Third Sunday Outing -17th January 2010

It was still very dark when we left our home to Shivanahalli for the Third Sunday Trail..and by the time we reached the Bannerghatta Sheet Rock, the sky was beautiful to look at with the Sun just about to rise.

Swami Vishnumayanandji was kind enough to serve tea to all the participants. Initially the plan was to explore the plantation area of the Ashram but Swamiji suggested to take Timmaraya along and explore Ragi Betta.Couple of the participants arrived late and few were left behind. Few wanted to go back early and few after a small trail felt it was enough as going deep inside the forest meant returning to the ashram only by 1.00 pm. So in the end 14 of us decided to explore the Bettada Kere instead of Ragi Betta.

There were the regular birds we see during our trails here.This trail was good for light trekkers than for birding. And yes, if one is able to reach the place early in the morning then it is an excellent place to watch the raptors.And also a good place to get a glimpse of the wild elephants and bears.It was nice to have the regular birder Krishna from the JLRNTP group joining us for this trail and who could id many birds for us. Yet there is some confusion about the id of the raptors. With the request that all who have taken pictures, pl. upload  them , I am listing out the birds spotted yesterday. Also if I have missed something pl. add that to the list.

Brown headed Barbet (?) ( In flight)
Coppersmith Barber (Call)
Indian Roller
White Breasted Kingfisher
Common Kingfiisher
Green Bee eater
Asian Koel
Blue Faced Malkoha
Rose Ringed Parakeets
Asian Palm Swifts
Rock Pigeon
Laughing Dove
Red Wattled Lapwing
Cattle Egret
Long Tailed Shrike
Rufous Treepie
House Crows
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Small Minivets
Black Drongo
Common Iora
Oriental Magpie Robin
Indian Robin
Pied Bushchat
Common Mynas
Great Tit
Red Vented Bulbul
Plain Prinia
Common Tailorbird
Jungle Babblers
Purple Rumped Sunbird
Flowerpecker( ?)
House Sparrows
White Browed Wagtail
Paddyfield Pipit
Indian Silverbills
Red Avadavat
Black Kites
Steppe Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Short Toed Snake Eagle
Black Shouldered Kite

Will post the list of raptors ones they are id.d from the photographs  uploaded by everyone.

Here is the link to the pics taken by me.

http://picasaweb.google.com/itnatureclub/ThirdSundayTrail17thJan2010#

By the time we returned back to the Ashram, all of us were starving and would have grabbed at anything that was offered. Swamiji was kind enough to sponsor a very tasty lunch to all the hungry birders!

Here is the link to the pictures taken by Neville Lobo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nevillel/4281430000/

This link is to the pictures taken by Mahesh Chand
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81mahesh/