LALBAGH DIARIES: JAN 2014 - V

THE INDIAN CORMORANT

If there was one bird which I was happy to shoot at Lalbagh, it was the Indian Cormorant. Slightly larger than its cousin the Little Cormorant, this bird is pretty much similar to other cormorants. Distinguishing the two species can be difficult. One good link in this regard is this (Link).

I would like to share one story here. As I was busy clicking the Cormorants, a visitor who was jogging with his friends made the following comment, probably aimed at me: "When you come to Lalbagh on Sunday mornings, even crows look exotic". I do not have any problem with the jibe at me. But I have a different take on it. Isn't it sad that even the educated class in a city like Bangalore are so ignorant about our feathered friends. I mean, the Indian Cormorants are some of the most common birds in the country and yet people have no idea about them. This says a thing or two about our education system, the level of awareness we have about environment and more importantly, about ourselves too.

Links to all posts in the series:
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - I (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - II (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - III(Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - IV (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - V (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - VI (Link)

LALBAGH DIARIES: JAN 2014 - IV

THE GREY HERON

I found this Grey heron at the western end of the Lalbagh Lake. Amongst the avians that had gathered here on that morning, this one was the second, behind the majestic Pelican. Grey Herons are very common in Begur; however, you can easily spot them in Agara, Madivala and here in Lalbagh too. Mature adults have a grey plumage whereas the neck is white, besides the black mark on its head which extends in the form of black spots along the neck. I wonder where Nature get these colors from. Like all herons, they patiently wait in water, stalking prey and then catching it with a strike in lightning speed.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron with Indian Cormorant

Links to all posts in the series:
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - I (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - II (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - III(Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - IV (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - V (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - VI (Link)

LALBAGH DIARIES: JAN 2014 - III

LITTLE CORMORANT & INDIAN DARTER

After shooting the avians in the Lotus Pond (Link), I headed towards the Lalbagh lake. I was a tad disappointed as the raft of ducks that are a big hit with the visitors were not to be seen. On a closer inspection, I found that they had gathered in the vegetation at the centre of the lake, far away from view. Nonetheless, the other feathered creatures like the Cormorants were present in sizable numbers.

Little Cormorant

The Little Cormorant is a pocket sized power house. If you observe them for long, you will you will notice that these guys just do two things during most of the day. Fist, they will dive into the water, remaining submerged for short intervals in which they hunt for small fish. Once a fish is caught, they come out of water and swallow it. This is repeated about five times. Next, they will fly to a nearby branch, spread their wings and remain motionless. This is the best time to get good snaps. Watching them is a visual treat.

Indian Darter

Belonging to the family Suliformidae, the Indian Darter or the Oriental Darter is commonly known as the Snake Bird because of the peculiar shape of its long and slender neck. A resident of the South and South East Asia, it is a Near Threatened species. As such, I was very excited at getting a chance to see them. There was just one darter on that morning, elegantly perched on the leafless branch, watching the still waters for prey.

Spot Billed Pelican

The Spot Billed Pelican is one of the iconic birds of the city. A Near Threatened species, there was just one pelican in the lake. Generally, one can see them congregate in large numbers, sometimes in association with painted Storks too. Far away from other avians, it was fishing with its huge, characteristic beak.

Links to all posts in the series:
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - I (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - II (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - III(Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - IV (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - V (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - VI (Link)

LALBAGH DIARIES: JAN 2014 - I

SNAPSHOTS OF LALBAGH

Before I start with the birding photos, here are some of the other snaps that I clicked on that morning. Considering that Lalbagh consists of three to four different kinds of habitats, each acting as a mini-ecosystem, it is not at all surprising that so many different avian species are found here. The Lotus Pond is the first stop on my birding tours to this place. Besides the numerous water birds, one of the things that I like about the pond are the Lotus flowers. Seeing these pink spots in a sea of green is truly amazing. The National flower is indeed one of Mother Nature's most beautiful creations.

On my earlier two trips, I was never able to complete the walk along the circumference of the Lalbagh lake. I generally end up standing at the bridge, which divides the Lotus Pond from the main lake. In fact, this is a strategic location from where you can spot birds that come to both these water bodies. However, this time, I made sure that I completed the round trip. To be frank, the walk is very tiring and I don't know how Da could complete three rounds. The next two pictures were taken from the western side of the lake. Notice, that the clean waters are good for capturing reflections.

Now, the next picture is one of my favorite. This was clicked as we were walking towards the West gate after having spent over two hours at the lake. All those familiar with the garden will know that the lake is elevated as compared to the other parts of the park. There are steps, with Nandi statues on either side that one has to climb to reach the lake while coming from the direction of the clock. In this photo, the blue sky and the steep slope with sparse grass cover provide the perfect contrast. The empty seat, one of the many that the Tourism department has put up along the lake and the dog add to the charm. Of course, it would have been perfect if there was a couple sitting on the bench. But that is Ok.

And finally, this is a shot of the Lalbagh Lake. Notice the clear waters and the birds on the tree at the centre. It feels so good seeing that the garden right in the middle of the city has been maintained so well. How I wish all other lakes in Bangalore would also get this kind of attention. I wish that Agara and Madivala lakes are cleared of the weeds that are proliferating here at an alarming rate. I wish that people stop visiting the Begur Lake for their morning abulations. I wish that the tiny Iblur lake is given a new lease of life. The list is endless...

Links to all posts in the series:
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - I (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - II (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - III(Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - IV (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - V (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - VI (Link)

CHILLAR PARTY'S DAY OUT

LALBAGH AND VIDYARTHI BHAVAN

Lalbagh Lake

With Mom and Dad going to Mysore to pick up my cousin who has been posted to Bengaluru  by one of the country's top IT firm, the Chillar party decided to spend the Sunday morning amidst nature at Lalbagh on 5^th January, earlier this year. I and Bhabi had been planning to go there for long. Since the parents, especially Mom was not home, we thought this was the ideal time for the long awaited outing. The three of us had different agendas though - Bhabi wanted to do yoga and then read a book like those foreigners we saw in Hampi who were reading books on boulders in the Tunga river; Da wanted to burn excess calories and I was there only for the birds. Besides, we also wanted to have the famous Masala Dosa (Masal Dose as it is called here) at Vidyarthi Bhavan in Gandhi Market, Basvangudi. This was my third visit in the last five months to what I believe is the most well maintained of all the lakes in the IT city. I was hoping to find some new species to shoot (in line with my New Year's resolution of clicking 40 new avians this year), at least the Pied Kingfisher which had eluded me for long.

Striking a pose: Da & Bhabi

For a change, Da decided to accompany me as I went to the Lotus Pond to click a host of water birds. Not so surprisingly, he got bored soon; you see patience is one of the few virtues which he does not possess. Anyway as he started jogging around the lake, I took my time clicking the different varities of birds that are common here. Unlike the lake, the pond is full of weeds, grasses and other aquatic plants, providing a suitable habitat for egrets, herons, moorhens and coots to live and breed. The sight of bright pink Lotus flowers dotted amongst the surrounding greenery is one to behold. In contrast, the waters of the Lalbagh Lake are sparkling clean; in fact you can even spot fishes nibbling at slices of bread thrown by careless visitors. On any given day, you can see several cormorants and snake birds perched on the many trees in the centre of the lake. Well, I will put up the pictures in the upcoming posts. While I did not find any new avian species, the images clicked on that day have turned to be some of the best since I started bird photography. Meanwhile, having spent over two hours at Lalbagh, we were very hungry and headed to Basvanagudi for breakfast, picking half a kilo of tasty Rose Paneer (Link) for mom on the way.

Balancing Act: Masal Dose at Vidyarthi Bhavan

Located in the heart of the bustling Gandhi Bazaar, it is not difficult to miss Vidyarthi Bhavan, sandwiched between the many shops selling myriad variety of flowers and garlands. However like MTR and Adigas, this tiffin center is one of the most popular eateries in the city. Over the years, it has become one of the most prominent landmarks of Bangalore and boasts of a large fan following. Established in 1943 to cater mainly the student community (as its name suggests), do not get fooled by its modest appearance because on the weekends, hundreds of people come here to gorge on the in house speciality - Masal Dose. On holidays, you have to register your name with the man at the entrance and then... wait for your turn. In fact, we had to stand in the queue for almost 40 minutes before the man in the lungi who was co-ordinating the whole process called out "Pavan". From inside, Vidhyarthi Bhavan resembles a small hotel crowded with people with the ambience being much different from the expensive hotels that have cropped up in the city. The sitting consists of wooden tables and benches whereas walls are are lined with sketches of prominent Kannadigas. The menu is limited and prices are pretty cheap by city standards. We ordered Shira and then Dosa which came five minutes later, one stacked on the top of the other like the Tower of Hanoi. Though the Dosa was very tasty, I still find Mummy's Masala Dosa much better. Does the taste justify the long wait to get into the hotel? In my opinion, No!. We finished breakfast at 11:30 am and reached back home by noon.

On the whole, spending the morning with Da and Bhabi in the lap of nature at Lalbagh, clicking those beautiful winged creatures followed by the pait pooja at one of the most iconic eateries of Bengaluru was quite memorable. Having started the New Year on such a good note, I hope we go for such outings many more times through out the year.


Please note that the last image in the post was clicked by my Bhabi.

AGARA DIARIES - PART 3

THE SPOT BILLED PELICANS

Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, my chest swells with pride to say the lakes of Bengaluru is the one of the last remaining strongholds of the Spot Billed Pelican - an aquatic avian species which is seeing decline in its numbers across is original habitat. You see there is more to my city which is world renowned for producing top class software solutions as much as it is for its infamous traffic jams. Here in the southern part of Namma Bengaluru, I have seen these magnificent creatures in at least three different lakes over the past two years - the Lalbagh  lake, the Madiwala lake in BTM and lastly the Agara lake near HSR. Although this part of the city is witnessing unprecedented growth, so much so that I think it will not be long before the corporation 'annexes' Bannerghata into it, the place continues to be a favorite amongst the Pelicans. The pictures posted as a part of this post were clicked over several birding visits to the Agara lake in August and September 2013.

Measuring over 50 inches, the spot bills are white in color, with a tinge of grey over most of its body and a slightly pinkish pelican-esque beak which has spots on its lower side, giving this species its name. Weighing in at about six kilograms, they spend most of the morning time doing pait pooja i.e. foraging for food; using their massive beaks to catch fish in shallow waters. In fact, they are said to be so good at this that in the past, fisher folk in eastern Bengal used them as decoy while fishing. As the day gets hotter, after all the hard work, you will find them perched on tree tops. Theses birds are social, living in medium sized groups which, on some occasions are found close to human settlements. It is common for them to establish colonies along with other aquatic avians, mainly the Painted Storks. In the wild, they are known to live for three decades, now that is quite a lot for birds. Breeding takes place one a year in the non-monsoon months with the female laying 3-4 eggs that hatch in about a months time. The young ones go their own way after three months and will reach maturity in two and half years.

The original range of the Spot Billed Pelican extended from Pakistan in the west to Indonesia and Philippines in the east, covering most of India, Sri Lanka and South-eastern Asia. However, the reckless damage caused to the highly eco-sensitive wetlands and destruction of nesting sites for logging have adversely impacted their numbers. Nowhere is this more evident than the island nation of Philippines from where they draw their scientific name - Pelecanus philippensis. While they are said to have been found here extensively in the dawn of the twentieth century, their numbers plummeted later to such an extent that they were wiped off from here in the 1960s. Reports from the time of the Raj and in the later years, talk about the presence of a mega colony along the Sittang River in Myanmar (Oates: 1877 and Stuart Barker: 1929), in Buchupalle village near Kadappa (1902) and in the Kolleru lake (Neelakantan: 1946). Unfortunately none of these exist any longer; the situation is so precarious that there are only three countries in the where you can find breeding population of these Pelicans namely Southern India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

In recent years, there is some news to cheer about for all wildlife enthusiast. The sustained efforts of conservationists and to some extent the protection measures put in force and implemented by authorities has helped revive their population in Southern India. Famous stories of villagers pitching in to help conserve them have come from the villages of Kokkare Bellur in Karnataka, Uppalapadu in Andhra and Koonthankulam in Tamil Nadu. In 2007, IUCN changed its status from Vulnerable to Near Threatened - surely a positive sign. Considering that many of our water bodies here in Bengaluru are in 'not-so-good' condition, it is great to see the Pelicans do so well in the lakes to the south of the city. The case of Lalbagh, perhaps the most well maintained of all the lakes in Bengaluru is not so surprising; the water here is sparkling clear and the absence of weeds and water hyacinth means that the ecosystem is not disturbed. Although, contamination continues to pose a threat to both Madiwala and Agara lakes, the large variety of fauna found here, especially the water birds, indicates that food for them in the form of fish and other creatures is available in plenty. Of course, this does not mean that we drop our guard and stop fighting this long and arduous battle to save our lakes from corrupt elements. Another fact that makes all three so attractive to the Pelicans and our other avian friends is the presence of nesting sites in the center of the water. Each of these water bodies boasts of an island, right in the center which is covered by dense vegetation; the trees provide excellent nesting sites, the water surrounding them provides protection from predators and their inaccessibility limits human intervention.

For more posts on the Agara Lake, click here (Link)

For more posts on the Spot Billed Pelicans, click here (Link)