Birds around Jabalpur

In Dec 2013, we visited my brother posted at Jabalpur and the following are some of the birds that I could capture with my Sony. Some of them were already in my collection, but it is always satisfying to shoot in different environments.

This bird is related to the pigeon was found in large numbers around Jabalpur including a large tree in front of the house. It is called "Eurasian Collared Dove"

This is the "Black Hooded Oriole"

This is the "Oriental White Eye".

This is the "Nilgiri Flycatcher"

This bird of the raptor species is called the "Shikra". This bird and the capture is one of my favorites.

This cute little bird is called "Tickell's Blue Flycatcher".

This is the "Indian Grey Hornbill" which I found almost at the end of my visit. While returning back home in the evening, I noticed it perched at the end of a dried branch outlined against the the grey evening skyline. I was concerned that I would not have enough light, but just managed to capture a few decent shots.

This is the "Indian Golden Oriole"

This bird with the long wire like extensions on it's tail is appropriately called "Wire Tailed Swallow". These are usually found flying very fast around lakes. I was fortunate to catch this take a break on a small boat.

This is the "White Wagtail"

This bird is called the "Long Tailed Shrike".

This small colorful bird is very active and keeps hopping across the branches and makes a very distinctive hooting call. It is called the "Coppersmith Barbet"

This bird is called the "Oriental Magpie Robin".

This is another shrike called "Southern Gray Shrike"

This bird is called the "Common Hawk Cuckoo"

This bird is called the "Black Redstart"

This is "Red Wattled Lapwing" which is found all across the country at all small lakes and ponds.

This is the "Common Sandpiper"

Ranganthittu, Mysore

In June/July of 2013, we visited Mysore for Amshula to write her entrance exam at JSS University. We took the opportunity to visit the famous bird sanctuary "Ranganthittu" at the outskirts of the city. It was such a great experience that I will recommend anyone visit Mysore or nearby places to make a visit.

A panoramic view of Ranganthittu.

This is the "Open Bill Stork" which is largest group of birds at this sanctuary.It has a distinctive gap within the beak. Incidentally, the gap develops only after the birds becomes an adult.

This bird with the distinctive pink color near the tail is called the "Painted Stork". It is also found in large numbers in Ranganthittu and when they spread their wings, it is a beautiful sight. Interestingly, it develops the pink color after reaching adulthood.

This is a juvenile painted stork - note the absence of the ping shading at the tail.

This is a nest of "Spot Billed Pelicans" which are easily identified by their large beaks and the pouches under them. Though they appear bulky, they can fly quite gracefully.

This is the "Little Egret" similar to the cattle, but larger and longer neck. It also has an all-white plumage all the time with a black beak and a tinge of yellow or bluish coloring around the eyes.

This magnificent bird is the "Brahminy Kite" and is easy to identify due to the dark reddish body and completely white head and chest. It is part of the raptor family and catches rats, lizards and other small prey. They are usually found near rubbish dumps looking for their prey.

This is the Brahminy Kite in flight with it's wide wing-span and distinctive head and beak.

This compact little bird is called the "Common Kingfisher" and the large lotus leaf created a great background for this shot. It found this perch very convenient to look for fish, and then after each attempt, would come back to it's "throne".

This is the "White throated Kingfisher" that is found all over India. The bright blue feathers with a dark red beak makes it one of the most colorful little birds around.

This is the "Little Cormorant" which is found near lakes and ponds. This bird loves to spread its wings as often as it can.

This relatively large bird is called the "Black Ibis" and has a dark colored wings with a distinctive patch of red on crown. 

This is the "Red whiskered Bulbul" a close relative of the more common red-vented bulbul.

This is the "Baya Weaver"

There are many other birds in and around Ranganthittu which I will update in the coming days. Hope you have enjoyed these photographs.

Birds Around Hyderabad - 3rd Set

There are many birds whose names I had heard in books but never saw or I should confess, noticed them even though they are all around us. After capturing them in photographs, I now see them all the time and it is my turn to wonder why others dont seem to notice them.

This is the Indian Robin in blue with a dash of orange underneath. It is very active and not very shy compared to many other birds. The tail makes an interesting up and down swing very frequently.

This is the Bulbul or more accurately, the red-vented Bulbul to differentiate it from the red-crested Bulbul. This has a dash of red under the tail. This bird too is found around us even in the cities.

This the red-whiskered Bulbul which is very prominent on it's face and also has a black crest.

This is the Rose Ringed Parakeet which is commonly called the "Tota" in India. This is a noisy bird and if you have access to the roof a high-rise, you will see them every day in the early morning and in the evening during sun-set. Their timings are so regular it seems they are going to work each day and coming back home in the evening.

These are "Rock Pigeons" having a cool dunk in water from a overhead tanker on the terrace of a house.

This is the "Spotted Owl" and I was able to get this shot with difficulty as it a very shy bird. You can feel the eyes boring into you and then if you get too close, it moves to another branch or another treee.

This is a "Laughing Dove" and comes in few other shades. Doves are usually slimmer than Pigeons and have a different call. 

A pair of "Sparrows" which have become more difficult to find these days in the cities. They used to be the most common birds in cities and town and many people remember waking up in the morning to the chatter of these small and active birds.

A pair of "Black Kites" which we more often see flying "high in the sky" looking for prey. I have probably taken the most number of photographs of this bird and most of them while it is flying. I have also seen them with small prey,, usually rats, in their talons, but my camera was not upto capturing the details with too much clarity.

This tiny bird  is called "Ashy Prinia" and is white-yellow on the lower parts and grey on the top. The tail stands up and is constantly flicked up and down.


This blog is meant for anyone interested in photographing birds. I would be very keen to hear any comments and suggestions. You can also visit my albums at Birds Around Hyderabad.