Christmas Birding-Ananthagiri Hills

 

Christmas festive season of happiness, joy and celebrations. Gifting is integral part of Christmas, I guess bring feeling of sharing and expressing love. With extended weekend for kids ,thought to celebrate festival amidst of NATURE ,best gift given to us by Almighty. So here we go for nature exploration, birding and driving.

This time impromptu place chosen -ANATHAGIRI HILLS in Telangana situated at distance of 70 +kms from Hyderabad, drive of close to one hour.Although we took little more since we had three stoppage on the way.

 

First stoppage was Sunflower field, bright yellow flower attracted us too much made our morning special.Earlier in Bangalore, seen these vibrant sunflower ,my blog cover picture with my daughter. At this point clicked lot of pictures, breathed fresh pollution free air. My kids were cheerful and super excited on watching this wonderful sight, they reviewed it closely in joy.

Memories of Sunflower Garden.

 

 

Second stoppage was near a Lake, in hope to catch some aquatic birds. Although whole place was so serene and quite, but no birds were to be seen except few Coots. Nevertheless we moved toward the destination, relishing our journey each minute each second.

Lake View

Me and my Binocular in hope of some winter migrants

 

Finally we set to reach the destination-Ananthagiri hills.I must like to mentioned that road from Hyderbad to Ananthagiri hills is absolutely wonderful,well maintained and of course very traffic free,so overall very relaxed travel. As a final point after two and half hour of travel(we reached at 8.30 because of giving three stoppage) ,we reached destination.

 

We were welcomed by big Statue of Hanumanji idol and regional God with wings,my son called it god with butterflies on body,see kids have their own cute imagination and connecting different things.While we were parking the car,biggest surprise of day was waiting for us on branch of tree-A Grey Hornbill. At that time my Camera was all inside bag,by the time I unpacked it,Hornbill was about to fly ,so got very dark picture. I was in no mood to let this opportunity go,so finally whole family chased it and

VOILA!!!

 

We reached the place after following Grey hornbill, I saw around 10 Grey Hornbill(probably a nesting site-A guess),best birding I ever had.We spend around half and hour at same place and already gratified heart.Clicking it was challenge because it was using camouflage effect and hiding between brown branches.To my good luck, could click some good shots…..

A whole series of Hornbill clicks –With one pic of two in one frame.

 

I did not knew it is just starting, and whole bundle of Surprises waiting for us….from hornbill point,saw rufous Treepie couple cozying in branch ,followed by view of plum parakeet and then following following…..….birding continues with some great time and clicking some birds first time.

 

Rufous Treepie

 

Sulphur bellied Warbler

Golden Oriole Immature

 

Long Cuckoo Shirke

 

Plum headed Parakeet

 

Small Minivet

 

White bellied Drongo(Initially i searched for bird with white ring around neck in birds books,but realised its a branch in front of neck)

 

Small Minivet(Female)

 

Coppersmith Barbet

 

Rose ringed Parakeet

 

Pipit

 

Purple rumped Sunbird

 

Red vented Bulbul

 

Green Bee eater

 

Jungle Babbler

 

In addition to birding ,kids had wonderful time playing in thick jungle with woods,leaves and twigs ,and self exploring the Nature with their own creative ideas.

 

We did not realise that so much time gone in birding , Nature exploration and Breathe the nature…it was already 1’o clock,we decided to lunch at place opposite to the Temple at Anathagiri hills.

Last wing travel includes driving to nearby place where it was quite as pin drop silence,no signs of human life ,could hear rustling leaves and some chirps, even at 2’oclock.

View from Ananthagiri Hills view point.

 

Finally time to say bye to beautiful and quite place where one can connects with Nature,birding and family time.I think it is definitely cherished gift on Christmas.

Cheers

Ashu