Happy New Year 2009

2008 has been a wonderful year in all aspects personally and professionally. Personally 2008 has been splendid with lots of adventure, excitement and experiences. I have generated a small video capturing the best moments of my adventures undertaken so far in 2008 primarily focussing on the rich bio-diversity our state offers in terms of nature, wildlife, culture and leisure (speakers on please).

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous year 2009. regards, santosh.

Tippagondanahalli (T.G. Halli) - Manchanabele birding

Tippagondanahalli Reservoir - The source of drinking water for Bangalore city is a haven for birders and birds with this place crowded with numerous birders during the weekends. This lake is a man made reservoir created by building a dam by Sir M V. The visiting raptors are famous here with good sightings of the Common Kestrel, Marsh Harriers, Brahminy Kites, Black Kites and many others. It’s a true blue birders paradise but the sand mining activity around is a concern for both the birds and the birders. This place is around 35kms from Bangalore on the Magadi road. On the Magadi road, 4kms after Tavarekere, a diversion to the right downslide and then straight ahead keeping left will lead to the lake. The village nearby is called as Nagenahalli. 


Manchanabele Dam – On the Magadi road a few kms after the Big banyan tree is the Manchanabele dam. Permissions are required for both the places to access the dam area. But you can take deviations on to the mud roads before the dam area to reach the lakebeds that are ideal spots for birding. This dam can be reached from TG halli also, coming back to Nagenahalli and taking a deviation to the right and further 15kms ahead or the other route through the Big banyan tree. Birding is possible all along the route from TG halli to Manchanabele dam. As you near the dam area a kucha road leads to the right that ends up at the backend of the dam that is very isolated. Evenings are best avoided and reaching early in the day is ideal. Our sightings included:

• Brahminy Kites
• Little Egrets
• Cattle Egrets
• Black Drongo
• Little Cormorants
• Green Bee eaters
• Black Kites
• Red headed Munia pair
• Red Whiskered Bulbul and many others that I am yet to identify.

Tips: Road conditions are good but the kucha roads are bad and it takes time to reach the places. Water and food to be carried and it gets pretty hot during the afternoons.


Madiwala Lake - One of the biggest lakes in Bangalore and one of the most polluted. Earlier it was a huge lake and it has reduced in size drastically owing to urbanization and the surrounding area gets flooded during monsoons. Was here on an overcast day and birding here was not fruitful and added to it the stink from the weeds removed from the lake and dumped on the sidewalks.

• Brahminy Kites
• Common coots
• Purple Moorhens
• Asian Koel
• Egrets and few others.

Tips: Patience is a virtue. Weekend mornings are crowded with the morning joggers and walkers. Plastics, rotten weeds are all over the place Maintenance is an issue. The photos link is here.


Care for the nature and the nature cares for you!