Have you noticed this butterfly which is seen almost everywhere in Bangalore? They are fluttering all over the city - these butterflies are a part of the migratory swarm. Hundreds of butterflies are found roosting on trees and plants, it is magical indeed to observe this visual treat.
Lepidoptera migration is a biological phenomenon whereby populations of butterflies or moths migrate over long distances to areas where they cannot settle for long periods of time.
Bird watchers know that all Flycatchers catch bees, wasps, dragonflies, butterflies and other insects as part of their diet. (Indeed, so do many other birds.)
So…you’d expect the personnel manning the Butterfly Park in the Bannerghatta Zoo area to know that as well. And, when they see a bird catching a butterfly, they would just catch it with a net and release it elsewhere, wouldn’t you?
You’d be…’dead’ wrong.
That’s the right word to use in the circumstances.
Srikant VK writes:
“The employers of the butterfly park saw the flycatcher catching some butterflies,the only crime this innocent little bird did was to fill its belly by eating butterflies. They cud have caught it through the bird net and released it but they immediately shot it with the Air gun. This was witnessed by friend and another student who is doing some studies on butterflies. They objected before the act but the zoo keepers did not bother to listen.
I feel that it is insane of zoo keepers to do this. Are they instructed to do so? It looks as if the gun is used for this purpose only. Can’t they think of any better alternative ? We need to stop this or we are going to lose many birds in that particular region. Can someone take this up with the respective authorities ?
He’s also sent a picture of the picture of the dead bird. This was taken by Ritesh Singh Siddharth, one of the two people who tried to protest the killing of the bird.
Would you like to know what a male Asian Paradise Flycatcher looks like? It’s one of the more spectacular birds we have:
When are our Forest Department personnel going to learn to respect wildlife, and when are they going to be held accountable for such wanton acts of cruelty?
I was planning for a garden makeover where I wanted to remove some plants and add plants that attracted butterflies. The palms I thought were boring and monotonous so I thought I will relocate them when I found this treasure below .
Eggs and caterpillars and empty pupa of Tailed palmfly
Eggs and caterpillarsand empty pupa of Tailed palmfly
On this palm I found an empty pupal case , I was so upset that I had not seen the pupa before the butterfly had emerged. But to my surprise I found a fresh pupa, eggs and a newly emerged Tailed palmfly butterfly . I realized that on one palm plant in the garden I had observed the whole life cycle of the Tailed palmfly .
Caterpillar about to emerge from the egg
I found some feeding patterns on the palms , on having a closer look I was surprised to find a tiny caterpillar with a black head.
Tailed palmfly caterpillar just emerged from the egg
Final instar Caterpillars
Newly emerged Tailed palmfly butterfly
Newly emerged Tailed palmfly butterfly
I derive immense pleasure by holding a newly emerged butterfly .These are simple pleasures of life which can be achieved by being considerate to life around us. This palm for example which I had considered to be boring and monotonous had really opened my eyes that No plant is useless as every form of life has a purpose in this Universe.
” Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine.” ~Jeffrey Glassberg
A Photo essay on the life cycle of the Gaudy Baron Butterfly in the link below
Its fun to be those places where you been to “n” number of times. Winter started and so winter migrants. Last month, I came from Kanwar Lake, Bihar which is one of the largest freshwater lake. Enjoyed birding, but noticed still many of those migrants need to come like Sarus. Back to Bangalore and enjoying birding. This is yet another trip to Valley School.
Location: Please see into the place section of BangaloreCaptured.com
Time: Nov of 2012.
Booted Eagle
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Steppe Eagle
White throated Fantail Flycatcher
Jerdon’s Leafbird Female
Shikra
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Silverbill
Greenish Warbler – Strong migrant
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Common Jezebel
Some pictures here :
Some pics.
Sparrowlark, ashy crowned
Myna, common
Starling, rosy
barbet, white cheeked
barbet, copper smith
bulbul, red whiskered
bulbul,white barowed
bulbul, red vented
munia, white rumped
silver bill
weaver, baya
swallow, red rumped
swallow, barn
eagle, short toed snake
eagle, booted
shikra
buzzard, oriental honey
buzzard, white eyed
kite, black
kite, brahminy
kite, black winged
warbler, booted
warbler, greenish
babbler, tawny bellied rufous
babbler, yellow billed
flycatcher, asian paradise
flycatcher, tickells blue
fantail flycatcher, white browed
flycatcher, asian brown
bee eater, small green
lapwing, red
treepie, rufous
drongo, black
drongo, grey
drongo, ashy bellied
minivet, small
tailorbird, common
sunbird, purple
sunbird, purple rumped
white eye, oriental
iora, common
heron, pond
egret, great
egret, cattle
dove, laughing
dove, spotted
dove, eurasian collard
stork, painted
ibis, oriental white
prinia, ashy
prinia, plain
prinia, brown breasted
parakeet, rose ringed
bay backed shrike
great tit
golden oriole
crow, common
crow, jungle
robin, indian
bushchat, pied
Kaggalipura – again one of the awesome place for birding and to watch nature beauty. Here are some of the birds, butterflies and flowers. For direction, please see the Place section of BangaloreCaptured.com.
It is more than 4-5 kms of walk.
Common Kestrel
Drift of common Kestrel
Blue Pansy
Golden Oriole
Golden Dartlet
White browed fantail flycatcher
Purple Rumped Sunbird
Pale billed flowerpecker
Common Leopard
common jezebel
Common Emigrant
Coppersmith Barbet and Flowerpecker
Brain fever bird
It was a fair fog when we have started from home at 5.45 but as we have entered into the Bannerghatta forest area, it gave us a mind blowing view(to not view anything 
). Waiting till 9, misty went down and we were able to do some birding. I will soon add into the PLACE area where exactly we went. Here are some of the pictures and enjoyable moment
Misty had left some interesting drops for us
We were also waiting for Almighty to show the power
 In mist, Grey Francolin seek our attention |
 And so a Jerdon's Bushlark |
Paddy Field Pipit - A beauty
Common Hoopoe - Which is uncommon now
 Red Vented Bulbul - Red visible |
 White throated Kingfisher |
Rufous Tailed Lark
Pied Wagtail - Walking on pipe
Indian Robin - Female
 Common Jezebel |
 Pied Bushchat - Male |
Pea Blue Pairs
Crimson Rose
Begihalli Village – a village, somewhere in the remote of Bannerghatta. Its love to see a gathering of almost 80-90 people for birding. Villagers were quite excited and welcomed us. With the help of three guides, we were able to track 2 kms(just my estimation) up. Though we were quite off time but able to spot some of the birds.Here goes some pictures… Birding + Buttering + Portrait.
A villager requested to take picture
Shikra - Female
Common Pierrot by Deepu
Pied Wagtail
Golden Oriole - Male
Bay backed Shrike
ID required
Bug ID required
Pea Blue
House Sparrow - in the village
One more request for a click
common pierrot - open view (by deepu)
common jezebel (by deepu)
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