Bird watching at Valley School

I couldn't go on a Sunday bird watching trip in the past month due to travel and other pressing engagements. Last week, few birdwatchers of Bangalore were planning a Sunday birding trip to Valley School. I was included to the group of six by a friend on Saturday. Here's a photo essay of the early morning hike that gave us some fabulous sightings...

Overcast sunrise...

First sighting was of a White-rumped Munia...

A Jungle Babbler flew in and scared the munias away...

Dates...

A couple of Blue Faced Malkoha were seen sharing a worm...

Blue Faced Malkoha...

Indian Redwing (Pterolobium hexapetalum)

Got a glimpse of an Indian Grey Hornbill...

Indian Grey Hornbill in flight...

Here's a panoramic shot of the surroundings...

A couple of Jerdon's Bushlark were seen foraging in the grassland...

Mushroom...

Here's one more panaromic shot...

Cherimoya or Custard Apple...

Tawny Coster butterfly...

A pair of Paradise Flycatcher probably discussing current hairstyle trends...

A caterpillar was seen ascending rapidly using its silk...

Recent downpours have resulted in the appearance of some beautiful mushrooms... 

White throated fantail's constant movement and bad light resulted in bad photos...

White Rumped Shama...

More mushrooms...

Oriental white-eye...

Common Sailor Butterfly...

Snowberry...

Crimson-Tip  butterfly...

Rainy day birding trip to Malathahalli lake

Our first birding trip to Malathahalli lake, Bangalore turned out to be more dramatic than we had imagined. What promised to be a sunny day when we started, turned out with thick teal tinged clouds as soon as we reached the lake. The bad weather came as a blessing in disguise. Read on to know...

As the dark clouds started to dim the light, an Oriental Magpie Robin made an appearance...

I somehow captured a Pale-billed Flowerpecker in the low light condition...

It started to drizzle, but we chased a Plain tiger butterfly to have at least some pictures before the rain played havoc...

Rain finally fell, drenching the surroundings and the flock of Eurasian Coots in the lake...

I clicked water drops as we took shelter under the canopy of an outhouse...

Thankfully, the rain and thunder storm ended soon and caused very minor annoyance...

The most amazing sight awaited us as we exited the outhouse after the rain. Some Peafowls came out for a dance after the rain...

Usually the peafowls limit themselves to the small island in the lake and are very difficult to spot...

Peacocks are vulnerable to attacks because their flight is slow due to their heavy plumage. They find it safe to come out in the open only before and after a rain. During rain, their predators will themselves be scampering to find a safe place to hide...

Far away, a peacock was seen in flight...

Calotropis gigantea aka milkweed flowers...

Ashy Prinia...

Blue Tiger Butterfly...

Greater Coucal...

Passiflora foetida...

Saw a beautiful Peucetia Viridans aka Green Lynx spider on the Passion Fruit vine...

The species is primarily of interest for its usefulness in agricultural pest management, for example in cotton fields. The Green Lynx spiders have been observed to hunt several moth species and their larvae, including some of the most important crop pests...

Indian Robin...

Oriental Magpie Robin...

Passiflora foetida aka Stinking Passion Flower....

Rose-ringed Parakeets...

Crimson Rose Butterfly...

A female Purple Sunbird...