The breakaway weekend!

That's exactly what the weekend that passed was. Crazy, hectic and outrageous are a few words that could remotely describe the work pressure at office having me work 15-17 hours a day, for more than a month!
Being so outdoor inclined, staying indoors without a good "breather" does make me cranky and slightly disoriented, plus down goes the productivity.

Took a couple of days off from work to "get the sanity back". And what better way than a lone ride...the open roads, wind in your hair, birds in the trees.......
Woke up a little late, but yet managed to make some good ground and reached Kanakapura for breakfast with some lip smacking Masala dosa. Moved on to explore the areas around the small town which boasts of some nice landscapes and decent amount of wildlife.

Quite a good number of lakes exist around and went about lake-hopping. Water is always and amazing element, offers good photo ops, both with respect to birding as well as people.
Where there is water, there is fishing!


And good amount of birds




Lesser cormorants


With a grey heron




Pied wagtail


Some kind of a pipit(?)


The brahminy kite


Probably one of the better shots I ever got of this species



The dry climate lending some nice earthy colors







The baked lake bed and the newly sprouting grass does evoke emotions! Talk about hope, making way for the new, etc.



Insects, amphibians and reptiles



Dragonflies in good numbers :D







These mating dragonflies which I captured earlier


Signature spider





Oh and did I mention people too :D







Lillies filled the small lake











Also saw some Ottelia sp ih the corners/edges of the lake


Some vals


Ambulia (?)


Egeria densa





The nice landscapes as I rode around








The yellow flowers of this tree making it stand out in the landscape




Spotted some Oryzias dancena with their "light-like" eyes glowing in the sun on the surface




Just as I was shooting these, happened to miss the low flying raptor (could anyone ID it please?)


And then some nice greens






Mangoes...the summer speciality


A few shepherds made for some good subjects





Call this the true art of "chilling", blazing hot sun, lie down under your umbrella with a nice breeze sweeping across


My bike facing some traffic problems :D


The sheep with some attitude!





The blazing hot sun failed to dampen the "riding" spirit on the day and I completed a good 300+ Kms on my bike. Lots of tender coconut helped matters too!


Felt REAL good, the screaming winds at speed I think take out all the clutter from the head :) :D
Returned home in the evening with a super tan, but a refreshed mind. A shower and a quick nap, and was all set to plan for the next day.

Headed out to Mysore with family (had not spent anywhere close to enough time with them for the last month or more!) and checked into a resort, spending the rest of the day in the pool cooling off. Lying around in the pool doing nothin else sure is some definition of a holiday ;)
Next day morning was set for Ranganathittu bird sanctuary...THE place for nesting birds. The little islets there become a beehive of breeding activity with every little available space heavily competed for.

This time round saw lots of Painted storks, Openbills, Spoonbills. Missing in action were the River terns and the stone plovers.

Pond heron in breeding plumage


Juvenile


Cattle egret


Great egret


The breeding dress was the fashion of the season


Tons of shots of the painted storks














Sparring for nesting material





Openbilled storks






Juvenile



The gang rock


White ibis


Had wanted to shoot a flying bat for a long time, and it happened this time :)

Too bad the sun was behind the bat :(

And a healthy number of crocs




Returned home by nightfall totally refreshed and happy that I did spend some time with the much ignored camera, and spent some good time outdoors.

Adios till the next ride :)

Note: Remember to take time off to refresh and rejuvenate!!

Cheers,
Hayath