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Thursday, December 12, 2024

A Doddanekundi Dawn

Last weekend, I finally made it to Doddanekundi lake for my first birding trip there. The day started under gloomy, overcast skies, and the trail? A muddy mess! The clay stuck to my shoes, making every step feel heavier. But as the morning wore on, the clouds cleared, and the lake came alive. The birds didn’t disappoint either—I managed to spot some real beauties. Here’s a peek at what made it all worth the extra weight on my feet!



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As I trudged along the muddy trail, feeling the weight of clay on my shoes, this little Common Kingfisher decided to brighten up my morning. Perched perfectly on the fence with its adorable little 'butt-up' pose—it was a sight too cute to miss!



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Caught this little beauty mid-flight just as it took off.



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These cheerful False Sunflowers lit up the overcast morning like bursts of sunshine in the greenery.



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Next, a Common Moorhen made an appearance.



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A cute little Greenish Warbler was flitting about on a tree, adding a burst of energy to the scene.





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As the sun rose, the overcast sky gave it a moon-like glow, casting a soft, eerie light over the landscape.



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A Grey Heron skulked quietly.



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I caught an Indian Pond Heron landing gracefully, almost like an elegant ballerina.



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A Purple Heron seemed excited at spotting something, and I quickly locked focus to capture the moment.



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With great ease, it plucked a tilapia fish from the water.




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On the water's edge, a Eurasian Coot was carefully incubating its eggs in the nest.



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It was a pleasant surprise to spot a small Hindu temple by a pond, with vibrant red water lilies blooming nearby.



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I captured the red water lilies first, their vibrant color standing out beautifully against the serene pond.




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The colorful temple facade, adorned with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, was captivating.









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By now, I had completed a full circle of the lake, covering the 4km perimeter. The sky had shifted from grey to a clear, vibrant blue.



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Oh, look at this little cutie! This Indian Robin is striking a pose, looking all smart and sassy. 






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I caught sight of a Plain Tiger butterfly.


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The last sighting of the day was this Indian Robin, perched confidently on an abandoned bulldozer.


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I hope you enjoyed the post! Feel free to leave a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts.

52 comments:

  1. Thank you for taking me along on your visit to Doddanekundi lake. That kingfisher is just the sweetest!

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  2. That first photo is outstanding. Kingfishers are so colorful and his pose is great.

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  3. Wow, you find great birds wherever you go. That temple is fabulous. The intricate beautiful designs are wonderful.

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  4. Love the king fisher very much

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  5. Enjoyed the cyber tour of the temple, the different birds that posed for you, and the water lilies were my favorite of all.

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  6. Beautiful captures of birds and temple!

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  7. These birds will surely clear up and brighten the gloomiest of days.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  8. You got some beautiful photos for all your troubles. I especially like your Kingfisher captures.

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  9. What a beautiful series of photos Shiju.
    I really like the Hindu temple with the red water lilies.
    As always I also find all the birds wonderful to see.
    I wish you a beautiful weekend.
    Greetings Irma

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  10. I expect you will be returning there soon. It’s great that the Indian Robin found a perch on the abandoned bulldozer, but a shame that the equipment was left there.

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  11. Excellent photos. Beautiful serie shiju. Beautiful colours. Greets

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  12. Beautiful post! Have a good weekend.

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  13. Loved your post, Awesome clicks, Beautiful birds. Happy Weekend.

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  14. Cute Kingfisher. The Moorhen´s beak looks interesting. Is there a special feature?
    Ballerina is a fitting word! And that temple is beautiful, oh, I enjoy this post immensly - we have another cold, grey day. You brought beautiful color into it, looking forward to your next post!

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    1. Yes, the unique color pattern helps Moorhens recognize each other within their species and also may help in sexual signaling.

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  15. As always lovely photos. The Common Kingfisher, The False Sunflower, The Hindu temple, The Indian Robin and The red waterlily are all very beautiful and they are my favorites today!

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  16. Hello,
    Another great post and a lovely collection of photos! I love the pretty Kingfisher and the lovely sunflowers. Wonderful captures of all the Herons and the Moorhen. The little Warbler and the Robin are both adorable birds. The Hindu Temple is a bonus, so colorful and beautiful. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  17. Gorgeous pictures, Shiju, as always! Love the vibrancy of the colours in each of them.
    Happy skywatching!
    Esha
    https://mysoultalks.com/a-blue-sky-day-in-mtskheta-skywatchfriday/

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  18. Dear Shiju, how great that you made it to Doddanekundi Lake for the first time - there were some really beautiful sightings here. I'm always happy to see colorful Kingfisher photos 😍, and I also think it's great when you manage to take photos of birds in motion or of those that have caught prey - like here with the Purple Heron with the Tilapia fish. The lake area also looks very pretty, the area with the pretty temple and the bright water lilies is particularly attractive!
    Warm greetings from Austria and thank you for your nice comment, Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/12/es-weihnachtet.html
    ✨🎄🌟🕯️🌟🎄✨

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  19. ...these beautiful images will brighten any day!

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  20. Sounds like a memorable birding trip! Despite the muddy trail, the Common Kingfisher and the vibrant False Sunflowers must have made it all worth it. The beauty of nature has a way of shining through even on gloomy days!

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  21. Beautiful photos. I love the Kingfisher in the first photo. Thanks for the tour!

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  22. A beautiful set of photos and I like that you captured the Hindu temple. Very nice. Thank you for linking up.

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  23. Beautiful views, the floating building on the water, especially the blue feathered bird in your second photo, he's adorable. Thank you for sharing these with us such beauty you live with!

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  24. Oh he's a little common Kingfisher although to me he's not common he's handsome!

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  25. As such professional photography of lovely 'feathered friends' and that temple is divine ~ thanks, namaste,

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

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  26. The birds certainly made up for the muddy shoes. The kingfisher is certainly a colourful creature. The detail on the temple is exquisite. Enjoy your birding and your week ahead. I am joining you at Mosaic Monday.

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  27. You still manage to capture it all beautifully in color again. Keep up the good work.

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  28. American robins, British robins, and Indian robins look absolutely nothing alike, which fascinates me.
    Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/12/donegal-town.html. They never fail to astound.

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  29. Kingfishers are my favorite birds, so your gorgeous Common Kingfisher photos made my day!

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  30. These photos are so cool! I love how close you got to the purple heron and got photos of it eating the fish. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  31. You never fail what another set of beautiful photos and colours

    Have a scenictastic week 👍

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  32. Your bird photos are stunning. The temple is beautiful and so colourful too. Thanks for participating in Monday Murals Shiju.

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  33. A really colourful collection. I'm with the others when it comes to the Kingfisher, absolutely gorgeous!

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  34. You are incredible with these images. Pure art in these photos!
    Happy WW and a fabulous week!

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  35. The Temple is fascinating... and the nature around too. Thank you for sharing and being part at MosaicMonday.

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  36. a Common Moorhen looks so cute....
    beautiful photos

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  37. Two marvelous posts with urban beauty and natural beauty. I know you'll capture endless wonder in 2025. Season's greetings from Florida! Have a meaningful holiday and a happy new year!

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  38. I like the combination of the natural of the birds with with the temple and the urban landscape. Such vibrancy.

    Amidst all the color, the black-and-white of the Eurasian Coot caught my attention :)

    Happy WW and Happy Holidays!

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  39. What wonderful things in one post! 😍

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  40. Thank you for the gift of such wonderful images. Pure beauty!

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  41. What an adventure at Doddanekundi Lake! Despite the muddy trail, it sounds like you were rewarded with a beautiful experience and some stunning bird sightings. Nature has a way of making the effort worthwhile, doesn’t it? I hope your next birding trip is just as memorable, if not more! I just shared a helpful new post; you're welcome to check it out. Wishing you a happy holiday!

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  42. I love your snapshot of the lillipads - they are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your snaps and for taking part in #MySundaySnapshot.

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  43. I love the photos of the kingfisher and of the heron with his catch.

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  44. never seen a Purple Heron in nature....
    such a beautiful critter

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  45. Another set of beautiful photos, love the kingfisher and the robin. The temple is stunning. Happy Holidays, Diane

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  46. You always seem to discover amazing birds wherever you are. The temple is beautiful and the detailed, stunning designs are incredible!

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  47. The Indian Robin is such a great looking little bird. Wonderful pictures.
    Wishing you a happy Christmas / Holliday and Great New Year. SM - Melbourne

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  48. Beautiful post, your birding journey inspires me to travel to nearby birding spots. The temple surrounded by the lake is a divine treat . The essence of colors that came out when capturing birds with leaves like herons and coots is marvelous. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.

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