Email to bngbirds egroup:

When Kiran Kashyap suddenly called and asked if I would like to join in for a trip to Nandi Hills, I must admit, I was very ambivalent. I’d just had cataract surgery in both eyes a week ago, and was still in the process of putting in various eye-drops (sorry, in today’s world, i-drops!) every couple of hours…should I go or not? In the event, I decided that if I couldn’t see much, I could at least enjoy the beauty of Nandi Hills…so off I went with Kiran, Guru, and Manju.

And wow....I was so glad I did! Beginning the Indian Blue Robin at the "leaking pipe" site near Tipu's summer lodge (I hope they never repair it!) , and going on to the spectrum of Thrushes and Robins in the nursery area, it was just a rain of birds. The Asian Paradise Flycatchers, too, were there in white and rufous glory, ribboning their tails to and fro. I got one changing from rufous to white! Babblers, both Puff-throated and Tawny-bellied, walked in and around the flowerpots, tantalizing us. The Nilgiri Wood Pigeons and the Pied Thrushes, which we normally look for near the Akashganga, all appeared as if on cue, for us. It was only the knowledge that the masala dosa counter at the top of the hill closes by 9.30 that made us tear ourselves away. The Auricaria cookii tree near Nehru Nilaya yielded the Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Olive-backed Pipits in the lawns nearby. We sighted many Ashy Drongos, but only a single Black Drongo.(No, don't ask me if it was married!) Apart from the birds, the trees were wonderful, too. The beautiful figs of Ficus drupacea, Ficus drupacea the different greens of the leaves; the Jacaranda and the Tabebuia aurea flowers carpeting the ground with purple and gold... even the fresh copper-sheen leaves on the mango and the peepal trees were such a visual treat. The nursery area was soothing to the eye, with the golden morning sunlight falling on so many flowers. We saw the loving care that the staff lavish on the gardens in the Nehru Nilaya. It was lovely to have the place practically to ourselves, for a change; the weekday, and the fact that we are in the middle of the 'exam season', contributed to the general peace and quiet. I would not like to visit Nandi Hills a couple of weekends from now, I must admit! I must repeat my query...have there been any sightings of Owls or Owlets from Nandi Hills? I've never seen one...yet. I am sorry...I couldn't clearly see the butterflies, but I did see a few flitting around; I've included the very basic list. Amphibians: Pond Terrapin Birds: Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler, Tawny-bellied Bulbul, Red-whiskered Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, White-cheeked Blackbird, Indian Bushchat, Pied Crow, House Crow, Long-billed Dove, Spotted Dove, Laughing Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Black Flowerpecker, Pale-billed Flycatcher, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, White-browed Fantail Honey-buzzard, Oriental Iora. Common Kite, Black Kite, Black-winged Kite, Brahminy Koel, Asian Leafbird, Jerdon's Myna, Common Myna, Jungle Parakeet, Rose-ringed Pigeon, Blue Rock Pigeon, Nilgiri Wood Pipit, Olive-backed Prinia, Ashy Robin, Indian Blue Robin, Oriental Magpie Shikra Sparrow, House Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Purple-rumped Swift, Asian Palm Tailorbird, Common Thrush, Blue Rock (female) Thrush, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Grey Warbler, Booted Warbler, Greenish Leaf Warbler, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Un id White-eye, Oriental The list is on eBird at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22432347 Butterflies: Crow, Common Eggfly, Danaid Emigrant, Mottled Jezebel, Common Pierrot, Common Rose, Common Rose, Crimson Tiger, Dark Blue Mammals: Macaque, Bonnet Squirrel, Three-striped Palm

Here are Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, enjoying the birds:

My drops-in-the-eyes shots are on my FB album,

click here

I enjoyed the outing to Nandi Hills…here’s a view from the top.