A Rain Washed Morning At Saul Kere

The rain had arrived the previous night.

After weeks of dusty roads, tired trees, and that familiar summer haze hanging over Bangalore, the overnight showers changed everything. By morning, the city looked washed clean, fresh, and alive again. So I headed to Saul Kere.

On weekends, Saul Kere is usually full of birdwatchers scanning every branch for movement. But this weekday morning, I had the place almost entirely to myself. Just me and the birds slowly coming alive after the rain.

And what a morning it turned out to be.

Even the common birds somehow looked brighter after the rain.

Here are a few frames from that peaceful weekday morning at Saul Kere.

~~~
The first bird of the day was this beautiful female Asian Koel. She sat quietly on a branch while the surrounding trees echoed with endless “koo...ooo” calls from excited males. It sounded like there were multiple suitors nearby, each trying their luck.

~~~
The sky slowly turned shades of orange and gold while the trees stood in silhouette against the glowing morning sun.

~~~
A Wire tailed Swallow took a quiet break on a wire.

~~~
Dusky Crag Martins were constantly flying low over the water.

~~~
Meanwhile, an Oriental Darter, better known as the Snake Bird, was having a far more successful morning.

~~~
An Indian Silverbill posed briefly on a thorny branch, looking completely unbothered by the sharp spikes around it.

~~~
A tiny Pale billed Flowerpecker paused briefly. Tiny birds, tiny patience window.

~~~
The Asian Green Bee eaters were putting on quite a show in the golden morning light.

~~~
A female Small Minivet posed beautifully.

~~~
A Scaly breasted Munia clung gently to the grass.

~~~
The Rufous Treepie was impossible to ignore that morning. Loud calls, constant movement, and plenty of attitude as it hopped around the trees demanding attention.

~~~
A Shikra suddenly sliced through the quiet morning, sending smaller birds into instant panic mode.

~~~
A Yellow billed Babbler posed briefly between its usual noisy conversations.

~~~
A Black rumped Flameback clung to a tree trunk, completely focused on its search for breakfast.

~~~
A Spotted Owlet sat quietly watching the world wake up around it.

~~~
A Common Tailorbird turned out to be the final sighting of the morning. Tiny, restless, and always busy, it felt like a fitting little farewell before I packed up and headed home from a peaceful morning at Saul Kere.

~~~
That wrapped up a wonderful weekday morning at Saul Kere after the much needed rain. Quiet trails, fresh greenery, and plenty of beautiful bird moments made it a memorable one.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Do leave a comment and let me know which sighting or frame you liked the most. 

Eagle Owls of Dibbagiri

Back in April, AK floated the idea of exploring Dibbagiri Hills. CA and I did what every birder does before committing to an unfamiliar location. We opened eBird. A quick look at the checklists was enough to seal the deal. The place looked promising, and the rugged landscape alone seemed worth the drive.

Then came the usual chaos that seems to follow every birding plan. On the planned day, I had to drop out thanks to a cold and cough that refused to cooperate. The following week, both CA and AK got tied up with other commitments. By the time we finally revived the plan last week, CA had to pull out at the very last minute.

That left just AK and me.

The morning began with a few location hiccups, but Dibbagiri slowly opened up to us. Dry forest trails, rocky hillsides, flowering trees buzzing with insects, butterflies along the path, and eventually the moment that made the entire trip worthwhile.

Three Indian Eagle Owls.

Watching these magnificent birds perched against the early morning light was easily the highlight of the day. There were plenty of other sightings too, from sunbirds and butterflies to dragonflies, landscapes, and little moments that make birding trips memorable beyond just the checklist.

Here is a photo tour from our morning at Dibbagiri Hills.

~~~
The morning began with a small adventure of its own. Trusting the eBird hotspot pin a little too faithfully, we followed the navigation right into an unpaved trail that gradually became steeper, rougher, and finally impossible to drive further somewhere midway up the hill.

~~~
Thankfully, the dramatic rocky slopes, low clouds, and moody morning light made it hard to stay annoyed for long.

~~~
By then, the sun had already climbed well above the horizon.

~~~
We reversed out and used the nearby BSF firing range as our navigation point, which finally put us on the right track. Soon we reached the entrance and signed the register.

~~~
As we drove along the dirt track inside the BSF camp, a family of Grey francolins suddenly scurried across the road. Our cameras were still packed away, so all we managed was a quick record shot on the phone before they disappeared into the scrub.

~~~
Dibbagiri Hill came into view, framed by blazing gulmohar trees that added a burst of fiery red to the peaceful landscape.

~~~
After parking the car, we had two options: climb a long flight of stairs to the hilltop or take a quieter trail through the scrub. A couple of peafowls scurrying along the trail made the decision easy for us.

~~~
Though the trail was filled with bird calls and constant chirping, the birds themselves stayed hidden in the foliage. Our first proper photograph of the morning turned out to be a female Crimson Tip butterfly resting among the dry leaves.

~~~
A battered Crimson Rose paused briefly along the trail, its worn wings carrying the marks of surviving a bird’s peck.

~~~
The wildflowers along the trail were hard to ignore. This frangipani, with its soft white and yellow blooms, looked especially beautiful in the morning light.

~~~
The flowering trees were alive with activity, with bees busy moving from bloom to bloom.

~~~
An Indian Common Clubtail posed patiently for us.

~~~
A family of Jungle Bush Quails emerged briefly from the undergrowth before vanishing back into cover as quickly as they appeared.

~~~
Tiny wildflowers added little bursts of colour along the otherwise earthy trail.

~~~
Butterflies were everywhere along the trail. A Common Leopard butterfly basked quietly in a patch of morning sunlight.

~~~
The flowering shrubs soon brought in Purple Sunbirds, their iridescent blue and violet plumage glowing brilliantly whenever they caught the light.

~~~
A female Crimson Marsh Glider perched delicately on a dry twig.

~~~
The loud calls of a Rufous Treepie drew our attention. It turned out to be vigorously mobbing an Indian Eagle Owl hidden among the eucalyptus branches.

~~~
Our attention quickly shifted to the real prize of the morning, a magnificent Indian Eagle Owl, also known as the Rock Eagle Owl, staring down at us from the eucalyptus canopy.

~~~
Soon, another Indian Eagle Owl joined the scene, giving us an even better look at these magnificent birds.

~~~
Meanwhile, the lone Rufous Treepie was relentless, constantly swooping and calling as it tried to mob the three owls away from its territory.

~~~
Our luck peaked when two Indian Eagle Owls perched together, spreading their massive wings and putting on an unforgettable display.

~~~
For a few magical moments, four fiery orange eyes stayed locked on us, as the pair of Indian Eagle Owls watched every move we made from their lofty perch.

~~~
This intense stare from the Indian Eagle Owl was easily my favorite moment of the day. Powerful, piercing, and impossible to look away from.

~~~
A closeup that revealed every intricate feather pattern and that striking amber eye. The Indian Eagle Owl looked calm, alert, and absolutely regal.

~~~
Our final sighting of the morning was a delicate Common Lime Butterfly, quietly fluttering among the dry grass and tiny green shoots.

~~~
As we walked back to the car, Dibbagiri had already become one of those memorable birding mornings that stay with you for a long time. What began with missed plans and navigation hiccups ended with an unforgettable encounter with three Indian Eagle Owls, along with plenty of smaller moments that made the morning truly special.

Do share your thoughts in the comments below.