Cranium Bolts

Longer trip to Kaikondrahalli lake

I spent two leisurely hours at Kaikondrahalli lake observing some interesting bird antics. Here are the pics...

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I reached the lake exactly at sunrise...

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One solitary Little grebe floated on the golden water...

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Lots of Black-headed Ibis were seen in the center island...

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A silhouette shot...

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A pair of Indian Spot-billed ducks floating serenely on the water...

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And a pair of cormorants after a heated argument...

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Beautiful feet of Eurasian Coot. Its feet have distinctive lobed flaps of skin on the toes which act in the same way as webbed feet when swimming...

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A White-throated Kingfisher caught a fish...

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A solitary Indian Spot-billed Duck doing a unipedal resting...

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An Indian Pond-Heron looking for an unwary fish...

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A Little grebe in search of a meal...

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Then I saw a romancing Great cormorant couple. First they discover that their thoughts match...

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Then they come closer...

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Then they kiss...

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A White-throated Kingfisher arrived...

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A little egret looked elegant...

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Another White-throated kingfisher flew in flashing his cobalt blue plumes...

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A pair of Indian Spot-billed ducks with blue and green speculum...

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A Little grebe...

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Last sighting of the day was this Black drongo...

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Hope you liked the post. I look forward to reading your comments.

A brief visit to Kasavanahalli

My birding trips continue to be short until my ankle injury heals completely. This week, I visited Kasavanahalli lake and just captured the bird activity at one end without much walking around. Here are the pics...

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I reached the lake around sunrise time and the first sighting was this silhouette of a Little Egret...

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An Asian Openbill looked great in the golden hour lighting...

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It was constantly probing in the swamp and soon found what it was looking for...

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The emerging sunlight brought a golden twinkle in a Little egret's eye...

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I watched a patient fisherman, the Purple heron, waiting tirelessly for that opportune moment...

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It remained still in a motionless meditative posture until a fish caught its eye...

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A strike with lightning speed rewarded with the most hearty meal...

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Another Purple heron sat with its alert eye and sharp beak at the ready. Patience is indeed a virtue for birding but matching with that of a Purple heron is a big big deal...

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Hope you liked the post. Looking forward to read your thoughts in the comments section below...

Birding after a 'break'

A minor ankle fracture from a twisting injury kept me away from bird watching trips. It is taking a really long time to heal. I recently visited Saul Kere lake. It was a short visit as there's still some pain around the ankle. I was happy to see some migrant birds still hanging around as the season ends. Here are the pic...