Saturday, September 13, 2014

Bird Photography at Ananthagiri Hills Vikarabad


TRIP 1: September 2014

If you talk about bird watching combined with a trek in the serenity of the nature, Ananthagiri Hills will be one in the top of the list. If you talk about a weekend getaway from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri Hills surely is worth the option. If you talk about a long drive on a day trip somewhere near Hyderabad, Ananthagiri Hills Vikarabad will definitely not disappoint you. However, there is only one catch - choose the perfect season based on the purpose of your visit.

For weekend getaways, long drives and any other leisure visit, best season to go will be during and after the monsoons.

For birding, it depends on the location you visit. Ananthagiri Hills has multiple bird watching points and trekking spots. This season is best for the spot near Kotpally Reservoir. All other spots and treks are too dense and make it extremely hard to spot and click.

This was our first visit there and none of us was aware about the terrain and the location. Hence we couldn't click many. However now we know where to see, at what time and in which season. At the end of the day with a trek of around 4 hours we somehow managed to click some birds.

(For me personally it was a strange feeling. Now I know the feeling when a batsman scores 199 in test and is waiting for that 1 more run to get to his double century. Before this trip I was at 197 with 2 new species added to my list, now standing at 199. I really wished that I got my 200 today alas will have to wait for some more time.)

The beautiful Yellow Crowned Woodpecker (don't get fooled by the bright red nape, that's how it is)

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Male

Green Bee-eater

Laughing Dove

Long-tailed Shrike juv

Plum-headed Parakeet Male

Plum-headed Parakeet Female

Rose-ringed Parakeet Male

White-bellied Drongo

Yellow-billed Babbler

White-browed Fantail

Plain Prinia

Our Group

TRIP 2: 18-Oct-2014

This was not a birding trip per-se and more of a picnic outing. However once a birder, how can you not wander your eyes to see that one elusive species. And there I was, successfully spotted 2 lifers and also was happy to spot the Grey Francolin near Hyderabad.

Distance: 100 km one way upto Kotpally reservoir.

Black-winged Kite

Grey Francolin

Rock Bush Quail

Birding Trip 3: December 2017

Brown Fish Owl

White-bellied Drongo

Great Tit

White-browed Wagtail

Little Stint

Lesser Goldenback 

White-browed Bulbul

Chestnut-shouldered Petronia

Green Warbler

Kotpally Kayaking
TRIP 4: JULY 2018
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

White-bellied Drongo

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Red-rumped Swallow

Pied Cuckoo

Serpent Eagle

Asian Koel Female

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Coppersmith Barbet
TRIP 5: AUGUST 2019

White-naped Woodpecker female

Tawny-bellied Babbler

Rufous Treepie juv

Asian Koel male juv

Common Iora male

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Wild Boar

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Indian Grey Hornbill

TRIP 6: SEPTEMBER 2020

Primarily a driving experience combined with some birding of course. 

Enjoy the dashcam video below, 



8 comments:

  1. Dear Sumit,

    I am an amateur birder with my humble Nikon coolpix P600. Eyeing on Nikon D5500 along with 18-140 bundled and a 150-600 lens from Tamron or Sigma. I had superzooms only. Am I in the right track for venturing into the true DSLR zone primarily for birding? Please advise. I also got tempted for the Vivitar 150-1300 mm from Big Digital sold online at Amazon. But was skeptical for its quality for the very low price.

    I am 51, an engineer by profession and can be reached at amitavasil@gmail.com and 8897154152

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful, I will send you a detailed email. Thanks.

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  2. Hey great blog with lots of insights. Can you please share the birding location or spots which you mentioned above? My mail id sandeepssm@gmail.com, all your help in this regards is much appreciated, thank you!

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    1. Email sent with location information. Hope it helps.

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  3. Hi sumeet..
    Where did u spot brown fish owl. And also please share few locations in ananthagiri hills where the bird activity is more..
    I am planning to visit ananthagiri hills this weekend.
    Mail me on madan.onliner@gmail.com
    Thanks
    -Madan

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    Replies
    1. Hi Madan, there is a concrete water pond behind the temple. Right after you cross the pond, you will find a big mango tree on the left side, it was perched on the main branch. The locations i wil send you over the email.

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  4. Hi Sumeet. Great Article. I would like to know how did the entire trip cost as I am planning one too.

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    1. Adithya, The cost would only include the fuel expenses. The drive from Hyderabad is around 80 KM. Up-down will be 160 KM, nothing prohibitive!

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