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The Red Avadavat Hunt

It had been ages since I last visited the bund side of Muthanallur lake. The initial plan was a relaxed exploration, birdwatching for the familiar Munia species and the resident Blue-faced Malkohas. But as fate would have it, a surge of birdwatchers had descended on the lake, all with one mission: to spot the elusive Red Avadavat, also known as the Strawberry finch.

Drawn by the excitement and the promise of a rare sighting, I decided to join the hunt. While I'd already enjoyed some initial birdwatching success, the allure of the Red Avadavat was too tempting to resist. So, come along with me and discover what awaited me in this unexpected encounter.



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Since Muthanallur is a good 30 kilometers from home, I decided to start early, setting off around 5 AM. Reaching the lake by 6 AM, I found myself the sole explorer on the dimly lit trail. 



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High up in the predawn sky, a tiny speck of light was the moon.



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Intrigued, I zoomed in to capture the moon's intricate details.



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As I continued my walk, the trail began to come alive. A flurry of activity greeted me, with numerous juvenile and sub-adult munias hopping and flitting about. I saw a trio of Baya Weavers perched on tall, swaying grass blades.  The central bird is an adult male and the two smaller birds are possibly juveniles.



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It was heartwarming to witness the young weavers honing their skills. I observed them effortlessly catching prey and feeding their siblings, a clear indication that they were being prepared for their future roles as parents.




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A White-rumped Munia, sporting its signature brown and white feathers, brightened up the scene.




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The young weavers were practicing their feeding skills, their actions resembling frequent kisses.




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A watchful adult male Baya Weaver oversaw the entire scene.



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An adult female Baya Weaver also kept a watchful eye on her young.



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Here's another adorable sub-adult bird.



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The young weavers were learning how to build nests too.





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Near the weaver nests, I caught a glimpse of a Blue-faced Malkoha. Unfortunately, due to the distance and low light conditions, I was only able to capture record shots of this elusive bird. 








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A solitary Cattle Egret caught my attention.



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Perhaps inspired by the affectionate displays of the weaver siblings, the White-rumped munia was also exhibiting intimate behavior.




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As the light improved and the sky took on a more vibrant hue, the trail began to fill with birdwatchers. 



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A familiar sight emerged: a Plain Prinia. This small, unassuming bird is a common resident of many Indian habitats, its presence is a reassuring reminder of the diverse avian life that thrives in our surroundings.



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It's always a pleasure to encounter the elegant Indian Robin. 



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Two curious pups stopped to gaze at my camera. They were cute.




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Birdwatchers had taken up strategic positions, each hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Red Avadavat. The reeds, known to be a nesting ground for these birds, were a particularly popular spot for observation.



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With all the strategic positions occupied, I decided to take a risk and stand in the open. It was a gamble, but I hoped that my patience and a bit of luck would pay off. 

After a 30-minute wait, the moment I had been anticipating finally arrived. A male and female Red Avadavat perched gracefully on a barbed wire fence. The male, with its vibrant red plumage, was a sight to behold. The female, though slightly duller in color, was equally beautiful in her own way. 






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As if celebrating the arrival of the Red Avadavat, a group of assorted munias joined the party. 



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The sighting of the Red Avadavat had ignited a newfound determination within me. Like a lion that had tasted blood, my patience reached unprecedented levels. For the next 30 minutes, I remained steadfast, hoping to witness more of these elusive birds. 


My patience was rewarded with a spectacular flock of Red Avadavat. It was a moment of pure joy.










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A Scaly-breasted Munia made a brief appearance.



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Adding to the vibrant spectacle, a few Tricolored Munias joined the melee.






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With every breathtaking sighting, my desire for a close-up shot grew stronger. After another prolonged wait, my wish was granted as a Red Avadavat approached to a more manageable distance. I clicked away with fervor, capturing the bird's intricate details and vibrant colors to my heart's content.











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As the sun grew warmer, I captured a few final shots of the birds perched on the barbed wire fence, preserving the memory of this unforgettable encounter.





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I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Please share your thoughts, comments, and questions below. I'd love to hear your experiences and insights.

49 comments:

  1. I love all your photos, this post, especially the baya weavers!

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  2. They are indeed gorgeous birds. Your patience really paid off. Wonderful photos!

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  3. Shiju, I am in absolute awe! What a wonderful sighting of the beautiful red avadavat (those white spots add so much also!). And what a great lesson your patient waiting gives us in how to be a successful birder! (Getting up early also is a great lesson -- those earlier birds you spotted are all wonderful too, especially the amazing series where the juveniles are learning about feeding. .... Shiju, recently on a news feed I I saw the winners of the bird photo of the year. And what I thought about was that I've seen equal or better bird photos on your blog! (I'm very serious -- you are really an extraordinary photographer. And should be published somewhere!!)

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  4. The red bird is outstanding. So beautiful and the first I have heard of them. Glad you found them.

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  5. Magnificent photography! Well done!

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  6. What a captivating and thrilling read!
    The sight of the vibrant male Avadavat must have been spectacular, and your patience definitely paid off!
    I especially loved the little glimpses of the Baya Weavers and Munias honing their skills.

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  7. Amazing Birds, Great captured. Loved cute puppies :)
    Thanks for this post.

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  8. Beautiful series of photos Shiju.
    How wonderful to see how the young weavers feed their brothers and sisters.
    They really make a beautiful nest to breed.
    The white-rumped hummingbird is also a beautiful bird.
    So cute to see the puppies.
    I wish you a nice weekend.
    Greetings Irma

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  9. What a beautiful photo's of birds again. That red avadadat is a real flying gem but the others may be too. I never see such brightly colored birds here .

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  10. I have seen Red Avadavat and it is indeed a gorgeous bird, but the other species you encountered around the lake were not too shabby either!

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  11. You are a master at taking the most incredible photos. I almost feel like I was there with you. I love the photos of the young birds with the parents and the red birds are gorgeous all sitting together on the line.

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  12. Holy cow! Those little red birds with the celestial map on their wings are stunning. I think the puppies are a first, here. You never know what will pop, or pup up in the wild. What a great collection today.

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  13. Unforgettable Red Avadavat! A thrilling post!

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  14. Wow, great variety of birds and lovely photos. The flock of Red Avadavit is an amazing sighting. They are beautiful birds, love the series on these beauties. The Weaver series is a favorite too. The puppies are adorable. Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  15. ...thanks Shiju for taking me along to see these fabulous sights.

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  16. Hello. Congratulations on seeing and photographing Red Avadavat. All the photos are absolutely stunning.

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  17. As always, I’m amazed by your huge selection of birds that are totally unknown in my birding experience. However, the strawberry finch is not in this category because I’ve seen them — they are nativized in Hawaii !
    Your photos of this beautiful bird are just fabulous. Your patience in waiting for them was really rewarded.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  18. Your photos are so beautiful. The small birds are so cute. The weavers are very clever. I like to see how they built their nests.

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  19. The pictures are wonderful!
    Nice to meet your blog.
    Janice.

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  20. Hello Shiju :)
    I'm glad your search for the Red Avadavat was realised and what beautiful photos you took of this extremely stunning bird. I enjoyed seeing all the other birds too.

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  21. Beautiful models and photos! The plumes of the baby birds gave me a chuckle (needed). Thanks for sharing. Be well!

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  22. The Red Avadavat is stunning. Beautiful photos as always, I enjoyed seeing them.

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  23. Your birding photos have wonderful detail and fun to see the pups. Thank you for linking up.

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  24. The bird photos are always outstanding. Glad your efforts paid off handsomely. I also enjoyed the doggies. They're so cute.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  25. A moment of pure joy! I felt the excitement building the way you told the story. All of the birds are beautiful but getting to see something rare like this is fantastic! WOW!

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  26. That was a fantastic morning, and day. And you were rewarded with beatiful pics of the red avadavat. A gorgeous bird which I never have seen before. Thanks for the tour.
    Greetings from Sweden

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  27. Blue-faced Malkoha, I LOVE to see this bird. I’ve never seen one before so I am glad ith your photos. How special, those blue eyes!

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  28. oooooh i so enjoyed this post. sharing that "meal" was a great start...you see the most beautiful, colorful birds and your images are gorgeous. i enjoy your little stories as well!! seeing the red avadavat was quite the treat, your pictures are spectacular!!

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  29. Wow! ~ Wonderful professional photo series of stunning birds ~ especially the red avadat! Wow it is a beautiful sight ~ thanks for being so patient to capture the photos ~

    Wishing you good health laughter, and love in your days,
    clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  30. You always deliver a stunning set of photos - I love birds and it is so interesting to see the different species that live in your area. Congratulations on your patience - it was worth it for you and for us! My favorite is the juvenile weavers practicing nest building!

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  31. Congratulations on your "lifer" the Red Avadavat! A very rewarding day for you in many ways! It is good you went early and got to have some time to yourself!

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  32. What beautiful photos a nice nix too :-)
    Have a colourfultastic week shiju 👍

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  33. Excellent photos of the birds and the moon. I like the colours. Have a nice day Shiju. Greets Caroline

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  34. What an exciting adventure! Birdwatching for the elusive Red Avadavat sounds like a wonderful experience. I can’t wait to hear more about what you discovered!

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  35. So stunning beautiful photos! I love them all!

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  36. Wow, fantastic post! Love the Avadavats, and I like seeing the couples relating to each other.

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  37. wow! The moon is a gorgeous capture!
    but also the photos of the chicks fed by the mother bird! Such cuteness!
    Also the curious dog is adorable! All your photos are phenomenal!

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  38. I know the images with the birds are awesome, but those with the moon are fabulous with
    their details! Congratulations! ... And I say 'Hi' to the cute dog!
    Happy WW and a fine October!

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  39. It was worth the wait!

    I am very happy about the contribution to MosaicMonday again, thank you for that. The exhibition is both worrying and worth knowing about. A wonderful post and fantastic pictures, as always.

    Kind regards from Heidrun

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  40. How great that you were able to catch those elusive birds, like the little flock of Red Avadavats! That moon photo is spectacular, too.

    I admire your patience with birding and photography. It is a skill I need to practice 😺

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  41. Your visit to Muthanallur Lake is a delightful adventure! It’s always exciting when an unexpected influx of birdwatchers creates a buzz around a rare sighting like the Red Avadavat. The thrill of the chase, combined with your appreciation for familiar species, must have made for an engaging experience. I’d love to hear more about what you encountered during your exploration. Did you spot the elusive finch? Thanks for sharing this journey! I just posted new content, and I invite you to read https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/10/are-you-failing-to-recognize-symptoms-of-anxiety-or-depression.html

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  42. Wow, dear Shiju, your moon photo is GREAT!
    Even before you started your "hunt" you managed to take some sensational photos - the young weavers are particularly adorable and really heartwarming.
    I'm not surprised that the Red Avadavat has so many fans - it really is a VERY pretty bird - and you managed to take some breathtaking shots of these rare animals. The pictures of the spectacular flock of Red Avadavat on the fence are particularly beautiful. I'm very happy for you and can absolutely understand your joy!
    All the best and happy October days,
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/10/ruckblick-auf-den-rest-vom-juli-und-den.html

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  43. Thank you for the beauty of your world, and of course that adorable pup melts my heart! So sweet. Enjoy all that is around you and take good care of you.

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  44. Such marvellous moon shots! Thanks so much for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.

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  45. A beautiful post, the Red Avadavat is spectacular, both male and female. Thanks for sharing these photos. Have a good week, Diane

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  46. adult male Baya Weaver looks so colorful..... great shots

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  47. Glad you found that wonderful looking bird - it's rather similar to the Star Finch which we get in Norther Australia.
    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  48. Mission successful, eh?! (As far as the Red Avadavat is concerned. :)) What a beautiful creation!
    This is so cool; when you get to see these lovely birds, it means we get to see them too. :)
    Thank you, Shiju.
    It's nice to see the weaver birds in the middle of their training sessions. Those are life-skills, eh. :)
    Great shot of the moon, too.

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  49. So many amazing captures of the birds. Always a post with so much nature embedded in it

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