Ranganathittu - Birders Paradise

Ranganathittu is just around 125 KM from Bangalore. The sanctuary is near Mysore, more specifically it's just after the historic town Srirangapatna. The sanctuary is small in size but a true paradise of Bird Lovers. The 0.67 KM² area comprises 6 islets on the banks of River Kaveri.

Whenever I find some time in week end from our busy schedule I take my car out in early morning and drive to this amazing place. Some times with friends, some time alone. From my house it’s a two and half hours drive through Bangalore – Mysore high way.

Recently I had a trip there with my friend Subha to get some oxygen far from busty city traffic, noise and fumes. In one week end woke up very early morning, got ready quickly, checked my camera backpack and left home. On the way I had to pick up my friend, Subha. We were trying to reach there by 7 in the morning to get the best light for photography. The drive was pleasant and we reached there by 7 am. There was no tourist and the resident of the sanctuary has just started their day activity. Barbets have started their morning conference; folks of parakeet were flying from one tree to another. It was a relief to ear, eye and other five senses. I spotted a group if Grey Hornbill for the first time in Ranganathittu. But I lost chance to get a decent snap as they immediately hide inside thick canopy of the trees.

Inside the sanctuary there are plenty Baya Weaver nesting around a small water-body. The little, cute cheerful birds were in full mood of nesting and the colourful males were busy to attract their opposite sex.

After spending some with these small beauties we went ahead towards the river and was amazed to see the number of colourful Painted Storks, Ibis, Eurassian Spoonbill, Great Thick Knee, River Tern, Egrets, Pond Heron, Night Heron. There was only sound of these different birds. We took a boat and started boating in the river. The Egrets were in breeding plumage and were looking very colourful, Painted Storks were busy with their chicks. Few spoonbills were searching food in the river water. But unfortunately this time we couldn’t spot a single kingfisher. The boatman pointed towards the River Tern and he mentioned about the nest. There was a River Tern couple and they were very aggressive as we were approaching towards nest. After spending little time we decided to move ahead and let the couple leave in peace. While coming back we could see one chick of the River Tern.

While exploring in the river we took many images of Painted Stork, Eurassian Spoonbil, Pelican, Egrets and many others. Suddenly I noticed one Juvenile Marsh Crocodile very near to our boat. It gave me a single opportunity to click an image and went off under the water.

The boating was half an hour ride. We spent around 2 hours inside the sanctuary, had another boat ride. We started for Bangalore around 12 noon and by that time we could spot around 20 species of bird:

1. Grey Hornbill.
2. Coppersmith Barbet.
3. Baya Weaver.
4. Scally Breasted Munia.
5. Rose Ringed Parakeet.
6. Painted Storks.
7. Open Bill Stork.
8. White Ibis.
9. Eurassian Spoonbill.
10. Great Thick Knee.
11. River Tern.
12. Egret.
13. Pond Heron.
14. Night Heron.
15. Great White Pelican.
16. Junglee Myna
17. Common Myna
18. Pied Wagtail.
19. Cormorant.
20. Darter.

Images From Ranganathittu


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1. Painted Stork
2. Painted Stork - Closeup
3. Eurassian Spoonbill
4. Cattle Egret (Breeding Plumage) - Closeup
5. Cattle Egret - Courtship
6. River Tern - Alert Pose
7. Pond Heron (Breeding Plumage)
8. River Tern
9. Great Thick Knee (Stone Plover) - Closeup
10. Great Thick Knee (Stone Plover)
11. Open Billed Stork
12. Night Heron

A Simple Technology

A simple things some time become very useful in photography. Recently I visited to Bannerghatta Butterfly Park. The park opens at 10 am in the morning and I was late. Finally I reached there at around 1 PM. The scorching sun was not definitely ideal for any photography. I was carrying a 5 cell torch for a new experiment. The butterfly park has a good number of species - Crimson Rose, Common Crow, Blue Tiger and Lime was plentiful. I was looking for the "Red Peirott" as summer is the mating time of this species. Inside the dome of the butterfly park I found one Blue Tiger hanging from a leaf. I set my tripod and showed my friend, Subha how to use the "torch". I changed the exposer bias to -2. My friend set the torch on the butterfly. I was happy to see the output. If I dont say, no one can understand it has been taken under mid day sun. The golden light of the external torch has given a morning sunlight effect on the butterfly. I was successful in my experiment.

While exploring inside the dome of the butterfly park we found one stripped tiger sitting in an interesting composition. I didnt waste my time. My friend was now experienced to use the torch on the butterfly. He did his job splendidly. This time I negotiated with exposure bias to -1.3.After getting the satisfactory result, I was roaming about here and there, suddenly some movement caught my eye. It was difficult to notice but the small movement of this insect helped me to point it out. It was a grasshoper. A green insect on a green leaf. I started clicking images. Subha was not getting what I was shooting though we were only 1 ft away from the insect. Now again I wanted to do the same experiment here. I showed Shuva where the insect was and requested him to put on the torch light. But the intelligent insect jumped away as soon the torch light fell on it.

After spending some more time we came outside of the dome and decided to come back. On our way back my heart jumped in joy and I found the little beauty for what my eye was tired. There was a couple of Red Peirott. They were deep in love. I didn't waste my time, unpacked my camera and lens. The torch was again handed over to my friend. The couple was so busy that they completly ignored our presence and helped us to take a good number of image.
The exposure bias was -0.7 in this shot. After coming back home immediately I transfered the images in my laptop and I was very happy. There was no evidence of shadow on the images inspite of shooting under harsh sunlight.
The 5 cell torch has become a permanant equipment in my backpack since the small trip to Bannerghatta Butterfly Park.