Top Picks
This is a gallery of my favorite encounters.
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
The large mammals of Africa are always attended by birds from this family. In fact, the Swahili name for Oxpecker is Askari wa kifaru (the rhino's guard).
Yellow-billed Oxpecker,The large mammals of Africa are always attended by birds from this family. In fact, the Swahili name for Oxpecker is Askari wa kifaru (the rhino's guard).
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Malabar Pied Hornbill,
Black-headed Munia
A female black-headed Munia in GKVK, Bangalore.
Black-headed Munia,A female black-headed Munia in GKVK, Bangalore.
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.
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.
Black-headed Ibis
Black-headed Ibis,
Golden-naped Tanager
A Golden-naped tanager showing off its electric blue plumage.
Golden-naped Tanager,A Golden-naped tanager showing off its electric blue plumage.
White-bellied Sea Eagle
As they made repeated trips from their nest to the sea, I got to photograph them in flight almost at eye level.
White-bellied Sea Eagle,As they made repeated trips from their nest to the sea, I got to photograph them in flight almost at eye level.
Indian Skimmer
After a lot of flirting and cavorting this pair of Indian Skimmers settled down for the business end of their courtship.
Indian Skimmer,After a lot of flirting and cavorting this pair of Indian Skimmers settled down for the business end of their courtship.
Collared-scops Owl
Collared Scops Owl in a leafy neighborhood of Bangalore.
Collared-scops Owl,Collared Scops Owl in a leafy neighborhood of Bangalore.
Black-winged Stilt
Shot in Mangalajodi wet lands.
Black-winged Stilt,Shot in Mangalajodi wet lands.
Indian Pitta
This Pitta, despite the brilliant colours on its plumage, is expertly camouflaged in the forests of the Western Ghats. It took me a full 30 seconds to spot this individual after my guide had pointed it to me.
Indian Pitta,This Pitta, despite the brilliant colours on its plumage, is expertly camouflaged in the forests of the Western Ghats. It took me a full 30 seconds to spot this individual after my guide had pointed it to me.
Purple-bibbed Whitetip Hummingbird
Purple-bibbed Whitetip Hummingbird,
Common Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher looking for frogs in a village pond in Sundarbans.
Common Kingfisher,Common Kingfisher looking for frogs in a village pond in Sundarbans.
Intermediate or Median or Yellow-billed Egret
As our boat waded near her this Median Egret tensed into an alert pose, ready to make a getaway if we got too close.
Intermediate or Median or Yellow-billed Egret,As our boat waded near her this Median Egret tensed into an alert pose, ready to make a getaway if we got too close.
Osprey
Osprey taking off at Kabini.
Osprey,Osprey taking off at Kabini.
Brown Violet-ear Hummingbird
Brown Violet-ear Hummingbird,
Oriental Turtle Dove
Spotted this one in Yuksom town.
Oriental Turtle Dove,Spotted this one in Yuksom town.
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird,
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.
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.
Blue-capped Rock Thrush
This brilliantly coloured individual was flitting about near our tent.
Blue-capped Rock Thrush,This brilliantly coloured individual was flitting about near our tent.
Himalayan Vulture
Vultures belonging to three separate species - Himalayan, Red-headed & Egyptian - converge on a spotted deer carcass, presumably killed by a tiger the previous night, in Corbett National Park.
Himalayan Vulture,Vultures belonging to three separate species - Himalayan, Red-headed & Egyptian - converge on a spotted deer carcass, presumably killed by a tiger the previous night, in Corbett National Park.
White-fronted Bee-eater
This pair of White-fronted Bee-eater spent a lot of time feeding each other.
White-fronted Bee-eater,This pair of White-fronted Bee-eater spent a lot of time feeding each other.
Small Pratincole
Incredibly lucky that this pratincole let us come really close to the Island on which he was perched.
Small Pratincole,Incredibly lucky that this pratincole let us come really close to the Island on which he was perched.
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant,
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.
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.
Grey-crested Tit
This was on our trek to Goecha La in Sikkim. The Grey-crested Tit was present at all the camps, and didn't seem to mind the presence of humans at all. Wasn't beyond scavenging from the waste we had left behind.
Grey-crested Tit,This was on our trek to Goecha La in Sikkim. The Grey-crested Tit was present at all the camps, and didn't seem to mind the presence of humans at all. Wasn't beyond scavenging from the waste we had left behind.
Alexandrine Parakeet
This Alexandrine Parakeet was picking away at the Eucalyptus bark, and I'm not sure why.
Alexandrine Parakeet,This Alexandrine Parakeet was picking away at the Eucalyptus bark, and I'm not sure why.
Ruff
Female Ruff preening. Shot at Mangalajodi wetlands in Chilika Lake.
Ruff,Female Ruff preening. Shot at Mangalajodi wetlands in Chilika Lake.
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher,
Alpine or Moorland or Hill Chat
Snap taken on my trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro
Alpine or Moorland or Hill Chat,Snap taken on my trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro
Small Minivet
Small Minivet (Female) feeding on a winged termite.
Small Minivet,Small Minivet (Female) feeding on a winged termite.
Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.
Crested Serpent Eagle,Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.
Green Bee-eater
Green bee-eater resting between sorties in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.
Green Bee-eater,Green bee-eater resting between sorties in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.
American or Caribbean Flamingo
American flamingo in Isabela islands in Galapagos.
American or Caribbean Flamingo,American flamingo in Isabela islands in Galapagos.
Australian Gannet
Shot at the Muriwai colony, near Auckland, New Zealand, where you can go as close as a metre away from these birds. The young chicks train themselves to fly (hover, actually) against the strong winds, offering some really easy photo opportunities.
Australian Gannet,Shot at the Muriwai colony, near Auckland, New Zealand, where you can go as close as a metre away from these birds. The young chicks train themselves to fly (hover, actually) against the strong winds, offering some really easy photo opportunities.
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Vernal Hanging Parrot on a guava tree in Sharavathi.
Vernal Hanging Parrot,Vernal Hanging Parrot on a guava tree in Sharavathi.
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.
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.
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Sunbird in Ratnagiri with a spider in her mouth, probably caught it for her chicks.
Purple-rumped Sunbird,Sunbird in Ratnagiri with a spider in her mouth, probably caught it for her chicks.
Small Green or White-cheeked Barbet
The fruits on the Singapore cherry tree are a favourite for the White-cheeked Barbet.
Small Green or White-cheeked Barbet,The fruits on the Singapore cherry tree are a favourite for the White-cheeked Barbet.
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler taking off in Airoli creek in Mumbai.
Northern Shoveler,Northern Shoveler taking off in Airoli creek in Mumbai.
White-throated Kingfisher
While we were waiting in the safari Jeep for a sighting of a leopard, this Kingfisher offered a sideshow, picking up a juicy frog from the pond.
White-throated Kingfisher,While we were waiting in the safari Jeep for a sighting of a leopard, this Kingfisher offered a sideshow, picking up a juicy frog from the pond.
Green-tailed Sunbird
Most of bird photography is in the timing. On the way back from Dzongri camp in Khangchendzonga national park, this male flitted around in the understory of the Rhododendrons. I hesitated to take my camera out since it was drizzling a little. Just as the rain stopped and I got my camera in my hand this bird came out and sat on a dry branch long enough for me to take 2-3 shots.
Green-tailed Sunbird,Most of bird photography is in the timing. On the way back from Dzongri camp in Khangchendzonga national park, this male flitted around in the understory of the Rhododendrons. I hesitated to take my camera out since it was drizzling a little. Just as the rain stopped and I got my camera in my hand this bird came out and sat on a dry branch long enough for me to take 2-3 shots.
Dunnock
Dunnock at a park in Oamaru, NZ.
Dunnock,Dunnock at a park in Oamaru, NZ.
Violet-purple Coronet Hummingbird
Violet-purple Coronet Hummingbird,
Common Sandpiper
Sandpipers in formation at Airoli.
Common Sandpiper,Sandpipers in formation at Airoli.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Indian Spot-billed Duck on the banks of Karanji Lake, Mysore
Indian Spot-billed Duck,Indian Spot-billed Duck on the banks of Karanji Lake, Mysore
Sarus Crane
In the fields of western UP where we roamed, I'm happy to report, Sarus Cranes outnumbered scarecrows 3:1.
Sarus Crane,In the fields of western UP where we roamed, I'm happy to report, Sarus Cranes outnumbered scarecrows 3:1.
Hoatzin
The bird that forgot to evolve. Believe it or not Hoatzin chicks even have claws at the tip of their wings. Shot in Cuyabeno, Ecuador.
Hoatzin,The bird that forgot to evolve. Believe it or not Hoatzin chicks even have claws at the tip of their wings. Shot in Cuyabeno, Ecuador.
Grey-breasted Prinia
Grey-breasted Prinia picking off worms from under the leaves of Mango trees.
Grey-breasted Prinia,Grey-breasted Prinia picking off worms from under the leaves of Mango trees.
Ruddy-breasted Crake
Ruddy-breasted Crake in the Mangalajodi wetlands in Chilika Lake, Odisha.
Ruddy-breasted Crake,Ruddy-breasted Crake in the Mangalajodi wetlands in Chilika Lake, Odisha.
Long-legged Buzzard
A Long-legged Buzzard surveying its options for the next hunt from the river bank.
Long-legged Buzzard,A Long-legged Buzzard surveying its options for the next hunt from the river bank.
Bay-backed Shrike
Bay-backed Shrike,
Fawn-breasted Brilliant Hummingbird
Fawn-breasted Brilliant Hummingbird,
Crimson-rumped Toucanet
Crimson-rumped Toucanet,
Brown Shrike
Brown shrike in Bandipur
Brown Shrike,Brown shrike in Bandipur
Green-crowned Woodnymph Hummingbird
Shot from the famous Yellow House at Mindo.
Green-crowned Woodnymph Hummingbird,Shot from the famous Yellow House at Mindo.
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.
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.
