A Treasure Hunt in Turahalli

Three birding friends. Three shortlisted locations. One majority vote that took us somewhere completely unfamiliar. That is how this little adventure began.

The spot was suggested after one of us pinged a prominent birder who had recently posted some mouthwatering sightings from there. The instructions were simple and mysterious at the same time. Park near a temple and look out for a Palash tree. That was our treasure map. Armed with that clue and our usual unreasonable optimism, we set out early in the morning, reaching while it was still properly dark and the world was just beginning to stir.

As luck would have it, the famous Palash tree refused to reveal itself. We drove around squinting at silhouettes, second guessing every tree that looked remotely flamboyant. Nothing. And that is when Plan B was unlocked.

Just three kilometers away was Turahalli Tree Park, a place I had never visited before. If the original Palash did not want us, perhaps there were many waiting elsewhere. And that is exactly what we found. Fiery Palash blooms lighting up the dry landscape and hosting some absolutely stunning birds.

Sometimes the birds reward careful planning. Sometimes they reward flexibility. This time, they rewarded a failed treasure hunt.

Here are the pictures from a morning that began with confusion and ended in color.

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We reached Turahalli Tree Park at daybreak and stepped onto the dusty trails. The sun rose behind the bamboo, filtering through the thin leaves in a wash of gold.

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Our first sighting was an Oriental Magpie Robin, perched quietly among the bare branches.

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A restless Tickell's Leaf Warbler flitted through the foliage, never still for long.

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A flash of orange and grey streaked past us, a Small Minivet in midflight.

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The Small Minivet settled briefly on a bare branch.

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On a nearby tree, a Red whiskered Bulbul was busy grabbing berries, crest raised and fully focused on breakfast.

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The tree park has plenty of interesting flowering trees too. Here is the vibrant bloom of the Kachnar tree, adding a splash of pink to the earthy tones of the morning.

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Perched calmly on a branch, a female Purple rumped Sunbird surveyed the surroundings.

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We soon reached a stretch where several Palash trees stood in full bloom, their fiery orange flowers lighting up the dry landscape. The air was buzzing with bird activity around them. It felt like we had finally found the right stage for the morning’s show.

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The first to dive into the fiery blooms was a Common Tailorbird.

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Then came the dazzling Purple Sunbird.

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A subtle Blyth's Reed Warbler also made an appearance among the blazing Palash blooms.

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We stayed there for a long while, scanning every cluster of Palash flowers, knowing each fiery bloom could hide another tiny visitor.

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A female Purple Sunbird worked the Palash blooms methodically, probing each flower for nectar.

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The feast attracted more than just birds.. An Indian Palm Squirrel joined in, nibbling at the Palash blooms with equal enthusiasm.

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We lingered beneath the blazing Palash.

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A male Purple Sunbird in eclipse plumage joined the party, less flashy than his breeding avatar but just as intent on the nectar.

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And then the full regalia appeared.

A male Purple Sunbird in breeding plumage shimmered in electric blue and violet, catching the light like polished metal.

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Before long, a Tickell's Blue Flycatcher appeared among the glowing Palash blooms.

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The last visitors to the flowers were a pair of Indian White eyes, bright and busy among the orange petals.

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Turahalli Tree Park is part of the larger Turahalli Forest, Bangalore’s last surviving natural forest patch of nearly 600 acres. The tree park forms the more accessible section, spanning about 35 acres, while the core forest remains protected and preserves its wild character amid rapid urban growth.

I was happy to see that the tree park offered a variety of habitats, from open grasslands and scrub to scattered trees, making it ideal for birds.

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Among the tall dry grasses, a Scaly breasted Munia clung delicately to the swaying stems, perfectly at home in the golden scrub.

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High above, clusters of Gamhar blossoms glowed softly against the clear blue sky.

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Tall golden grasses swayed gently in the warm light.

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A pair of peafowl walked down the dusty trail, pausing just long enough to size me up before continuing deeper into the golden grass, as if I were the one intruding.

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The closing time loomed at 10 AM, leaving us with barely eight minutes. Naturally, we made a beeline for the bamboo habitat, determined to make those final moments count.

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Out from the crisp fallen leaves emerged a Puff throated Babbler, quietly foraging and blending perfectly with the earthy tones around it.

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A Spot breasted Fantail flashed past like a cliffhanger in a thriller. With the park about to close, we had to leave the sequel for another day.

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On the way back, we stopped for breakfast. I rewarded myself with a crisp rava masala dosa with chutney and sambar, the perfect end to a hurried morning in the park.

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A shoe selfie.

Dusty boots, tired legs, and one bright red leaf stealing the spotlight. A quiet full stop to a rushed but rewarding morning.

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We went looking for one Palash tree and ended up with an entire stage full of them. Not bad for Plan B. Sometimes getting lost is just another way of being found by the right birds.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Do leave a comment below.