds probing the fields for possible meals. I traced wood sandpiper initially. 

Perhaps I even spotted wooly necked stork but it flew away. The biggest jackpot was this tiny bird. The little ringed plover :-). What a moment! I was happy to spot this speck amidst the large field. The bright sunshine was enough to picture the tiny beauty clearly. I took series of pictures as not to miss this opportunity! Here are selected few!

I thought it was wood sandpiper but it turned out to be green sandpiper. Glad I didn't ignore it while funneling my attention towards little ringed plover 

The drive continued along the route mentioned by villager. Wow! that was fantastic. Wider road, no risk. Despite being mud road, cars can easily glide through the path and reach destination without risk! Within 10mins, we reached the destination. Trust the locals to reach destination. Maps do not have complete picture of the location. There is no way to customize maps to provide comfortable route for selected vehicle than showing faster ones.

A walk for nearly 1km would lead us to base of dam where pier is constructed to view the lake wide open. What a view I would say! The beauty of lake coupled with bounded nature was mesmerizing sight. The strong winds transformed the lake to tiny sea. The blowing winds evoked mini tides which were striking the crest of dam. In fact, this is a static dam where the excess water is made to freely flow along spill way. The deep blue water, the clean nature, the blooming vegetation was compelling. The avian creatures too were thriving. Here are pictures!

The lake has overall three piers. Two of them are caged watch cabins and the other is open. The one which is near to open pier is tricky to reach with kids and hence we avoided. The third one is near the parking area

Not a waterfall!

The visitors have pinned this place as waterfall. Sorry to disappoint, but its not a waterfall. The excess water from lake overflows over the retaining wall when lake is full. This provides a feel of waterfall during rainier days. This is kind of artificial waterfall. However, there is no stopping you having fun in this artificial waterfall sourced from fresh water lake. Currently, the flow is not to the mark to cross the threshold.

Here is picture of spillway

And its course. This path doesn't seem to safe from this view. Perhaps the entrance is relatively safe for playing if authorities allow.

About dam

The history of the dam is unknown. The villager informed that the dam saw renovation around 40years back when it was collapsed. The water is used for irrigation purpose primarily paddy, coconut and silk cultivations. Earlier farmers were growing sugarcane but now its discontinued due to lack of sugar factory. This place does not have proper protective covers, hence one needs to be heedful of their moves. Play with highest care. The official dam entrance was closed during our visit. From other side, one can reach the dam sight and enjoy the views of splendid nature. The car cannot reach the spill-way spot but two-wheelers can easily ride.

Climbing mud ramp at entrance leads you to one of the lake shore. One can enjoy water play here as well but with caution! The pier was locked during our visit

Mavathur lake/dam is worth repetitive visits! Overall an idyllic ideal location for bird enthusiasts and nature photographers. Please do not litter the place with plastic or alcoholic wastes.

Route

Follow maps till 2kms before destination. From there, trust locals. There is wider and safer road past the village. When the mud road outsets, at the junction, maps asks you to turn left. In fact, you need to turn right which leads to short Basaveshwara temple. This road leads wider mud road which in turn 

Don't take this route as mentioned by google map

Instead take below route. The Y junction is the differentiator

While we concluded sight seeing of the dam, I started my bird hunting. Couple of shots I could manage with my camera. I missed the robin and small minivets this time. The minivets were too close but hidden within foliage. Focusing was difficult. Soon they moved to distant tree.

A cormorant in flight over the lake.

Pied Bushchat (female)

Common Iora

I caught up with wood sandpiper too on return path

Will you stop capturing more? It's nearly sundown and I need to fill tummy before I can rest for day. Your presence is creating troubles!

While driving on mud road, I encountered grey francolin but it escaped to distant bushes. This is 2nd miss for me, first being near Gundamagere Lake.

On the way back, the roller was patiently perched on electric line. It did not mind me getting closer. Only concern it had was the loud noise of shutter which baffled the bird. To thank its patience, here is complete shots of the bird. Sweet bird no need to creep up!

Here is a short video from our visit. Please do not render the dam sight shoddy 🙏. There are already umpteen alcohol bottles strewed all along. This place is not official tourist destination. Just enjoy the lap of nature. Carry the trash along with you

Check out my Bird Series blogs here : NKBirdSeries

Common Hawk Cuckoo

02 March 2023

Two days back I wrote on the common hawk cuckoo which I encountered at Amruthahalli lake here. I was baffled and excited simultaneously on spotting the bird.

Today I went with hope of spotting the bird again and was not disappointed. After encircling the lake promenade for half the way, I found the bird calmly perched on the bland tree. The focus was clear but light was not apt. Thanks to the patience of bird, I could clearly capture it with meagre shutter of 1/80s. I hope the bird would be visible in bright light too! With sparse vegetation surrounding Amruthahalli lake, I doubt if this bird would stay here for long. Either it reached here for sojourn or other lakes seems to be overcrowded. I saw it intermittently flying to ground to pick worms. Lot of blanket worms crawl over the trail of lake which bird seems to consume. As per eBird they consume hairy caterpillars reason due to which the bird seems to be landed in neighboring lake. eBird also suggests that bird rarely descends down but this one was frequently picking evening meal from ground. Looks like even birds change behavior over time.

The bird was friendly and photogenic. It heard the shutter noise, saw me close. In spite of my activity, it neither looked at me suspiciously nor flew away! In fact it showed-off its hawk alike plumage which I was unable to capture due to poor light. The bird was hardly 10feet away and allowed me to click multiple pictures. It was me who finally moved away due to increasing darkness and reducing shutter speed. Hope to see the bird in bright sunlight in coming days.

The fuzzy behavior of birds drives me nuts. The bird was impossible to capture in my village perhaps due to less familiar human presence. Similar bird was unfazed by humans and an easy grab in Bengaluru. Looks like it is accustomed to urban environment. Simultaneously it teaches lessons of patience. The things you sweat for, comes with least effort when you don't expect.

Update on 15th March

I thought the bird was just passer by. But it is still hanging around the lake. I see it close even today during daily walk! Looks like it wants to dwell in the lake island.

Check out my Bird Series blogs here : NKBirdSeries

Quirky weather and enticing skies

28 February 2023

Just when we thought the summer has entered Bengaluru city, the days were turning to colder as we reach fag end of February. That's unusual at this point of time when warmer weather takes over gradually and reaches peak by end of march. Today morning was chilly with colder winds blowing from east. It looked as if we are entering the winter soon!

The same spot, this happened during evening! Weather can lot quirky! A circulation off SriLanka coast has brought stray clouds into city and transformed the sky to magnificent show of crepuscular rays. The clouds perhaps indicating the outset of warmer days. The western horizon hosted larger cloud mass which may imply possible thunderstorms brewing over the region? I am not weather expert for sure. The crux is to show the transformation we had in 12hrs of time.

Whatever may be the condition, the resplendent sky made the stroll worth gazing and clicking with intermittent jog to catch up with wife.

Birds can be quirky too! Last round of walk was a surprise! This common hawk cuckoo was pleasantly perched over the tree without fear of humans. The same bird gave me insane troubles for a click in native, darting once spotted from far distance. Contrastingly, this bird was happily gazing all round without worrying about urban scape. Even my low-end smartphone was enough to capture it relatively clean. The bird was muted for long duration hence I could not ID it correctly. Experts suggested common hawk cuckoo, so I will go with that!

Even though I didn't carry camera, the bird was closer for mobile camera as well. DSLR shot would have been crisp. Let's see if I can meet again with camera in hand. Here is short video with bird in frame.

Jakkur Lake evening walk

19 February 2023

This visit was exclusively for kids to check if they achieve the tall climbers which they couldn't manage on last occasion. The nervousness disallowed them to take on the adventure till date. Today both of them assured that they would do it for us.

With summer on its way, it was blasting sunny evening at 4PM. The pelicans were enjoying the swim on the lake. I captured on of them for record. With Sun directly beating on walk path, the setup was not ideal to snap the birds.

Meanwhile cormorant landed for evening fishing.

With insipid light draining the enthusiasm, we walked straight towards the play area. One of my son successfully ascended the triangular climber and descended from other end. Other was nervous and could not make it.

We walked further into the promenade where I snapped few more birds. Perhaps this was blyth's reed warbler?

Not only birds but the interesting part of nature. This tree had fallen down and lying over the lake bed.

Something brewed up in my mind as I saw fallen tree

You will pay in your future

Yelps (or warns) the beheaded nature

Staring at the structure 

Yes! Apartments are all over lake periphery. The buffer zones are not followed. An out of blue rain would fill up lake and drown the urban scape on unlucky day. That's what I listened while gazing at the fallen tree.

On return path, this Brahminy kite hauled a fish from lake but soon dropped it. That was exciting action shot even though the kite's face was masked. Even though exciting for us, the kite lost its dinner. It needs to retry to survive. Hopefully it does.

Meanwhile my other son who was nervous earlier, successfully climbed and descended the climber after a little push and ended our day on happy note.

Check out my Bird Series blogs here : NKBirdSeries

Waiting to be revived

Life is like this bald tree. When you are stripped and beaten to helm, even your closed ones will be oblivious to your situation. When tree is bald, people deem it as burden while same tree revives with fresh leaves, same people throng to enjoy shadow under it and praise it's beauty. Similarly when you pass through ordeals, people spew cuss words on you and when storm calms down, entire world including your enemies will have only praise left for you. 

Be it bald or full, this tree posts unique frame every time I circle the Amruthahalli lake. Being naught with water, its actually a lake ground than lake. Not sure if neighboring green trees are also slandering the temporary situation of bald tree or has it already understood that its part of transition.

In fact, bald and beauty are designed by nature and just a process. Similarly ups and downs in life. Society associates downs of life as social stigma and people groan such incidents.  People fail to accept the falls and consequently throw worthless remarks over thyself & destiny. Even tree knows it and just ignores the temporary treatment but intelligent humans are too much engrossed in analyzing downs in life than accepting it as part of process.

It is not only the vegetation, the dry wetland too waiting to be revived

Some of the vegetation have regained green already way before spring! Did they shed leaves early due to bitter cold or was it regular time? I am not an expert to comment!

If this wetland is revived, then the island can be habitat for numerous wetland residents like painted Stork and pelican 

These bland trees never revive but helps birds to warm up for the day especially during winter

Construction equipment clearing weeds of lake is hope that upcoming years will see wetland revival. Not sure if intention is genuine or just to inflate the evaluation of bounded apartments. Unsure if wetland would revive or not but for sure the bounded urban landscape revives at ultra fast pace. The lake rejuvenation is something real estate mafia dreads and dead lakes rejuvenates real estate mafia. It's all about money till nature demonstrates it's might.

The real estate tycoons splurge money on lake view apartments which consequently makes sunrise or sundown views a rarity for walkers. One day, the lake may be filled just with shadows of high raiser

Few perceptions need time. The right sunlight, right time and right mindset. The bland tree with lush foliage in foreground. Does it contrast each other?

Urban expansion implies nature destruction! As high raisers stand tall, the vegetation is getting tinier. The apartments have outgrown vegetation

The city shadows are proliferated with urban landscape than natural vegetation. The natural vegetation is like bird without wings like this bland trees

Frightened by JCB works, many birds are absconding now. The density of ashy-prinia drastically decreased, the glossy ibis is missing and jacanas have no trace. Hope the avian world thrives again once works conclude.