Shivanahalli

Shivanahalli is a small village adjacent to the boundary of Bannerughatta National Park. These two pictures were taken on a trail organized by bngbirds, which is a very active birding group in Bangalore. The haul from this trip would have been great if I hadn't reached there with an unloaded weapon. I forgot to charge the batteries of my camera last night!

59. Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae)
Original Picture
Update on 15-Nov! I got a better pic near Ayyanakere near Chikmagalur


60. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Replaced the original with a photo taken in Bharatpur

Bharatpur

These photographs were taken during a mere four hours spent at the park. I can't wait to spend a couple of days there.

As always let me begin with my favorites.

37. Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
I hate anthropomorphism, not least because it has given us a string of bad hollywood movies, but yet I couldn't resist attrbuting human expressions to this particularly beautiful creature. It seemed to say "Hey, you look like a harmless nerd, but you are getting a little too close".

A better shot taken in Amruthapura


38. Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Don't ask me why but Karnataka has a state bird, the Indian Roller! My father had pasted a beautiful poster of this bird in our dining room. I had no idea why he did that because he wasn't much of a bird watcher himself. This has to be one of the most gorgeous birds in flight.

(Update: Replaced by a picture taken in Kanha)

39. Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris)
This one is probably a juvenile.



40.Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)


41. Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense)

(Replaced by a picture shot in Pench)

42. Brown-headed Barbet or Large Green Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica)
This reminded me of the barbet family that nested outside my window for years. If I had started this project a decade ago I could have photographed the whole family from six feet away.


43. Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
The name of this bird is misleading; the neck is not black but some really exotic colour.


44. Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)


45. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
Updated by picture taken in KokkarebeLLur on 06-Feb.

Original picture here.

46. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Update! Replaced the original picture with this one taken near Gajanur in Shimoga district


47. Great Egret (Ardea alba)


48. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)



49. Intermediate Egret or Median, or Yellow-billed, Egret, (Ardea intermedia)


50. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
(Replaced by a picture taken in Bharatpur in 2015)

51. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)



52. Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)
(Replaced by a photo taken in Bharatpur in 2015)

53. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Replaced by a photo I took in Zainabad, Gujarat

54. Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)


55. White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

56. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

I'm not sure about the next one...
57. Long-toed Stint (Erolia subminuta)



58. Common Myna or Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
This one is a plain number pusher!


All the others are repeats because I thought the photos here are much better than the ones before.

23. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)


34. Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)


36. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri),