VIEWFINDER TO THE WORLD OF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

CRESTED SERPENT EAGLE...!!!!

Crested Serpent Eagle has broad and rounded wings. Soars with wings held forward and in pronounced V. Adult has broad white bands across wings and tail, hooded appearance at rest, with yellow cere and lores, and white spotting on brown underparts, narrower barring on tail and largely white underwing with fine dark barring and dark trailing edge.

Monday, March 29, 2010

PARIA KITE CHICKS.....!!

There was a franatic phone call late into Saturday night by a friend of mine about Paria Kite chicks spotted at low level near Channapattna in a coconut Grove. So Sunday early morning we set off to the place to do some photo shoot ....if nothing else to watch these birds....B'cos generally Kites build nest at very high perching and rarely accessible to humans....

So, it was an opportunity of a life time.. Here are a few pic. of the chicks....I must admit even tho we started early, due to logistics in approacing the place the Summer sun was beating down and lighting was harsh...with strong contrast and shadows.. It was pretty sultry, hot and humid conditions....

At the end we were treated with sumptuous quantity of Tender coconut fresh from the tree...Ah.!! what a relief it was... We were back home by afternoon.

Monday, March 22, 2010

SPOT BILLED PELICAN....!! FLIGHT.

This amazing Bird has a large wingspan. Check out the aerodynamic body and wing position in flight...!!!!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

RANGANTITTU...HERONS...!!

Rangantittu is home for Black Crowned Night Heron and Indian Pond Heron.The adult of Black Crowned has black crown and mantle contrast with grey wings and whitish underparts. The Indian Pond Heron Adult breeding has yellowish buff head and neck and maroon-brown mantle...Head, neck and breast streaked-spotted in breeding plumage.

Seen in the pic. are Black Crowned Night Heron, Indian Pond Heron adult Non-breeding and adult breeding..

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

RANGANTITTU ... ASIAN OPEN-BILLED STORK.....!!

Rangantittu bird Sanctuary is the home for many Asian Open billed Stork...you can see the Perching on treetops and actively building nests. Widespread resident in plains, Stout, dull colored  "open bill" largely white or greyish white with black flight feathers and tail, legs usually dull pink, brighter in breeding condition. Juvenile has brownish grey head, neck and breast, and brownish mantle.
Seen in the pic. is the ASIAN OPEN BILL STORK with nesting material....not before cleaning it thoroughly before depositing in the nest.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

RANGATITTU... DARTER SPITTING WATER.....!!!

Early morning boat ride on river Cauvery at Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary was truly blissful. I spotted this Darter on a rock really playful. It was quenching its thirst and as well was spitting water. Being on the other side of the Darter it was a Backlit subject and made this pic. all the more interesting as the trace of water droplets was hi-lighted and could get the bird also in proper exposure.
ENLARGE THE PICTURE TO SEE THE WATER DROPLETS TRACE A PATTERN FROM DARTERS MOUTH.

RANGANTITTU....RIVER TERNS...!!!!

River Terns are one of the most beautiful birds found in Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary. They lay their eggs on the rock islands and defend them aggressively. River Terns are very good looking bird...with contrast colors of yellow-orange beak, white and gray body, black head, and red legs....Its difficult to spot the eyes which merges with the black color of the head. There are only a few pairs of them in Rangantittu.

Monday, March 15, 2010

RANGANTITTU- FRESH WATER CROCODILES...!!!

Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary located on the downstream of the river Cauvery, is the home of Fresh Water Crocodiles. They are seen lurking underwater and Sun Bathing on the protruding rocks. They are quick to feast on the accidental fall of  birds and their young ones into the flowing water.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Rangantittu Darter take-off....!!!


Darter take-off....!!!, originally uploaded by prakash_subbanna.

Darter elegant Birds with long winding neck and large wingspan. Its a treat to witness and photograph their take-off and landings. Here is one such pic. showing the take-off...against a partial back lighting.

Friday, March 12, 2010

RANTANTITTU ....PIED KING FISHER....!!



Widespread resident, smaller than crested pied kingfisher, with white supercilium, white patches on wings, and black bands across breast. Female has single breast - band and double in male. Found near fresh waters, slow-moving rivers and streams, , also tidal creeks and pools.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

RANGANTITTU...PAINTED STORK.....!!!

Wide spread resident in plains, Adult has downcurved yellow bill, bare orange-yellow or redface, and red legs, white barring on mainly black upperwing-coverts, pinkish tertials, and blac barring across breast. Inland and coastal wetlands.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

RANGANTITTU.. EURASIAN SPOON BILL IN FLIGHT...!!!!

In continuation of the Rangantittu series....here is the pic. of the Eurasian Spoon Bill in flight.

Widespread resident, White, with spatulate-tipped bill. Adult hs black bill with yellow tip, has cres and yellow breast patch when breeding, Juvenile has pink bil, in flight, shows black tips to primaries. Mainly inland wetlands.

Seen in the pic. is carrying nesting material.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

PHOTO TOUR RANGANTITTU...GREAT THICK - KNEE...!!

Widespread resident, Upturned black and yellow bill, and white forehead and 'spectales'. In flight shows grey mid- winged panel and black secondaries, Seen on stony banks of larger rivers and lakes.

Monday, March 8, 2010

PHOTO TOUR....RANGANTITTU...!!

Last weekend I lead a couple of photographers on a photo tour of RANGANTITTU BIRD SANCTUARY...It was part of initiative of the Bangalore chapter of an Online photographic portal. The place is about 120kms from Bangalore, just after Srirangapatna...and before Mysore.

Litrally we were the first to land at the Birding paradise....to enjoy and photograph the prestine early morning activities of the Birds.

Taking a Boat ride on the flowing Cauvery River...which is dotted with small Islands...Perched are the Birds on the foliage with their Nests and young ones....1 1/2 hours of boat ride yielded some good shots of Birds and their activities....after which the intense Summer Sun light got better of us.

We witnessed and photographed Painted Storks, Large and Intermediate Egrets, Open bill Stork, Spoon Bills, Night Heron, Pond Herons, Darters, Cormorants, River Terns, Pied Kingfishers, Small Blue Kingfisher, White Thorated Kingfisher, Marsh Harriers, Pelicans,Crocodiles and lots of nesting activities...

Kokaree Bellur and Thylur Lake was also on the itinerary...which is near Maddur on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway. Thylur lake was devoid of Birds except for Coots...But Kokaree Bellur was Brimming with Painted Storks and its young ones...It was odd time to photograph b'cos of the high point of the Sun and harsh lighting...

Equipment with right specifications are necessary to reach the birds....to do some serious photography...

BEING THERE BEFORE THE CACAPHOY OF THE TOURIST IS THE KEY ISSUE...
Entry is 25/- Boat ride for 1/2 hour is 250/- and camera ticket is 50/-.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

DARTER... THE SNAKE BIRD....!!

Darters are widespread residents...Long , slim head and neck, dagger like bill, and long tail...Often swims with most of the body submerged...The Adult has white stripe downside of the neck,white scapular streaks, and white streaking on wing-coverts..Juvenile buffish-white below, with buff fringes to coverts forming pale panel on upper wing. Mainly inland waters, also coastal waters.

It amazing to see the twist of the neck almost 360 degrees...and they can sit still for a long time spreading their wings....and they keep the wings groomed impeccably clean.

Their fishing ability is amazing...and the picture says it all...