Place: Kudlu Dodda Kere [Kudlu Big Lake], Bangalore
No. of species of birds sighted: 10
- Bonelli's Eagle
The Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.The Bonelli's Eagle is a species of wooded, often hilly, country with some open areas.This is a small to medium - sized eagle at 55–65 cm in length. The upperparts are dark brown, and the underside is white with dark streaks. The wings are relatively short and rounded. The long tail is grey on top and white below and has a single broad black terminal band. The feet and eyes are yellow.
From Bangalore Nature Trails - Cattle egret
Refer to earlier post - Green bee eater
The Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis, (sometimes Little Green Bee-eater) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family.They are mainly insect eaters and they are found in grassland, thin scrub and forest often quite far from water. It is about 9 inches (16–18 cm) long with about 2 inches made up by the elongated central tail-feathers. The sexes are not visually distinguishable.Like other species in the genus, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and ants, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. Before swallowing prey, a bee-eater removes stings and breaks the exoskeleton of the prey by repeatedly thrashing it on the perch. These birds are somewhat sluggish in the mornings and may be found huddled next to each other on wires sometimes with their bills tucked in their backs well after sunrise. The sand-bathe more frequently than other bee-eater species and will sometimes bathe in water by dipping into water in flight.A study suggested that Green Bee-eaters may be capable of interpreting the behaviour of human observers. They showed an ability to predict whether a human at a particular location would be capable of spotting the nest entrance and then behaved appropriately to avoid giving away the nest location. The ability to look at a situation from another's point of view was previously believed to be possessed only by primates.
From Bangalore Nature Trails - Eurasian Coot
Refer to earlier post - Little Cormorant
The Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. This is a small cormorant, 55 cm in length. Its rectangular head profile and short bill are distinctions from the somewhat larger Indian Cormorant. The Little Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken.
From Bangalore Nature Trails
- Purple Heron
Refer to earlier post - Purple Swamphen
Refer to earlier post - Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae) is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family. They are found in dense scrub to forest habitats.The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher is about 11–12 cm long.Females are duller, and the red is reduced in intensity and extent.Apart from flying insects they have been noted to occasionally glean crawling insects.The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher breeds in dry forest, scrub, bamboo and gardens.The metallic song of the bird includes a series of clicks followed by five or six notes that end abruptly. The metallic song consists of short clicks followed by five or six notes resembling that of the White-browed Fantail-flycatcher. Alarm calls include churr and clicking notes.They feed mainly by capturing insects in flight but their prey include other insects such as termites and earwigs that may be gleaned or picked from the ground.
From Bangalore Nature Trails - White breasted Kingfisher
The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or Smyrna Kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season they call loudly in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.This is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length.The call of this kingfisher is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake.Local names include Sindhi: Dalel; Hindi: Kilkila, Kourilla; Himachal Pradesh: Neela machhrala; Punjabi: Wadda machhera; Bengali: Sandabuk machhranga; Assamese: Masroka; Cachar: Dao natu gophu; Gujarati: Kalkaliyo, Safedchati kalkaliyo; Marathi: Khandya; Tamil: Vichuli; Telugu: Lakmuka, Buchegadu; Malayalam: Ponman; Kannada: Rajamatsi; Sinhalese: Pilihuduwa.Predation of small birds such as the Oriental White-eye, chick of a Red-wattled Lapwing, sparrows and munias have been reported.The White-throated Kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the Monsoons.
From Bangalore Nature Trails
Refer to Harlur Lake Diaries: Part II
Photo credits: Ridhi D'Cruz
*Disclaimer: All photos are original and taken on the date mentioned.
All information has been compiled from Wikipedia and can be inaccurate. If there are discrepancies, please write in and let us know.
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