Nature Walk at Giri-bettada Kere

Post date: Oct 29, 2012 7:59:29 AM

Fig: Dart spp.


Date: 04.11.2012

Duration: 07.00 -11.30 hr

Weather: sunny

Participants: 10 members

Habitat: The tank was full, thanks to Varuna Canal. Surrounding Varakodu scrub forest was dotted with well grown medium sized trees.

Sightings:

  • Butterflies: 39 Species
  • Birds: 78 Species

Highlight:

  • Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus resting on a concrete Electric Pole, with big head & puffed body was looking like a Mottled Wood Owl Strix ocellata from far off distance even with binoculars due to back light.
  • Common Wood-shrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus sighted in a small group of four as well as individually.
  • Pair of Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae, a female Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi, a female Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea (New record for Mysore area), pair of White-throated Fantail-Flycatcher Rhipidura albicollis and, and an un-identified Blue Flycatcher was sighted within a span of 20 minutes. Mystery Flycatcher is yet to be confirmed.
  • Good congregation of Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (90+), Asian Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans (26) and Common Coot Fulica atra (40) in tank
  • Some Winter & Local Migrants observed:
    1. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
    2. Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
    3. Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
    4. Common Swallow Hirundo rustica
    5. Indian Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
    6. Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
    7. Greenish Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
    8. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
    9. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
    10. Wood Sandpiper Wood Tringa glareola
    11. Common Sandpiper Common Actitis hypoleucos
  • Butterfly activity was at its best; thanks to Neelam, two good rains greened entire countryside. Interesting sightings -Small Salmon Arab Calotis amata and Shot-Silverline Spindasis ictispoor.
  • Characteristic vegetation: Hardiwickia binata in fruiting, Rhus mysorensis, Cassia Montana and Gymnema sylverstre all in flowering.

Fig: Blue Naped Monarch - Abhijit APC

Fig: Unidentified Blue Flycatcher - Abhijit APC

INVITATION

When : 04.11.2012

How long : 4 Hours (07.00 to 11.00 AM)

Where : Giri-bettada kere a rain & canal fed tank, its surrounding open scrub and agricultural fields

Assembly point : Lalitha Mahal & T. Narsipura Road Junction at 06.15 AM (sharp)

Distance : 10 Km from Assembly point ( Route Map :http://goo.gl/maps/pPKJU)

Charges/Fee : None

Instructions : 1. Program is open to all

2. Please make your own vehicle arrangement

3. Carry sufficient water and snacks for individual requirement

4. Road is good, but be cautious about Sand Lorries and Private buses that ply rashly on this road

Contact : Shivaprakash Adavanne

adavanne@gmail.com | +91-9480191661 (7 PM to 9 PM )