Saul Kere - Avian Awe Always

Last weekend, I experienced avian awe at Saul Kere Lake in Bangalore as always. I saw some incredible bird activity. Unfortunately, the camera settings were a bit off, resulting in less-than-ideal photo quality. Nevertheless, here are a few shots that capture the essence of my birdwatching adventure.

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A Red-wattled lapwing raised an alarm as soon as I reached. I caught it alongside an Indian spot-billed duck, who immediately started to pay heed to the alarm call.

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In the distance, a white-throated kingfisher perched on a branch, its beady eyes scanning the water below, ready to dive in for a fish.

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There were some surprise visitors at Saul Kere. Four Yellow Bitterns were making long sorties covering the entire lake vegetation and briefly stopping at the foot of reeds. I managed to capture them in flight although it was a tour de force.

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A juvenile Black kite was seen perched atop a tree.

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At the lake, I witnessed a small fight between some baby Bronze-winged Jacana birds and a big Grey-headed swamphen. The Jacana chicks were trying to protect their territory, but the swamphen was much stronger. The swamphen eventually won the fight and scared the Jacana chicks away.

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To show who was boss, the swamphen even plucked a few feathers from one of the Jacana chicks.

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This tranquil scene captures the beauty of Saul Kere Lake, with its lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and a glimpse of the nearby city.

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I watched a green bee-eater next.

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A Little egret was actively hunting for prey among the water hyacinths.

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It seemed like the breeding season had been quite successful for the birds. I spotted a juvenile Brahminy Kite perched on a branch before it took flight.

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I caught a glimpse of a Red-vented bulbul flitting through the foliage.

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There were adults too. An adult Brahminy kite was seen perched on a distant tree.

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A white-breasted waterhen, with its sleek plumage and elegant demeanor, looked quite striking.

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A Black-crowned night heron, an unexpected visitor to the lake, caught my attention next.

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A noisy flock of Rose-ringed parakeets caught my attention. It was a pleasure to capture them in flight, their wings outstretched in a vibrant display.

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I also managed to capture an Indian pond heron in flight.

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A white-cheeked barbet, carefully scanned the trees for the perfect spot to build its nest. After a thorough inspection, it selected a dry tree trunk and began the arduous task of excavating a suitable cavity.

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I noticed that many of the trees at Saul Kere were labeled with yellow tags containing QR codes that linked to more information about the tree species on the Flowers of India website. This innovative approach allows visitors to learn more about the different tree species and their ecological importance.

Honge - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Pongam%20Tree.html

Arjuna - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Arjun%20Tree.html

Banyan - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Banyan%20Tree.html

Cluster Fig - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Goolar.html

Elengi - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Maulsari.html

Peepal - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Peepal.html

Silver Oak - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Silver%20Oak.html

White Silk-Cotton - https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Kapok%20Tree.html

I hope you enjoyed this account of my recent birding trip to Saul Kere Lake. The diverse avian life and peaceful atmosphere made it a truly memorable experience. Please share your comments below!

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