A Birding Bonanza in KGF

CR and I set out for Bethamangala in Kolar, but a quick call to our local policeman birder acquaintance changed our plans and led us to a spot buzzing with bird activity! The highlights included the stunning European Roller, European Bee-eaters, Marshall’s Iora, Lesser Whitethroat, and even some Blackbucks.

We wrapped up the day with Mulbagal dosa at two different places, because birding and food go hand in hand!

It's another maxi post, folks! Hope you stick around and read till the end.

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The drive along the expressway was smooth, except for the thick fog around sunrise that reduced visibility considerably! Here's a video capturing the journey.

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The sunrise was putting on quite a show when we stopped to call our local policeman birder acquaintance. Little did we know that his suggestion to make a U-turn would lead us to a far more rewarding birding hotspot!

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The suggested hotspot was beside a hillside, with lush green vegetation, rocky outcrops, and a beautiful sunrise sky.

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As we settled in to explore the area, we spotted this mother dog and her adorable pup by the roadside.

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A lone tree stood silhouetted against the golden morning sky.

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Our first feathered subjects were these gorgeous Brahminy Starlings!

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Among the early sightings was this Lesser Whitethroat.

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The hillside was dotted with these beautiful Sahyadri Dew-Grass flowers.

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The rocky outcrops gave the hillside a rugged charm.

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European Bee-eaters! These colourful beauties perched on a wire.

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After a while, the European Bee-eaters descended to feed, giving us a closer look at their stunning colours.

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Every now and then, a few Blackbucks appeared, only to disappear into the bushes at the slightest hint of our presence.

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A European Bee-eater takes flight.

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A Eurasian Collared Dove perched on a power line.

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Birds often sought out these lone trees for a perch.

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A Brahminy Starling perched gracefully on a branch.

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Another Brahminy Starling surveys its surroundings from a thorny perch.

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I followed a Marshall’s Iora, also known as the White-tailed Iora, as it flitted among the sunlit branches.

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The Bay-backed Shrike was a striking sight.

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A male Blackbuck moved quietly through the golden grass.

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The Indian Silverbill perched on an overhead wire.

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The Red-vented Bulbul perched on a bare branch, holding a tiny green leaf in its beak.

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The policeman birder had to report for duty at 9 AM, but before leaving, he was kind enough to take us to a nearby spot where a European Roller was perched on an overhead wire.

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Just as we were soaking in the sighting, the European Roller took flight.

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The European Roller continued to oblige, moving between exposed perches among the reddish foliage.

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From there, we headed to the grasslands of KGF, where the landscape opened up into a beautiful expanse of sunlit greenery.

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A European Bee-eater perched on an overhead cable against the brilliant blue sky at KGF.

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We continued along the path, watching the Blackbucks grazing on either side, though they remained at a distance. Scattered across the grasslands, the herds blended beautifully into the landscape, their tawny coats catching the warm sunlight.

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Some grazed quietly in the soft morning light, while others stood alert, their slender bodies silhouetted against the sunlit grass.

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Suddenly, a male sprang into a graceful leap, his long, spiralling horns catching the light as he bounded across the meadow.

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A Long-tailed Shrike perched on an overhead wire.

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The Lantana bushes were in full bloom.

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The sicklebush was in bloom, its delicate, powder-puff-like flowers displaying a striking blend of pale pink, white, and golden yellow.

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Amid all the European visitors, there was an Asian Green Bee-eater too!

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We took a little break for a quick photo at the “I ❤️ KGF” sign. A trip to Kolar Gold Fields wouldn’t be complete without a souvenir shot!

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After that, hunger kicked in, and following the policeman’s recommendation, we headed to a Mulbagal dosa place, only to discover that they serve that particular variety exclusively in the evenings!

Next, we called Prasad’s Mulbagal Dosa, which usually closes by noon. Although we were still 50 minutes away, Prasad kindly agreed to serve us.

The place was absolutely packed, but our plates arrived surprisingly quickly. Finally, it was time to dig into that delicious, golden-brown Mulbagal dosa!

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CR wasn’t quite satisfied yet. One round of Mulbagal dosa simply wasn’t enough! So, we decided to make one more stop at our regular favourite, Shettara Thindi, about 12 km away.

By the time we got there, we were hungry all over again and ready for another round of that irresistible Mulbagal dosa!

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And that brought our memorable outing to a delicious end!

Hope you enjoyed the post. Do leave a comment and let me know what you think!