Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Mandalpatti – Madikeri.

I was up this morning before 6am. My jeep safari to Mandalpatti was due for 6:30am but as per usual was fifteen minutes late. Up the hill we went. Then it got bumpier and bumpier. I paid 25 rupees at Mandalpatti and then the goat track got even bumpier. My driver was fantastic in his Indian-made Mahindra four-wheel-drive.

Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)

We somehow made it to the top of the mountain where the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is situated. I paid my 100 rupees foreigner entrance fee and went for a walk. The highlight of the day was this Yellow-browed Bulbul. I thought it was an oriole so I just took a few and it flew off.

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

But firstly I ran into some Crested Larks which were hopping on the rocks.

Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha)

And some more Blue-capped Rock Thrush that I had just seen yesterday. On the way back we passed a jeep towing a huge generator. It was a major task going over the humungous pot-holes, but they got the job done. A cup of chai at the checkpoint at Mandalpatti and back down the hill again.

Western Ghats

This is pretty much what the country looks like around here.

Coorg bird list

Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha)

Madikeri hill top.

I got to Madikeri around lunch time and got a lift to my palatial mansion on the hill. I have a tv room, kitchen and bedroom for $10 a night. Bargain. In the afternoon I went up the hill at the back here. I found one new bird but not much else.

Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha) Female

Thanks to the good folks at Ask ID’s of Indian Birds facebook group for the identification. Here are some of the suggestions – Nilgiri Thrush, Eurasian wryneck. Black headed cuckoo shrike female, and Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha) Female. I had no idea but once I saw the photos on the Oriental Bird Club website I was convinced.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

I am not sure if I have seen this one in India. I know I have seen it in South-east Asia somewhere. Edit: Only seen in the Philippines.

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

These things are everywhere.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

This female House Sparrow had a grasshopper for a late lunch. This is the second time I have seen sparrows chomping on grasshoppers. I never seen it before. doh!

Coorg bird list

Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha) Female
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Indian Jungle Crow
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Basavanahali Kere.

I arrived in Chikmagalur around lunch time and had a bit of drama finding my hotel but it got sorted out eventually. After a bit of a rest I went for a walk around town checking out the shops. In the afternoon I went to the lake on the edge of town and walked half-way around it. There was a huge statue of Swami Vivekananda on an island on the lake.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The Great Cormorant when breeding has a red spot at base of bill, white cheeks and throat, white plumes covering much of its head, and white thigh patch. Most of these features you can see in this photo. Exhibit A.

Long-tailed Shrike

The wind was blowing his feathers around.

Jungle Myna

These guys looked a bit crazy. I like it.

Glossy Ibis

Too bad there were not three or four all lined up.

Black-headed Ibis

He looks a bit psycho too. Must be something in the water around here. Fluoride?

Black-winged Kite

Hovering. Inviting me to take his photo. So I did. And I like it.

Arty photograph

I have no idea how I did this, but I like it and that is all that matters. Or I do not know anything about art but I know what I like.

Chikmagalur bird list

Common Moorhen
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Purple Heron
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Indian Pond Heron
Grey-headed Swamphen
Lesser Whistling Duck
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Red-wattled Lapwing
Black-headed Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Black-winged Stilt
Painted Stork
White-throated Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Pied Bushchat
Jungle Myna
Long-tailed Shrike
Black-winged Kite

Kamalapura Lake.

This morning I set off to Kamalapura, about 6 kilometers from Hampi, towards Hospet. I was going to catch the bus, but a tuk-tuk came along with someone else in it, so I shared a ride. I got dropped off at the bus stand and walked about a kilometer to the lake. The lake was dead. Nothing in it. No birds, just blue green algae and rubbish.

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

I finally managed to photograph a Black-winged Kite in India. I had been seeing them from buses heaps of times but always had my camera packed away.

Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)

These are very nice looking birds.

Greater Coucal

The Greater Coucal is hard to photograph because they are always hiding behind the leaves and get very skittish when you approach.

water snake

This water snake was hanging around in a drain. Edit: Just checked the name. Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator).

fish

And so was this fish

crab

and this crab.

Butterfly

Hampi bird list

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Common Coot
White-throated Kingfisher
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Ashy Prinia
Common Myna
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
White-browed Wagtail
Great Cormorant
Greater Coucal
Black-headed Munia (Lonchura malacca)
Pied Bushchat
Yellow-billed Babbler

Mathanga Hill

Back up the hill again this afternoon. Through the Jain temple and ashram and out the back gate to the hill. It was quite a productive afternoon. I now have both the targeted species – Painted Spurfowl and Yellow-throated Bulbul

Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata)

It is not a great photo, but it is a record shot at least.

Jungle Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)

I was lucky to get a shot of a Jungle Bush Quail. I had been frightening them out of the grass for days but they just fly out before I can get the camera on them. This one sprinted between bushes and I was just able to get a shot of it.

Yellow-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthlaemus)

And at last I have a decent shot of a Yellow-throated Bulbul. You can easily tell where it got its name. derr! So creative, these bird namerers.

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaina haemacephala )

They have been hanging out on the wires near the jain temple road, so this time it is more in focus.

lizard

It might be a versicolor lizard, ie chameleon or Changeable Lizard.

Indian Palm Squirrel

Chomping on a hot dog. Yum. Where do you get them?

Mystery animal

It might be a frog or something staring out from the promordial slime.

Hampi Bird list

Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata)
Jungle Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)
Yellow-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthlaemus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Coppersmith Barbet
Brahminy Starling
Common Myna