Birds - Kokkere Belluru and around

The road to Kokkere Belluru branches off to the left from the Bangalluru Mysore highway a few km short of Muddur. If you see Adiga's hotel to your right, you have come too far. Take a break there, have a Muddur Vada and Coffee and make your way back. As the road climbs uphill you will see the cut that allows you to turn into the side road.

Little Egrets in a paddy field

Driving on the country road, one sees green agricultural landscapes. It is the second week of January and paddy is still being transplanted in some fields

Ragi has been harvested and farmers are engaged in threshing and cleaning the grain. I come across just one mechanical thresher driving from the Mysore road to Kanakapura. Most threshing is done by laying the stalks on the road and taking the help of passing vehicles to pry loose the grain.

Arriving near Kokkere Belluru, I find the villagers very helpful. When I ask directions from a bystander, he shouts to some people standing some distance away asking them if the Kokkere (storks) have arrived.

I first think he is having fun at my expense. It turns out that I am already in the village and he wants to make sure that the birds are there before directing me further.

Kokkere Belluru

A Grey Pelican on the Kokkere Belluru Banyan

There are two Banyan trees, one on either side of the road near the village water tank and these are host to numerous families of Pelicans. Another
species of visitors (storks?) will arrive in a week or two, the villagers tell me.I stand beneath one of the trees and gaze upwards.



The air is filled with groaning. Dozens of Pelicans are roosting on a single Banyan tree.

Pelican Landing

A Brahminy Kite

A Little Egret on the same Banyan

Igalur Dam

Driving down through fields and little villages, I take a diversion to Igalur dam after reaching the outskirts of Igalur town.

A large lake has formed on one side of the dam, on the other side, the river carries away the water being let through. A thick jungle of reeds and water hyacinth lines the nearer shore of the lake. A swarm of Coots laze around at the edge of the clear waters. There are several birds in the reeds - I can make out a Purple Swamphen family. Steps lead down to the river from the road laid on top of the dam.

A Great Egret, Asian Openbill and a pair of
Black Winged Stilts

Walking on the rocky river bed to the edge of the stream, I am able to get close to the birds that are busy fishing. Cormorants, Openbills, Stilts, Egrets and Herons are to be seen.

A Cormorant

Pond Heron

Black Winged Stilts

A Common Kingfisher

Purple Swamphen

Driving over the Iglur dam, I continue on the road till a T junction where I turn left. Here I come across a pond with several species of birds. A tree near the pond is populated by Pelicans.









And then on the National Highway between Kanakpura and Bangalore, I come upon this large lake with a colony of Painted Storks.