The common hawk cuckoo is a regularly visitor and at this time of year plenty of grubs are available. Listen out for its repetitive call that rises in pitch and ferocity! Sometimes you can hold a brief ‘conversation’ with it.

The monsoon failed and the temperatures are rising, yet there are still plenty of birds around. Yesterday morning guests watched as a flock of around twenty painted stork wheeled around above the remnants of Kamarajar Lake.

Nearer to home, bee eaters have taken to diving into the pool.

Meanwhile, by the pool, the wagtail is busy feeding its chicks.

We have bird books to help in the identification of these visitors.

This time Pandi grabbed the camera.

For a few nights a tailor bird rested at night beside our entrance driveway. A number of birds are currently nesting.

Bird watching can start from the breakfast table. Look out for the sunbirds on the hibiscus and the territorial gangs of babblers arguing over their territories. Look towards the lake and watch the painted storks rising in the thermals or eagles fishing. At night, listen for the nightjar.

Keen ornithologists generally log over a hundred birds during their short stay. We have a range of habitats, such as garden, lakeside, river, farmland, scrubland and mountainside. Our staff are keen bird watchers and usually know where to find a nesting tailorbird or weaver bird. You may hear the peacocks, when they argue over the fruiting pomegranates.