Kaikondrahalli lake and Kolar trip

Blogging after quite a looooong time. I had been to Kaikondrahalli lake on a saturday(on the Sarjapur road, Bangalore) and Kolar the next day. I really did not expect to see many birds on this trip. But it was a sweet surprise for me both the days as I got to see many flyers. The lake was home to birds like Herons, some blue coloured ducks (did not know their specific names), Greenbee eater, Eagles and many others. Greenbee eaters were posing just for me. Still I missed to take some good shots of those, alas! Will go there again to take some good clicks.

The next day morning I went for a drive on the Kolar road. On the way I just entered some small villages for spending some leisure time alone. Fortunately got to sight some birds and clicked them. I took the Whitefield, Kadugodi, Hosakote, Kolar route. Enroute were some beautiful villages. This highway is a very picterusque one what with all the small and big boulders forming small hills. I spent some one hour at a CCD on the way to Kolar. This CCD is located at a scenic location with hills on both the front and back side. One of the best CCDs I have ever been to. Then went on to Antergange thinking of doing a lone trek. But changed my mind once I reached that place. Just climbed till the temple (pls do no think that I went to visit the temple. That is the only landmark I could give to tell about my destination) and spent some 45 minutes there. There interestingly a person started talking with me in Telugu. He told me all stories about the temple and that god. Later I dropped him near a ground where he was to watch a Basketball match.

Now just have a look at the birds shots below. 

Places visited: 

1) Kaikondrahalli Lake on the Sarjapur road.

2) Kolar and Antergange on NH4.

Route taken for Antergange: Whitefield, Kadugodi, Hosakote, Kolar. In Kolar, look for KSRTC busstand. Take the street next to the bus stand and 4KMs ahead lies Antergange.

Devarabetta trek

My weekend trips on my Thunderbird started with a BIG BANG on 24.06.2012. I traveled to Devarabetta in Karnataka with my friend Vasant. I somehow convinced my friend to accompany me to this place. Initially he was a bit hesitant but eventually he agreed and very much enjoyed the trip. My main purpose for this trip was to take some birds' photographs.

Started at around 7.15 from Bangalore and came back home by 2 PM. It was around 55 KMs from our place. Actually there are two ways to reach this place. One is from the Hosur road side and the other from the Kanakpura road side. Former one is much shorter than the other one. I came to know about this from my experience as my onward travel was from Hosur road and return wsas via the Kanakpura road.

We had our breakfast at MAAJI SAGAR near Electronic city. Later proceeded on the Hosur road till Chandapura and took a right turn from here under the flyover towards Anekal. Here on the way nature was urgently calling my friend and hence we had to find a petrol bunk to answer the call :) Later my relieved-friend took turn to ride my bike and continued throughout our trip as he was overwhelmed by Thunderbird's comfort.

At Anekal we took a right to take the Thalli road which leads to Thalli and then to Harohalli. On the Thalli road we took a right turn some 3 KMs after a place which I vaguely remember as Gummalapuram (am sure this is not the exact name). I gotta mention that the route was damn scenic and a definite mind-refresher after a hectic week at office. Then the point came and we took a right turn (ofcourse we enquired for the right one) and there was Devara betta some 6 KMs from here. And gladly I got to see birds from this point itself. I missed clicking a Kingfisher but later I came out of this disappointment as I clicked some 2 or 3 more beautiful birds.
Reached Devara betta and I was surprised not to find any other trek groups. Anyway we further proceed taking some bird clicks. I was glad that I was able to take some decent shots this time around. From that moment I was eagerly waiting to send those snaps to my brothers and bhabhis to get their comments. I do not know their names yet. But will soon find that out.

There were 2 hills here and we climbed on to one of them and found it amazing really. Got to see some good views from the top. Had some biscuits, took some snaps and came down in some half-an-hour.

Then was glad to see that my bike was there at its parked place safely. Then got on to the other hill on top of which there was a Shiva temple (not that I was really interested in that. Just stated this as a fact). Myself and Vasant were wondering seeing stones arranged in some particular pattern throughout this hilltop.

Later after serious thinking and discussions, concluded that the arrangement was done may be during some Puja time in the temple to protect "deepams" from getting blowed off. Then came down the hill in another direction and started our way back. We decided to try the Thalli-kanakpura road path to come back to Bangalore. Thus understood that this was a 30 KMs longer than the path we took in the morning. But got to admit that the path was just amazing. It took us through the Bannerghatta Forest area. I was eagerly waiting to spot some Elephants or some other animals. But got disappointed there. This route was quite confusing and had to enquire some 20 times to get to the correct path and reach Harohalli which is around 35 KMs from Bangalore.

Be ready for my future posts.

Cubbonb Park, Bangalore

I took an oath saying that I will post, on weekly basis, any snaps taken by me during that week. Like the typical me, I falied to do so for the past 2 weeks :( as I did not take any snaps.

3rd week before from now, I had been to Cubbon Park, Bangalore to fulfil my oath and tried to do a good work.

Cubbon park is an awesome place for morning jog, walk, exercise, games or any other activity. Roads here are closed to traffic till 8 AM. Anyone new to bangalore should not miss visiting this place before 8 in the morning.

The major plus point here is that, dogs do NOT bark at you or chase you ( :D :D :D ) like what normally happens on other roads when one jogs or runs. This park is the only place on the universe where I am not afraid of Dogs (Yippppppeeeeeeeeeeee).

Coming back to our photography story. There were not many birds really speaking which could make me run behind them for shots. Once can just see common Myna, Pigeons (busy eating grains all the time :D) and ofcourse Crows. So, I did not have a great weekend taking photographs. Just got some Myna snaps to be posted this time. Also tried to take some sun-rays-falling-on-road-through-trees photographs. Damn the garbage-burning habit of people. That spoiled the beauty of the sun's rays. Have a look at those.

Vedanthangal - Bird Photography

This trip was to Vedanthangal (as usual with my brother and Bhabhi). Vedanthangal is 65 Kms away from Chennai.

While taking snaps here, I got a feeling that I shot some breathtaking snaps. But as always, once seen on laptop and analysed (infact much analysis was not required), got to know that there is a looooooooooooong way to go for me. Have a look at the snaps.

How to reach Vedanthangal? - Tambaram ---> Guduancheri ---> Chengalpattu ---> A right turn to be taken after a Pepsi bottling company on the right hand side of the road ---> After this right turn, 12Kms ahead Vedanthangal will be waiting for you.

Best time to Visit - January to March

Yelagiri - Bird Photography tour

I had been to Yelagiri quite a number of times with my brother and Bhabhi, sometimes exclusively for bird photography. Most of the clicks will be of birds and a few will be say bugs, moths or other species. I am yet to learn the names of the birds which I click. Hope to do it soon.

Here are a few pics taken there.

Birds on ECR

The below snaps were shot during one of my trips to Muthukkadu on ECR.
I will post more snaps taken at this location in my future posts.

Har Ki Dun Trek

I believe this is my best shot till date. This is the only snap which my brother got satisfied with to a great extent. Making my brother say "Yeah that is kind of OK" is quite a daunting task.
I do not know the name of the flower though.








This was the first time I properly learnt to take snaps of birds in flight. These vultures were circling around in the air as they found something to feast on down on the ground. It was a real good sight and a good opportunity to click a nice shot (though it's a different thing that I did not make proper use of the opportunity). This was my best shot of this vulture.