Bird Series - Black Hooded Oriole

These orioles have beautiful calls than their fellow birds "Golden Oriole" who have screeching call "Krrrrr". I have seen them in backyard quite good number of times. Their plumage is quite attractive due to deep yellow colour and flashy black hood. I love the red coloured eyes which is perfect contrast to black hood. The birds are shy. The pictures I have caught are from our backyard window where they don't recognize my presence :-). I have seen them eating bugs at nearby trees but not fruits. The call is melodious and easily recognizable. Here are pictures from my collection.

How much you click. Now I won't pose for your next click

The bird relishing the bug it hunted. Looks like it did not want to share with anyone. The bird went away from flock, perched on the smaller tree nearby road and was trying to finish the feast fast. Even it did not recognize the humans while meditating on its prey :-). Looked like the flock had a fight over bird behaviour later when it joined them at canopy.

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Bird Series - Asian Openbill

Openbill as name points, has open bill even with mouth closed. It looks as if they are smiling always. The purpose of such structure is to handle its prey. Nature does not create anything for fun :-). They are quite good in numbers here at our village and at Hosaadu village. I am amused by their heavy flight and sometimes pity. They struggle during initial flight. Once they gather force, it long flight to distant horizon. Their aligned flight high above in flocks is something endearing to watch. Coming to food practices, I have seen them feeding on the insects in open fields. Other than this, I have seen them only perched high lazing and motionless. Their face movements are also sluggish. I am yet to spot them near water bodies. The pictures are easy grab due to larger body structure, but catchlight is tricky. The darker cover around eye makes catchlight difficult unless you have sufficient natural light on the bird. Here are pictures for you shot when it perched over bland tree and relaxed for a while.

With pond heron!
Hey buddy look up, don't be intimidated by dolt photographer. He can't reach us

Are you still not done sir :-)

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Bird Series - Ashy Drongo

This thin bird, found wherever I roam in my village. Capturing them has been tantalizing till date. Their dark plumage makes it difficult to shoot the catch light. The birds can be easily recognized with the baby voice. They are good in squabbling with other birds but they produce pitiable voice as if someone duped them :-). Sometimes I confuse their voice with other birds like parrots. Like racket tailed drongos, they also mimic calls of other birds and steal the food. I have never seen them feeding till date and hence unsure of their eating practices. Wikipedia says mostly insects. Here are some pictures caught when they perched steady with enough natural light on them

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February 2021 Fog

26th February 2021,

After February Rains, we have fog at fag end of February! Yes, it was heaviest fog of the winter season. The weather was contrasting. On one side it was humid weather and other side dense fog. Nature can do wonders. Meanwhile, the humidity is soaring and probably is at 80+. It sweats profusely nowadays and the water intake has drastically rose. Here are pictures from today's fog walk along the fields. It felt as if the ground is also sweating via fog :-). Conclusion of monsoon is generally marked by torrential rains for 2-3 days. On similar lines, nature wants to mark end of winter through dense fog :-)

This cattle stopped while being carried to field looking at me :-D. They don't like strangers. It knows me well but the cap I wore made it confused. Later, I walked away from her path and it strolled towards field for grazing. The egrets followed her as well :-D

This egrets on the bland tree at usual basking area. They also got confused with weather due to reduced sunlight penetration.

What a day!

Where are you my SUN :-)

An openbill perched high in canopy

The jungle babblers enjoying morning feast Chapathi (Indian wheat bread) which mother kept near well. I like their socializing behaviour.

The rufous treepie also had a minor share. The human presence hindered it to have additional pieces.

The fog showed quick signs of fading away thanks to sultry weather.

No morning is complete without hearing red-whiskered-bulbul call

Hey buddy! How was my concert today?

And why not, oriental magpie robin song.

Its my turn after bulbul. Stay till its over :-)

As day bloomed, more birds are out of canopy!

The flame throated bulbuls are still here. I thought I would never see them again. What a moment! Looks like they have dwelling in this canopy. Could not get a better picture since it perched high in the canopy

Good morning SUN! Time to walk towards home again to get along with day.

Here is a short clip from today's walk