Kemmangundi & Muthodi – 24th to 27th Nov, 2005

Chickmagalur via Hassan, a 250 Kms drive from Bangalore City leads you to yet another fascinating part of the “Western Ghats” in Karnataka – the “Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary” ! Yathin, Sudhir and myself spent two full days photographing birds in this area, the other two days being traveling days.

Once you exit Chickmagular town you will be engulfed by Coffee Plantations. We stayed in one such plantation Nature Nirvana , about 35 kms drive from Chickmagalur. A very comfortable place to stay with some superb food and very friendly staff.

Yathin on his previous visit to the area had seen and photographed the Bright-headed Cisticola, a small 10 cms bird that likes to stick to grass patches and can be easily located by its call. This place is on the route to Kemmangundi from Chickmaglur. We spent an entire day photographing birds in this area with the focus being the Bright-headed Cisticola. The "Baba Budan Giri" range all around is truly inspiring!

The next day we headed to the Muthodi forest which is a 18 kms drive from Nature Nrivana through various Coffee Estates. Again, Muthodi was full of bird life ! We spent the entire day in this area and were able to photograph many birds. You are allowed into the forest for a couple of hours in the morning and again in the evening, rest of your birding will be from the main road.

Though rain, strong winds and sunshine were competing with each other all the time, I did mange to photograph these birds for your viewing pleasure! Thanks Yathin and Sudhir for all the support.

Regards,

Vijay Cavale

November, 2005