Bird Walk at Somanahalli Lake, Bangalore, Karnataka
- Bengaluru
- 19 September, 2026
- Rs 200 per head
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
About Somanahalli Lake
Somanahalli Lake is a wetland landscape in Bengaluru, surrounded by a mix of open spaces, vegetation, agricultural areas, and human-modified surroundings. The lake consists of open water and shallow margins, with the character of the wetland changing through the year depending on rainfall and water levels. Vegetation along the edges and in the surrounding landscape adds structural diversity, while areas of exposed ground and seasonal wetland provide further habitat variety.
The lake forms an important natural space within Bengaluru’s expanding landscape, where wetlands and other green areas are increasingly surrounded by development. Its ecological condition is influenced by water quality, seasonal water availability, surrounding land use, and the condition of its shoreline. Changes in drainage, encroachment, pollution, waste accumulation, and increasing disturbance can affect the wetland over time. Maintaining the lake and its surrounding natural areas is therefore important for preserving the ecological value of Somanahalli Lake.
Bird Guide: Uma Vaijnath
Uma Vaijnath is a Bengaluru-based avid birdwatcher, photographer and partial ornithologist from over half a decade. After a career as a software professional, she transitioned into environmental community work and creative arts. She is a prominent figure in the Bengaluru birding community, frequently leading and organizing nature walks and birding events.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Somanahalli Lake
Somanahalli Lake supports a diverse bird community, with a strong representation of wetland species as well as birds associated with the surrounding terrestrial habitats. Waterfowl include Lesser Whistling-Duck, Garganey, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Coot, and Gray-headed Swamphen. The wetland margins support Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Greater Painted-Snipe, Common Sandpiper, and Green Sandpiper, while Painted Stork and Glossy Ibis add to the larger wetland birds recorded at the lake. Several herons and egrets are also present, including Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Indian Pond-Heron, Eastern Cattle-Egret, Gray Heron, and Purple Heron.
Cormorants, kingfishers, and raptors add further diversity, with Little Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black Kite, and Brahminy Kite recorded. The surrounding vegetation supports species such as Coppersmith Barbet, White-cheeked Barbet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Iora, Common Tailorbird, and Ashy Prinia, while Gray Francolin, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, and the two dove species represent birds of the surrounding open and terrestrial habitats. Overall, the records demonstrate the variety of birdlife supported by Somanahalli Lake and its surrounding landscape.
Ashy Prinia
Asian Green Bee-eater
Asian Koel
Asian Tit
Black Drongo
Blue-faced Malkoha
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Common Iora
Common Tailorbird
Coppersmith Barbet
Gray-bellied Cuckoo
Gray-breasted Prinia
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher
Oriental Skylark
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Small Minivet
Spot-breasted Fantail
White-cheeked Barbet
Spotted Dove
Shikra
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
