Birding ! Driving ! Soul-searching !: Bird Photography at Hampi

TRIP 2: February 2022

Since Supriya started using Canon R5, the last 6 months have been a phase shift in her photography. The eye-tracking with 45 megapixel sensor is just killing it. Combine that with 800 mm prime of Canon and it was becoming almost impossible for my pics to stand any chance in front of hers. Even my 400 f/4 Canon prime lens with 7D Mark ii body couldn’t deliver the results like that. Finally I booked my R5 body too and the plan was to take it to Hampi and Old Magazine House to do some field testing alongwith the Canon EF-RF Adapter with my 400 f/4. Unfortunately, the delivery of the camera did not happen before the trip and I had to go with my existing gear only. Last time when we visited Hampi it was with the 400/5.6 with 70D body. This time both of us are with upgraded gears so we expected our photos to be better than what they were 7 years ago, and yes, they turned out to be better too. We stayed once again at JLR Hampi, but this time we booked the Suite instead of the cottage.

Duration of Stay: 2 nights

Locations visited in their safari: Hampi ruins monolithic bull, Tungabhadra canal, Daroji Bear Sanctuary. Also, some underground hide photography at their site.

Enjoy the video and pics below.

Yellow-throated Bulbul

Painted Sandgrouse female

Painted Sandgrouse male

Sloth Bear

Bay-backed Shrike

Long-tailed Shrike

Indian Peafowl female

Shikra Juv

Shikra male

Indian Eagle Owl

Indian Eagle Owl chicks

Spotted Owlet

Grey Francolin

Little Cormorant

Laughing Dove

Western Reef Egret (intermediate morph)

Red-vented Bulbul

Indian Silverbill

Grey Francolin

Indian Palm Squirrel

Common Babbler

Jungle Bush Quail male

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Rose-ringed Parakeet female

White-browed Bulbul

Rufous Treepie

Common Hoopoe

Red-rumped Swallow

Plum-headed Parakeet male

Blue-faced Malkoha

Video coming soon!

TRIP 1: January 2015

Can photography ever be described in terms of ROI (Return on Investment)? I don't know about others, I don't know whether it is appropriate or not, but this is one of the perils of being an MBA graduate - I always think in terms of ROI.

How much I invest and how many new species I could add to my life-list, this question definitely haunts me before investing. However once I find any new species, all this is not even a point of concern. The happiness to see a new species through my viewfinder is far more than any pinch I feel in my pockets.

Added 7 to my life-list of birding, this birding trip was combined with a long drive. My enthusiasm to drive is slowly playing a second fiddle to birding. However this time it was a sudden invitation and my 9 year old car had to go through a test, again. Total drive of close to 1000 KM with some testing road conditions near the industrial area of Bellary and some off-road experience for birding, the car fared fairly well. The stay was awesome, Jungle Lodges and Resorts have less of surprises. Even though I missed the Painted Sandgrouse, nevertheless I was able to add 7 others to my life-list.

Fuel Expenses: Rs. 5000

Passengers: 4 adults + 1 kid

Car: Ford Fiesta Petrol

Driving Condition: Fast Driving with AC always on.

Enjoy the pics!