Mostly Indian Birds

Monday, September 17, 2012

Birds of Bidar ( near Hyderabad)

We took a quick vacation to Bidar a few weeks back. It is just 140 Kms from Hyderabad and Jungle lodges have opened a new resort there called Bluck Buck resort ( about 20 kms beyond Bidar)

It was amazing to see the Blackbucks roaming around in the fields where maize and corn were being cultivated. It looked very fragile as there was not much forest cover nearby and the fields are very close to human habitation. I just hope it is one of those miracles of human and animal co-existence and it remains the same way.

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

Now to the birds ....

The resort is next to a small lake and there were swarms of red rumped swallows that greeted us.

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

In and around the resort we saw Common Iora, Brahminy Starling, Ashy Prinia, Sunbirds and Laughing Dove.

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

Near the lake (which didn't have much water) we saw the Grey Heron, Cormorants, Spot billed ducks, Lesser whistling ducks and Black winged stilts.

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

When we went for the Blackbuck "safari" we saw Yellow wattled lapwing, Indian courser....

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

..... and some common mammal friends

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

The best thing about the area was the abundance of peafowls. I have never seen so many peafowls in trees and flying around !!!.

From 2012 Aug Birds near Hyderabad (Bidar)

On our way back we stopped at the Bidar fort. Though most of it is dilapidated, it has an interesting history behind the confluence of Hindu and Muslim architecture in the fort.

From 2012 Aug Bidar photos

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Birds ( and mammals) of Kabini

We had a very brief visit to Kabini and stayed at the Orange County Resort in May.

Kabini is a huge man made lake where many trees are half submerged in the lake. Especially in the morning the mist creates a very mystic environment around the lake.

From 2012 May Birds of Kabini

The Jungle Resorts organizes a safari ride for tourists. We also did a nature walk with Orange County Resort naturalist, Anikethan.

In and around the lake you can see numerous waterbirds like Black headed Ibis, Spoonbills, Painted storks, Cormorants, Brahminy kites, herons, Egrets, river terns and most surprisingly one Western Reef Egret which apparently came to the lake a while back and stayed there.

From 2012 May Birds of Kabini

At the forest, though we could not spot the elusive tiger, we saw a host of mammals like Dhole ( wild Dog), Giant squirrel, spotted deer, Nigai, Gaur and lots of elephants and langurs.

From 2012 May Birds of Kabini

Among the birds we saw peacock, Indian roller, Spotted owlets, streak throated woodpeckers, Asian Koel, Malabar Crested Lark, White Browed Bulbul and Jungle Prinia.

From 2012 May Birds of Kabini

My lack of knowledge of butterflies and capability to shoot them was evident as I got only the crimson rose and the Common Jezebel. This place is heaven for butterflies.