PHOTO TOUR....RANGANTITTU...!!

Last weekend I lead a couple of photographers on a photo tour of RANGANTITTU BIRD SANCTUARY...It was part of initiative of the Bangalore chapter of an Online photographic portal. The place is about 120kms from Bangalore, just after Srirangapatna...and before Mysore.

Litrally we were the first to land at the Birding paradise....to enjoy and photograph the prestine early morning activities of the Birds.

Taking a Boat ride on the flowing Cauvery River...which is dotted with small Islands...Perched are the Birds on the foliage with their Nests and young ones....1 1/2 hours of boat ride yielded some good shots of Birds and their activities....after which the intense Summer Sun light got better of us.

We witnessed and photographed Painted Storks, Large and Intermediate Egrets, Open bill Stork, Spoon Bills, Night Heron, Pond Herons, Darters, Cormorants, River Terns, Pied Kingfishers, Small Blue Kingfisher, White Thorated Kingfisher, Marsh Harriers, Pelicans,Crocodiles and lots of nesting activities...

Kokaree Bellur and Thylur Lake was also on the itinerary...which is near Maddur on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway. Thylur lake was devoid of Birds except for Coots...But Kokaree Bellur was Brimming with Painted Storks and its young ones...It was odd time to photograph b'cos of the high point of the Sun and harsh lighting...

Equipment with right specifications are necessary to reach the birds....to do some serious photography...

BEING THERE BEFORE THE CACAPHOY OF THE TOURIST IS THE KEY ISSUE...
Entry is 25/- Boat ride for 1/2 hour is 250/- and camera ticket is 50/-.

DARTER... THE SNAKE BIRD....!!

Darters are widespread residents...Long , slim head and neck, dagger like bill, and long tail...Often swims with most of the body submerged...The Adult has white stripe downside of the neck,white scapular streaks, and white streaking on wing-coverts..Juvenile buffish-white below, with buff fringes to coverts forming pale panel on upper wing. Mainly inland waters, also coastal waters.

It amazing to see the twist of the neck almost 360 degrees...and they can sit still for a long time spreading their wings....and they keep the wings groomed impeccably clean.

Their fishing ability is amazing...and the picture says it all...

Thirst Quench @ common water hole...!!

Every natural forest area has water hole which is a common converging point for all the animals. They all come to quench their thirst either in the day or at night...

I have seen tigers, elephants, birds, cheetals, sambar deers, languors and even parakeet visiting these water holes...A great deal of activity happens here...starting from fishing to hunting.

It is also a place of hide and ambush for the predators as they are sure of their prey visiting those spots.

Here is one such picture shot at Pench Tiger Reserve at Madhya Pradesh...of Cheetals drinking water...I could get the reflections and all of them dipping their head together....It was a treat to watch....I had to maintain a complete silence as even a slightest noise the Cheetals would perceive it as threat.

Kite @ Golden Light.....!!!!

On this lightning struck tree...there lives a pair of Paria Kites....They are truly amazing to watch going about their routine and nesting..I have been following them, past one year ..and taking pictures of their activities.

Here are few caressing the golden yellow light during Sunset.

SLIDE SHOW....!!!

EGYPTIAN VULTURE....!!! A RARE ACT PHOTOGRAPHED.

This Bird is resident of Pakistan,Nepal and Upper reaches of Himalays. Visitiors to Northern Parts of India for Breeding and weather conditions...

Small vulture with long and pointed wings, small pointed head and wedge shape tail. Adult is dirty white color with head shade of orange yellow.

I shot this pair mating at Bharathpur, which I hear is a rear sight...

King of Blue.....!!!

King Fisher Birds are very colorful. Commonly seen are the White throated and Small blue Kingfisher...They are perched around water bodies for their prey.
The fishing technique of Small Blue Kingfisher especially is treat to watch...Its accurate and swift...