The pandemic had put a stop to all travel for a few months now and we are dying to head out. My wife and I couldn't decide between the beach and the mountains and we finally split the difference and decided to spend three days each at Sadashivgad and Sharavathi. Here's the birding haul from those two destinations.
Thursday, 31st December, 2020
Sadashivgad And Sharavathi - 2020
Sadashivgad
White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
The highlight of this trip was a pair of Sea-eagles that had nested high up on a tree right next to our resort. It was an unbelievable privilege to watch them go about their day from a vantage point that was higher than their nest.
As the pair made repeated trips from their nest to the sea, I even got to photograph them in flight.
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
Every day during our stay at Sadashivgad we would take a boat down to another beach resort called Devbagh. In one of those trips we spotted this Owlet look down on us from high up on a Casuarina tree.
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Having the high vantage point also meant that we could see even the more common species from a new angle.
Sharavathi
Streak-throated or Indian Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola)
On our trip to Jog falls we encountered a large flock of Streak-throated Swallows nesting under a small bridge.
After nearly a hundred attempts got one half-decent shot of one of these birds in flight.
Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus)
Malabar Grey hornbills were everywhere around our lodge. This male was foraging on fruiting trees right across the balcony.
The female, with its more whitish bill.
Crimson-backed Sunbird (Leptocoma minima)
As soon as the warmed up the morning air Crimson-backed sunbirds would come out in their dozens.
The less colourful female.
Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis)
This Vernal Hanging Parrot sat down on a guava tree just as we were settling down for breakfast on our last morning at the lodge.
Flame-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus gularis)
Dark-fronted Babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps)
Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii)
Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina)
Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile)
Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala)
Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons)
