Remarkable Encounters at Muthanallur

Sunday morning came, and I impulsively visited Muthanallur lake, located 30 kilometers from home. The sky was cloudy, and rain seemed likely. Despite the uncertainty, I took a chance and went anyway.

I had two main birds in mind - the Blue Faced Malkoha, which I barely saw last time, and the Yellow Bittern, which I never got a good photo of. Luckily, I had the chance to observe both of them up close, and I also captured some other interesting sights. Here are the pictures.

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I set out early and arrived at Muthanallur at daybreak. The bikers were still riding with their headlights on.

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I noticed the birds were already awake, and I observed a male Baya weaver attempting to court a mate near its incomplete nest.

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I strolled along the trail, taking in the surroundings.

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I came across a Black Drongo fiercely guarding its territory.

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The bird I had been hoping to spot, the Blue-faced Malkoha, finally revealed itself for a moment.

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For the following 15 minutes, it fluttered around amidst the dense branches playfully exposing itself piece by piece.

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Spotting a caterpillar, it wasted no time and swiftly made its move towards it.

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The Malkoha followed its usual practice of breaking the captured caterpillar by banging it against the branch. This allowed me to take some up-close photographs.

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After accomplishing my first objective,I proceeded forward in search of the Yellow Bittern. Along the way, I spotted a Coromandel Marsh Dart damselfly.

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A Milkweed Seed Pod, ready to release its seeds with delicate parachutes, ensuring their wide dispersal.

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As I got closer to the stream, my ears were filled with the sounds of numerous birds calling out.

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Out of nowhere, an Indian Grey Hornbill caught me off guard. In a state of sudden panic, I hurriedly clicked my camera and managed to capture a shot of it.

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However, before vanishing, a Purple-rumped Sunbird graciously posed for me. 

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I came across a Stinking Passionflower. When its leaves are crushed, they release a strong and unpleasant odor, giving it its "stinking" reputation. 

What makes this plant even more intriguing is its ability to trap insects on its bracts. These bracts exude a sticky substance containing digestive enzymes, making the Stinking Passionflower a protocarnivorous plant with carnivorous traits.

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A Brahminy Kite in a hunting or stealing mission, soaring through the sky with great determination.

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The Purple Heron's flight is a captivating display of grace and beauty.

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I also encountered a Pioneer butterfly.

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I spotted a White-cheeked Barbet next.

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I glimpsed a small Blue Kingfisher in the distance.

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The Kingfisher was completely absorbed, concentrating intently on a potential prey.

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I observed a female Baya weaver as she assumed control of nest-building duties, expertly adding her touches after taking over from the male, who had already completed the initial stages up to the helmet stage.

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When no potential mate shows interest in the nest, the male Baya modifies or adds additional stories to the nest, hoping to capture the attention and approval of a female. This sometimes leads to the formation of nests with unusual or one-of-a-kind shapes.

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I was lucky to capture an image of an Oriental Honey Buzzard in flight, clutching a bee it had extracted from a honeycomb.

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In flight, the honey buzzard skillfully dismantles the bee, piece by piece.

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At a distant tree branch, a White-rumped Munia sat perched, unmoving and seemingly undisturbed by its surroundings.

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Then, to my astonishment, I finally encountered my second goal of the day: the Yellow Bittern. 

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The Yellow Bittern surprised me by perching just a few feet away, posing in an exaggerated manner as if it knew I was eager to capture its beauty. I took numerous photos to capture the extraordinary encounter.

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This unexpected encounter reminded me of Paulo Coelho's famous saying, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

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After successfully achieving my goals, I made my way back to the car. However, during my stroll back, I came across a few more captivating creatures. One of them was a Common Jezebel butterfly.

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The Ashy Prinia I saw was in full voice.

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At a distance, an Indian Grey Hornbill perched, observing its surroundings with a watchful eye.

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Sensing my presence, the Indian Grey Hornbill took flight, giving me the opportunity to capture my second in-flight shot of this bird.

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Next in my path, I came across a Common Gull Butterfly.

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At a Baya Weaver colony, male birds displayed their partially built nests to passing females by flapping their wings, calling out, and hanging from their nests.

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The last bird I saw was a Cinereous Tit in flight, concluding my day of bird-watching.

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Despite a slight drizzle, the rain wasn't severe enough to make me retreat. The thrilling sightings kept me going. I hope you enjoyed the post. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Linked with Mosaic Monday

Chirpy Charms of Kannamangala

It's always a delightful experience to go birdwatching at Kannamangala Lake. During my visit last week, I had a truly enjoyable time observing some lively avian residents during the golden hour of birding. Without further ado, let me share with you some of the pictures I captured during my visit.

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In the midst of an overcast monsoon morning, the sun made its valiant attempt to break free from the veil of clouds. While the lighting conditions were not ideal for photography, it was perfect for a refreshing birdwatching session, without feeling tired.

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Little egrets and pond herons defied the proverb "birds of a feather flock together" as they gathered to fish together.

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With its loud calls, the little bird, ashy prinia, has an incredible talent for capturing everyone's attention.

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I spotted three varieties of kingfishers during my visit, including this pair of white-throated kingfishers. Their striking blue feathers and hunting prowess added beauty and excitement.

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A little grebe serenely floated across the water.

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Oh, it seems the white-throated kingfisher and the white-browed wagtail have discovered the secret to bird camaraderie: their shared love for the color white! 

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One lone eurasian moorhen swimming in solitude.

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The second variety of kingfisher I encountered was the charming Common Kingfisher, also known as the Small Blue Kingfisher.  Ever alert to its surroundings, he swiftly disappeared upon detecting my presence.

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I liked the beautiful hues of the freshly sprouted leaves.

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On my last visit to the lake, I came across an Aylesbury duck. It seemed like this duck, usually found on farms, had managed to escape and make itself at home in the wild. I was glad to see it settling in nicely with its newfound friends, behaving just like any other wild duck in the area.

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I was thrilled to come across a pair of pied kingfishers, marking the third variety of kingfisher I spotted during my visit.

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The Indian spot-billed duck was in a playful mood, hopping and fluttering around.

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From a distance, I happily observed the pied kingfisher as it dove into the water time and again. 

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Though it often returned empty-handed, after a while, it was rewarded with a successful catch.

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A white-throated kingfisher making its unique calls.

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Indian pond heron in action, engaged in fishing.

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After a successful fishing session, a great cormorant was taking some time to dry.

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Similarly, I also came across a pair of little cormorants engaged in the post-fishing ritual of drying themselves. 

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As I observed the scene, another great cormorant eagerly plunged into the water for its next fishing expedition. 

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A tiny Indian palm squirrel added a dash of cuteness to the surroundings.

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The Aylesbury duck seemed to bask in the spotlight, exuding a divine aura.

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I was drawn to a Little egret as it carefully targeted its prey. 

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It skillfully caught a fish with precision. 

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I managed to capture the moment it swallowed its meal.

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Here's a close-up shot.

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After what seemed like a long night of fishing, I spotted a Black-crowned night heron peacefully asleep. 

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Determined to capture a shot, I patiently waited for 45 minutes, hoping it would eventually turn its head. 

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Finally, my patience paid off as the heron woke up and took flight, providing me with these shots to cherish.

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Before calling it a day, I had the pleasure of photographing a great cormorant showcasing its impressive poses just for me. It was a fantastic way to end my visit to Kannamangala Lake.

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I hope you enjoyed the post! I would love to hear your thoughts and impressions. Please feel free to leave your comments below and share your feedback. 

Linked with Mosaic Monday