You're welcome.

You are right about the drongos, the forked tail is more pronounced in them. As for the "koels" sometimes its difficult to judge between black and gray in photos, black might look gray depending on exposure, so I thought it was probably a male asian koel. My knowledge in birds is limited too so can't think of any other possibilities. May be a closer look with a cropped image might help.

First Truly Leisure Trip

@ 2:30 pm on Friday 12th March, Prabhu calls me to see if we can go out, by 4:30 I confirm & off we are at 7:30 Pm no planning what so ever.
Decide to meet Near YeshwanthPur Metro Shell bunk, I wait for 45 mins there & no sign of Prabhu, the traffic & Petrol smell couple with Dust from Metro construction are getting the better of me, later found out that Sir has reach Nelamengala !!!! Oh ma then I had to wade through Huge traffic on tumkure road (NEVER leave Bangalore between 5:00 to 10:00 PM to reach TUMKURE ROAD), by the time we met up ear the tool gate My neck was sprained due to the traffic. that was the only sad part form here on it FUN all the way

We took a good break at Kamath Nice food & off we were, rode till Kaddure, en route a TLC over took us & was very very fast, it did it comfortably as-well.
On a straight stretch I felt like something mushy or smoke like in the front & suddenly saw a tractor right in from of me NO lights in Front rear or even a small reflector, to top it all the trailer has full mud smeared n it & My comet spot light (high beam) was not working !!!!, stopped & shouted at the guy but he hardly cared. we slept at Kadure & next day were off to Kudremukha peak.


More pics here:
Picasa Web Albums - cometSunil - Twin V Twin t...




Barbet



coppersmith


Parbhu Offroading to reach the spot, he left the helmet on the road Which directed many stop & come down to our secret spot


SPIRIT in shade


Prabhu doing his usale, the extra bit than others



We had our own moments bringing her out of sand with all riding gear when we left the place





Bee eater / fly catcher Very Very colorful & agile





A Fish or tatpole that had died as water evaporated between the rocks

Look at the color Black or Red

This is to be blamed, I Smoked him read Poor Prabhu, he went first while returning, nut no-much dust during decent as no traction needed down hill Lucky me





The Last 3 kms of the 6 kms ride to peak home stay is too good, it a Jeep track

I saw a large very large say about 12 feet long crossig the road very very swiftly, by the time I could pull out the camera from the tank bag it had crossed the road. wonder if was a King !!



Quite Steep decent



Some from my F2.8 IS USM

The Jack Pot of the trip

Awesome sunil - The terrain on which the twins rode looks such promising & full of adventure...

but the birds this time have taken a backseat not too many I guess

alos all pics are a bit low in terms of color unlike your usual compositions.
maybe the weather was to blame.

all in all looks to be fantastic more for the cool waterfall pic in this blistering summer

amazing captures
you guys had a hello lot of fun, pretty evident from the photos

@darkknight not many birds as its summer & the place KMP is not really a bird park as such, Kerala pics will look more Green Western ghats in summer is not super cool., I haven't touched the saturation knob in Image processing.

The cool water fall made up for all the journey strain,
while I was leaving for the trip, my son Tejas asked if there is water their, I said no its a hot dry place & he politely obliged saying if no water then I wont come along, I felt bad after having fun in water, hence took my family to the same spot in a TT last weekend man he really enjoyed in the same spot.

@ SheelPriye Yes we had lots of fun like
Night riding
Off roading
22 kms treck to KMP peak in dry hot sun
Birding
Leisure talks & long walks
Night Sky watching from the roof top half way to the peak in middle of mountains with no light
Home stay food (very different north Karnataka style)
Cool Water fall bath etc.

Cheers
Sunil