Karkala Revisited

I had recently visited Karkala and the experience I had was totally different from what I had during other visits. In a span of three days, I was able to see lots on natural activity. From shooting moss on walls to crabs at Malpe Beach, I did it all.

Compound walls in Karkala were generally built of mud which were then given  a waterproof coating to protect them from the rain. Old mudwalls have several patches, where the mud layer is exposed. From these grow various types of plants, ferns and mosses. This particular plant(in picture) is one of them and in Konkani it is known as 'Cats' nails', this is because it's leaves look like tiny nails.

Mushrooms are found on dead wood. The fruiting body called basidiocarp, is the umbrella-shaped structre we see above the ground, but the 'heart' of a mushroom is actually present inside the wood where it is growing. It is called mycelium and is cobwebby in appearence.Direct sunlight will destroy the fruiting body but the fungus inside the wood will live and germinate again.

You can find butterflies of all shades and sizes here in Karkala and if your lucky you might find rare beauties too. This one below is supposed to be

 a very rare butterfly in South India.

  

Banded Royal (Eliotia Jalindra)

Chestnut Bob

The Chestnut Bob is a very small butterfly from the family of Skippers. Extremely fast in flight, you have to be very alert while tracking it. It is disturbed by the slightest shake. When I clicked this photograph, it took to the air and I ended up with this lovely shot.

 

Usually at Malpe beach, Udupi (more info) I get to see only large crowds of people enjoying the sun and sand but this time I got to see something I had never seen before, large crowds of Hermit Crabs. 

Hermit Crab

There were thousands of these crabs along the beach and they were all moving into the sea.This crab is compared to a hermit living in solitude in a cave, hence the name Hermit Crab.These crabs make shells of marine molluscs(mainly snails) their home and as they grow, keep changing their shells and sometimes also fight with eachother for the right shell. They live in colonies of about 100 indivisuals. 

These lizards are very common in Karkala and can be found hiding in thick vegetation and scampering from bush to bush.The are known as Forest Calotes. This fellow was peeping at me from behind a branch, as if curious to know what I was upto.

 Shades & Scenes

Coastal Karnataka, espically Mangalore and the surrounding areas have a beauty of their own. At different times of the day the playful sunlight gives each scene a different outfit. Here are some vibrant scenes...             

                                                                                                                                                                         

 Sunrise Over Gurpur River, near Mangalore

Gurpur is a small but beautiful village between Karkala and Mangalore. The Gurpur river flowing through it is extremely beautiful. From the bridge above it you can see everthing waking up as the sun flashes golden rays.

Railway Bridge Over Nethravathi River, Mangalore

Sunset at Malpe Beach, Udupi

To sum it all up, Karkala, Mangalore and the neighbouring places are full of surprises. Each time I visit, there is always something new to see, feel and enjoy.

Birds seen:

1.Common Sandpiper

2.Common Kingfisher

3.Little Cormorant

4.Plum-headed Parakeet

5.Indian Treepie

6.Indian Pond Heron

7.Ashy Drongo

8.White-browed Wagtail

9.Sall Green Bee-eater

10.Large Cuckoo Shrike

11.Brahminy Kite

12.Common Crow

13.Little Egret

14.Lesse Whistling Teal

15.Black Kite

16.Rock Pigeon 

17.Asian Koel

18.Purple Moorhen

19.White-breasted Kingfisher

20.Small Green Barbet

21. Lotens Sunbird