A misty Kannamangala

Mist clung to Kannamangala lake like a jealous lover, swallowing sights, muffling calls. My camera, a useless eye in the greyscale world, hung heavy. I captured some hazy photos in the lake's misty kiss. Here are the pics.

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As usual, I reached the lake just as the sun was cracking open the sky, the scene already painted in a watercolor of mist.

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The fog clung to the lake surroundings like a ghostly shawl, concealing the depths in mystery.

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From a distance, I spotted a gaggle of bird watchers valiantly wielding their lenses, determined to outwit the fog and its feathered captives.

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With patient persistence, an intermediate egret patrolled with its bill poised like a silent promise to any unwary minnow or frog.

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And nearby, a Little Egret mirrored the patient vigil, its own slender bill ready for its next meal.

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An Indian spot-billed duck pair, their chestnut plumage barely visible through the mist, drifted serenely across the still water.

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The mist swallowed the little grebe whole.

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From the heart of the fog emerged a pair of Aylesbury ducks. As they paddled closer, the fog reluctantly conceded, granting me a few moments of clarity.

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Untroubled by my presence, barn swallows chattered and preened on a wire, seemingly shielded from my gaze by the invisible cloak of mist.

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The fog clung stubbornly to the landscape.

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Rose-ringed parakeets, awaited the mist's retreat, their silence a contrast to the symphony of the waking world.

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A lone Asian koel, its charcoal form etched against the mist, perched patiently on a distant branch.

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Further away, a bird sat atop a tree, a possible Rosy Starling.

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The haze thickened.

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A wave of joy washed over me as I glimpsed the common hawk cuckoo, with a Shikra-like gaze surveying its domain. This winter visitor, long unseen, brought back memories of crisp mornings.

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Like a hungry beast gorging on the world, the fog thickened, forcing me to retreat. 

But on the path, its tendrils parted briefly, revealing an Indian pond heron and a juvenile Bronze-winged Jacana stalking it nearby.

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Final pic of the morning when I left, the sun struggling to pierce through the veil of fog.

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Do you think fog adds a layer of mystery and intimacy to birding, or does it frustrate the thrill of the chase? 

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Dawn at Saul Kere

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Early on a holiday Monday, I reached Saul Kere at 7am for a delightful birdwatching adventure. Here are the pics from the brief visit.

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Dawn's blush painted Saul Kere as I arrived.

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I watched a black-winged stilt wading like a tuxedoed dancer in the glassy shallows.

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Wood Sandpipers flitted nervously, tiny feet chasing miniature feasts along the lake edge.

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A white-throated kingfisher, sat perched on a branch, basking in the warmth of the morning sun.

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A booted warbler, like a tiny ambassador from faraway lands, a welcome spark of magic amidst the familiar.

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My binoculars and I waged a battle against the owlet's dry bark camouflage, finally unearthing a sleepy couple, eyelids heavy with slumber.

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An Alexandrine parakeet guarded its new home, a nest hole claimed after kicking out a white-cheeked barbet.

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A male Asian Koel's liquid song, rich and mournful, unfurled like a silver ribbon, touching hearts with its bittersweet melody.

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Despite being the most common bird here, the spotted dove today held a surprising charm.

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The spotted owlet nestled deeper into its perch,  but its beautiful yellow eyes remained veiled by drowsiness.

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An oriental magpie robin, a cascade of clear notes that filled the air.

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Nearby, a tailorbird, a tiny architect of intricate nests, stitched the air with its rapid needle-like chirps.

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My breath caught as the owlet stirred, flitting to another branch. There, in a flash of movement, its eyes flew open.

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In a blur of motion, it launched itself onto a lower branch, wings unfurling, offering a fleeting glimpse of their intricate patterns.

9 am.  The family holiday gathering waited, and off I went. Did you enjoy the post? Let me know in the comments!