Sunday, October 28, 2012

Sarjapura – 4th Sunday outing of the Bird Watchers Field Club of Bangalore (BWFB)

Lanius vittatus 1The Sunday walk this week was at Sarjapura, a small extended part of Bangalore,  better known for its International Schools. the walk started early, 0630 hrs at Sarjapura which being about 40 + kilometers from home, necessitated leaving the house at an unearthly hour of 0515 hours.

Reaching Sarjapura, we (my elder cousin Sister and me) met up with a few of the birders and started walking the inner trails of this village that no longer was one…

 

 

 

 

Athene brama 1Almost after starting we encountered a tree with a pair of  spotted owlets (Athene brama). These cute birds looked at us curiously, as to who was disturbing their snooze, after what was probably a night filled with gorging on lizards and rats.

One flew away almost immediately and one boldly gazed down, challenging me to photograph him…

Athene brama 2

 

Moving ahead, we came upon a banyan tree which was host to several birds including a sleeping spotted owlet & a paradise fly-catcher.

 

 

Nacaduba

 

A beautiful Lineblue (Nacaduba sp.) butterfly was sunbathing in a corn field….

 Green Bee-eaters

 

 

A pair of green bee-eaters kept us entertained with their antics…

 

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A shy kingfisher decided it was camera shy and fled from the scene…

 

    Leopard Butterfly

 

A leopard butterfly was not camera shy and gave several poses like a professional model….

 

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The Brown Shrike, a visitor, who breeds in Central Asia comes down south when the weather gets too cold for frolicking ….

 

 

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A pretty spotted dove sunbathed  on the top of the tree …

 

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A lovely lemon pansy basking in all its glory …

 

 

 

 Chilades pandava

 

 

  A Plains Cupid (Chilades pandava) relaxing on a dew filled leaf…

 

 

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A male Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) taking a break from the initial nest building. The male builds half a nest and then invites the female to inspect it. If she likes it, then they both complete the nest together….

 

Athene brama 3

 

 

 

Our first spotted owlet woke up and glared at us for disturbing his sleep :-)

 

 

   Lanius vittatus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captured another Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) on the return walk, and this time managed to get some really clear photos….

 

 

 

 

 

Acraea terpsicore

And finally, just before we left, we saw a piece of land teeming with these Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore) butterflies….

 

All in all, it was a great day of birding and butterfly watching and great fun…

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Hebbal Lake 21.10.12

An invite from the Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore for a Sunday Birdwatching trip made me realise it was ages since i went on a structured birdwatching trip. Although I was unable to proceed to the trip planned to Indluwadi Cross, Bannerghatta-Anekal Road, i went on a short trip to Hebbal Lake, which was closer.

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Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Purple Moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio) also called Purple Swamphen

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Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)

 

 

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Indian Pond Heron or Paddybird (Ardeola grayii)

 

 

 

 

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Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) (sometimes Little Green Bee-eater)

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Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

 

 

 

 

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Crimson Rose (Atrophaneura hector)

 

 

 

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Ditch Jewel  (Brachythemis contaminata)_MG_8048

 

 

 

 

Graphium sarpedon (Common Bluebottle)

Friday, October 19, 2012

Midnight visitor

The house was being locked up for the night when I spied this visitor on some silk drapes. Grabbing my camera, I managed to capture a few good photos before the visitor was taken in a net and left free outside….

Oleander Hawk-moth 

For more details, click on the image….

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Blues butterfly….

To most of my friends, I am known as the butterfly guy. I end up finding butterflies wherever I go…

This little one was seen sitting on my balcony, early in the morning,

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identification of these Lycaenidae is difficult, and identification has been sought from the experts, Indian Foundation for Butterflies.

_MG_7916A follow up post shall be written after the identification is confirmed.