When Cuckoos Conqured Siloso - Singapore

End of December - 2017 

The week following the Christmas day, an interesting sighting occurred in Sentos,Singapore.

The Asian Emerald Cuckoo which is a rarity in Singapore was sighted perched in the open on a tree, the following week was a huge plus for the Birding Community of Singapore. Almost everyone's visit to the spot ended with a happy sighting of this rare cuckoo.

Asian Emerald Cuckoo,Sentosa - Dec 2017

The interesting part was not just this Cuckoo but over the days people observed nearly 6 species of Cuckoo., namely:

1. Asian Emerald Cuckoo

2. Large Hawk Cuckoo

3. Indian Cuckoo

4. Chestnut Winged Cuckoo

5. Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo

6. Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo

The day I had visited, I was given the grace just two of the 6 species but was more than happy with sighting Emerald Cuckoo and wrapping up the year.

Indian Cuckoo, Sentosa - Dec 2017

Now the question what made all these cuckoos visit the same sight?

The cuckoo was mostly found perched on a Sea Fig (Ficus superba) tree that recently shed its leaves. Now when the new leaves and shoots were emerging, a family of Moths - Tussock Moths saw the abundance of food and hence laid down so much eggs that soon the Tussock Moth caterpillars were literally crawling everywhere from the tree to the ground below and the surrounding area, this in-turn tempted the cuckoos several off them in their migratory journey to stop and snack and regain themselves to continue their journey.

Emerald Cukcoo, Sentosa - Dec 2017

Glad to have witnessed in first person this interesting Natural History episode.

Thanks to Alan Owyong and Singapore Bird Group's - arctile on this.

https://singaporebirdgroup.wordpress.com/2017/12/25/invasion-of-cuckoos-at-sentosa/

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

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.

Ducks,Moorhens,Pelicans and a Sea Eagle

Black Headed Ibis 

A plan hatched overnite, heading without directions and with absolute zero expectation! This was how I set myself to Pallikarnai early morning two Saturdays back, for my first birding trip in chennai. 

 

Purple Moorhen

Purple Moorhen

In the end it turned out to be pretty good day for birding.. especially Pallikarnai marsh.. the density and variety of birds out there was just stunning. 

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck

The marsh was full of purple moorhens,fulvous whistling ducks,cormorants, black headed ibis, glossy ibis,spot billed ducks, common coot and a lot many, here are some pics i managed to click with my 18-135 mm lens.

Spot Billed Duck

Spot Billed Duck

Pallikarnai seemed to be perfect wetland habitat.. but what troubled  me the most was the presence of this land fill sight.. that's fast degrading this awesome and beautiful wetland that's home to so many species of birds.

The landfill sight on the back ground

Common Coot

A happy family of whistling ducks

Before we started towards ECR.. a pelican flew by.. proudly gliding with his massive wings.

Spot Billed Pelican

Spot Billed Pelican

In ECR it was again a search for pelicans and a casual visit to  the good old croc bank.

White throated Kingfisher

The pelicans gliding happily.

The search for pelicans turned out to be pretty rewarding.. with a group of nearly some 30 to 40 odd spot billed pelican and my first ever sighting of a white bellied sea eagle.

The flock of pelicans

White Bellied Sea Eagle

It was indeed a day for the pelicans..as again in ECR too another one flew past us..with those Majestic Wings!

White Bellied Pelican

White Bellied Pelican