Birding in a Hurry at Varthur

AK, CA and I had been looking forward to exploring a new birding location. Unfortunately, AK fell unwell, and neither of us felt right heading off without her. Rather than cancel the outing altogether, CA and I decided to keep things simple and visit a place much closer to home: Varthur Lake.

Even that plan came with a ticking clock. CA had signed up to donate blood later in the morning, so our birding window was already quite short. To make matters more interesting, a roadblock along the way slowed us down and ate into the little time we had.

Birding in a hurry is rarely the best recipe for finding lots of birds, and this morning was no exception.

Still, Varthur Lake offered enough moments to keep our cameras busy. A few obliging subjects, some interesting behaviour, and the ever present possibility of a surprise ensured that the outing remained enjoyable despite the limited time.

It was simply a couple of hours spent outdoors, enjoying whatever came by before it was time to head back and let CA keep his blood donation appointment.

Sometimes, that is more than enough.

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Our first sighting of the morning was a Scaly-breasted Munia, clinging acrobatically to a drooping grass stem as it searched for seeds.

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Not far away, a small group of Scaly-breasted Munias had gathered in a thorny bush.

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One bird launched itself from its perch.

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We also spotted a Black Kite, occupied with a fish breakfast and seemingly in no hurry to finish it.

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The sweet, melodious call of a male Pied Bushchat drew our attention to a nearby perch.

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Our presence mattered little to the male Pied Bushchat, who remained focused on singing his heart out in the hope of winning over a mate.

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And here was the reason for all that singing: a female Pied Bushchat who seemed completely unimpressed.

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A solitary Red-rumped Swallow paused on a bare perch, seemingly happy to pose for a few photographs.

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Rose-ringed Parakeets were busy around a tree-hole nest.

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One of the Parakeets took off with a loud screech.

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A cluster of trees overhanging the water hosted a busy Baya Weaver colony. The males were engrossed in nest construction, arriving with strands of grass, weaving them into their pendulous homes, and displaying their craftsmanship to nearby females.

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A small gathering of Spot-billed Ducks shared a quiet corner of the lake with a few egrets, all going about their morning routines.

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A pair of juvenile Black Kites kept us entertained with a brief but spirited dispute, complete with dramatic wing spreads and aerial manoeuvres.

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Hidden among the leaves, a male Asian Koel revealed itself with a flash of crimson eye.

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A bright red Red Cotton Stainer demanded attention as it made its way across the sandy track.

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A Purple Heron picked its way through the water hyacinth, ever watchful for an unsuspecting meal.

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An Asian Green Bee-eater paused on a perch, scanning the air for its next meal.

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Asian Green Bee-eaters rarely come down to earth for long. Maybe this one was in the mood for a snail instead of its usual flying fare.

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A pair of Baya Weavers shared the same perch, the breeding male glowing yellow while a non-breeding companion kept watch from above.

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A flash of yellow marked our final sighting of the morning. By then it was 8:45 am, and despite wanting to stay longer, we had to call it a day and head back.

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Before leaving, I paused for one final frame. Beneath those sprawling skies, another rewarding birding outing came to an end.

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The clock may have been against us, but the birds did their best to make every minute count. 

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A Little Escape to Coorg

Escaping the Bengaluru summer was reason enough for a road trip to Coorg. A five hour drive took us from heat and traffic into misty hills, cool drizzle and peaceful mornings. Between trying local cuisine, exploring flea markets, visiting a beautiful Tibetan monastery and constantly taking pictures of each other, this trip turned into the perfect little family break we did not know we needed. 

Here are the pics before our memory cards officially filed a complaint.

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The dripping flame vines and water clinging to every flower were the telltale signs that Coorg had quietly enjoyed a drizzle before we arrived.

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We headed to a sunset viewpoint, though the thick clouds and overcast skies did not look too interested in letting the sun make an appearance.

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The sunset may have skipped the evening show, but the clouds clearly decided to overperform instead. Everyone stood there hoping the sun would somehow negotiate its way through the dramatic skies.

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And while the clouds kept the sunset hidden, we found the best way to pass time waiting.

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Even without the sunset, the viewpoint gave us enough drama to keep staring into the distance.

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Mandatory selfie where everyone tries to smile naturally.

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The sun never really showed up, but honestly, with views like this, nobody seemed too disappointed.

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Just when Manju found the perfect spot and pose, three perfectly synchronized photobombers walked through the frame like they had rehearsed it for hours.

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Manju finally got her solo picture. Clearly worth the wait.

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The daylight slowly faded, the moon took over the sky...

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By evening, the dark clouds and glowing street lamps made everything look like a scene straight out of an old hill station postcard.

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Mornings in Coorg felt like a constant competition between mist, drizzle and the sun, with each taking turns to briefly win before disappearing again.

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The mist rolled through the roads so thick that even a simple morning walk started looking cinematic.

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The mist grew so thick at one point that even the auto ahead seemed unsure about where the road ended. The “Life is Challenge” sign at the back suddenly felt less like decoration and more like weather commentary.

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The mist was not limited to viewpoints and hilltops. It quietly rolled into the town as well, wrapping busy streets, flower shops and passing vehicles in a soft grey haze.

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Even through the heavy mist and drizzle, the Field Marshal stood tall and unbothered, quietly watching over Coorg while the weather did its best to hide everything else.

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We also managed to remind ourselves that after all these years, we still know how to pose like tourists in love.

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Road trips are basically a collection of scenic views connected by food stops. And with two growing boys in the car, lunch pit stops were less of a choice and more of a scheduled emergency.

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Manju was more than happy to make full use of the grand staircase and fancy architecture while I played unpaid photographer.

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One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the beautiful Tibetan monastery at Bylakuppe. Between the golden rooftops, colourful artwork and the peaceful atmosphere, it felt like stepping into a completely different world hidden in the hills of Coorg.

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Every corner of the monastery was filled with intricate details, bright colours and symbols that seemed to tell stories centuries old.

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The monastery housed statues of Padmasambhava, Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitayus, each radiating a different presence. Surrounded by vivid murals, intricate carvings and the soft stillness of the prayer hall, the space felt both grand and deeply peaceful.

In Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, these figures represent different aspects of enlightenment and spiritual teaching.

Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, is the revered master who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century. He represents wisdom, transformation and protection.

Sakyamuni Buddha is the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who attained enlightenment and founded Buddhism. He symbolizes awakening and spiritual understanding.

Amitayus is the Buddha of Infinite Life and longevity. He symbolizes long life, vitality and spiritual abundance.

Together, these statues create a spiritual narrative of enlightenment, compassion, wisdom and long life, which is why Tibetan monasteries often place them prominently inside the main prayer hall.

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The prayer hall also held ritual objects that carried deep symbolic meaning. Bells and dorjes rested beside sacred texts wrapped in saffron cloth, while conch shells and ceremonial instruments added to the quiet spiritual atmosphere.

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I was particularly drawn to a striking black and gold thangka painting of a wrathful deity. Amid swirling clouds, flames and intricate patterns, the fierce expression seemed less about anger and more about power and protection. The sheer detail in the artwork kept pulling me back for another look.

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The Bodhisattva in the painting was Manjushree, sharing a name close to my wife Manju’s. That little coincidence made the artwork feel even more special to us, and she spent a few extra moments admiring its calm expression and intricate details.

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A young monk stood quietly with prayer beads resting in his hand.

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Two young monks crossed the courtyard with playful smiles, bringing a touch of childhood mischief to the monastery’s calm surroundings.

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The snow lion stood guard outside the monastery.

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Golden blooms brought a quiet brightness to the monastery grounds.

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Female and male house sparrows quietly wandered through the monastery gardens, completely at home in the calm surroundings.

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A warm conversation with the monk became one of the highlights of our monastery visit.

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Coorg gave us more than just an escape from the Bengaluru summer. Between the misty mornings, hidden sunsets, monastery silence and laughter-filled photo stops, the trip became a collection of moments we will remember far longer than the journey itself. Some places refresh you. Coorg quietly stayed with us.

Do share your thoughts in the comments.