Little Rann of Kutch - November 2021

 

Orinetal dwarf Kingfisher - July 2021

Here are some photographs I made at hide prepared by Samadhan Pawar, Near Panvel at a nesting location of Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (aka ODKF) in July 2021. 

The bird is otherwise very difficult to photograph in wild as it prefers dense jungles and a secretive life. 

This is purely forest dwelling species and is known to gather in western ghats during monsoon for breeding. It nests on banks of the forest streams by digging long hole like other kingfishers. 

During incubation the parents perform duties on rotational basis. Feeding of chicks is done by both parents until the babies are ready to fly themselves. The feed contains variety of insects, frogs, lizards, skink, crabs which underlines the extra ordinary hunting skills of this small and fragile bird. No doubt ODKF is one of the most fascinating and most colorful bird found in India.    

Rain Quail - Bhigwan- July 2021

Bhigwan is best known for sighting and photographing most of the waterbirds, and the appropriate season would be visit in winter months..Nov-March...But this time made a visit in rainy season, month of July to explore the grasslands around Bhigwan.

In rainy season, the most expected/desired bird is the "Rain quail"...Normally this bird remains highly secretive, but in rainy season the males are often seen calling out loudly to reach out to surrounding males/females declaring its territory and dominance. We could spend the early cloudy morning with this male. Could shoot its ample moods and behaviour from a car. Could observe it calling out with all vigour and preening and cleaning itself. 

Here are few of the photographs made.

All photos taken with Nikon Z6II+500 mm f4 vR.