Rain Respite and birding at Neersagar

After two weeks of dry heat and two days of muggy weather, it rained here in Hubli yesterday. Rain turned my lane into a muck bath. The usual trouble of water logging, black soil sticking to your shoes, feet and everything else is back this year.

The trouble began last year, when the pipeline for 24 hrs water supply was laid. The contractors did not do a clean job of filling up the pit and that meant the black soil stayed on top and mixed with water its pure hell for pedestrians as well as motorist.

This year starting three weeks back, my lane underwent work for laying the sewage line. The pit dug up was 15 feet deep. The contractor once gain goofs up in filling up the pit. Lo and behold black soil on top and with the rain yesterday and today. Grrrrrrrrr.

I have been running from pillar to post to do something about the state of the road, but to no avail.

Today:
Birding with Ganesh Rao at Neersagar lake.

Sighting:
Red-Whiskered Bulbul. Some great light enabled a leisurely viewing. one this outing the Bulbuls outnumbered any other species seen and Ganesh Rao was wondering if we should name neersagar, Bulbul Paradise.

White-browed Fantail Fantail-Flycatcher: My first sighting of this common bird (am i a novice or shat) A sweet melodious call compelled us to track down this bird. the delight was in finding it in its nest. The nest itself is a work of art, an almost perfect cup. The sweet call made us nutty with delight.

Shikra: A juvenile Shikra was harassing a squirrel and the squirrel was dishing out a run for its money. The daring squirrel seemed to be inviting the Shikra by venturing out onto the open branches. Looking back now, just wondering if it was trying to distract the Shikra from its young. Got a decent photo.

Yellow Wagtail: The wagtail was spotted on the way to neersagar at a small pond. In some great light, it ventured close to where we were. Ganesh Rao was elated at the have a close sighting.

Brahminy Starling: Having photographed this bird buring the last visit, i was able to id it only today. Never thought that, there existed a bird with a blue patch along the side of its beak.

We were back in Hubli by noon. Dropped of a dear friend at the station and rushed back home before the rains come visiting and render the road a nightmare.

The begining.

Welcome and Wishing one and all a very happy Easter.

This blog will be about life in Hubli, a city in North Karnataka, India. Birding will figure prominently in it. So will nature and the importance of its conservation.

As a child, I was initiated into birding by my grandmother. Come feeding time,with me on her lap, she would point at bulbuls, house sparrow, crows, koels and woodpeckers that frequented the tree in my backyard, just to get me to eat (May the good LORD bless her soul). Lunch time at school and food got left on the ground for black kites to swoop down and carry it away.

As I grew and journeyed through life, the black kite remained an object of envy, for its gift of flight. New interests, the pain of school itself etc ensured that birds were a there but as a distant memory.

Last year the interest got kindled. A trip to Magadi Lake to see the bar headed geese and a meeting with Shri Gurunath Desai of the North Karnataka Birders Network (NKBN) did the trick.

This blog essentialy takes off from there and its a work in progress.

Your comments are welcome.