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Thursday, October 26, 2023

Spooky Spectacle at Kannamangala

This week, I went birdwatching at Kannamangala Lake, and it seemed like the birds were throwing their own Halloween party. I was able to capture a few eerie bird photos. Join me in this blog post to view both spooky shots and some non-spooky ones.



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I arrived at Kannamangala Lake just five minutes before sunrise.



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In the early morning, the birds were flying eastward, preparing for their daily activities.



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The lake was shrouded in mist.




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As the sun rose, it cast an elegant glow through the serene mist.




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Flowers are falling, making the paths beautiful this season.



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I've often observed bird photographers patiently stationed in one spot, awaiting photo opportunities, a practice quite unlike my usual habit of wandering around in search of birds. However, today, I decided to change things up and try what others often do — staying in one place and capturing the avian wonders that presented themselves.


So, I discovered a cozy spot by the lakeside and settled in. At first, the birds took flight, but soon they began to return.


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The first to make a comeback was an Indian Spot-billed duck.



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Following that, a couple of them arrived and began preening.




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The Aylesbury duck, a likely escapee from a nearby farm whom I've been tracking for several months, appears to have formed a friendship with the Indian Spot-billed ducks. It was a heartwarming sight to see them all swimming together.



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The little grebes arrived, continually diving and resurfacing.




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A gray heron was patiently waiting for an unwary fish to pass by and getting visibly annoyed if any bird ventured too closely.



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A spooky Indian pond heron appeared, seemingly on the prowl for a fish to catch.



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Even the little grebe took on a spooky appearance after a fishing dip.



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The spooky heron locks onto its target.



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It skillfully spears the tail end of a tilapia fish. 





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And in no time, it gulps it down.

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Another heron swoops in, effortlessly catching a tilapia fish.





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Amidst the carnage, it was a pleasant surprise to spot a couple of migrant wood sandpipers.



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While all this excitement unfolded, a bronze-winged jacana brought a touch of serenity to the moment.



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Now, another Indian Pond heron made a ferocious dash.


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And it successfully caught a small fry.





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Then, a little egret tried to fish but got frustrated when it didn't work out.




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A white-browed wagtail sat on a bridge railing, singing its lovely song.



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A Ditch Jewel Dragonfly made an appearance as the sun warmed up.



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A common gull butterfly also made an appearance.



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In a display of elegance, a Great egret took flight and joined the scene.



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It also managed to catch a small fish.




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An Indian Spot-billed duck engaged in some playful dabbling and seemed to connect with its own reflection in a water.



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It was a day of no disappointments. Even the initially unsuccessful little egret found its groove and successfully caught a small fish.






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Sitting in one spot for birdwatching turned out to be quite successful, and I had the chance to see a variety of birds. It was a pleasant change from my usual strolling, although I still prefer walking around because it gives me more exercise and satisfaction.


I hope you enjoyed the post. Happy Halloween to those who celebrate! Don't forget to leave a comment.

Linked with Mosaic Monday

Thursday, October 19, 2023

A Misty Morning at Saul Kere Lake

Last Sunday, after a night of heavy rain, I decided to visit Saul Kere Lake. The lake was blanketed in a mysterious mist. I've always had a fascination with hazy, dreamlike photos, so I decided to take some shots and see what I could create. The results turned out to be surprisingly artistic, and I can't wait to show you the pictures.





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As I stepped in, patches of fog greeted me, gradually enveloping the surroundings as the sun began to rise.




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A White-breasted waterhen appeared unsure about whether I posed a threat. I remained motionless, and it swiftly concealed itself before cautiously emerging again, likely realizing that I posed no harm..




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A team of Indian spot-billed ducks remained engrossed in their grooming routine, paying little attention to my presence. Seizing the moment, I  captured a few shots.







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Following their grooming session, one of the ducks apparently worked up an appetite and began dabbling in the water, on the hunt for some fish.





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Close by, I saw a Little Grebe, and it didn't seem to mind me being there.





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As the sun began to warm the surroundings, a purple-rumped sunbird made its appearance.



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I was amazed when a red-whiskered bulbul got really close, allowing me to capture the details of its bright red whiskers.



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At this point, the mist had spread out like a blanket, covering everything evenly.



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I saw the spot-billed pelicans perched on a tree with flowers in the mist. I liked the hazy look and wanted to take more photos like it.



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I managed to capture a pelican in flight within the mist.




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It was quite a sight to witness the Bronze-winged Jacana chicks in a frenzy, scurrying about as they foraged for food. Tracking their rapid movements posed a little challenge.





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Here's another misty shot of the lake.




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A Grey heron in the distance appeared unusually animated.



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Next up, I spotted an Asian green bee-eater.



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The Indian silverbill looked charming.




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I spotted a young Brahminy kite doing something unexpected. It was carrying a twig, similar to nesting material, even though nest-building is usually an adult task. It appeared busy, flying around and gnawing on the twig as if it were a fish. Nonetheless, it provided some interesting photo opportunities.









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It was a pleasant surprise to spot an early migrant, the Grey Wagtail.



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I wrapped up the day with a distant view of a Common tailor bird.




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I hope you enjoyed the post. Feel free to share your comments!

Linked with Mosaic Monday