india

Joined a newly formed nature group and twice a month we are visiting (nature walks) places of interest close to our city. Our recent visit was a hit with the sighting of India's smallest butterfly and India's largest owl. The long distance, sun in our eyes, owl in shade meant that it was barely...

Coppersmith Barbet. Image IS over-exposed... The bird made a sudden appearance and I grabbed a few shots hoping to set the parameters right later. But I didn’t get a chance :-( Thank you for your kind appreciation of my previous posts.

Himalayas - 553 ... After having fun and fill ... it was time to leave ... but in all their kindness for a mesmerized photographer ... they decided to give one Bolshoi Theatre pose together ... ... much like a memento ... Not an easy bird to spot ... due to the type of habitat and...

Red-vented Bulbul Thank you for your kind appreciation of my previous posts. Image cropped, re-sized, levels adjusted and minimally sharpened.

Himalayas - 552 Soon as ... he was joined by his partner ... they started having poolside fun ... Thoroughly enjoying the facility at the forest-edge ... ... almost ignoring our prying lens ... And ... we didn't complain ... ____________________ Striated Laughingthrush Ranikhet...

Himalayas - 551 Before his partner came ... he shifted to another bowl ... ... kept nearby in a much clearer area ... ... but before using the facility ... he turned around ... and prudently ... checked our activity and intention ... At close to one foot in size ... they are big sized...

Himalayas - 550 Here's another Laughingthrush from mighty Himalayas ... A species of higher altitude ... and richer forests ... it was indeed to have a pair of them at the water-bowl ... kept at the forest edge ... at alt. 6500 ft. It was at one time placed in the genus Garrulax but...

Himalayas - 547 Another species of Laughinthrush ... ... and much more scarce here ... ... as it is found in the more rarified areas of Himalayas ... ... close to the treeline ... That day ... in Himalayas we were indeed very close to the permanent snowline ... driving through deep...

Himalayas - 546 Last of the White-crested Lt. image in this mini series ... A group captured ... having some quick evening snack at the forest edge ... Very social birds ... ... maintain a group identity ... and actively defend against inter- and intra-specific groups ... ... also...

Himalayas - 545 Not scared ... ... Though Wary ... They were .. And Quite obviously They ... Did not like us I believe ... Rightly so _________ Introduced in Singapore and Malaysia ... through pet trade ... and planned introduction Well established in Singapore ( JJ mentioned...

Himalayas - 544 Very vocal ... and gregarious ... parties of six to ten individual are often seen ... but the number can go up to 40 ... Have different types of calls ... that they use for communication during group foraging ... ... giving instruction to move on ... organizing...

Himalayas - 543 ... Here's one that gives a complete view of the plumage ... We had started early from Delhi ... that morning ... ... with fond hope of spending the afternoon with Himalayan beauties ... ... keeping in mind the finicky weather in the mountains ... Driving 330 Km. non...

Himalayas - 542 ... Now ... I have a bagful of images ... calls and video clips ... ... of this forest dweller ... So... expect a series of images ... I intend to share ... __________ My brother tested negative for covid yesterday ... ... and has been discharged from the hospital ...

Himalayas - 541 ... Regrettably ... I do not have many images of this beauty ... ... another striking species of Laughingthrush ... So ... I have stitched together whatever little I had ... into a composite ... _________ Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron erythrocephalum...

Himalayas - 540 These birds have a wonderful repertoire of calls and songs ... some of them resembling the laughter ... ... wonderfully stylized ... One such lovely rendering of song and call ... we were able to record ... It reminded me of a scene in a Kurosawa classic the Red Chief...

On Covid Front ... My brother has been shifted to a hospital room ... from ICU ... and needs Oxygen only intermittently, now ... two more doses of Remdesivir to go in next two days ... Rest of us are OK ... ____________ Himalayas - 539 There was ... this mating pair of lovely ...

Himalayas - 538 Laughingthrushes are a specialty of South-east Asia ... and Indian Subcontinent ... Himalayas being a good location generally ... to see some of them ... This one here has the habit of scurrying along the ground under low bushes ... ... this habit and their color has...

Himalayas - 537 Another shot of these beauties with intense eye ... ... before we move on to some more Laughingthrushes found there ... Gregarious ... inquisitve very vocal ... ... intelligent and beautiful ... Foraging parties of these fabulous birds keep the the Himalayan forest alive...

Himalayas - 536 Thank you all for kind words ... good wishes and prayers for our well being and safety ... It makes a world of difference ... ___________ It is a difficult time ... but sure enough there is going to be a turn around ... ... back to days of joy ... of togetherness...

Watchful ... ... On Covid front Younger brother is on Oxygen support and Inj. Remdesivir ... at a private Covid facility ... Today is his 13th day ... He is stabilizing but not out of the woods yet ... __________ Renu developed mild fever yesterday ... ... as we both are first-line...

Himalayas - 534 The show stopper of this mini Woodpecker show is going to be this amazingly gifted ... tiniest of Woodpeckers ... At 10 cm in size ... they are truly miniaturized drills ... and awesome drummers ... fast and furious Fantastic decibels they produce while doing so ...

Himalayas - 533 Just when ... Sun was about to dip behind the yonder hill ... and plunge the valley into twilight ... He appeared ... This male had missed out on ... being a part of this mini-series on Woodies ... ... captured in Himalayas ... Female though ... had appeared ...

Himalayas - 532 Here's another Woody captured in Himalayan Terai forest ... Three subspecies are foound in India ... Himalayan Foothills ... Terai and Forested hills and forests of Peninsular India ... ... but reporting is not very frequent from India ... ____________ Rufous...