Fixed up for Jayashree. Arnab, Padma, Shalini, me. Also invited Ayaan and his parents Namita and Swaroop (at the Valley School Walk). Since Jay cancelled, Padma also dropped out. Made one plan with Nitin, Uday and Arnab,for Thursday and one for Wednesday with Shalini, Ayaan, Namitha, Swaroop. Took quite a lot of effort.
his a Streak-throated Swallow?
Black-rumped Flamebacks
Spot-billed Pelicans, a rarity now, at Kalenahalli Kere
Thailur Kere
Sri Thailur Amman temple sign
My messages:
Our route to Naguvanahalli:
Unfortunately departure is at 3am, allowing for a coffee and a bio break, we will reach at about 7am. ( Swaroop drove at top speed and we reached Ganjam by 4.40 instead of the Google-predicted 5.50 am. We stopped at Manipal Hospital junction of Outer Ring Road in outer Mysore and used the toilets there, and had chai at the junction too. We reached the spot just short of 6am.)
The last bit is a path which Shalini’s Endeavour covered, so Jay’s BRV will also do it.
We can also go to this spot:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wSNZZbWrt3MbMTmT8
and, going all around, to the opposite side of the river as well:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dRZuU7UwPhBGn2Jn9
(Since we got a few extra birds at the second spot, we did not go to the Pump House side. The 2nd point has the tree cover, the Aralikatte and access to the river but access to the Bee-eater Sanctuary has become very difficult.)
But the first place is the area where we found the flycatchers and the Forest Wagtail in the undergrowth. (that is, the destination location in the route map). We can try the other spots after this one. (We did not get the Wagtail but got a Stork-billed Kingfisher and the Pitta.)
Report for today. We started at 3am this morning. We could not find any petrol pump open up to the time we were nearly at the Reserve, and we were passing the turning to the Reserve by 5.am. so we carried on for 6 km from the point where we were to turn right, until we came to Manipal Hospital on the Mysore Outer Ring Road at 5.20 am,parked and used their toilets (we might try it again tomorrow!). We then had chai at one of the shops at the junction, then drove to the Reserve, reaching at 5.45am. The early dawn light had started and it soon became light. It also heightened the mystery of where the Bee-eaters roost at night…they started arriving only by the light of dawn. A Grey-bellied Cuckoo couple and a Stork Billed Kingfisher were highlights, but we dipped on the Forest Wagtail, though I wandered through the undergrowth and up to the fields beyond. We then went around to the stream point and a Western Yellow Wagtail, an Openbill, and some Streak-throated Swallows as well all the other kinds. We also stopped briefly at Thailur Kere on the way back; it was too hot to stay very long, but 18 sp in 15 min at that time of day was satisfying. Had breakfast at one Green Star (veg/non-veg, food and service bad,location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EHte3LHN7tWjgfaz6 ) and realized that Halli Mane (location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d5EUtKtbeEpAuGNz6 ) and Ruchi Mane (location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eU5pyiCebPqU6B166) were just a few yards ahead! On the way we also stopped at Kalenahalli Kere and sighted three Spot-billed Pelicans, which have become a rarity this year!
We returned home by 11.30am. I think your 3.30am departure should be OK, but I will have to think about how to tell the Manipal Hospital security guard again tomorrow that we want to use the toilet! Nothing else available, unfortunately. So it means a 6km drive further from the turning point, to be able to access a toilet (it was spanking clean!) tomorrow.
eBird: Sanctuary and River Point: https://ebird.org/checklist/S171249417 (78 sp)
Kalenahalli Kere:https://ebird.org/checklist/S171249364 (18 sp)
Thailur Kere (brief stop due to the heat): https://ebird.org/checklist/S171251714 (23 sp)
Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/229359 (81 sp overall)
iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2024-05-01&place_id=any&user_id=deemopahan&verifiable=any ( https://tinyurl.com/36rn4wa7 )
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/86494503@N00/albums/72177720316618552/ (75 photos)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160482218393878&type=3
Dawn at the wire and watchtower
Several Indian Grey Hornbills flew in and out of the huge Ficus
A cremation with the embers still glowing
Tending to the cremation
Red-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbuls pecking at food items on another grave
Some Warbler
Blue-tailed Bee-eaters
Pied Kingfishers
Common Cerulean dry season form
Mehendi (Lawsonia inermis) once found in all gardens, nowadays uncommon
Videos: 010524:
DSCN0177 Asian Openbill foraging:
Deponti to the world 