If anyone asks me how many times have I visited Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, I really won't be able to answer because it is innumerable. My visits to this place have always been for a purpose of bird watching and photography, of course! Situated at around 125 KM from Bengaluru and 3 KM from historical Sri Ranganapattan, Ranganathittu is a small bird sanctuary along the river of Kaveri (since 1940). The islets formed out of the Kaveri river (after the KRS dam was built) form an important nesting grounds for birds. The sanctuary attracts lot of migrants throughout the year. Though the best time to visit the place is said to be from March to May, I would say throughout the year you will be able to spot lot of birds (except some migrants which are seasonal). Early morning would be the best time to visit, because either you will find only nature lovers along with you or you will be the lonely visitor in the early morning. Otherwise, rest of the day you would find the place chaotic(most of the times), with people screaming and shouting or playing in the lawns.
Bird Life in Ranganathittu:
Common Kingfishers, Pied king fisher, White Ibis, Openbilled and Painted Storks, Wagtails, Magpie Robin, Red Whiskered bulbul, Pelican, Paradise Fly Catchers, Grey hornbills, Night heron and Pond herons, Little Cormorant, Indian Peacocks.. (the list goes on)
The photographs will keep on piling up on top of the archives, because my visits to this place are going to continue as long as I am around Bengaluru. I hope the readers/visitors of the blog like this collection and hope this adds to your love for nature and bird life.
Most of these shots are taken with following equipments:
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| 1. A beautiful winter Morning, covers the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and the fields around with a thick fog; when the Sun rises above the horizon the fields get a golden bathing |
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| 2. The fields along side the river provide a good habitat for lot of birds which are seen throughout the year |
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| 3. The early morning mist dripping down as a droplet |
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| 4. Morning is the best time to visit the sanctuary as there will be less visitors giving you an opportunity to go around and take a lot of pics patiently. Also boating (250rs for a 8 seater) would help you go close to the habitats of migrant birds |
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5. Commonly found bird at the sanctuary; River Tern rests on a rock in an islet of the Kaveri river, on an early morning
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| 6. Pelican in flight; these Pelicans are huge in size and when they fly you can actually hear the sound of their wings pulling the wind back |
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7. Little Cormorant: It is always such a delight to see this bird's flight, and it flies tangential to the water looking for fishes |
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| 8. Eurasian Spoonbill in flight |
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| 9. Eurasian Openbilled Storks sitting on a tree, seen cuddling each other |
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| 10. Eurasian Spoonbill in flight |
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11. Common Kingfisher on a dried up branch
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12. Night Heron waits for it's prey while making sure it is getting shade
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| 13. Magpie Robin, not a very shy bird; gives enough opportunities for a photographer |
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| 14. King of the sanctuary: Pied Kingfisher waits for a fish hunt on a broken tree branch |
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| 15. Birds: Great Thick Knee |
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| 16. River Tern, turning its head before scratching it's back ;-) |
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| 17. Painted Stork in flight |
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18. Indian Grey Hornbill; Hornibills are very beautiful birds to watch; a number of species of hornbills are threatened with extinction
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| 19. A small birdie (may be a Sun bird or yellow wagtail?), in a cultivated field; I somehow feel very happy seeing this picture though there is nothing great in it. I love the bird in its solitude and there is a whitish grass over the bird's head as if it is an umbrella. |
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| 20. How can I forget this picture which won me a consolation prize at Canon Go Green competition Bangalore; A tiny droplet shows the green landscape along side the bird sanctuary |
