Birdwatching from a singular perspective, but willing to share.
India Intermission 2019
September 4, 2019
Hi everyone. A brief interruption to my UK trip updates, if I may…
The end of August found me and my boss in India, of all places, to provide some software and process training. The approval and planning happened with relatively short notice just as our workload was increasing, so I wasn’t even thinking about the blog in the run up to the trip.
But in any case, here’s a selection of photos and the eBird lists for the week+ I spent in Bengaluru!
[Note to Tumblr followers: I realize the WP photomosaics don’t always work right. I’ll try to reformat and repost for you as soon as I can!]
We rode in these a few times through the week. The drivers get coupons/commissions for taking you to certain merchants, so be firm or you’ll take detours all day.
State Parliament building. Our driver was very proud that he got his drivers license in this very place. Apparently the citizens hold it in high regard!
Mahatma Gandhi statue on the parliament grounds.
Banglaore Palace main gate.
The palace interior is beautiful. The residence is still in use by the royal family, decendants of the King Chamaraja Wodeyar, of the former Kingdom of Mysore.
The palace was built in a Tutor-revival style on the outside, but the furnishings are Victorian and Edwardian.
Courtyard in Bangalore Palace.
Glass light fixture detail.
Sacred cow statue outside the palace,
Bangalore Palace was built by the British for the Mysore Royal Family in a Tutor revival style.
State Library near Cubbon Park. I was sternly “told” by a local policeman not to enter the library grounds, although it was clearly open and had visitors at the time.
More of Cubbon Park. I visited the park several times, as it was a quick walk from the hotel.
Still Cubbon Park. This has been a protected green space for over 150 years.
August 28:
Non-birding day
More of MG Road (that’s my boss Morris in the blue shirt, by the way).
Commercial Street is the market many locals use. There was a diverse population all conversing, haggling, and eating together.
Commercial Street area.
One of many temples in the market district.
The temples are ornate and colorful.
Here you get a sense of the numerous Hindu pantheon.
There are many large Christian churches in Bangalore, too. This is St. Mary’s Basilica “Our Lady of Good Health.”
Black Kites are found everywhere over the city, sometimes in the dozens. Here is one perched in Cubbon Park.
White-throated Kingfisher with a freshwater crab.
White-cheeked Barbet taken just next to the main road by the hotels.
White-throated Kingfisher pair.
ISKCON temple (Hare Krishna).
We were not allowed any photographs inside the temple. It was dumbfounding. The paintings and goldwork and the sounds of prayer and drums…
Little Cormorant at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
Spot-billed Pelican at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens
Little Grebe at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
Shiva statue (and temple). This is hidden behind a mall and busy street! It’s like a hidden dimension as you walk through a parking garage and back alley and open up to THIS.
Lord Shiva. We got to take part in a (tourist version) ceremony and learned some chants for meditation.
There is a population of Bonnet Macaques in the park. They will steal your food and shinies if you don’t watch it!
This macaque was soo sleeepy.
Although the pathways were on the whole, well maintained, I did mangage to trip and fall from a hole as I was too busy tracking a bird to watch my feet!
Parting shot of a very angry and dominant Bonnet Macaque. He was quite vocal and demonstrative.
The bird life was suprisingly sparse in the park. This is one of only a few shots I got. This is a Red-whiskered Bulbul.
Bonnet Macaque looking for food.
Rural India, far below. I don’t have any photos from the road down there.
Breath of fresh air after the noise and pollution of the city
One of the other hills from our vantage point.
Nandi Hills, about an hour north of Bengaluru has some spectacular views! These are some of the oldest rocks on earth, over 3 billion years old!
Another of the Nandi Hills.
The remainder of my time since coming home has been recovering from jet lag, getting over a head cold, and prepping and waiting out Hurricane Dorian.
I’ll get back to the UK recaps as soon as I can. Stay safe and see you later!
Lonely Birder 