A Refreshing Escape to Kannamangala lake

A quick birding visit to Kannamangala Lake yielded some lovely sights. Come, join me on a photo journey!

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An Indian Spot-billed duck's serene reflection greeted me first, setting the tone for a day of beautiful reflections.

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A Streak-throated Swallow cries out, calling its mate.

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Mate arrives in a flash, their sweet nothings exchanged, unaware of my gaze.

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Sensing my presence, a distant male Asian Koel takes flight.

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A Purple-rumped Sunbird perches on the fence.

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A large flock of rosy starlings dots a distant tree.

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Another elegant Indian Spot-billed Duck! 

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A black streak plunges into the water, a drongo on the hunt.

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The lone Aylesbury duck, a probable escapee from the nearby farms whom I had been tracking for the past many visits, has finally found a mate. I was happy to follow the duo, and they gave me some amazing reflection shots.

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A common moorhen provided an uncommon photo opportunity by flapping its wings.

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A Rufous Treepie, perched on a distant tree, was a beautiful sight.

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Then, a flash of turquoise and white caught my eye. A White-throated Kingfisher, perched on a branch overlooking the water, surveyed its domain with sharp, piercing eyes. 

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I watched its series of fishing attempts. Each try unfolded like a mini-drama. 

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A busy Indian Pond Heron scanned the shallow water for an unwary fish.

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A watercolor artist painted the scene, his brushstrokes echoing the beauty of the lake.

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What small moments of beauty have you witnessed lately? Share your thoughts below!

Saul searching for a Verditer

I was back at Saul kere Lake last weekend with a quest: to photograph the elusive Verditer Flycatcher. This vibrant bird had danced just beyond my lens on my last visit. I also got some other birds while I waited for my target. Here are the pics.

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The first bird I saw was a cattle egret.

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A burst of color blooms like a distant promise.

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A Spot-Billed Pelican, its wings spread wide, scanned the water below for the perfect fishing spot. I took advantage of this opportunity to snap some photos of its flight.

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With a satisfied sigh, the pelican finally landed on the water, ready to begin its hunt.

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A White-throated Kingfisher,  perched with a sharp beak, patiently scanned the water, waiting for its moment to strike.

A flash dive and a quick pop-up – the Little Grebe was back in action.

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An Indian Spot-billed duck dipped its head in the water, searching for food.

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An Oriental Magpie Robin busily hopped and flew around.

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With a relentless hunger, an Indian Green Bee-eater devoured insects without pause.

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A Black-naped Oriole sat unmoving on a distant tree.

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Arriving at the Verditer Flycatcher's spot, I saw it briefly perch on a distant tree before being attacked by a crow.

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Thirty minutes crawled by. Then, a flash of blue in the distance signaled the Verditer Flycatcher's return, but my hopes of a close encounter were quickly dashed as it was driven away by a Black Drongo.

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While another hour melted away, a flock of rose-ringed parakeets, offered a captivating spectacle that briefly eased the frustration of the wait for the elusive Verditer Flycatcher.

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A flash of dusky gray caught my eye – an Ashy Woodswallow had also joined the scene.

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Another bee became prey for the green bee-eater.

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Just when hope began to fade, the long-awaited Verditer Flycatcher finally materialized, albeit in challenging light. I kept clicking until I got a flight shot.

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The flycatcher's flight was my cue to call it a day. The sky was beautiful on the walk back.

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I'd love to hear your feedback on this post. What did you think?

Linked with Mosaic Monday