A trek in the misty hill – Anuvavi!
- Bharat Adithyaa
- Nov 24, 2019
- 5 min read
On 17th November 2019, 6:55 am.
A slight drizzle and the chill climate of early morning of November, made it more interesting for the trek. Anuvavi Subramanya temple is located in Periya Thadagam, which is hardly 20 minutes of drive from my home. Living in Coimbatore for almost 28 years, this is the first time I have visited this temple.
I reached the spot, got out of my car, enjoying the blissful sight of the misty mountains and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping.
I was at the bottom, near the entrance arch waiting for the others to come. There is a very old tree at the parking area, which is temporarily occupied by various species of birds. I was standing there, looking at the crown with lots of curiosity to see something interesting.
Around 7:05 am Sharang, Sai vivek (my senior) and Mr. Parameshvaran arrived. I took my gears from my car and this time I went with a backpack! In which I had a towel and a water bottle. Mr.Parameshvaran introduced himself to me and encouraged me for my recent interest for birding.
Before we began, I was briefed by Mr. Shiva (Parameshvaran alias Shiva) about the day’s task. Yes! It was a day for bird watching and counting. They have identified six hot spots along the trek, where we had to spend a specified amount of time to observe and listen, which helps to identify the species and numbers. This is a scientific method for bird count, that I was told.
We were at our first hot spot, started our count at the parking area. Vivek gave me his secondary binoculars and we were standing under the large spread canopy. Under the dull light, we saw coppersmith barbets, Rufus tree pie, parakeets and a lot more. The mist did its part and with very low light we saw lots of birds but was not great enough for photographs.
We started our trek and after little climbing, we saw tawny bellied babbler, flying from one place to another within a small area. We stood there for few minutes and Sharang found a yellow billed babbler sitting in a tree, cringed and looked half sleep. It was so cute to see this bird. We took few shots and moved further up.
The second hot spot is where we saw a white browed bulbul. I took few shots and stood there looking through the binoculars. All four of us were scattered, standing at different altitudes and I was at the lowest, not moving from the spot. I found a small bird, little deep inside the woods. I took few shots and showed it to Vivek and asked,
What is this bird?
He said it could be an Asian brown flycatcher.
Meanwhile Sharang and Mr. Shiva were keenly observing and listening, to complete the task. I climbed up and showed it to Sharang and to our surprise it was an Indian Blue Robin female.
Sharang asked me, where did you see this bird? Surprisingly
I said, the same spot where we saw the white browed Bulbul. I saw something flying, was curious so I took a shot.
Sharang called Mr. Shiva and said that Bharat had secretly found an Indian Blue Robin female.
Mr. Shiva got excited and said, Bharat you are hired!
While I was looking through the binoculars, I had little difficulties in adjusting the focus for clear sight, as this is the first time I am using binoculars for birding, all by myself. All of a sudden when I got the focus correct, she came flying sat on a tree branch, looked at me, turned around and flew again, the Indian Blue Robin, a winter migrant.
We all were surprised as it is rare to see this bird at low level of the habitat.
On the way, far from where we were standing, we saw an Ashy Drongo, another winter migrant, no good photographs. We did our count at our third spot and suddenly I saw a brown headed barbet flying from left to right. We also saw a common Iora hanging upside down on the top of tree, a blue faced Malkoha gliding down the hill and listened to the sound of an India Pita, again no good photographs.
We saw a lot of butterflies on our way to the top and took few clicks.
The habitat was so thick with trees on both the sides and the mist made it difficult for us to take good photographs. The path had steep steps and has few shaded canopy on both the sides.
The fourth hot spot is where the main temple is located. This is where you find a huge fig tree and you can see Indian paradise flycatcher and yes! we saw a male, to be more precise a Silhouette. We saw few peahens roaming in the path of a watershed. We stood there for some time and completed our count.
Mr. Shiva told me that we can leave our shoes near the staircase as we are entering the temple area, we climbed further above to the fifth spot and we dint find much birds. But we saw a pair of cinereous tits. We were sitting in the steps, relaxed and counting and suddenly a small bird came so close to us.
Initially the pair was sitting in a tree branch and then sooner one of them came so close and sat on the spear shaped metal fence. We saw them flying down the hill and returning back to the same spot. There was a light post fixed to the ground and these birds were carrying something in their mouth, came close to the post and disappeared. We took few shots and went down to our sixth spot.
We saw Red Whiskered Bulbul and also the Red Vented Bulbul. We dint see much bird there but the view was amazing.
Mr. Shiva wanted to go to the temple for worship, meanwhile we decided to go to our fifth spot again to find answer to our curiosity. What were these Birds doing? Carrying something in their mouth, flying down and up the hill, left us questioned.
We went up again, waited for few minutes and we found that, there was a hole behind the post and they were actually building a nest inside. The surprising fact was, I have never witnessed a bird that came so close to random humans, all they do is hide or fly. It was amazing to see them going inside the hole and flying out.
After some time we came down and met Mr. Shiva who had finished his prayers, eagerly waiting for us on the path. We all came down and saw a small beautiful butterfly. It was flying here and there and would not sit on a spot. Sharang and Mr. Shiva went down the hill, while I and Vivek were waiting with hope that it might sit somewhere soon and to our surprise, it did.
We were adjusting our cameras and taking Photos and one random temple visitor with curiosity saw us and asked what are you taking photos of? As he can’t see the butterfly.
I said that there is a butterfly sitting on that small plant and we trying to take a photo of it.
He found it and with a face full of smile he said yes! It is there I can see it. We kind of made him happy.
We took few shots and came down and joined with Sharang and Mr. Shiva. We were almost down, close to the entrance arch and we saw a green bee-eater sitting on an electrical line. I saw him turning back and front as if he wants me to take photos of all his sides.
All four of us came to the parking area and again standing under the huge canopy, we saw flock of Coppersmith Barbet flying out of the trees. With very low light it looked like a small black balls flying out creating a pattern in the air.
The day had no much scope for photography, but to be engaged yourself with nature and to see lots of different species of birds was a great experience. I wish to go there again soon in the summer when there will be more day light.
Cheers!
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