DMW: Bhootanahalli, 250223

Most of the group, clicked by me, before the start:

Group with me, clicked by Naveen Arur:

Announcement:

DMW: Bhoptanahalli, Sat, 25 Feb ’23

Where: Bhootanahalli 
Meeting Point: Ravi Sutha Hotel, 
 https://goo.gl/maps/QNDyjMKvbvX7RBEz5
(Cars should be parked away from the curve of the road, but plenty of parking available).
Meeting Time: 6.15am. We begin the walk at 6.30am after parking our cars.
Gentle climb up the hillock, to the Bhavani temple and pond, which is held to be the birthplace of the Suvarnamukhi river. 
Not a circular path, It’s to and from the temple area. It’s easy to stray off the path in the scrub forest, so it’s better for the group to be together and not leave on their own, unless they too know the place well (many of you do!)
Bring: Binoculars, bird books/apps, cameras, notepads if you like to sketch or take notes.
Wear: Dull-coloured clothes, hats/caps, and comfortable walking shoes.
Washrooms not available.
Post-outing breakfast suggestion: 
Krishnaveni and her family who run the Ravi Sutha eatery at the meeting point can manage about 10 people but not more. The place is a little crowded on Saturdays; we can often see people belonging to the Hakki Pikki tribe there. So for a better ambience (and washrooms), Udupi Gardeniaa on Bannerghatta Road, location: 
https://goo.gl/maps/CGAytu7QBTQhVJTX9

For those coming from the Kanakapura Road  area, any of the eateries in Kaggalipura would be good.
Though the place appears tame, it is a scrub forest area, so please be careful and stay with the group at all times. Pleae don’t stray away for photography or any other reason. The Bannerghatta area does have a lot of elephant movement and it’s better to be careful.
Those who are interested in joining the walk can join the WA group at
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kit6KZCQCmUEJEDRHl9atx

I’ve been travelling, but am back. I’m  looking forward to meeting some of you again and some for the first time!
In case of emergency/need, contact (er, not after 8.30pm on the previous day!)Deepa Mohan, 99800 10366Shalini Ukunge, 78291 55214
Cheers, Deepa.

---

eBird, compiled by Supriya Kulkarni:

https://ebird.org/india/checklist/S129555407 (66 sp)

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720306270243

FB:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159732895103878&type=3

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Most of the group, at the start:

I am in the photo, thanks to Naveen Arur!

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The ancient Champakadhama temple at Bannerghatta Circles shines as we drive towards Bhootanahalli.

Dawn:

Flowers and fresh leaves of theTaloor Lac Tree (Shorea roxburghii):

Dolmen, prehistoric sites where the dead were left in a loose coverage of stones for wild animals and Nature to dispose of:

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon:

Light in the grove near the temples:

Snack time:

Spotted Owlet:

Bhavani Temple:

Chestnut-tailed Starlings:

Sudhanva shows bird pics to Job and Margaret:

Ravi, Supriya, Shalini, Venu, Prashanthi, brefus at Sri Udupi Gardeniaa, Bannerghatta Road:

Africa to Europe! Colours of coffee, Sri Udupi Gardeniaa, Bannerghatta Road:

Many autos have “thanthe thAyi AsheervAdA” (blessings of mother and father. But here the auto driver really has his parents’ photos displayed. He also mentions kambALi matthA) (religious centre).

Vishnuvardhan, the Kannada movie actor, is called “sAhasa simhA” and on the auto, he’s depicted as sitting on the “simhAsan” (lion throne).

K2 and his ache

Me: Go down to play or cycle.

K2: I have an ache.

Me: Ache or anek?

K2: Another bad Hindi pun? Really? I actually have anek aches. You can call them 1 1 1 1.

I am in a situation where my grandson rates my multilingual puns, fails them, and then tops them!

Farmers: ethics in a poor livelihood

t.

When I went to Charotar, Gujarat, for a crocodile census (yes, we count crocs!) I learnt that the tobacco in that area is considered the best in India. I was clicking a tobacco field, with its typical leaves.

A farmer from the nearby field, where he was growing paddy, came over, and we chatted. He told me that tobacco farmers have good profits because the plants are not eaten by animals or birds.

I looked at his field and asked him, “Then why are you not growing tobacco?” His reply moved me. “Jo cheez jaanwar bhi nahin khaatey, mein kyun ugaaoon aur beychoon?” (Why should I grow and sell something that even animals will not touch?”)

Some farmers are, indeed, much more caring that we realize!

Bannerghatta Bird Census, Group 3, Team 1 and 2, Uraganadoddi Solar Shed Transect, 190223

Announcement:

Friends,

The DCF, Bannerghatta, Sri Prabhakar Priyadarshi, has announced a Bird Census in Bannerghatta to be conducted by the Karnataka Forest Department, on Sunday, 19th February 2023

The census will cover four ranges: Anekal, Bannerghatta, Harohalli Kodihalli and Harohalli.

The KFD would like volunteers to participate in the census, hence my message to you all.

We will be told the various transects in all four ranges, and logistics will be worked out. The number of transects covered will depend on the number of volunteers.

The DCF has informed that for all four ranges, volunteers will have the option of either staying overnight (basic accommodation), or arriving early in the morning at the assigned meeting points, and participating in the census. The census will be from 6.30am to approx 10 am.

eBird will be used as the method/app for recording data. So all volunteers will need to be on eBird.

Cameras are welcome, along with binoculars, and bird id apps/books. All photos of birds/birders taken during the census should be uploaded to an album, details of which will be given later

If you are interested in volunteering for the BBC (Bannerghatta Bird Census), please fill the form at

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqimF7Smzq-fk-tB0CMnSvt3QplHItaXl8Nz4S6pTCpOHnQA/viewform

This will enable us to plan further.

This is the first (and tentative) announcement, and the plans will be made in further detail.

This census will also coincide with the Great Backyard Bird Count. We have a very big backyard this year, to count birds in!

Looking forward to your responses,

Deepa Mohan.

---

Ultimately, 91 volunteers participated, in 8 transects, two in each range.

Complete trip report of the census by Bijoy Venugopal: https://ebird.org/tripreport/108669

My trip report, including all checklists: https://ebird.org/tripreport/108714

Munish’s checklist while we were waiting for the KFD people to arrive:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S128842343

My own eBird list (not every 15 min but throughout the morning)

https://ebird.org/checklist/S128842235

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720306128788

FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159721910108878&type=3

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We were Group 3, Teams 1 and 2:

Deepa Mohan
Balaji M
Gayatri Balaji
Narasimman Jayaraman
Padma Ramaswamy
Sathya Srinivas
Subramanya S

Bijoy Venugopal
Darshana V
Kanchuki Sharma
Sivakumar Mallya

Our transect was along the steep rocky stream path, so we did quite a bit of rock-climbing as well as birdwatching.

Group 3 Teams 1 and 2 at the start

DCF Sri Prabhakar Priyadarshi and ACF Sm. Ranjeetha

Amazing colours and patterns of the rock

Majestic tree

Forest Guide Seenappa

Cathedral Bells, Kalanchoe pinnata

The beauty of the stream area

Remains of a Koel killed by a predator

Sunbird’s nest

Male Small Minivet

Indian Cormorant

Thick-billed Flowerpecker

Wide skirt of a Funnel Web Spider’s web

Breakfast and gathering after the census

Ladies of Team 1 of Group 3, with ACF Sm Ranjeetha

Siva and Bijoy with Sri Prabhakar

Bijoy getting his certificate

Siva smiling with his certificate

Uraganadoddi sign!

Delhi/Sattal/Pangot/Delhi, 09-180223: Videos

Delhi, 120223
Jhanjhrola (no videos)

Chandu Budhera:

1. 0153: Waterfowl

1. 0173: Ruff foraging

Birder’s Den Hide, run by Hari Lama

 0264 Scene at the hide,

3. 0331 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers foraging

0346 Lesser Yellownape

0405 Male Khaleej Pheasant

0415 Female Khaleej Pheasant

0535 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

0563 Lesser Yellownape

0563 Lesser Yellownape 2

0652 Black Francolin

0455 Black Francolin:

3. 0595 Brown-fronted Woodpecker

Kafal House, Pangot, 130223

12. 0831 Red-billed Blue Magpie

Saund

13. 0033 Fire-breasted Woodpecker

0049 Himalayan Prinia

0164 Speckled Piculet feeding

0183 Black-throated Tit

140223, Chaafi stream

0180 White-capped Redstart

0214 Orange-bellied Leafbird foraging

0219 White-capped Water Redstart (2)

0261 Water reflection patterns

0323 Brown Dipper white eyelid

0323 Brown Dipper dipping behaviour

150223, Ashram Hide

0012 Birds at the hide

0072 Plum and Slaty-headed Parakeets

0085 Great Barbet feeding

0099 White-throated Laughingthrushes and Red-billed Leothrixes

0136 Plum-headed Parakeets, Grey Treepies, Red Junglefowl:

0166 Black-throated Thrush

0169 Rufous-throated Partridge:

0202 Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush with Leothrix

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MVI 0166 Black-throated Thrush, Ashram Hide, Pangot, 150223

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0202 Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush with Leothrix:

0214 Grey Treepie bathing:

0215 White-throated Laughingthrushes bathing:

0232 Russet Sparrow bathing:

0242 Female Red Junglefowl:

0267 Himalayan Bulbuls bathing:

0270 Red-billed Blue Magpie drinking water:

0286 Scene at the hide:

https://youtu.be/IS_3mN36Cow

0295 Oriental Turtle Dove bathing:

0321 Brown-fronted Woodpecker outside the hide:

Sattal “Studio”

0362 White-throated Laughingthrush turning over leaves:

Train from Kathgodam to Delhi

0438 Rosy Starlings at dusk, Itarsi:

Delhi, 160223

Surajpur

0070 White-breasted Waterhen foraging:

0071 Bronze-winged Jacana foraging:

Locks

One thing that strikes about many government and public buildings is…. locks.

We seem to just love locking rooms, gates, toilets, fences…. preventing access to, and usage of, spaces, is the primary function of a lock. I have seen in many public spaces that the ladies’ toilets are locked, even when the gents’ are open. It’s ladies who require public toilets even more than men do (sorry to say this, but men can, and do, use the nearest wall or bush), so it’s the unwillingness of those who have to clean and maintain them, that results in their being locked.

However, locks are ubiquitous. I have seen locks on fences, gates, arches, a library for railway employees in New Delhi Railway Station usable rooms, pubic buildings… the list is very long.

Prevention of access to, and usage of, spaces, is the primary function of a lock. I wonder just how much of such space is wasted by our all-pervasive, forbidding-looking, people-unfriendly locks!

Railway Retiring Rooms

Retiring Rooms at railway stations are safe and convenient. But other problems persist, making it very difficult for passengers.

There’s no signposting to their location, except perhaps in obscure corners! Then they are often on the first floor of the very old station buildings, with no lifts (or, of course, non-working ones) and it’s quite a steep climb up.

The attendants are generally lackadaisical. When Supriya Kulkarni and I reached Old Delhi station on the 12th, the attendant could not find the key to my room and asked me to stay in hers! In Bhopal, once, the attendant told me that one room was reserved for the “afsars” (railway employees) which was blatantly untrue.

Some attendants give one a mingy, terribly sad looking lock and key, others ask one to use one’s own lock. (I now always carry a forbidding-looking lock with its key now…guess why my strolley is heavy!) In New Delhi Station, some of the rooms are on Platform 1(101 to 210)..the others on Platform 16. No information on where one’s room will be. Imagine walking up and down the stairs on the platforms with one’s luggage, looking for the retiring room!

This process is made even more difficult because of no signage as to where one can find the lift or escalator (and,of course, these may not be working!) I generally have to give myself half an hour to 45 min for this process.

I have got the hang of it, and I like the convenience of not having to find transportation to some place, especially when one is in transit. The rooms are spacious if not extremely clean, there’s a geyser which provides hot water for a refreshing bath, there are air conditioners ( I have never used them as I never travel on bird/ wildlife trips/surveys in summer), there are good little eateries just outside the station, and in the case of Old and New Delhi, the Metro is right there too.

I am a confirmed train traveller, for many reasons, and railway retiring rooms are a big boon for me as I often travel alone.

Delhi, 160223.

Update from Sattal/Pangot trip: Ranikhet Express from Delhi to Kathgodam, 120223

Gliding from the hills of Kumaun (Kathgodam, to be precise) towards Delhi.
The forests have already given way to green fields, grey factory or construction sites, and several tracks as we near Rampur (I am reminded of a very old movie called “Rampur ka Lakshman”).
The abominable hot-water-tea-bag-milk-powder chai and greasy samosa have been devoured.

Starting work on my photos and videos (11 of them on the first day from Delhi and Sattal!…Aaaaaargggh!).

Interrupted by the anticipation of a beautiful sunset that will happen soon.

Great company… Supriya is sitting next to me.

Between Photos, Munching, Yakking and Window-watching…. I think we’ll be at New Delhi Railway Station before we realize it! 120223.

What I know

I know a little more than I think I know, and much less than I am proud that I know.

What may lie behind the laughter

When a person jokes and laughs a lot, there are a few people who treat that person with scorn, considering them shallow. But there are several things to be noted about such a person.

1. The person could have a basically happy, cheerful nature, content with what s/he has and able to laugh about good things and difficulties.

2. The person might be covering some sorrow, and indeed, dealing with it and healing from it, using laughter and jokes. I am reminded of the famous ghazal, “tum itna jo muskura rahe ho/ kya gham hai jisko chhupa rahe ho?” (You smile so much, what troubles are you hiding?”

3. The person may be coping with, and fighting, innate shyness and feelings of inadequacy.

Not all joking implies a lack of depth. So I have to be careful in my perception of such people.