Bhadra in Action - A photo essay

kuk kaya kaya kuk ...

The call of the grey jungle fowl welcomed us to the River Tern Lodge at Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Situated right next to the Bhadra dam, the rooms in the lodge have a spectacular view of the backwaters.  River terns (the presence of which has given the lodge its name), striated swallows, doves provide ample opportunities for "arm-chair birding" from the room.  On the farther shores, an elephant or even a black panther may make a surprise appearance 

Room with a view	Striated swallow

Boat and jeep rides into the sanctuary give an opportunity to view the wildlife up close.


The avian fauna:

The overwhelming number of river terns can make photography difficult as one doesn't know which bird to photograph.  But, focusing on a chick and waiting will produce good action images.

Conversation	Argument	River tern chick regurgitating fish

Any raptor approaching the nesting sites triggers a mass exodus, with all the terns taking to the wing and  trying to chase the threat away.  The sight and sound of thousands of birds flying all around the boat is one which will remain etched in one's memory forever.

Sometimes even the best defenses can be breached.  When two Bonelli's eagles attacked, one of them managed to capture a chick.	River terns agitated due to the close approach of a woolly necked stork..

Amidst the river terns a few pranticoles can also be seen.

Pranticole chick.	Small Pranticole

Raptors like ospreys, grey headed fish eagle, white bellied sea eagle can be commonly seen.

Osprey with kill.	Osprey take off	Grey headed fish eagle.	White bellied sea eagle

The elusive tiger:

Near the end of one of our boat rides, a tigress decided to bask in the glory of the setting sun.

The elephant that played dead:

Tusker, lying as if dead, at the water's edge	Resurrection ...	...ending with a dust bath

Night Life:

At night, the absence of light pollution allow the stars to make an appearance.

Star rise over the backwaters	Our rooms

Some more photos ...
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Route:

The River Tern Lodge (http://www.junglelodges.com/index.php/resorts/river-tern-lodge.html) is near Tarikere - approx 5 hrs from Bangalore - in the Bangalore-Shimoga road.  Take a left turn towards Lakkavalli after Tarikere (clearly marked with a sign board). The lodge is very near to Lakkavalli