Remarkable Encounters at Muthanallur

Sunday morning came, and I impulsively visited Muthanallur lake, located 30 kilometers from home. The sky was cloudy, and rain seemed likely. Despite the uncertainty, I took a chance and went anyway.

I had two main birds in mind - the Blue Faced Malkoha, which I barely saw last time, and the Yellow Bittern, which I never got a good photo of. Luckily, I had the chance to observe both of them up close, and I also captured some other interesting sights. Here are the pictures.

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I set out early and arrived at Muthanallur at daybreak. The bikers were still riding with their headlights on.

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I noticed the birds were already awake, and I observed a male Baya weaver attempting to court a mate near its incomplete nest.

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I strolled along the trail, taking in the surroundings.

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I came across a Black Drongo fiercely guarding its territory.

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The bird I had been hoping to spot, the Blue-faced Malkoha, finally revealed itself for a moment.

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For the following 15 minutes, it fluttered around amidst the dense branches playfully exposing itself piece by piece.

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Spotting a caterpillar, it wasted no time and swiftly made its move towards it.

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The Malkoha followed its usual practice of breaking the captured caterpillar by banging it against the branch. This allowed me to take some up-close photographs.

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After accomplishing my first objective,I proceeded forward in search of the Yellow Bittern. Along the way, I spotted a Coromandel Marsh Dart damselfly.

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A Milkweed Seed Pod, ready to release its seeds with delicate parachutes, ensuring their wide dispersal.

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As I got closer to the stream, my ears were filled with the sounds of numerous birds calling out.

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Out of nowhere, an Indian Grey Hornbill caught me off guard. In a state of sudden panic, I hurriedly clicked my camera and managed to capture a shot of it.

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However, before vanishing, a Purple-rumped Sunbird graciously posed for me. 

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I came across a Stinking Passionflower. When its leaves are crushed, they release a strong and unpleasant odor, giving it its "stinking" reputation. 

What makes this plant even more intriguing is its ability to trap insects on its bracts. These bracts exude a sticky substance containing digestive enzymes, making the Stinking Passionflower a protocarnivorous plant with carnivorous traits.

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A Brahminy Kite in a hunting or stealing mission, soaring through the sky with great determination.

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The Purple Heron's flight is a captivating display of grace and beauty.

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I also encountered a Pioneer butterfly.

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I spotted a White-cheeked Barbet next.

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I glimpsed a small Blue Kingfisher in the distance.

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The Kingfisher was completely absorbed, concentrating intently on a potential prey.

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I observed a female Baya weaver as she assumed control of nest-building duties, expertly adding her touches after taking over from the male, who had already completed the initial stages up to the helmet stage.

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When no potential mate shows interest in the nest, the male Baya modifies or adds additional stories to the nest, hoping to capture the attention and approval of a female. This sometimes leads to the formation of nests with unusual or one-of-a-kind shapes.

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I was lucky to capture an image of an Oriental Honey Buzzard in flight, clutching a bee it had extracted from a honeycomb.

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In flight, the honey buzzard skillfully dismantles the bee, piece by piece.

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At a distant tree branch, a White-rumped Munia sat perched, unmoving and seemingly undisturbed by its surroundings.

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Then, to my astonishment, I finally encountered my second goal of the day: the Yellow Bittern. 

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The Yellow Bittern surprised me by perching just a few feet away, posing in an exaggerated manner as if it knew I was eager to capture its beauty. I took numerous photos to capture the extraordinary encounter.

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This unexpected encounter reminded me of Paulo Coelho's famous saying, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

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After successfully achieving my goals, I made my way back to the car. However, during my stroll back, I came across a few more captivating creatures. One of them was a Common Jezebel butterfly.

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The Ashy Prinia I saw was in full voice.

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At a distance, an Indian Grey Hornbill perched, observing its surroundings with a watchful eye.

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Sensing my presence, the Indian Grey Hornbill took flight, giving me the opportunity to capture my second in-flight shot of this bird.

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Next in my path, I came across a Common Gull Butterfly.

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At a Baya Weaver colony, male birds displayed their partially built nests to passing females by flapping their wings, calling out, and hanging from their nests.

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The last bird I saw was a Cinereous Tit in flight, concluding my day of bird-watching.

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Despite a slight drizzle, the rain wasn't severe enough to make me retreat. The thrilling sightings kept me going. I hope you enjoyed the post. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Linked with Mosaic Monday