A Morning of Birding Adventures

 I drove to Muthanallur on a cloudy weekend morning to watch birds, but I also saw butterflies, damsel flies, and dragonflies. Here are the pictures.

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In the softly lit morning, where clouds veiled the sun, a Hair-crested Drongo appeared, holding a captured wasp. The picture isn't very clear due to the low light, but it's a special shot as it's my first sighting of this bird.

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The sun slowly showed up from behind the clouds.

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I spotted a cattle egret searching for food.

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Even though it was still too early for butterflies to be out, I managed to spot a Common Picture Wing dragonfly that appeared to be an early riser, just like me.

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I also noticed black kites gliding through the sky.

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As the sun climbed higher, the colors of the lake and the surrounding greens began to brighten and stand out.

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The face of a Chalky Percher dragonfly wore a smile resembling that of a human.

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I observed a pair of Yellow Waxtail damselflies engaged in mating, and the heart-shaped formation they created appeared almost like a love note written by nature.

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The sun got warmer and showed the pretty sky, clouds, and the lake view.

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As the sun warmed up, butterflies started coming out as well. I trailed a Blue Tiger butterfly until it settled on a leaf.

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A distant tree became the perch for Mr. and Mrs. Red avadavat. Their presence lacked the intimacy seen in the damselflies.

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I spotted a lone Ashy Prinia with a tail that seemed to stand straight up.

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I came across a lone female Baya Weaver bird,  possibly resting after the demanding job of turning down nests made by the males.

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I noticed a lone Rose-ringed parakeet,  perched alone and catching my attention.

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The single bird sightings were followed by a captivating spectacle - a squadron of Painted storks performing a graceful fly-past.

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A male Indian Robin was busy searching for food amidst the fallen flowers.

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A spotted dove caught my eye.

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A hapless-looking male Baya weaver calls out to passing females, presenting its really tiny nest which is most likely to be rejected.

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Next, a Black Drongo came into view.

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It took off for a hunting mission.

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Next, a group of White-rumped Munias came into sight. I concentrated on one particular individual before they eventually took flight.

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The Scarlet skimmer dragonfly appeared absolutely stunning.

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A white-throated kingfisher showed no fear and perched really close.

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After approximately 5 minutes, it took off, presumably for a fishing expedition.

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In the distance, I spotted a Black-shouldered kite, but it was beyond the range of my lens. I had to navigate through challenging reeds to get closer.

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Walking through the reeds was challenging, especially due to the presence of rainwater. Fortunately, I didn't come across any snakes.

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This is the closest shot I managed to capture, yet it's still from a considerable distance.

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Here are a few more shots of the landscape as I retraced my steps back to the birding path.

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And so concluded my birding morning. I returned feeling content with the captures I had. I hope you enjoyed the post. I welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Linked with Mosaic Monday