Of Biking and Birding - In Search of the European Bee Eaters. Migrant Diaries #1

It all started in mid September this year, with a post from one of my friend's on facebook, stating the arrival of European Bee Eater at the Kanakpura - Galibore - Bheemeshwari area. That was more than enough to plan a trip in Search of these passing by migrants who had opted Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary as a pitfall in between their long migratory route. High with enthusiasm plans were made but unfortunately they were never executed! :(

First Record Shot

Last Saturday when I and Yogesh were briding with some fellow birder from Bangalore, they mentioned sighting these guests the day before on their visit! And thus the idea hatched in the next 10 min... Myself very much eager for a long drive on my new bike and more eagerness to sight and watch these beauties.. I and yogesh decided to head out to the 100kms ( Approx) away Sangama area in Kanakpura and try our best to catch of glimpse of these birds in route.

A Common Crow

Starting early morning on Sunday- 13th of Oct, we headed out to Kanakpura, pleasant morning with a mild chill and the Sun slowly climbing the horizon, I enjoyed riding my bike all the way from Bangalore to Kanakpura... Truly Yamaha FZ is one hell of a bike to cruise along the highway and also one hell of a bike that endured my torture of driving in all terrain presented to us that day, Hats of Yamaha for this wonderful motorbike! :)

My beloved FZ

Crossing Kanakpura, one the way to Sangama our birding started with a Zitting Cisticolla, a lifer for me and charming little chap indeed.

Following the Zitting were Small Minivets, White Browed Bulbul, Sun birds, munias etc....

Zitting Cisticola

Small Minivet Taking Off

White Browed Bulbul

And finally having traveled around nearly 75 km, we came across the open cultivation lands, one of the favorite hangouts for our European Visitors and there we sighted our first European Bee Eater. The description given to us was so exactly the match, Larger than the normal Green Bee Eater, more brightly and vibrantly colored... they really standard apart!

Pioneer White or African Caper White laying eggs

Along with these we also sighted some Collared Dove and Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark.

Having clicked some record shot, we continued to head towards Sangama, hoping to see some good Raptors and more closer views of Bee Eaters!

Our luck with the raptors was very bad, a single sighting but that too not a confirmed ID on the species!

We had some good time photographing the butterflies and wagtails!

Blue Tigers

With a dejected heart of not seeing the raptors we started our way back and to your luck we got some decent picture of the Bee Eater on the way back.

Having clocked a 250kms ( approx) on my first long trip and nearly 70% Successful trip of alteast having seen the Bee Eaters, we arrived back in Bangalore after another wonderful birding weekend. :)

The local resident Green Bee Eater

It was a day for the European Bee Eater indeed!.

The European Visitor

" Milestone No 1 " :)

Thanks to Deccan Chronicle for publishing my article and photographs, it is an honor. Feeling awesome to see my pictures in the paper. Looking forward for more such contribution and opportunities! :) 

A Day with the Blackbucks

A charming Green Bee-eater

The beauty and charm of being in Bangalore apart from the climate, malls, pubs, liquor marts and pretty gals :P ;) is the proximity of the national parks, conservation reserves and many lakes in and around the Garden City.

Jayamangali Bluckbuck Conservation Reserve located around 130 km from Bangalore, is one such off beat wildlife zone. A beautiful grassland typical to the Deccan Plateau, its a beautiful place for photography and observing wildlife.

Known to have the 2nd largest population of Blackbucks in Karnataka, the reserve is a treat when it comes to Blackbucks. One can watch herds of them grazing merrily.

A Blackbuck Herd

Jayamangali is also a birders paradise. Harriers, shrikes, bee-eater, pipits, bulbuls and many others can be easily spotted.

A Montagu's Harrier

An ideal day would be reaching the spot before sunrise, spending the whole day there till sunset.This being my first trip and being an overnight plan, i couldnt spend much time there.
                                 

Even though being a protected area, basic amenities are yet to be provided, including forest guards and staffs. The protected area being just 3.23 kmsq, suffers from lots of pressure due to over grazing by local cattle herds, farming and industrialization.

Being a dry grassland with rolling rising and falling landscape, the place is a beauty and one of its kind, that needs to be preserved.