Jayamangali at Dawn

The first birding trip of 2026 kicked off with a simple plan and good company. A friend and I headed to Jayamangali Blackbuck Sanctuary, hoping the grasslands would be generous, and they were.

The blackbucks made us work a bit for our sightings, appearing in pockets, striking poses, sprinting across the frame, and occasionally stealing the show once we finally spotted them. The birds did not disappoint either. Perched, hopping, flying, and occasionally judging us from a branch, they added plenty of colour and character to the morning. Add a Wolf Moon and a beautiful sunrise, and it felt like a pretty good way to start the year.

Here are a few moments from a relaxed and rewarding morning in the grasslands.

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We started early, really early. A 4 am departure so we could reach Jayamangali Blackbuck Sanctuary by sunrise. A bit of construction on our usual route meant a small detour, but no complaints there. It was a supermoon morning, and we stopped exactly once, just long enough to frame the Wolf Moon before continuing on our way.

Some mornings tell you you are off to a good start even before you reach your destination.

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A lone male blackbuck was our very first sighting, standing quietly in the haze even before the sun managed to peek out.

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The sun finally appeared as a pale disc through the mist, turning the grasslands soft and silent for a few brief moments before the day properly began.

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We drove ahead, hunting for a foreground, and the sun politely waited while a tree stepped into the frame.

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A little patience and a bit of positioning later, the sun slipped neatly behind a bare branch, glowing warm against the morning haze.

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A lone blackbuck doe emerged from the mist, pausing just long enough to remind us how softly the morning was unfolding.

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A male blackbuck stood alert in the grass, his spiralled horns cutting clean lines against the muted colours of the morning.

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The sun climbed higher, burning through the haze and setting the grasslands aglow in warm golden light.

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My friend suggested we head to the lake inside the forest first, hoping the golden hour would bring the birds out before the day warmed up.

En route, a Grey Francolin crossed our path, pausing briefly as if to check whether we were worth the interruption.

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The lake, much to our shock, was completely dry, but the disappointment did not last long. A Eurasian Hoopoe stepped in, working the ground and nearby branches, more than making up for the missing water.

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Soon enough, another Eurasian Hoopoe joined in, turning a solitary sighting into a neatly framed pair against the open sky.

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A Laughing Dove, calm and unhurried, soaking in the morning light.

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A Purple Sunbird, briefly lighting up the branch before moving on.

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A Small Minivet, bright and unmistakable against the muted greens.

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A Brahminy Starling, neatly perched and unbothered by our presence.

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A Eurasian Collared Dove, watching quietly from its perch.

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A Red-rumped Swallow, pausing briefly before taking off again.

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A female Indian Robin, understated but full of character.

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A Jungle Babbler, ever alert and keeping an eye on things from above.

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As the day warmed up, we turned our focus back to the blackbucks before they slipped away into the shade.

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Watching them blend into the grass.

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A Long-tailed Shrike, calmly surveying the grassland.

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A Yellow-wattled Lapwing, standing its ground in the open.

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The grasslands slowly filled up, with small groups appearing, moving, pausing, and then breaking into those effortless runs they are known for.

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A burst of speed, and suddenly the grassland was in motion.

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A Large Grey Babbler, standing tall against the blue sky.

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The adult male stood apart, quietly keeping an eye on everything.

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A Blue-tailed Bee-eater, bright and unmistakable against the sky.

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The Indian Bushlark closed the day.

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By the time we turned back, the haze was gone and the heat was setting in. It had been one of those mornings where everything came together without trying too hard.

Let me know your thoughts.