Fishing Lessons at Byatarayana Doddi

Byatarayana Doddi had been on the radar of my birding buddies AK, CA, and me for quite some time, and after several rounds of planning and rescheduling, the trip finally came together. Unfortunately, CA had to drop out at the last minute, leaving AK and me to carry the plan forward.

The name itself is interesting—Doddi in Kannada refers to a small hamlet or settlement, and Byatarayana Doddi is much more than just a village. It turned out to be a wonderfully diverse habitat, offering a serene lake, grassy hillocks, scattered boulders, and lush vegetation. Such varied landscapes make for excellent birding, and the area did not disappoint.

What made the outing especially memorable was the sheer amount of bird activity. From kingfishers and waterbirds to grassland species and butterflies, there was always something happening around us. 

Through these photographs, I hope to share some of the excitement and beauty that made our first visit to Byatarayana Doddi such a memorable experience.

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The weather forecast had us a bit worried, and we weren't sure if rain would cut short our birding plans. Still, we decided to take our chances and reached Byatarayana Doddi around 6 a.m., fingers crossed. Dark clouds hung over the lake and surrounding hills, but fortunately the rain stayed away. As the landscape slowly came alive, it became clear that the early start had been well worth it.

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Our first sighting of the morning was an Indian Pond Heron in breeding plumage. Usually dismissed as a rather drab bird, it looked stunning in its breeding attire, and we were fortunate to watch it successfully catch a fish soon after.

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Nearby, a White-throated Kingfisher kept a watchful eye on the vegetation-covered lake, scanning for any movement beneath the floating greenery.

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Without warning, it would launch itself from its perch in a lightning-fast dash towards its target.

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One such dash ended in success, with the kingfisher returning to its perch carrying a small fish.

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The monsoon had clearly arrived. Fresh mushrooms had begun appearing along the damp trails around the lake.

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Great Egrets and Little Egrets added a touch of elegance to the morning, patiently fishing along the lake's edge, their pristine white plumage standing out beautifully against the lush monsoon greenery.

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Talking of elegance, the Black-winged Stilts had little competition. Their long pink legs and graceful foraging style made them one of the most striking birds around the lake.

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Around this time, AK's lens chose the worst possible moment to malfunction, leaving her no option but to continue with binocular birding. Thankfully, her sharp eyes were still working perfectly, and she soon drew my attention to a group of handsome Tricolored Munias foraging nearby.

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Among the grasses were tiny Dwarf Morning Glory flowers, easy to miss but rewarding anyone who paused to look a little closer.

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A male Crimson Tip butterfly provided a colourful distraction from the birds, resting among dew-laden grasses and showing off its striking wing tips.

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The little butterfly made for a cooperative subject and proved that a smartphone can be a handy backup when a camera lens decides to call it a day.

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A tiny Lady's Slipper added a splash of pink to the rain-soaked grassland.

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Next we watched a Common Kingfisher making repeated sorties from its perch, each dive a flash of blue over the water. 

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Patience paid off when it finally returned with a fish clasped neatly in its bill.

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A Little Grebe cruised past, unconcerned by our presence, adding another species to an already rewarding morning.

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A Common leopard butterfly briefly stole the show.

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We wandered around the grassy slopes and rocky edges of the wetland, hoping for a glimpse of an elusive crake or a well-camouflaged snipe, but the landscape kept its secrets.

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The soft red mud was crisscrossed with bird footprints, revealing a busy avian thoroughfare hidden from sight.

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A Red-vented Bulbul with a wild date in its bill inspired a suitably corny "wild date" joke.

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The Red-vented Bulbul perched obligingly on a rock, as if waiting for its portrait to be taken.

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A Plain Prinia briefly revealed itself, perched on a tangle of stems before vanishing back into the grassland.

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The prinia's perch did not stay empty for long. A Yellow-eyed Babbler soon arrived to inspect the same lookout.

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A Jerdon's Bush Lark stepped through the dew-laden grass.

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The blister beetle was in no mood for a photo shoot, repeatedly disappearing into the grass before reluctantly stepping into view.

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One of the ever-active Red-rumped Swallows finally settled on a perch.

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Great Cormorants lined the shoreline, taking turns between drying their wings and taking flight.

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A Long-tailed Shrike struck a pose, then vanished as quickly as it appeared.

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The Common Gull butterfly kept a low profile, tucked beneath a leaf between flights.

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Not every plunge brought breakfast. This young White-throated Kingfisher was still learning the art of fishing, launching itself at the water with enthusiasm and returning empty-billed more often than not.

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After a string of unsuccessful dives, the young White-throated Kingfisher finally succeeded.

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The prize was tiny, almost comically so, but to a bird still learning the trade, it was a catch worth celebrating.

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As the young kingfisher practised dive after dive, an adult kept watch from a leafy perch, seemingly unimpressed by the day's small triumphs.

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The lesson was over for the moment. The youngster settled beside the adult, looking up as if to say, "Mum, I'm hungry." The day's fishing practice had brought more splashes than success, and patience was wearing thin.

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Mum dived.

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One clean dive through the floating vegetation, one effortless strike, and she was back in the air with a fish.

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No hesitation. No second attempt. No wasted energy.

The youngster could only watch.

"That's how it's done."

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The adult didn't simply show how it was done; it made sure the youngster didn't go hungry while learning.

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Every master was once a beginner. Every beginner still needs lunch.

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The fish was swallowed, and the youngster was finally satisfied.

The youngster learned an important truth of life that day:

When hunting lessons aren't going well, Mum is still the best provider.

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As the two kingfishers settled down and the excitement faded, we packed up our cameras, smiled at the unexpected family drama we had been privileged to witness, and turned to a far more pressing question of our own:

"Now then... where do we go for breakfast?"

The youngster had finally been fed. It was our turn.

And on that note, our morning birding session came to a satisfying end.

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.