Do Join Us for the run for Cancer Kids.
Registration Page :
https://www.townscript.com/e/roadrunners
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Category: Bangalore
I have more than 100 visits of Valley School, Kanakapura Road, Bangalore but never get bored off with the place. It still have a lot to offer. Its one of the best places when you want to rest yourself.
Initial days, I used to rush at this place to cover maximum ground. But now, I just visit the place to have some birding and lot of calmness. Here are some of the snaps of the place and some of the birds, some of the butterflies around.
Oriental White Eye
Common Gull
Grey Francolin
Oriental White Eye searching the nest
Tawny Coaster
Orange Tip
Lemon Pansy
Common Sailer
Lemon Pansy
Red Tip in Valley School
Jerdon’s Bushlark in Valley School
Pea Blue in Valley School
Common Gull in Valley School
Lalbagh being in the center of the City, it is quite accessible and always crowded. Even Government is trying to increase the ticket costs and the current cost is:
1. Person Entry : 10 Rs.
2. Camera Entry: 50 Rs.
No fees, before 9 AM and after 6 PM. Camera case is quite ambiguous before 9 AM and after 6 PM.
Now, what to do in Lalbagh. First of all, its a botanical garden and if you are not interested in plants, trees, lakes, birds, flowers, its merely a place to sit and talk.
1. Enjoy Flowers. It has a rose garden and other flowers like Dahlia, Cosmos will be available in the summers.
You can enjoy some of the blogs on flowers day.
Pink Rose
White Rose in Lalbagh
Red Rose in Lalbagh
Pink Rose collection in Lalbagh
Flowers at Lalbagh
2. Enjoy Hunting – Its a very rich place with lot of fishes. So, you can often see a good killing/hunting scene around it. Snakes, Pelicans, Kites, Cormorants are often can be seen in action.
Checkered keelback water snake with a Kill at Lalbagh
Checkered keelback water snake with a Kill at Lalbagh
Keelback Snake gulping a big fish at Lalbagh
3. Enjoy Birding:
A Spot-billed Pelican flying
Pond Heron with a kill
4. Enjoy Nature/Photo shoot – Its a great place to witness sunrise, sunset and the transformed clouds. Provides all kind of background for good photo shoot.
Sunset in Lalbagh
A beautiful view of the lake
5. Butterflies – If you are interested in shooting butterflies or gaining knowledge about it. Great place again !!
Common Yellow Grass on Dahlia
Green Tailed Jay on Dahlia flower
Have Fun, Do Visit. Highest no. of people use it for running/jogging/walking and worth a place to do exercise. It provide one of the coolest stretch to do so.
Do, drop us your comments and anytime you want to join us for Lalbagh trail.
Bangalore… a city that outshines others Indian cities
Is Bangalore just an IT city? For many of us it’s just a city with many job opportunities for everyone. I came to Bangalore with the same perception. But gradually, as time passed, I realised what this city offers to one and all. This city is a mix of cultures and traditions. Bangalore has not lost its charm even after the development of IT sector. People like us, with hectic weekdays, find peace in some of the places that are within the vicinity of Bangalore.
Bird watching and photography is our passion. Many of us are aware about the famous birding spots in Bangalore. It is difficult to find such nice birding areas in other commercial cities. Thus people staying in Bangalore are keen to spend their weekend in the lap of nature. The birding spots found here can be marshy grasslands, mountains, dense forests, lakes etc. So, most of the birds can be spotted here. I leave my home at dawn with the hope of finding birds in their natural habitat. But still it seems to be a very small list of places where I have been and there is much more to see and enjoy. One of my favourite birding area is Hoskote lake. Hoskote is near to where I stay. Hoskote has different habitats for different birds. That is why it is an amazing place for all bird fanatics.
The wet grasslands in Hoskote are suitable for a variety of birds like Munia. Many winter migrants can be seen here. A large variety of Kingfishers are near the lakeside to catch a prey.
Tricoloured Munia (also called Black Headed Munia)
Common Kingfisher
Jacobin Cuckoo
Marsh Harrier
Indian Silverbill or White-Throated Munia
Siberian Stonechat (female)
     It is a Winter Migrant.
I have given one of many reasons to love Bangalore. There are many such things that I wish to write. I am still trying to unravel the other side of Bangalore that is picturesque. My upcoming journeys would cover more of Bangalore city and places near to it. Stay tuned!
Preserving nature and wildlife has always been a priority of Karnataka government. I am grateful to the Karnataka government because they care about nature and its species. I and my husband are a nature lover and enthusiast. We always find time to be close to nature. Bengaluru is centrally located to many major spots of biodiversity which are within a range of 300 km. We have a hobby of bird watching and photography. Bengaluru is close to Western Ghats, so lot many migratory birds can be found in locations at the outskirts of Bengaluru. Karnataka government has preserved the biodiversity by keeping a check on the poachers and people who are trying to destroy wildlife and nature.
Karnataka government has been very supportive in making wildlife, a major tourist attraction. The people who are staying in and outside Bengaluru can’t miss the safari ride in Bannerghatta National Park followed by a visit to the zoo. The most wonderful thing about this place is to find a variety of reptiles, birds and animals which people usually don’t know.
Tigers
Lion
Red Eared Tortoise
One of the major spots for birding and wildlife is Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve. It has an excellent count of carnivores, herbivores and birds. The ecosystem cycle is well balanced because Nagarhole has major number of Herbivores. Nagarhole National Park is very near to Western Ghats and so we can find the highest count of birds in Nagarhole and places near to it. All avid bird watchers must visit Nagarhole followed by a Safari ride in the morning or afternoon.
Peacock
Wild Boar
Hill Myna
Grey Langur
Spotted Deer(male)
Every weekend is a time for us to explore something new and different. Nature is like a puzzle. We learn more by exploring it. Nature has its own secrets which we are trying to unravel by going closer and closer to it.
Some of the snaps from the Hessarghatta grassland. Must be worth to visit again in winter.
Shrike
Shrike
White eye buzzard
Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark – Female
Singing Lark
Montagu’s harrier
Scaly breasted munia
Ashy Crowned SparrowLark – Male and Female
White cheeked Barbet – Making nest
Ashy Crowned Sparrow lark – Male and Female
White cheeked Barbet – Making nest
Red Wattled Lapwing
Black Kite chase to Marsh Harrier
Spotted Owlet
Black kite chase to Montagu’s harrier
Plain Prinia
Crimson Rose
Blue tailed bee eater
Shrike – Need to see to identify it :P.
Pied Wagtail
Black kite chase to Montagu’s harrier
This is the first time I have noticed black eagle around Ramnagaram. Indian Vultures were 10 in count. Egyptian Vultures were 3 in count. 2 short toed Snake Eagle.
I can see a board calling it Ramanagara as “Vulture Sanctuary”
Enjoy some of the shots. Do drop comments.
Egyptian Vulture in flight.
Indian Vulture
Short toed Snake Eagle
Black Eagle and Brahminy Kite acrobat
Black Eagle
Black Eagle
Tailed Green Jay
Tailed Green Jay
Indian Vulture and Black Kite
Indian Vulture and Black Kite
A delight to see Jungle Nightjar (though not able to manage the shot of this lovely guy) and Plum-headed Parakeet. Enjoy some of the pictures taken.
Ashy Prinia
Flameback Woodpecker
Golden Fronted Leafbird
Laughing Dove
Male Plum Headed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet – 2 females and 1 male
Red Vented Bulbul
Pair of Spotted Owlet
White throated Kingfisher
Zitting Cisticola
This question is person dependent but I compiled this top five places for birding in and around Bangalore for the new bird watchers. Please visit the complete list of birding place around Bangalore. For any further query, please drop me a mail at vaibhav.kumar@gmail.com
1. Lalbagh Park – In the middle of the city, Lalbagh is the biggest botanical garden of India. If you are interested in flowers (Flower show, happens two times in a year), trees and birds, Lalbagh will never upset you. And if you have knowledge of all these three, probably a week will also be not enough to understand Lalbagh.
Directions: Ask anyone in Bangalore, he/she will tell you where is Lalbagh. It has 4 gates and entry is allowed from all 4 gates. No charge for early birder, joggers till 9, after that a nominal charge of Rs 10 per person.
 Green Tailed Jay on Dhalia flower |
 Spot-billed Pelican gulping fish |
You will often see Spot-billed Pelican (nearly threatened species), Booted Eagle, Flycatchers, Spotted Owlets and many more.
View of Lalbagh on a beautiful day
The morning view from Temple gate and evening view from Lake is admirable and the best of nature. Even you will often see snakes in the mouth of kite and pelican, and fishes in the mouth of snakes. Overall a very dramatic action place.
White throated Kingfisher with a glazing light.
- Rat Snake engulfing a big fish
2. Valley School: Full of excitement. Valley School sometimes provide amazing result. Since, the place to cover is too much, it is always unexpected. A home of Oriental Honey Buzzard, Peafowl, Junglefowl. You can also sight Indian Pitta, White rumped Shama, Orange Thrush, Indian Blue Robin and many more.
Oriental White eye finding breakfast.
Spectacled cobra
Mottled Wood Owl
White rumped Shama
Coppersmith Barbet
Pale billed Flowerpecker
White throated Woodpecker
3. Â Nandi Hills – 60 Kms away from Bangalore. This place provides the most amazing site and a great offer to birders. I just put the place on no. 3 because it is 60 kms away from Bangalore. Nandi hills claims a completely different set of birds than rest of the Bangalore. Most of the Thrushs, Flycatchers and some of the scavengers are easy to spot at Nandi Hills. Not only the birds, Nandi hills also provides an excellent sunrise and majestic mountain view.
Blue Capped Rock Thrush – Female
Cloud View of Nandi Hills
Egyptian Vultures
Sunrise view of Nandi
4. Bannerghatta Area: Â Bannerghatta area in itself is Infinity. There are many sub-forests inside Bannerghatta national park. Some of the birding places are Ragihalli, Kagalipura, Bannerghatta Zoo Area and many more. Please be disciplined with the restricted area. Rules are meant for our good. We have our best time of birding in Bannerghatta national park and we have seen the worst time accidents in this area.
Pied Kingfisher
Brown breasted Flycatcher
Blue bearded Bee-eater
Blue Capped Rock Thrush
Black Eagle in flight
Asian Brown Flycatcher
5. Hoskote Lake – Actually its tough to tell which Lake or place to put on 5th place. But then, by seeing the dying lakes in Bangalore, I guess Hoskote is much better than other lakes. Hoskote lake claims all kind of ducks, waders and provides a pretty good sight of raptors. Place is little confusing, though birders have made it a famous place now.
Migrated White Storks
Black Eared Kite
Black-breasted weavers
Flock of Garganey at fight under the attack of Marsh Harrier.
Brahminy Kite – The killer
Thomas Job and his friend Sushil Nahar, who was coming on a birding trail for the first time, picked me up, and off we went, to Valley School.
Several of us walked down the trail together:
Even at the height of summer, birding is an enjoyable actitivy in the early morning!
The path led through this beautiful
BANYAN TREE:
Here’s the tree from a distance:
Another banyan tree which we usually go past:
A peaceful scene of cattle grazing under its shade:
The
GULMOHAR
is in full bloom everywhere:
Falling around on the plants, the petals look so beautiful:
I loved the sight of this
OLEANDER
everywhere:
In the ruined Art Village, I found this pottery figure, representing Ganesha on one side and Nandi on the other:
The birds included:
CATTLE EGRET:
BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK:
INDIAN PITTA (we saw three of them!)
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (which the mobile phone of one birder had turned to Shame)
There were butterflies, too, like this
COMMON CERULEAN:
We enjoyed the morning, and the brefus at Udupi Banashree, very much indeed!
for my FB album.
The bird list:
Babbler, Jungle
Babbler,Tawny-bellied
Babbler, Puff-throated
Babbler, Yellow-billed
Barbet, Coppersmith
Barbet,White-cheeked
Bee-eater, Small Green
Bulbul, Red-vented
Bulbul, Red-whiskered
Bushchat, Pied
Coucal, Southern
Crow, House
Crow, Jungle
Cuckooshrike, Black-headed
Egret, Little
Flameback, Black-rumped
Flowerpecker, Pale-billed
Flycatcher, Asian Paradise (heard)
Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue
Flycatcher, White-throated Fantail
Francolin, Grey (heard)
Heron, Indian Pond
Honey-buzzard, Oriental
Junglefowl, Grey (heard)
Kingfisher, White-throated
Kite, Black
Kite, Brahminy
Koel, Asian
Lapwing, Red-wattled
Leafbird, Jerdon’s
Malkoha, Blue-faced
Malkoha, Sirkeer
Minivet, Small
Myna, Common
Myna, Jungle
Parakeet, Rose-ringed
Peafowl, Indian (heard)
Pigeon, Blue Rock
Pitta, Indian
Prinia, Ashy
Prinia, Grey-breasted
Robin, Indian
Robin, Oriental Magpie
Shama, White-rumped
Shikra
Sunbird, Purple-rumped
Swallow,Red-rumped
Swift, Little
Tailorbird, Common
Tit, Great (Cinerous)
White-eye, Oriental
Don’t you agree, this is a dream list, especially for the first week of May?
India - Nature, Travel And Birding 