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| Green Warbler(Phylloscopus nitidus) பச்சைக் கதிர்க்குருவி PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
The Bengaluru of today, still manages to don the title of Garden city. Despite rampant urbanization there are avenues, though fewer, left with vibrant tree canopies and peripheral pockets of wilderness with alluring flora and fauna. One such area is the forest around The Valley School, Kanakapura. The forest surrounds the school and is open for bird watchers. After a brief registry entry at the security near the gate, nature walkers are allowed to step in, if only they have a camera. This restriction apparently has been introduced of late to ward off the area from misuse.
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| Ashy Prinia(Prinia socialis) சாம்பல் கதிர்க்குருவி PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
Few feet into the mud road, the chirps and calls of numerous birds descended like symphony. It was around 7 am on a summer weekend morning, sufficiently lit by the sun already. Yet it was so hard to catch a glimpse of the singers even after a still-wait for good ten minutes. Skulkers! They might have all been alerting each other about the intruders who were walking into their homeland.
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| Oriental Magpie Robin(Copsychus saularis) கருப்பு வெள்ளைக் குருவி PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
After a few long moments of silence, an Oriental magpie robin ventured out and perched on line, followed by a Spotted dove and a Red whiskered bulbul that casually went tree hopping. With this, the chorus chirps resumed encouraging us to move on. Beyond a small grassy patch, an Ashy Prinia landed on a tree branch looking around for insects. Further away a huge banyan tree formed a natural tunnel with its aerial roots spread on either side of the kutcha pathway. A White cheeked barbet and a Copper smith barbet flashed their colours for few fleeting seconds before masking into the banyan leaves. But a sportive male Koel let us take a good glance of him. Past the tunnel, an owl hooted from another banyan tree but firmly chose to remain inconspicuous.
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| Spotted Dove(Spilopelia chinensis) புள்ளிப்புறா PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) செம்மார்புக் குக்குறுப்பான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| White Cheeked Barbet (Psilopogon viridis) சின்னக் குக்குறுப்பான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
The adjacent area was clearer predominantly grassy and thin trees. A group of seven-sisters, a mix of jungle and yellow-billed babblers could be seen foraging. True to their nature, they were gregarious and unperturbed by our presence. The path took a left turn and further inside, the tree cover was getting thicker. Much to our exuberance a Malabar whistling thrush rendered its musical call. A sprightly Indian blue robin pitched its call from where the thrush’s ended. Meanwhile a long-billed sunbird showed off its iridescent colours from a small branch.
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| Indian Robin(Copsychus fulicatus) கருஞ்சிட்டு PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Yellow Billed Babbler (Argya affinis) மஞ்சள் அலகு சிலம்பன் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Red Whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus) செம்மீசைச் சின்னான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Ashy Prinia(Prinia socialis) சாம்பல் கதிர்க்குருவி PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Jungle Babbler (Argya striata) காட்டுச் சிலம்பன் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Jungle Babbler (Argya striata) காட்டுச் சிலம்பன் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Long Billed Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius) தேன்சிட்டு PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
A Brown shrike and its juvenile perched on the dry branches of different plants looked momentarily similar. A lone barn swallow quickly took off from a branch while a Common tailor bird waited on facing the sun. Further along, a Cinerous tit peeped out and quickly retreated. A green warbler suddenly spurted up to catch an insect, flashing its camouflage-perfect green. A tiny Pale billed flower pecker perched online and basked in the sun, oblivious to all action around.
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| Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica) தகைவிலான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Brown Shrike Juvenile(Lanius cristatus) பழுப்புக் கீச்சான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Brown Shrike(Lanius cristatus) பழுப்புக் கீச்சான் PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
By then, it was 9 am and the summer heat was slowly sweltering. Time to say Gracias! to all the pint-sized beauties. Valley school area is undoubtedly a birding hot spot in Bengaluru. But here again, litter especially few glass bottles could be seen here and there. More vigilance and guarding along with responsible usage by citizens would not only keep the thicket pristine but also save its denizens from fatal injuries. We signed out at the gate and headed to the Adigas Kanakapura road. After a sumptuous breakfast fittingly finished with steaming filter coffee, a much gratifying urban nature walk came to an end, only for many more to follow…
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| Common Tailorbird(Orthotomus sutorius) தையல் சிட்டு PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Pale Billed Flowerpecker(Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) மலர்கொத்தி PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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