Kavanapura, Karnataka

The location of our little mango orchard which is turning out to be one of my favorite places for lazy balcony birding.

31 unique species photographed here

Small Green or White-cheeked Barbet

The fruits on the Singapore cherry tree are a favourite for the White-cheeked Barbet.

Barbet,The fruits on the Singapore cherry tree are a favourite for the White-cheeked Barbet.

Shikra (Juvenile)

Shikra,

White-browed Bulbul

Bulbul,

Shikra (juvenile)

A juvenile Shikra

Shikra,A juvenile Shikra

Egyptian Vulture (in flight)

Egyptian Vulture flying over the granite rocks of Ramanagara. Shot from our farm.

Vulture,Egyptian Vulture flying over the granite rocks of Ramanagara. Shot from our farm.

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Male)

One half of a pair of Tickell's Blue that live under the foliage of a large mango tree in our farm.

Flycatcher,One half of a pair of Tickell's Blue that live under the foliage of a large mango tree in our farm.

Little Swift

Swift,

Grey-breasted Prinia

Grey-breasted Prinia picking off worms from under the leaves of Mango trees.

Prinia,Grey-breasted Prinia picking off worms from under the leaves of Mango trees.

Small Minivet (Male)

Male Small Minivet picking off insects from a Papaya plant.

Minivet,Male Small Minivet picking off insects from a Papaya plant.

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Female)

Flycatcher,

Asian Koel

Koel,

Peregrine Falcon

Falcon,

Cinereous Tit

To be a successful insect-eater it helps to be acrobatic. A cinereous tit hangs upside down while raiding this spider's web.

Tit,To be a successful insect-eater it helps to be acrobatic. A cinereous tit hangs upside down while raiding this spider's web.

Oriental Honey Buzzard (Female)

This female, possibly looking for prey, perched on the top of a mango tree on a clear monsoon morning

Honey Buzzard,This female, possibly looking for prey, perched on the top of a mango tree on a clear monsoon morning

Baya Weaver (phillipinus - Male)

Weaver,

Jerdon's Leafbird (♀)

Leafbird,

White-rumped Munia (striata - Adult)

This munia seemed to have squatted into the abandoned nest of a Baya Weaver.

Munia,This munia seemed to have squatted into the abandoned nest of a Baya Weaver.

Tawny-bellied Babbler

Babbler,

Purple Sunbird

There's a kind of social spider in our farm who work together to construct large messy, but effective webs. This Purple sunbird's breakfast plan was to take their heist from one web to the other all morning picking off all the bugs stuck to them.

Sunbird,There's a kind of social spider in our farm who work together to construct large messy, but effective webs. This Purple sunbird's breakfast plan was to take their heist from one web to the other all morning picking off all the bugs stuck to them.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

Indian Robin (Male)

Robin,

Small Minivet (female)

Small Minivet (Female) feeding on a winged termite.

Minivet,Small Minivet (Female) feeding on a winged termite.

Baya Weaver (phillipinus - Male)

Photographed near a lake close to our farm.

Weaver,Photographed near a lake close to our farm.

White spotted Fantail

Whether it's the fancy tail or its whistling call this one is a complete charmer.

Fantail,Whether it's the fancy tail or its whistling call this one is a complete charmer.

Rose-ringed Parakeet (♂)

Parakeet,

Common Iora

Iora,

Black-naped Oriole (Immature)

Immature Black-naped Oriole, probably passing through this area as it travels to the jungles down south for the winter.

Oriole,Immature Black-naped Oriole, probably passing through this area as it travels to the jungles down south for the winter.

Tawny-bellied Babbler

This one is probably a juvenile

Babbler,This one is probably a juvenile

Purple Sunbird (Male)

Sunbird,

Small Minivet (Female)

Female Small Minivet feeding on a papaya leaf.

Minivet,Female Small Minivet feeding on a papaya leaf.

Common Tailorbird

While building their nests Tailorbirds are capable of extremely delicate skills, since they need to sew leaves together with just their beaks. Nothing delicate about their calls though. This one was shouting away at the top of a mango tree canopy.

Tailorbird,While building their nests Tailorbirds are capable of extremely delicate skills, since they need to sew leaves together with just their beaks. Nothing delicate about their calls though. This one was shouting away at the top of a mango tree canopy.

Tickell's or Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Flowerpecker,

Oriental White-eye

As we spend more time at the farm, the white-eyes here have become more and more used to our presence. It's a great feeling when a bird trusts you and lets you get a little more closer. It makes for great photos too.

White-eye,As we spend more time at the farm, the white-eyes here have become more and more used to our presence. It's a great feeling when a bird trusts you and lets you get a little more closer. It makes for great photos too.

Baya Weaver (phillipinus - Male)

Weaver,

Baya Weaver (phillipinus - Female)

Weaver,

Black-rumped or Lesser Flameback Woodpecker (bengalhense ♂)

Woodpecker,

Large Cuckooshrike (Female)

We get a lot of Small Minivets in our farm. This monsoon, for the first time in my experience, this Large Cuckooshrike paid a visit. Perched right outside the house, it called incessantly. I had to suspend my work, come out and pay heed. Almost as if it had stopped by only to say hi, it flew away as soon as I got this one picture.

Cuckooshrike,We get a lot of Small Minivets in our farm. This monsoon, for the first time in my experience, this Large Cuckooshrike paid a visit. Perched right outside the house, it called incessantly. I had to suspend my work, come out and pay heed. Almost as if it had stopped by only to say hi, it flew away as soon as I got this one picture.

White spotted Fantail

Fantail,

Puff-throated Babbler

Babbler,

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Nestling)

This sunbird family built its nest on a well covered branch of a Wrightia tinctorial tree. Unfortunately, the tree shed all its leaves and left this nestling fully exposed. Which explains that piqued look.

Sunbird,This sunbird family built its nest on a well covered branch of a Wrightia tinctorial tree. Unfortunately, the tree shed all its leaves and left this nestling fully exposed. Which explains that piqued look.

Scaly-breasted Munia

This individual was one half of a pair that chose to build a nest on a tree right across our balcony. One of them, presumably the male, fetched nesting material all day while the other stitched it together to make a cosy nest. Inexplicably after all the hard work they abandoned the nest. While it lasted, though, I couldn't take my eyes off them.

Munia,This individual was one half of a pair that chose to build a nest on a tree right across our balcony. One of them, presumably the male, fetched nesting material all day while the other stitched it together to make a cosy nest. Inexplicably after all the hard work they abandoned the nest. While it lasted, though, I couldn't take my eyes off them.