Bird Walk at Rachanamadu (Near Valley School), Bangalore
- Bangalore
- 11 October, 2026
- Rahuldev Rajguru
About Rachanamadu
Tucked away on the quieter southern edge of Bengaluru, Rachanamadu is a beautiful mosaic of scrub forest, open grassland, rocky outcrops, and seasonal wetlands that still carries the feel of old Bangalore. Spread across a gently undulating landscape along the fringes of the city, the area forms part of an ecologically important dry deciduous and scrub-forest belt connected to the larger Bannerghatta landscape. Native trees such as neem, tamarind, banyan, acacias, and flowering species like gulmohar and amaltas dot the terrain, while monsoon grasses and thorny thickets create ideal habitat for insects, reptiles, and small mammals.
For birders, Rachanamadu is one of those rare places where every trail feels alive with possibility. Early mornings can bring the calls of Grey Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, barbets, and coucals echoing through the scrub, while grassland edges hold larks, pipits, shrikes, and occasional raptors soaring overhead. Sunbirds flash through flowering trees, parakeets streak noisily across the canopy, and winter often brings migratory surprises to the wetlands and open fields. The landscape also supports butterflies, reptiles, and mammals including hares, mongooses, and occasionally larger wildlife moving through connected forest patches. Yet, like many of Bengaluru’s remaining wild spaces, Rachanamadu faces growing pressure from rapid urban expansion, land conversion, invasive plants, waste dumping, and habitat fragmentation. Conservation efforts in the region increasingly emphasize the importance of protecting these fragile urban-edge ecosystems—not only for wildlife, but also as living outdoor classrooms where people can reconnect with the biodiversity that still survives around the city.
Bird Guide: Rahuldev Rajguru
With over 25 years in software and entrepreneurship, he now focuses on birding, wildlife photography, and conservation, while also writing to inspire people to connect with nature.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Rachanamadu
Rachanamadu is one of Bengaluru’s hidden birding gems, where scrub forests, rocky outcrops, grasslands, and seasonal wetlands come together to support an incredible diversity of birdlife. A walk through the landscape can reveal everything from the secretive Blue-faced Malkoha moving through dense foliage to the loud calls of Asian Koels and the constant chatter of bulbuls, babblers, and prinias in the scrub. Raptors are a major highlight here, with Bonelli’s Eagles regularly nesting in the area and soaring above the valley alongside Oriental Honey-buzzards, Brahminy Kites, White-eyed Buzzards, and Eurasian Kestrels hunting over the open grasslands. Indian Grey Hornbills glide between trees, Spotted Owlets peer curiously from old cavities, while Green Bee-eaters, drongos, barbets, flamebacks, fantails, and parakeets keep the trails alive with colour and movement. During the right season, the wetlands attract cormorants, egrets, and kingfishers, making Rachanamadu a dynamic and rewarding landscape where every walk offers a glimpse into the wild side of Bengaluru.
Bonelli's Eagle
Blue-faced Malkoha
Spotted Owlet
Red-wattled Lapwing
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Asian Green Bee-eater
Coppersmith Barbet
White-cheeked Barbet
Black-rumped Flameback
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Small Minivet
Spot-breasted Fantail
Black Drongo
Ashy Prinia
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow
Common Tailorbird
Indian White Eye
White-browed Bulbul
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Summary of Walk
Twenty-one birders joined guide Rahuldev Rajguru at Rachanamadu near the Valley School in Bengaluru on 11 October for a morning blessed with great weather and a relatively good show of birds. The group recorded 41 species, and the walk delivered its usual share of delights. The Spotted Owlets of Rachanamadu once again did not disappoint, and the children in the group enjoyed watching them in close proximity, a sight that brought gasps of delight. The Jerdon’s Bushlark, a subtle grassland songster, rewarded those with patience, and the Small Minivet flitted through the trees in brilliant flashes of orange and grey. Towards the end of the walk, a pair of White-eyed Buzzards flew very close to the group, giving everyone a wonderful view of the raptors in flight, and just as the group was leaving, a Black-winged Kite made an appearance near the parking area, a lovely farewell. It was especially fun to have three kids join with their parents, taking an active part in the walk and keeping the guide on his toes. Rahuldev was bombarded with questions, and he enjoyed every one of them, sharing stories about the birds, their habits and how to identify them. The mix of grassland, scrub and farmland here makes for rewarding birding, and the morning was a reminder of how much the area has to offer. Participants left with new species on their lists, happy memories and, for the young ones, a love of owls that will probably last a long time. It was a cheerful, family-friendly outing from start to finish.
Number of Participants
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