Thursday, April 27, 2023

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY MYSORE-2023

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY- 2023 MYSORE

On Sunday Morning i.e 8th April, I called and enquired my pal N Sateesh are you free for birding at Mysore, He instantly said yes. We along with Sri Dinesh, Ace photographer, left in my car from Bangalore at 9-30 am & reached Mysore by 1 pm, had Lunch and we proceeded to Sri Shivakumar [95912-37007] Hide in Mysore.

Mysore area is described as an undulating table land, fertile and well watered by perennial rivers whose waters dammed by anicuts (check dams built across rivers of different sizes) enrich their banks by means of canals. Mysore area is situated in the angular area where the Eastern and Western Ghat ranges converge into the Nilgiri hills. Physio-graphically, the region in which the districts are situated may be classified as partly maidan (plains) and partly semi-malnad (hilly). Cultivated area includes rain fed, irrigated, plantations and hedges.

Mysore city is a home to many different species of flora and fauna such as squirrels, barrel headed millipede, rose ring parakeets, cormorants, Indian hanging parrots, kingfishers, spot billed ducks, resident ducks, painted storks, herons, spot billed pelicans, purple maroon, darter, frogs, horn bills, toads, flower pecker and many others. Mysore is also the city where the largest Indian bird aviary is located. This is situated close to the Karanji Lake and is a home for various bird species such as Indian horn bill, black swan and peacock. According to the tourists visiting Mysore, it is a home for many of those species which they could see only on Television and in newspapers and magazines.

 Indian Grey Hornbill

The Indian gray hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a common hornbill  found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly.   The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn. It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues.


Red-Wattled Lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and the sounds have been variously rendered as did he do it or pity to do it leading to the colloquial name of "did-he-do-it" bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water, they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season (winter). They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily. The cryptically patterned chicks hatch and immediately follow their parents to feed, hiding by lying low on the ground or in the grass when threatened.

 Common MYNA

The range of the common myna is increasing at such a rapid rate that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world's most invasive species and one of only three birds listed among "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" that pose a threat to biodiversity, agriculture and human interests. In particular, the species poses a serious threat to the ecosystems of Australia, where it was named "The Most Important Pest/Problem" in 2008.

Javan MYNA

The Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus), also known as the white-vented myna, is a species of myna. It is a member of the starling family. It is native to Bali and Java. It has been introduced to other Asian countries, and as far away as Puerto Rico.

                                                             Oriental Magpie-Robin

The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. Occurring across most of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds. The oriental magpie-robin is considered the national bird of Bangladesh.

Red Vented Bulbul

The red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself in New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Fiji, as well as parts of Samoa, Australia, USA and Cook Islands. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

                                                                  GREY Francolin

The grey francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus), also known as "manu moa"[citation needed] or "chicken bird", is a species of francolin found in the plains and drier parts of the Indian subcontinent and Iran. This species was formerly also called the grey partridge, not to be confused with the European grey partridge. They are mainly ground-living birds and are found in open cultivated lands as well as scrub forest and their local name of teetar is based on their calls, a loud and repeated "Ka-tee-tar...tee-tar" which is produced by one or more birds.

The term tee-tar can also refer to other partridges and quails. During the breeding season calling males attract challengers, and decoys were used to trap these birds especially for fighting.

 Ruddy Mongoose

The ruddy mongoose (Urva smithii) is a mongoose species native to hill forests in India and Sri Lanka

                                                                            Peacock

Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera Pavo and Afropavo within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens, although peafowl of either sex are often referred to colloquially as "peacocks."

The two Asiatic species are the blue or Indian peafowl originally of the Indian subcontinent, and the green peafowl of Southeast Asia; the one African species is the Congo peafowl, native only to the Congo Basin. Male peafowl are known for their piercing calls and their extravagant plumage. The latter is especially prominent in the Asiatic species, which have an eye-spotted "tail" or "train" of covert feathers, which they display as part of a courtship ritual.

The functions of the elaborate iridescent colouration and large "train" of peacocks have been the subject of extensive scientific debate. Charles Darwin suggested that they served to attract females, and the showy features of the males had evolved by sexual selection. More recently, Amotz Zahavi proposed in his handicap theory that these features acted as honest signals of the males' fitness, since less-fit males would be disadvantaged by the difficulty of surviving with such large and conspicuous structures.

The Indian peacock has iridescent blue and green plumage, mostly metallic blue and green, but the green peacock has green and bronze body feathers. In both species, females are a little smaller than males in terms of weight and wingspan, but males are significantly longer due to the "tail", also known as a "train". The peacock train consists not of tail quill feathers, but highly elongated upper tail coverts. These feathers are marked with eyespots, best seen when a peacock fans his tail. Both sexes of all species have a crest atop the head. The Indian peahen has a mixture of dull grey, brown, and green in her plumage. The female also displays her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young.


Green peafowl differ from Indian peafowl in that the male has green and gold plumage and black wings with a sheen of blue. Unlike Indian peafowl, the green peahen is similar to the male, but has shorter upper tail coverts, a more coppery neck, and overall less iridescence.


The Congo peacock male does not display his covert feathers, but uses his actual tail feathers during courtship displays. These feathers are much shorter than those of the Indian and green species, and the ocelli are much less pronounced. Females of the Indian and African species are dull grey and/or brown.

Chicks of both sexes in all the species are cryptically coloured. They vary between yellow and tawny, usually with patches of darker brown or light tan and "dirty white" ivory.

Mature peahens have been recorded as suddenly growing typically male peacock plumage and making male calls. While initially gynandromorphism was suspected, researchers have suggested that changes in mature birds are due to a lack of estrogen from old or damaged ovaries, and that male plumage and calls are the default unless hormonally suppressed.

                                                                 Indian Pond Heron

The Indian pond heron or paddybird (Ardeola grayii) is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Iran and east to the Indian subcontinent, Burma, and Sri Lanka. They are widespread and common but can be easily missed when they stalk prey at the edge of small water-bodies or even when they roost close to human habitations.

They are distinctive when they take off, with bright white wings flashing in contrast to the cryptic streaked olive and brown colours of the body. Their camouflage is so excellent that they can be approached closely before they take to flight, a behaviour which has resulted in folk names and beliefs that the birds are short-sighted or blind.

KABINI 2023

Kabini, Karnataka: An Adventure of a Lifetime

After a Gap of three to four year not venturing to Forest for Wildlife Photography, Finally decided to go out to Kabini in the month of April 2023 along with my close friend Vishwanath fellow Wildlife photographer and Dr. Shrikanth Hegde and Dr. Parameshwar From Shimoga both by professional Doctors and a very good Wildlife Photographers,

Myself and Vishwanath Left Bangalore by 7-00 am on 2nd April 2023 and both Doctors from Shimoga joined together at HD Kote by 1 pm, we had booked rooms with Sri Naveen of NATWIN and he arranged the stay, safari etc

Kabini, a small town in the Indian state of Karnataka, is known worldwide for its beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife. The Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in India and is home to a vast number of rare and endangered species. One of the best ways to experience the beauty and wonder of this natural wonderland is to take a safari tour.

A safari in Kabini is an adventure of a lifetime.

The Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of around 55 square miles and is home to a vast range of wildlife species including elephants, tigers, leopards, crocodiles, and over 250 species of birds. Taking a safari gives you the opportunity to experience the beauty of this natural wonderland, seeing wildlife up close, and capturing stunning photographs.

There are two to three types of safaris available in Kabini - jeep safari and boat safari and State Government Forest dept BUS Safari

Jeep Safari: [ only JLR ]

The jeep safari takes you deep into the forest, giving you a chance to see animals such as elephants, deer, wild boar, jackals, and foxes. The jeeps have experienced drivers who know the forest well, and they will take you to the best spots to see the wildlife. The safari lasts for around 2-3 hours and is best done in the early morning or late afternoon.

Boat Safari: [ only JLR ]

The boat safari is a unique experience that takes you through the backwaters of the Kabini River. You get to see a different side of the sanctuary and are likely to spot animals such as crocodiles, otters, and a variety of birds. The boat ride lasts for around an hour and is available in the morning and evening.

Both options offer a unique and exciting adventure for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Regardless of which safari you choose, make sure to bring your camera and binoculars to capture the stunning views and experiences.

When planning a safari in Kabini, make sure to book in advance as the sanctuary is often crowded, especially during the peak season. Additionally, follow all the rules and regulations to ensure the safety of yourself and the wildlife.

In conclusion, a safari in Kabini, Karnataka, is an experience of a lifetime. The beauty of the wildlife sanctuary, its various flora and fauna, and the opportunity to see the animals up close is an unforgettable experience. Whether you choose a jeep safari or a boat safari, you will surely soak in the beauty of the place and have an adventure-filled trip.

March and April seem to be the best months to visit Kabini to spot the big cats

Safari Ticket Bookings- [State govt owned Forest Dept]

U can book your tickets through the forest office near Dammankatte gate near Antarsanthe village or through online web

https://tickets.nagaraholetigerreserve.com/safariDetails/3/Kakanakote%20(Kabini)

The forest dept safari timings are 6:00 - 8:30 in the morning and 3:30-6:00 in the evening during the week days. on the weekend there will be two safaris 3 to 4-30 and 4-30 to 6pm costs about 350 per safari- Camera Charges above 200mm lens per trip 1000rs tooo heavy

For the evening safari, you need to buy tickets at 10:00 in the morning and for the morning safari, tickets are issued at 4:00 pm. Seats are limited 40+ as there are now 3-4 mini buses.

Ticket prices are 500 per head if you go through the forest dept buses. The entire ticketing process is a pain.

As it was weekend we started from evening safari on 2nd  April 2023, we had booked both safaris together, first safari started at sharp 3:30 p.m. and came to an end at sharp 6 p.m.

After few minutes of entry into forest, we had a some sightings of Wildboar, peacocks and State Bird Indian Roller, fag end of first safari of 3 to 430pm  we spotted a tigress taking a dip in the water. All of us couldn't believe our luck for spotting such a magnificent animal  into the tour, it was such a wonderful trip where me and friends enjoyed it thoroughly. We even went for the safari in the morning and it was a great pleasure to spot the tigers on the way

Along with the tigress we also spotted a leopard, hundreds of spotted deer, Indian giant squirrel, sambars, many langurs, 3 peacocks - 2 of them opened their feathers and danced, birds, bison, wild pigs. The road is dusty. We had a nice chance of Mating of Indian Roller-

Overall a good safari tour.
Thanks to

Sri C. Harshavardhan, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
and  JLR Staff

Sri Indresh, Joint Secy, Forest Dept, MS Building, Bangalore
Sri Siddaraju, RFO, Damanakatte
Sri Naveen, NATWIN, Mysore


For further details contact

Deputy Conservator of Forests & Director
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Forest Campus,
Old BM Road, Hunsur – 571105.
Ph: 08222-252041
Email – dirnagarahole@aranya.gov.in

Monday, August 21, 2017

Lakkavalli Bhadra 2017

On long leave during Independence Day of 2017 Myself along with my friends Sateesh and Viraj had been to Bhadra Wild Life Sanctuary, Lakkavalli on a Seminar Visit near Kuvempu University

Left Bangalore on  19th Morning via Tumkur-Kadur-Birur-Tarikere-Shankaraghatta, reached Kuvempu University by 1pm

Lakkavalli is a small town / Hobli in Tarikere Taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka state, southern India. Lakkavalli is the site of a dam across the Bhadra River; the dam is used for irrigation and power production and agriculture. The bio diversity of the place is well known since the British. Even the hunter Kenneth Anderson,in one of his book,claimed to have killed a Man eater here. The Kuvempu University, which is one of the premier learning centre is just 7 km from here. The state highway T-M Road (Tarikere-Mangalore Road) passes through the Village

Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary

The back water of the dam has created many forested islands with the hill ranges forming wonderful surroundings. There is also Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary at backwaters of this dam. The Bhadra wildlife sanctuary covers a region of 492 km square. You can notice wild animals like Tiger, Leopard. Herds of Elephants, Spotted Deer. The sanctuary has started a tiger-conservation project called 'Project Tiger' that is an initiative from the Indian Government.

Some Glimspes of Bhadra Wildlife, in and around Lakkavalli, Purdal near Shivamogga

 






 












Sunday, July 30, 2017

Gangavathi-Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary-July 2017

VANAMAHOTHSAVA 2017

Every Year in the month of July i.e., on Second Saturday Day we the group (VRUKSHAMITRA) identify Govt Schools/Pvt Aided Schools and Plant the trees and inform about Preservation of Nature and Wildlife to the School Students, this year on 2017 we decided to have at SRI KOTTURESHWARA VIDYAVARDHAKA SANGHA at GANGAVATHI-150 saplings have been planted
[ full details at  VRUKSHAMITRA WEBSITE]

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

After completing the programme of VANAMAHOTSAVA at SRI KOTTURESHWARA VIDYAVARDHAKA SANGHA,GANGAVATHI Myself and Sateesh  moved towards  Darjoi Bear Sanctuary bt 2-30 pm  with the persmission of RFO we had waiting near hide from 2-30 to 6-00 no movement of any sightings only a few like mongoose, peacock, and monkeys, finally decided to pack off, suddenly far behind i noticed Bear with Cubs moving towards the spot, and we are very lucky that on one visit we found bear with cubs [ as mentioned by locals there, there was no sighting for last few weeks] and took some snaps over there

Detail Information of the Place here follows:
 
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is located in Ballari district in Karnataka. It is spread over 82.72 km2 (31.94 sq mi). The sanctuary was created exclusively for the preservation of the sloth bear. It is about 50 km from Ballari and about 15 km from the World Heritage Site Hampi. The area between Daroji in Sandur taluka and Ramasagar of Hospet Taluk is host to numerous sloth bears.

In October 1994, the Government of Karnataka, declared 5587.30 hectares of the Bilikallu Forest Reserve as Daroji Bear Sanctuary. 15 years later, in October 2009, the government added 2685.50 hectares of the Bukkasagara Forest Reserve to the sanctuary. This resulted in the overall area to increase from 5587.3 hectares to 8272.8 hectares.

The sanctuary is open between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. on all days. There is a watchtower within the sanctuary, opposite Karadikallu Gudda, that provides a vantage point to view the bears descending from the adjacent hillocks during evening hours.

MONGOOSE

PEACOCK



SLOTH BEAR WITH CUBS





The flora of this sanctuary is primarily dry deciduous scrub and Southern thorn forests. At the time of declaration of the sanctuary, it was a large area of barren hillocks, but persistent efforts from Karnataka Forest Department have transformed the area into lush green forest, filled with local flora.

The sanctuary's flagship species is the Indian sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). It has a very stable population of sloth bears and they reside in the numerous caves found in the hillocks within the sanctuary. Tigers, leopards, chitals, monitor lizards, mongoose, pangolins, star tortoises etc. are some of the other animals that abound in the sanctuary.

Location     Ballari district, Karnataka, India
Nearest city     Ballari, Ballari district

Area     82.72 km2 (31.94 sq mi)
Established     1994
Governing body     Kamalapura Wildlife Subdivision, Karnataka Forest Department

[Source : Wikipedia]

Painted Spurfow
The painted spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata) is a bird of the pheasant family found in rocky hill and scrub forests mainly in peninsular India. Males are more brightly coloured and spotted boldly in white. Males have two to four spurs while females can have one or two of the spurs on their tarsus. The species is found mainly in rocky and scrub forest habitats unlike the red spurfowl. They are found in the undergrowth in pairs or small groups, escaping by running and rarely taking to the wing when flushed.


WHITE RUMPED MUNIA AND BLACK THROATED MUNIAS
The white-rumped munia or white-rumped mannikin (Lonchura striata), sometimes called striated finch in aviculture, is a small passerine bird from the family of waxbill "finches" (Estrildidae). These are close relatives of the true finches (Fringillidae) and true sparrows (Passeridae).

It is native to tropical continental Asia and some adjacent islands, and has been naturalized in some parts of Japan. Its domesticated hybrid descendant, the society finch or Bengalese finch, is found worldwide as a pet and a biological model organism.

The black-throated munia or Jerdon's mannikin (Lonchura kelaarti) is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in the hills of southwest India, the Eastern Ghats and Sri Lanka.





PAINTED SPURFOWL










Painted Sandgrouse
The painted sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) is a medium large bird in the sandgrouse family found in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. 





The painted sandgrouse is a plump ground-dwelling bird with a small head and short legs. The sexes are differently coloured. In the male, the bill is orange and there is a black bar across the white forehead, fine black longitudinal lines on the nape and a white patch of bare skin surrounding the eye. There is a broad black and white band around the chest. The breast and belly are a uniform pinkish-brown colour and the back, wings and tail are brown, boldly marked in black and white transverse bars. The female is duller in appearance being a greyish brown colour, barred and speckled with darker brown and white.


The painted sandgrouse is found in dry regions in rough grassland, rocky areas and scrub and feeds mainly on seeds. It is gregarious and groups congregate at waterholes to drink.



Spotted OWL
The spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of old-growth forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 12 and 60 metres (39 and 197 ft) high and usually contain two eggs (though some contain as many as four). It is a nocturnal owl, which feeds on small mammals and birds. Three subspecies are recognized, ranging in distribution from British Columbia to Mexico. The spotted owl is under pressure from habitat destruction throughout its range, and is currently classified as a near-threatened species




The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European eagle-owl and in Europe, where it is the only member of its genus besides the snowy owl (B. scandiacus), it is occasionally abbreviated to just eagle-owl It is one of the largest species of owl, and females can grow to a total length of 75 cm (30 in), with a wingspan of 188 cm (6 ft 2 in), males being slightly smaller. This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish colouring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred. The underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker colour. The facial disc is poorly developed and the orange eyes are distinctive.

Besides being one of the largest living species of owl, it is also one of the most widely distributed. The Eurasian eagle-owl is found in many habitats but is mostly a bird of mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes and other relatively remote places. It is a mostly nocturnal predator, hunting for a range of different prey species, predominantly small mammals but also birds of varying sizes, reptiles, amphibians, fish, large insects and other assorted invertebrates. It typically breeds on cliff ledges, in gullies, among rocks or in other concealed locations. The nest is a scrape in which averages of two eggs are laid at intervals. These hatch at different times. The female incubates the eggs and broods the young, and the male provides food for her and when they hatch, for the nestlings as well. Continuing parental care for the young is provided by both adults for about five months. There are at least a dozen subspecies of Eurasian eagle-owl.

With a total range in Europe and Asia of about 32 million square kilometres (12 million square miles) and a total population estimated to be between 250 thousand and 2.5 million, the IUCN lists the bird's conservation status as being of "least concern". The vast majority of eagle-owls live in mainland Europe, Russia and Central Asia, and an estimated number of between 12 and 40 pairs are thought to reside in the United Kingdom as of 2016, a number which may be on the rise.


Sincere Thanks to

1) Dy.RFO Gangavathi
2) RFO, Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
3) Dy RFO, Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
4) Sri Pompayya Malemath, a wildlife photographer from Kamalapur
5) Sri Rakesh, JLR Kamalapura
6) Sri Niranjan, JLR Kamalapura
7) Sri Suresh TD, Dy RFO Chickamagalur
8) Sri Anil, Dy RFO

[Information Source: Wikipedia]