Neighborhood water bodies: Jogi Kere

Location: Jogi Kere, near Thallagatapura, Bangalore
Date: Mar 4th, 2021
To get there: [Click here for Google Map].
It is located in South Bangalore on Kanakapura Road in Judicial Layout, Thallagatapura.
Trail type: Paved walking path going around the Lake for 0.5 km
Facilities: None at the lake as of now. 

Sometimes we travel a long distance to see birds but ignore good birding places in our neighborhood gardens and nearby lakes. For these, all you need is a couple of hours of free time. Binoculars and shoes are optional! Previously, I had written about other city lakes, Puttenahalli Kere and Doddakallasandra Lake. This time, we visited one such lake, smaller but close enough to just walk to it.

Jogi Kere is that water body to which we paid a visit, a mere 1km walk from our residence. Kere  translates to lake in Kannada language and Jogi means a hermit in many Indian languages. Surely, this lake is where one can meditate in the midst of nature! Jogi Kere will barely make the cut as a lake, but it has been cleaned up recently by local folks, government agencies, and NGOs. Sewage inflow is cut for the most part and the foliage in the island and boundaries are beginning to show signs of recovery. The lake itself, unfortunately, follows the ill-advised design of a soup bowl with rocky embankment all around and a walking path on the bund thereby denying the much-needed shore and vegetation near the waterbody for birds to thrive. But somehow nature overcomes and thrives!

It was a sunny weekday morning when 6 adults and 4 kids which formed our group started out after 7am on the path towards the lake. It passed through some undeveloped land with plenty of shrubs and trees. So, our birding started early as we spotted wagtails, robins, parakeets, bulbuls, etc., and stretched a 15 min quick walk into a 45 min exciting stroll. We could hear the Red-wattled Lapwing calling as we neared the lake. There is only one entrance at a corner and we were greeted by a mixture of water birds immediately, as we passed through it. Spot-billed ducks, Little Grebe, Little Cormorant, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen were on the welcoming committee. As we took in the birding bounty, there was a lot of energy and commotion on the large tree opposite dominated by Rosy Starlings, Mynahs, and Parakeets flying in and out constantly. A solitary Coucal decided to join the fun by hopping over the fence and climbing the tree. We suddenly saw a flash of blue streaking over the water and perch on a concrete platform nearby. Lo and behold, the very colorful Common Kingfisher had made its appearance and obliged us by staying there for a while. Walking around the lake we managed to spot few more birds like Pond Heron, Indian Robin, Pied Bushchat under the constant chatter of the migratory Starlings which were there in huge numbers.

After a leisurely stroll around the lake, we walked across the road to check in on an abandoned quarry opposite the lake which because it's isolated completely usually has some surprises. This time it was a flock of 10 Lesser Whistling-ducks and a solitary Purple Swamphen among other water birds. By this time the sun was up and it started getting hot. We headed back to our place and finished the neighborhood lake bird walk in around 2 hours. 

Overall, it was a wonderful experience for all. Easy walk to experience a healthy urban bird diversity spot in our neighborhood itself. Good luck and kudos to all the workers and volunteers, who are making this experience possible and fighting to retain the water body without letting it get destroyed or encroached. Bangalore needs every one of these gems, big and small, to remain in a healthy natural state for the survival of our feathered friends.

Selected images taken during our visits here can be viewed at the link below.

Jogi Kere Bird Images

Checklist of birds seen on Ebird

Bidarakatte : A Scenic Trek

Location: Bidarakatte, Next to Savandurga, Near Bangalore
Date:  Oct 11th, 2020

To get there: [Click here for Google Map].  Take Mysore road towards Ramanagaram. Take a right from Ramanagara bus station and head straight for around 40 minutes. Take a right under the arch saying - Kempegowda Vanadhama Savanadurga to reach the Ramanagar division forest department in about 5 minutes. Check Forest Dept directions also for any updated information and also for booking (250 Rs/person) the trek as only guided treks are allowed here. There is another shorter route through Manchinbele, which we took on our way back.

Distance: About 50 to 60km from Jayanagar, Bangalore

Trekkers on the trail

Trail type:  Around 3 to 4 km one way if you take the longer scenic path that our guide chose on the way to the destination point. Less than 2 km with a short cut which we took on the way back. About 80% of the trail is walking on rocky mountains or monoliths. For an experienced and well-balanced trekker, this will be a breeze. But for those of us on the wrong side of the age curve or with some balance fears, this trek will feel very adventurous even though danger is minimal. Regardless, one has to be a bit careful where the slope becomes steep. In a few places, it is easier to slide down on our butts unglamorously than walk down in style. I chose the former! Note that it can get quite treacherous with rain or even a drizzle. Rubber-soled shoes with a good grip are ideal footwear.

Facilities: Ramnagar is a big town to stock up on any essentials if you are leaving Bangalore too early. A lot of village shops can be found on the way. Trailhead has a Forest Dept office with parking, drinking water, and basic toilet facilities. Warning: Toilet is usable but not clean.

It had been a while since we had gone on any group family trek close by. When a close friend suggested this half-day trek to get relief from the covid mandated incarceration, that drought finally came to an end. Bidarakatte is one of a set of eco trails that the Karnataka Forest Dept is managing and would be a first for us. Only small groups with guides are allowed on the trail with pre-booking. Our group of 6 was to start at 7.30 am. 

Up early, too early, on the trek day, with packed breakfast, we managed to pile into their XUV, delayed by only 15 mins from the 5.30am departure time. Taking some short cut village roads on a very cloudy day with the threat of rain, we reached the destination pretty much on time. We found the guide ready along with 3 others who would make up the full party of 10 now.

Waterfall

Endpoint of Savandurga Trek

Masks on initially, we headed down an easy path to what appeared to be a man-made lake. Scenic with the Savandurga Monolithic rock face towering over it. We didn't linger long and doubled back to head out on the actual trail along the foothills of the rock face. Calls of Sunbirds, White-browed Bulbul, Coucal could be heard but any movement was absent. No doubt, the birds were smarter to stay warm wherever they were instead of flying around in the dreary weather like us, humans. We did spot the tail of what looked like a Malkoha but the bird itself was too well hidden among the leaves to make a positive ID. 

Soon we came out onto massive rocky outcrops, with lots of small pools of water and cacti. Add in lush forest greenery in the ravines and the tall Sanvandurga monolith backdrop, the views were spectacular. Any angle was a keeper for a landscape photographer. Walking on the rocks is easy as long as you are careful and take it slow. We had to pass through remnants of a fort which was quite exciting and aesthetically very beautiful. As we walked along the broad ridges, we could see the valley below with several villages. 

Temple at endpoint

Indian Grey Mangoose

We reached the old abandoned temple in around 2 to 3 hours, stopping only for views and photos. The temple area overlooks a heavily forested ravine and some fort ramparts. Lots of great places to sit and enjoy a picnic breakfast while getting stunning views any which way you turn. Bird watching was a little more fruitful here with Blue Rock Thrush, Rufous Treepie, Egyptian vulture, Peregrine Falcon, and a nice flyby of a Tawny Eagle. A pair of Indian Grey Mangoose, scuttled along the edges giving curious glances at us.

Blue Rock Thrush

After spending a relaxed hour here, eating, birdwatching, exploring, or just lying back and staring at the skies, we headed back with rain, thankfully, still playing truant. As our guide chose a shorter route, we were back at the parking lot within an hour.

Overall, it is a great hike, close to the city with clean thick, and healthy forests. Add in the stunning views of rocks, pools, and fort ramparts, it is truly a gem. I sincerely hope the Karnataka Forest Dept maintains it the same way forever and with only guided treks.

As always, if you do choose to experience this trek, take only photos and leave only your footprints. I mean don't litter or damage the pristine environment.

Tawny Eagle

Some more photos are here.

Ebird Checklist for the avian curious.  As noted before we did miss a Malkoha and I think one other raptor and probably a few others whose calls we heard but could not ID.

An unexpected moment with serpents

This incident occurred in April of 2020. Our layout at that time had about one third of houses built with the rest left as semi maintained plots. Since this was previously open land bordering wilderness, snakes were quite common. During that month in the midst of Covid lockdown, there was one fairly large Rat snake which had a routine of cutting across our backyard everyday evening. Those days any activity around our house was a welcome event and Rat snake crossing our yard was right up there with the best of them. That summer day in April, as soon as we heard the Mynas alarm calls, I knew our passage guest had arrived and starting tracking it while photographing its progress from a safe distance.

Rat Snake entering our backyard from one side cautiously.

It looked around the place for any dangers before continuing on its way to cross our yard.

By the time I scrambled from the bedroom window to our utility door side, it was almost out of our yard and I could just see its tail. I then went out to the front of the open plot to observe it progress.

I took these shots as it crossed our neighboring empty plot. My attention was solely on the Rat snake and somehow never noticed its friend? or cousin?s body barely visible under the hood at that time.

In my next shot, I still had not noticed the additional model in my photograph. Only when I was processing my images,  I could clearly see the Spectacled Cobra or the Indian Cobra under the Rat snake agitated enough to open its hood and be fully alert.

The Rat snake seemed oblivious to the presence of the Cobra or just ignored it? and went along its way. The Cobra just waited it out and continued with its activities. I have no idea where it went after that as I never saw it was there in the first place! Just another routine close encounter in the world of Nature, I suppose.

In the meantime, this cat also thought all this was entertaining and worth  investigating up close. I nearly found out if, Curiosity DOES indeed kill the cat!

Thankfully for this fella, the Rat snake just went on its way and I had no idea where the Cobra went afterwards or even if the cat was aware of the Cobra.

My last shot of the Rat Snake as it entered the backyard of the next house in its constant search for food, no doubt. All this activity took less than 10 mins.

Final note: Snakes for the most part stay away from Humans. Danger only occurs when humans encroach into their area like a burrow/dark areas under stones or if one steps on a resting snake in thick grass by mistake. If you encounter any in your area, please call an ethical snake rescuer(Ex. From PFA:People for animals) who will catch it with no injury to the reptile and minimal stress, then release it in a nearby forest area. Do not get amateur catchers with clipper-like instruments that will harm the spines or more and even cause death due to excessive stress.