We decided to go to Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary during diwali weekend(11/11/2012) to get glimpse of birds visiting this winter. Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is located near Mysore and more than 170 plus birds have been recorded here.We started from Bangalore around 7.00 AM and took Bangalore Mysore Highway and reached sanctuary around 10 AM. Though it is 120 kms it took more than three hours to reach the place as high ways was heavily crowded.If you want to get a good glimpse of birds with morning light than you need to be plan to be there around 7.00 AM. .After you cross Srirangapatna you will hit a circular junction and in that junction you will have to take a right and follow the road and you will see a arch with birds where you need to take right and that road leads to Sanctuary.The entry charges per person is Rs.50 and car charges is Rs.30.

The boat charges if you go as a group is Rs.50 per person and you will go in a group of 12-15 members and the boat ride will be for a period of 15 minutes and they cover a very small area in this trip. If you want to spend more time and also want to have more space in boat to take good photographs then you can opt for a special boat where they will charge Rs.1000 for a period of 40 minutes and they cover the full area and if you can speak to the person who takes you in the boat you can get it extended by another 15 to 20 minutes.

We were able to see very few birds and the boatman said the best time to be around there is between January to March and you should either  plan to take the boat ride in the morning around 7.00 AM(though the sanctuary opens only at 9 or 10) the night shift person will be around to take the early ride and if you miss that plan to take the evening boat ride around 4.30PM

I should not forget to mention that there were around 80 plus crocodiles and on speaking to the boatman said there has not been a conflict with human’s till to date.

• Lots of White Ibis
• Red vented Bullbull
• Tickell’s Blue Fly Catcher
• Common Kingfisher
• River Tern
• Stone Plover
• Snake Bird
• Openbill Stork
• Indian Pond Heron
• Purple Heron
• Cormorant