Thippagondanahalli (TG halli) biding

On our way to Masinagudi, we took a detour and landed up in TG halli for birding early in the morning.

Directions: TG halli is around 35kms from Bangalore on the Magadi road. About 4kms after Tavarekere on the magadi road, a diversion to the right downslide and then straight ahead keeping to the left will lead to the lake (Its easy to miss this diversion if you are driving fast).

Currently avoid the vijayanagar stretch and preferred is the NICE highway and get out on the Magadi road and from there its a cruise as the highway is in good shape till Magadi.

Mist all around and heavy overcast conditions welcomed us and the skies threatening to open up anytime. We drove a little inside and parked ourselves near the mud bunds. Raptors are commonly sighted here during winters and we were not dissappointed as we got to see the Tawny eagle pair and the Kestrel here.

I'm not getting into too much of writing but would rather allow the pictures to speak for themselves...

Bird checklist:
Tawny Eagle
Black Kite
Common Kestrel
River Tern
Egrets
Cormorants
Indian Roller
etc...

Food is available at Tavarekere that may not be to the liking of everyone but would definitely suffice an hungry stomach :)

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!