Whistling Trails: In Search of Birds and Wildlife

[manojodungat]

Whistling Trails: In search of Birds and Wildlife !​

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"Do you ne'er think what wondrous beings these?
Do you ne'er think who made them, and who taught
The dialect they speak, where melodies
Alone are the interpreters of thought?
Whose household words are songs in many keys,
Sweeter than instrument of man e'er caught!"
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 'Tales of a Wayside Inn'

This is a photologue, a compilation of my humble short birding trails around my home and roadside bird watching.​

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I was not a naturalist. But ever since I began to see the world through lenses, everything looked different, pleasantly different. I was back in India for a couple of months during rains this year. Had quite a number of places to visit for personal works and made sure my back-pack containing my photo-gear found a permanent place in my “Scorp”. The idea was to convert every single drive in to a birding trail in order to quench my thirst for birding. Understandably, the plan didn’t materialize fully due to tight schedule but did manage to capture some action.​

Palakkad is my native, near Ottapalam more precisely. Previously known as Palghat is considered as the Gateway of Kerala, giving the rest of India access to the State. Paddy field, a common sight here. Was returning home that day after a short birding drive.​

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There are quite a lot of birds around here. It is only that I needed to find certain locations with less human activity/presence. The most common bird that I see around were the Green-Bee eaters !​

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These were usually spotted in open places and small little grass lands. What fascinated the most was their bright green plumage and the attractive long tail-feathers. I usually wait patiently next to where I spot them and keep waiting for them to return after the kill. They usually return with a bee or a fly.​

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Today, the green bee-eater is classified as a species that is in least danger of immediate extinction in the wild. However, the decline in both their native habitat and bee population numbers around the world, could have devastating consequences for this plucky little bird.

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Note: These pictures of Green-Bee Eaters and all the pictures to follow were taken on different occasions during July/August-2015.​

More birds to follow

 

[manojodungat]

Around my home, along the paddy fields I do spot these Kingfishers quite often. I always wanted to get closer and capture them with their prey. The key for me was to identify a spot and keep waiting patiently for them to return.


It’s fun to watch them taking off and landing in a flash with a crab or a fish and them beating it down in to their throat.


If I am right, this is a White-throated Kingfisher.


This Pied Kingfisher was spotted at Ranganthittu/Mysore, this time around.


A Common Kingfisher spotted at Nehru Zoological park @ Hyderabad


A White-throated Kingfisher spotted at Nehru Zoological park @ Hyderabad

Due to their generally small size, kingfishers have a number of predators wherever they exist around the world. The main predators of the kingfisher are foxes, raccoons, cats and snakes, but kingfishers are also preyed upon by other small mammals and large birds. The eggs of the kingfisher are also preyed upon by many of the kingfisher's predators.

Many species of kingfisher are considered to be threatened species as their numbers have been declining mainly due to habitat loss. These threatened species of kingfisher tend to be the kingfisher species that inhabit woodland and forests as their habitat is being destroyed due to deforestation which occurs in many areas around the world.

 

[manojodungat]

When in India, I frequent Palakkad-Munnar stretch.
That morning I spotted this Oriental Magpie Robin (Please correct me if I am not correct) at our home near Munnar. Never expected to spot a bird as it was raining the whole night.


Another Oriental Magpie Robin spotted @Ranganthittu/Mysore, this time around.

Magpies are noted to be highly intelligent birds and are often able to sense approaching danger relatively quickly. Magpies are known to be dominant and curious birds but are relatively secretive when they feel they are in danger. Magpies are also known to mimic the calls of other birds and have fully taken advantage of new food sources created by the presence of humans.

 

[GrandRk]

Lovely photos !! Yesterday i was discussing about nature in Munnar along with one of my friend and i remembered your pics along with mHawk, it were just awesome.

Do keep more photos coming in !!

 

[manojodungat]

Lovely photos !! Yesterday i was discussing about nature in Munnar along with one of my friend and i remembered your pics along with mHawk, it were just awesome.

Thanks GrandRk for the comments and am glad that you liked my pictures.
My M-Hawk while returning back after a short birding trip to my home near Munnar.

Do keep more photos coming in !!

Sure

 

[Sarath01]

Fabulous Pictures sirji !!Keep em coming
Now I should stop saying myself a photographerMay I ask which SLR you are using?

 

[manojodungat]

Fabulous Pictures sirji !!Keep em coming

Thank you Sir for the kind words

Now I should stop saying myself a photographer

Who said ? Becoming a photographer is quite easy.
Find out how, here
Just kidding !!!

May I ask which SLR you are using?

A D810

 

[Sarath01]

Thank you Sir for the kind words

Who said ? Becoming a photographer is quite easy.
Find out how, here
Just kidding !!!

A D810

Excellent thread Super excited to see more clicks from you☺Ofcourse Kerala has been one of the best destinations this side of south India. Dad was saying about a kerala trip for a long time Will visit there real soon!!

Happy revving and Happy Clicking,
Sarath.

 

[manojodungat]

Excellent thread.Super excited to see more clicks from you☺Ofcourse Kerala has been one of the best destinations this side of south India. Dad was saying about a kerala trip for a long time Will visit there real soon!!
Sarath.

Not been to Kerala which is just about half an hour drive from where you live ? !!!

One from Palakkad : A typical ottapalam village scene. This temple is just a couple of kilometers from my home.


This one from Munnar.

Goes on to show how diversified this small little State is.

Will come back with more birds soon !!

 

[Sarath01]

Not been to Kerala which is just about half an hour drive from where you live ? !!!

Actually twice been to kerala not in our new car and not me driving , So exited

 

[manojodungat]

It was fun capturing a Common Myna prey on a Grasshopper, this close. Captured the action from “Scorp” through the window on my left.


Earlier, spotted one on the beautiful Munnar-Marayur- Udumalpettai stretch

An aggressive and confident bird, the common myna has adapted well to the urban environment, making it one of the most abundant and familiar birds in Asia

 

[manojodungat]

As I was lazily driving down along the beautiful Marayur-Udumalpettai stretch, spotted these Pied Bushchats. They were quite cooperative if I stayed inside my “Scorp” but didn’t like whenever I tried to get out for better balance while shooting.

Pied Bushchat: Small birds with generally black (male) or brown (female) plumage

 

[manojodungat]

My companion for birding.


“Scorp” @ Kava/Malampuzha, Palakkad.Beyond Malampuzha Dam, driving along the Kava – Anakkal stretch is an unforgettable delight for Nature lovers



Coming back to birds.
These tiny Sunbirds and tailorbirds are so quick that capturing them is difficult but equally fun.






A Red-vented Bulbul

A Drongo

 

[Mathew]

Palakkad is my native, near Ottapalam more precisely. Previously known as Palghat is considered as the Gateway of Kerala, giving the rest of India access to the State. Paddy field, a common sight here. Was returning home that day after a short birding drive.​

Hi Manoj, nice contribution again. Only first part of the thread topic fulfilled, the second part -Wildlife part is missing.

I came very near to the above place during my previous vacation. Now, back to work place.
Sorry for not reaching to you this time. Will try next time.
You have good skills on DSLR. We enjoy these beautiful photos.

Expecting more on wildlife part.

 

[manojodungat]

I came very near to the above place during my previous vacation. Now, back to work place.
Sorry for not reaching to you this time. Will try next time.
You have good skills on DSLR. We enjoy these beautiful photos.

Thanks Mathews. I was there in India for nearly 3 months, this time around. With try and meet next time around.

A Bushlark, not sure whether it is Jerdon’s or Indian.


While in Hyderabad, we visited the Nehru Zoological park. Though I don’t fancy shooting captive animals and birds, found these big cats in quite vast areas moving around freely in a more or less natural setting.