Jyothipura. First Visit.

Jyothipura Lake had been on my radar for a month.

A friend had casually mentioned that it was quite a happening place for birding. The kind of line that quietly settles in your head and refuses to leave. We tried planning a trip back then, but as it usually happens, it did not materialise.

Then came a message from another friend. My partner from three very productive birding outings. When he said he was game for a weekend visit, the plan almost made itself. No overthinking. Just set the alarm and go.

From the word go, Jyothipura did not disappoint.

The light was kind. The air carried that early morning promise. There was movement everywhere. It felt alive. Properly alive.

And having a young pair of sharp eyes beside me made all the difference. His spotting skills are something else. Before I could finish scanning one patch, he was already onto the next bird. Thanks to him, we had a good haul for the day and, more importantly, a lot of fun doing what we love most.

Jyothipura, you had my attention from the very first frame.

Now, let me show you how the morning unfolded.

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I was the first to reach.

After parking the car and stepping into the misty morning, I noticed movement high up on a tall ficus tree. A pair of Indian Grey Hornbills were perched there.

The moment they sensed my presence, they took off with heavy wingbeats and disappeared into the haze.

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The ficus stood wrapped in mist, as if the morning was slowly sketching itself into existence.

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When my friend arrived, I told him about the hornbills I had just missed. Almost on cue, the pair flew back and perched on a tree much closer to us.

This time, we were ready.

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Close enough for a proper portrait.

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A fruiting Pithraj tree was the real reason they were around.

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Pithraj is a native fruiting tree that bears clusters of pinkish red berries. Its fruits are relished by hornbills and other birds, which help propagate the tree through seed dispersal.

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Our birding began on a misty path, with the morning still half asleep.

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A Yellow-billed Babbler gave us a neat pose and then a full wing stretch, never still for long.

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A Common Kingfisher paused, calculated, and then flashed across the water in classic style.

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The sun broke through the haze, turning the mist into gold.

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Through his binoculars, my friend spotted a Little Ringed Plover, perfectly reflected in the still water.

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A Painted Stork cruised through the haze, then greeted us on land with a grand wing spread.

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A Booted Warbler paused just long enough for a portrait.

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I stayed with the same Little Ringed Plover, waiting for the light and reflection to align.

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This time, my friend picked out a Common Greenshank wading through the shallows. Calm, measured steps, pausing now and then to probe the water, its reflection rippling gently with every move.

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An Indian Bushlark perched confidently on a bare branch.

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A Plain Prinia balanced effortlessly on a slender twig.

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I focused on a Black Drongo on a full hunting spree.

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A cute Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark called for my attention, sitting neatly on a little mound as if posing for the camera.

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Distracted by the lark, I almost missed it. My friend spotted a pair of Jerdon’s Leafbirds active on a nearby coconut palm.

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Sharing the same tree, an Indian Golden Oriole added a splash of gold to the morning.

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We walked through a dry open landscape dotted with solitary trees.

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We passed an old brick lined well, now dry and silent under the morning sun.

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Perched high on an electric tower, a Shikra kept a sharp watch over the open fields.

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Not far away, a Black-winged Kite sat elegantly atop a tree, its red eyes glowing softly as it surveyed the fields below.

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A tiny Cinereous Tit flitted through the bare branches, pausing just long enough for a frame before darting away again.

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Caught mid patrol, the Shikra glided overhead, every feather in formation, every nerve alert.

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I stopped down the aperture and let the sun break into stars.

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Jyothipura did not just live up to the hype. It quietly earned a return visit.

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