Hampi,, Karnataka, India (January 2025)
My Birding story was only 4 months old in January 2025. I had just invested in a NIKON and was struggling to learn the elements of basic bird photography.
A 4-day vacation in Hampi conjured up images of the magnificent 700-years old ruins of the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire, famous for its history and architecture rather than birds. I therefore decided to leave the Nikon behind and rely on my Samsung Phone. How wrong I was!
The drive from the airport cut through a lush green valley surrounded by rugged boulder strewn hills. The variety of birds in the rice fields bordering the road had me cursing my laziness in not carrying the NIKON. It was too late. The birds therefore were many – but the pictures are few and just barely good enough.
The lesson had been learned – research an area before travelling. Birds are present in most environs.
Three locations are included:
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Tungabhadra River
A mighty river snaking through the Boulder strewn valley interspersed with deeper smoothly flowing sections that are home to crocodiles. Great for clambering along over massive boulders along the bank or taking a leisurely stroll along a built up flat paved path to a temple. Birds were encountered on the rocks and on the paved bank.
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Grey Heron
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Rainbow Bee Eater
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White Browed Wagtail (2 Pics + 1 Vid)
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​ Rainbow Bee Eater
Resting on wire on flight between Banks
​ Grey Heron
Waiting for Prey on the Bank
​White Browed Wagtail
Surveying theTungabhadra
​White Browed Wagtail
Looking for Prey
Feather's Nest & Roadside
A beautiful resort in the country with a small lake surrounded by trees and greenery, with a stunning backdrop of jagged mountains of boulders weathered by years of sun, wind, and rain. In the center of the lake is a small green Island and a tree where numerous birds flock for the night.
We were able to paddle silently a few feet from the island in the local circular "Basket Boat" - Coracle - to take photographs at close quarters. Two crocodiles also swam lazily by. The birds spotted:
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Double Crested Cormorant
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Medium Egret
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Black Headed Ibis (2 Pics + 1 Vid)
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A Coracle
​Double Crested Cormorant
Perched atop the Tree
​Medium Egret
Perched on a steel Hanger
​Medium Egret
Perched on a steel Hanger
​Black Headed Ibis
Perched at the Tree Top
​Black Headed Ibises & Egrets
Settling in for the night
​Eastern Cattle Egret
In a rice field beside the road
​Laughing Dove
Perched in Grasses beside the Road
