 |
| Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha |
Photographed at Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India on 4th December, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Oriental Honey Buzzard (Female) : Pernis ptilorhynchus
 |
| Oriental Honey Buzzard (Female) Pernis ptilorhynchus |
 |
| Oriental Honey Buzzard (Female) with Complete nictitating membrane over eye Pernis ptilorhynchus |
 |
| The larder nearby |
Photographed at Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India on 4th December, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
White-throated Kingfisher: Halcyon smyrnensis
 |
| White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis |
Photographed at Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India on 4th December, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Common Rose Butterfly: Atrophaneura aristolochiae
 |
| Common Rose Butterfly Atrophaneura aristolochiae |
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Black-rumped Flameback: Dinopium benghalense
 |
| Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense |
Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Lesser Goldenback
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Shikra: Accipiter badius
 |
| Shikra Accipiter badius |
Photographed at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, India on 1st Decvember, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Monday, 2 December 2013
Lemon Pansy: Junonia lemonias
 |
| Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias |
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Plain Tiger: Danaus chrysippus
 |
| Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus |
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
White Orange Tip: Ixias marianne
 |
| White Orange Tip Ixias marianne |
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Spotted Owlet: Athene brama
 |
| Spotted Owlet Athene brama |
I am partial to owls and owlets. The twenty-something downwards reading this might imagine this is due to Harry Potter. No. I go back at least 30 years before Harry was written to life.
Back in the '70s, growing up at the edge of Central Ridge area of a vastly different Delhi; peacocks, owls and so many other birds, animals and snakes were part of my life. Owls frequently roosted in our densely potted balcony which also had a fragrant "Night Queen" creeper going up to the terrace on one side. Or in the nooks and crannies and garrets of our colony. Often a peacock would perch on our balcony, fancy tail and all, and let rip ear-splittingly. Then, we kids spent most of our evenings and holidays in the forests of Central Ridge area. Brown Hares scampered out of our way. Jackals stalked us. But we never bothered. Just remained alert and in groups.
The owls never hurt anybody. I liked it when they roosted in our balcony. Even proud as I showed them off to my friends. And they appeared attentive to me. Made faces as if they were off to sleep. I liked them there.
But there were a group of boys in the colony where I was growing up who held a different view. They lived in the row of houses beyond the one behind ours...closer to the forest than I. But for them, owls were sport. Especially the Spotted Owlet.
They were meant to be captured, their legs tied and flown like paper kites. If they got tired, they'd swing the owl at the end of the string and bash it on the ground...
Those boys were bigger than I and rowdier, but something made me take a stand against them. Of course there was jousting, pirouetting, scuffling, plenty of glaring and threats. But the stodginess of my stand prevailed. I didn't see them do it again when I was around even if they did in secret. So I'm attached to owls.
One doesn't see all these birds and animals in the teeming numbers they used to be in. Delhi has changed and killed them all off...all the birds, bees, butterflies, fireflies, animals and reptiles. If one is lucky, one may spot the odd one hidden somewhere in the forest...or in some bird sanctuary on the skirts of Delhi.
It's sad, very sad how Delhi has evolved. The Airport Express Metro is the final nail in the coffin of Central Ridge. We could not find space for these small creatures.
I have many pictures of this owl, taken in April of this year, but childhood memories and depressing changes since, stopped me from processing the folder containing photographs of owls. There are so many birds I have to sort through and put up. From all my traipsing around. Time and eyesight...peering through camera lenses for long periods and staring into computer screen to sort them out has strained my eyesight over time. Maybe eventually...but right now they lie stored in external drives of memory.
Photographed at Buddha Jayanti Garden, Central Ridge Area, New Delhi India on 28th April, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Great Cormorant: Phalacrocorax carbo
 |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo |
That catfish's story ended in this photograph - speared; but the story of the meal it turned out to be didn't end in this snap. Let me clue you in, look at the chap in the background to the right looking askance....perhaps one of a flock...I mean a family flock for these two were indeed part of a larger flock not within the frame, and members of which were swimming casually at a pretentious distance. I have captured part of the action in subsequent stills and the snooty airs of those cormorants who couldn't quite compel the initial hunter to part with or share.
Maybe I'll upload them later as part of a photo story.
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Wild Boar: Sus scrofa
 |
| Wild Boar Sus scrofa |
They began to circle beady-eyed, a couple of skittish scuffles broke out among the jostling them; they began to shorten the circle. The tall grass behind me rustled, I quickly looked behind and spotted a young boar lurking there...I split. These blokes take down Chitals and devour them if required! Commonly scavenge those Chital carcasses the hyenas leave behind...I wasn't going to stay and find out. Allowed myself to be nudged away to higher ground. They may only be pigs, but they ARE wild pigs. And wear ivory studs.
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Golden Jackal: Canis aureus
 |
| Golden Jackal Canis aureus |
Tad shy, this pack...
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Chital (Spotted Deer): Axis axis
 |
| Chital (Spotted Deer) Axis axis |
The mist lifted with sunrise and revealed us in proximity...both of us were startled and we ran in the same direction - one, away, and the other, after. Only, one was swifter than the other.
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Nilgai: Boselaphus tragocamelus
 |
| Nilgai Antelope Boselaphus tragocamelus |
Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Saturday, 23 November 2013
Pallas's Gull: Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
 |
| Great Black-headed Gull (Pallas's Gull) Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus |
Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Brown-headed Gull: Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
 |
| Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus |
Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Asian Openbill Stork: Anastomus oscitans
 |
| Asian Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans |
Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Monday, 4 November 2013
Oriental White-eye on a Rangoon Creeper
 |
| Oriental White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus on Rangoon Creeper - Combretum indicum |
A Rangoon Creeper - Combretum indicum or Quisqualis indica, Radha Manoharam in Telugu and Madhumalati in Hindi reaches up on one side of my home. On the other side is a highly fertile pomegranate tree that grows out of my neighbour's garden and overhangs bountifully on my side. The two combined are magnets - the Randoon Creeper a cellar of inverted amphoras filled with nectar and pollen while the lush pomegranate tree a year-round larder for birds, bees, butterflies and such. The Rangoon creeper, in addition, is dense, with plenty of foliage and safe branches. Therefore, birds nest at various levels of its reach. Each with a flat space of its own. Tailorbirds, Oriental White Eyes, Hummingbirds, Purple Sunbirds, Sparrows and Bulbuls are permanent residents. The odd migrant or homeless sometimes hires a spot.
These birds and bees and butterflies find it easy to flit across my balcony to-and-fro to the pomegranate tree across when hungry or back. It's almost like ordering food at home. If the birds are tired of nectar, they stop by the rudimentary bird bath I've set up and sip at water while pecking at seeds in between. They even toss a musical performance at me. Perhaps the birds are aware of this weakness of mine, and given the beggar I am for such nuggets, they keep me enthused with a spot of charity.
The flowers exude an intoxicating fragrance at night . This Oriental White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus - decided to get to the root of 'nectarization' early morning itself and goes for the amphora's secret jug hidden just above its pedicle.
Photographed at South Extention Part - II, New Delhi, India
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Funambulus palmarum sporting Albizia moustache
 |
| Three striped palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) using an Albizia julibrissin flower |
This is rough work. Given the ferocity with which this Three-striped Palm Squirrel was mooching into this Albizia julibrissin 'Red Silk' flower at the tip of a slender branch, the motion blur is unwanted. But hey, it brings action to the snap doesn't it?
Photographed somewhere near my home in South Extension Part-II, New Delhi.
Indian Purple Swamphen: Porphyrio porphyrio
 |
| Indian Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio |
 |
| Indian Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio |
There are times when I become lazy with the shot. This is one such occasion. A combination of sleeplessness, travel weariness and impression of commonness of the bird concerned dulled my faculties. No excuse of course if it is a hobby, but happens sometimes. Penalty is an opportunity wasted. Now I regret it. Just couldn't be bothered then to climb down the wall and rocks and wade through slush to get closer to them at that point of time. Such was the hard ride into Jodhpur that evening in the summer of '13. If only I had. But then they might have scattered, or flown away! Ah well...
Those legs look like hyacinth stalks. (In the first picture)
Photographed near Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Painted Grasshopper: Poekilocerus pictus
 |
| Painted Grasshopper Poekilocerus pictus |
 |
| Painted Grasshopper Poekilocerus pictus |
While checking out a really large sand dune where the Thar desert begins to mingle with thorny scrubland, Sharang spotted this colourful character prancing about on the sun-dried skeleton of an acacia.
This set has been clicked by Sharang, my son.
This one is a mature grasshopper with canary yellow and turquoise stripes on its body, green leathery front wings with yellow spots, and pale red hind wings.
Photographed somewhere in Thar Desert abutting into Jodhpur District, Rajasthan, India, in July 2013.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR Lens
Bengal Monitor Lizard : Varanus bengalensis
 |
| Bengal Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis |
 |
| Bengal Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis |
This reptile, Indian Monitor Lizard or Bengal Monitor Lizard...rather largish sort of chaps, and at least three of them scurrying around in the undergrowth in different parts of the sanctuary, kept one alert about our ankles. Thought I might espy a Desert Monitor too but didn't.
The fields were simply too lush for that. Yeah, fields in Rajasthan that are taking over the desert sands.
Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Bay-backed Shrike: Lanius vittatus
 |
| Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus |
The sun was high by now and in the third week of July. Had been out since dawn, and busted. Shows in the photo. Water supplies had been left far behind and there was so much to see all around. Next time I know how to manage this area.
Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Large Grey Babbler: Turdoides malcolmi
 |
| Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi |
 |
| Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi |
Largest of the babblers and whitish outer feathers. A scrubland denizen and looked right at home at Dhawa-Doli on NH 112which connects Barh and Barmer in Rajasthan, India. I joined NH 112 from Jodhpur. Best season, according to the locals, is after the harvesting of summer crop from the lush fields of the area when wildlife and birds are clearly visible.
Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Friday, 1 November 2013
Red Wattled Lapwings Courtship: Vanellus indicus
 |
| Red Wattled Lapwings in courtship Vanellus indicus |
02 November, 2013:
This Saturday morning began with their hysterical ki-kki-kkiiii-ing around my house. Was quite a frenzy. The heart thumped and pulse was galloping. The stage belonged to them. Now they are quiet but we aren't back to normal yet.
Photographed somewhere over South Extention Part-11, New Delhi, India.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Friday, 25 October 2013
Rufous Treepie: Dendrocitta vagabunda
 |
| Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda |
The Treepie was once a common bird. One can still see it in and around Delhi, but not as frequently as before. Therefore, I should have a better quality photograph in my records. In fact a Treepie nests on a tree in the compound of my workplace. I've marked this task down and shall update here as and when I have a sharper image.
Location: Budha Jayanti Park, Central Ridge Forest Area, New Delhi.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Indian Thick-Knee or Indian Stone-curlew: Burhinus indicus
 |
| Indian Thick-knee Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) |
 |
| Indian Thick-knee Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) |
I clicked this bird back in April '13 - on 28th April, 2013 to be exact - at Buddha Jayanti Gardens located in the Central Ridge area of Delhi. The main reason I hadn't put it up was that I wasn't able to correctly identify the bird with my available resources. Perhaps I hadn't searched properly. Being an amateur I concede myself a few such shortcomings.
I have learnt since that this bird used to be classified as a sub-species of Eurasian Thick-knee or Eurasian Stone-curlew as Burhinus [oedicnemus or indicus]. [Avibase]
I have also learnt that this bird may have been elevated to an independent species recently as Indian Thick-Knee or Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus). Local name - Dhanchuwaa.
I quote - ".... it is smaller, darker and more heavily streaked, with larger bill, shorter tail, and longer tarsi. Bill has more black and shows more pronounced bars on wing-coverts (with broader pale panel). (Grimmett, Inskipp & Inskipp, 2012)" [Allan Hopkins @ Flickr]
Frustrated with wrong identifications by me using a few web tools, I decided to go about it using beak/toes/eyes and pattern an colour of feathers.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Catfish Frenzy
 |
| Catfish Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India |
The sound of their thrashing about can be heard from a distance. Their violent agitation can be startling.
Red-vented Bulbul: Pycnonotus cafer
 |
| Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer |
 |
| Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer |
 |
| Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer |
A short drive away from Jodhpur is the Dhawa Doli Wildlife Sanctuary. Early one July morning, this Red-vented Bulbul was spotted having a meal.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Long-legged Buzzard: Buteo rufinus
 |
| Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus |
 |
| Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus |
Late July evening, at the feet of Mehrangarh Fort situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in a dusty parking lot hacked out of the Aravalli rock, perched upon an Acacia tree overseeing a cluster of vends was this Buteo rufinus. It was Sharang who spotted it first and I was out of the car in a jiffy.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Oriental White Eye: Zosterops palpebrosus
 |
| Oriental White Eye Zosterops palpebrosus |
A pair of these have a little nest in one of the bushes in my neighbour's garden. But I have this Rangoon Creeper climbing up on one side of my house and such birds are attracted for the nectar of its flower bunches...inverted barrels of the good stuff, if you may...and insects attracted by the same. And there are those crisscrossing electric cables - perfect safe roost for them and highways for squirrels and chameleons.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Golden Dragonfly: Needham's Skimmer - Libellula needhami
 |
| Golden Dragonfly - Needham's Skimmer Libellula needhami (female) |
One Sunday afternoon after a monsoon shower, this beautiful female of the species landed on my balcony. For a very brief while and this Golden Dragonfly was on its way. I was actually on the lookout for a pair of Oriental White Eyes who were flitting in and out that day.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
 |
| Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) |
This one inhabits a Cassia fistula tree just around the corner. All of them, in fact all the birds and squirrels of my neighbourhood, land up on this bounteous pomegranate bush/tree right below my balcony, which is actually their larder.
You cannot miss their sharp sibilant call. Pleasant.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens
Common Tailor Bird (Orthotomus sutorius)
 |
| Common Tailor Bird Orthotomus sutorius |
On a power line just outside my balcony one day...
They have tailored a nest nestled in a bush just outside the gate of the opposite house.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens.
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Brown Headed Barbet: Megalaima zeylanica
 |
| Brown Headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica |
 |
| Brown Headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica |
 |
| Brown Headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica |
Call of the Brown Headed Barbet
Megalaima zeylanica
Stays in a hollow near my home. Don't need an alarm clock to wake up...it has a distinctive call.
Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens