Avian Encounters at Saul Kere

Saul Kere Lake is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Bangalore city. Here are some photos of the birds I was fortunate enough to witness during my recent visit.

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I was in time to witness a spectacular sunrise.

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A Spot-billed Pelican swam towards the sun, as if drawn to its brilliance.  

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A Juvenile Brahminy Kite, with its distinctive plumage, soared in the sky, its keen eyes scanning the landscape below.

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An adult Brahminy Kite perched on a sturdy eucalyptus branch, its piercing gaze was on me.

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Usually wary, the migrant green sandpiper, standing at a distance, was unaware of my presence.

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Then I saw a Great Cormorant diving into the water to catch a fish. The cormorant is successful in its catch, but its flock members immediately surround it and try to snatch the fish away.

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This is a common behavior among cormorants, as they are known to be kleptoparasitic.

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The cormorant's determination to hold onto its catch is evident in its body language, while the desperation of the flock members is palpable in their outstretched wings.

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Victorious, the cormorant devoured the fish, its persistence rewarded.

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A white-throated kingfisher was perched in an awkwardly lit place. The harsh sunlight casts a shadow over the bird's face, obscuring some of its features. 

I tried to take advantage of the awkward lighting to create an artistic shot.

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The Oriental Darter however gave an interesting pose. It has spread its wings wide, revealing the beautiful white and black markings on its underside. 

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Next, I saw two egrets, an intermediate egret and a little egret, fishing in tandem. 

The two egrets are standing in shallow water, their eyes fixed on the water below them. 

They are both using a technique called "foot stirring" to flush out fish and other prey. They do this by stamping their feet in the water, which creates vibrations that disturb the mud and drive out any prey that is hiding.

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A tranquil gathering of birds, including a painted stork, an Indian cormorant, and some spot-billed ducks, had found a peaceful haven in the lake.

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A common kingfisher perched on a branch quickly darted away as I approached.

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An Asian green bee-eater swoops through the air, its slender beak expertly snatching unsuspecting bees from their flight paths, and I seize the photo opportunity.

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Black drongos, too, swooped gracefully, though their success rate in catching prey was lower.

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Here's a juvenile black drongo with an intriguing pattern of white markings on its breast.

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Next, a juvenile scaly-breasted munia graces the frame.

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A pair of Coppersmith Barbet birds perch together.

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I also took some individual portraits of them.

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A scaly-breasted munia caught my eye.

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A nimble plain prinia.

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As I walked back to my car, I was struck by the beauty of the 9 am sky.

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I also captured some record shots of a Western Marsh Harrier, which has just begun its migratory stay here.

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Linked with Mosaic Monday