The Lion Cubs

How can i express my Happiness...coz it was extra happy moments in my life.till now i hate photography,so never tried.
we were on family trip of Saurastra with my family n my cousin's family.as on 24th November we were at Gir National Park for Lion safari.it was around 2.30pm n our safari driver picked us from our resort.while we were on the way to park,rain showering was started n we all thought for full rain but finally it stops.
Around 3.15pm we had entered in the park.during safari our guide told us some info n rules.my husband Dr.Anand told him for birding as he likes bird photography.
after 5mins 1st time i saw a monitor lizard(my huby n my 7yrs old son sighted it at Velavdar but i missed) then saw Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer. after drive of 30-40min our gypsy sudden stopped n guide shows the spotted owlet,it was just 10-15ft away from us.
After 1+hr of drive we didn't seen a lion/lioness,most of returning gypsy driver had told us that they had not seen a lion/lioness.so we r lil disappointed but finger crossed for our kids.
Another 5-10mins of drive my huby told to stop the gypsy coz there was a leopard,it was 40-45ft away.its a 1st wow moment.our guide also told us that u r lucky to see.
We all were talking n our guide told to stop as he seen the other gypsy r stopped at a point n our guide shows us 2 Lions...yeah...1st time i saw them in jungle.My huby n my son clicked in their cam.enjoyed this moments at-least for 5-10 min and we moved ahead.
after drive of 5min we seen 2 lioness n 3-4cubs.my huby was busy in clicking n asking my son to click but he was lost himself in this moment to see all thing n forget to click so i picked the camera n 1st time clicked but photo was blurred coz i dont know how to click?... lens was 55-250mm n it was at 55mm so i asked my hubby..lioness n cubs were far away so he expand it to 250mm.when i tried to see in view finder,there was nothing to see so again i asked him n he remind me to half press shutter button n when u see it clear then click. and i got this image.

 Exifs :
Canon 600D
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/60 || ISO 1600 || 250mm || White Balance : Day Light
Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Gujarat

River Tern with Catch

Before My trip to Saurastra,i was at Bilimora(Gujarat) for 2 days.i had contacted my 2 birding friend for early morning photography at Dharasana wetland near Valsad but they were busy.so around at 7am i was this place.
it was pleasant atmosphere, little cold n sunrise.due to low rain fall, water deposit was about to dry but at 2-3 places it was there n i ahd sighted Asian openbill,River Tern, Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Western Reef Egret, Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Painted Stork etc. didnt find new winter birds so decided to frame flying n fish catching shots of river tern as they were very active at early morning.
i had find a place which was 25-30mtr away frm main costal highway n sit there.cant express happiness coz it was so pleasant to watch 50+ terns flying above water level n sudden dive in water to catch a fish.
Took more than 200 photos of fish catching terns n find 20+ photos r in focus n clear.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/5000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Dhrasana wetland, Bilimora Outskirt, Gujarat

Nani Kakrad(Navsari) Wetland a Birding Heaven of South Gujarat (75+ Species)

Why Gujarat Government is not taking interest to conserve wetlands.Also There is lack of interest by Local Politicians to conserve This Both Wetlands.
There are only 2 Big wetland where migratory birds come n stay till water remains in wetland.both are 15-20km away from Navsari,one is at Sultanpur n other is at Nani Kakrad.Water remains in Both wetland till December/January end but Sultanpur Wetland is dried by local villegers who have fish farm near by wetland since starting of October and Nani Kakrad wetland will dried up by Local till December end.
i had spotted 100+ Greater Flamingos at Sultanpur wetland in August.now you can see only dried area.
We have still one Wetland Remains for Bird watching n Photography,Nani Kakrad.
 I was stayed at Bilimora n talked with my friends, Dr.Dharmeshbhai and Dr.Sujitbhai on evening of 16th November to visit Nani Kakrad wetland on 17th early Morning but due to busy schedule at hospital, they didn't came.so around at 7am i went there after driving of 20km.
It was lil cold n foggy morning even around at 7.30am.Find a area beside road for car parking n reached a point of wetland after walking of aprx 1km.
I had decided to sit on ground close to water n sighted so many species with clicking.At around 8.30am here a Birds call/sound/song so i was so curious to find as its of Cranes.n its a wow moments as 500+cranes were coming from east of wetland n land in.took shots of them but they were too much far away from me.

 you can see these birds at Nani Kakrad wetland, Navsari, Gujarat.
1. Common Crane
2. Northern Pintail
3. Flamingos(sighted after i had transferred img to pc)
4. Darter(seen when it fly away just above me, didn't take good shot)
5. Lesser Whistling-duck
6. Greylag Goose
7. Ruddy Shelduck
8. Indian Spot-billed Duck
9. Gadwall
10. Northern Shoveler
11. Painted Stork
12. Asian Openbill
13. Black-headed Ibis
14. Glossy Ibis
15. Indian Pond Heron
16. Cattle Egret
17. Great Egret
18. intermediate Egret
19. Little Egret
20. Western Reef Egret
21. Gangrey
22. Grey Heron
23. Purple Heron
24. Little Cormorant
25. Black Kite
26. White-breasted Waterhen
27. Purple Swamphen
28. Eurasian Coot
29. Red-wattled Lapwing
30. Ruff
31. Black-tailed Godwit
32. Common Sandpiper
33. Little Stint
34. River Tern
35. Little Ter
36. Greater Coucal
37. Common Hoopoe
38. Indian Roller
39. White-throated Kingfisher
40. Common Kingfisher
40. Blue-tailed Bee-eater
41. Green Bee-eater
42. Long-tailed Shrike
43. Black Drongo
44. Streak-throated Swallow
45. Barn Swallow
46. Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark
47. Crested Lark
48. Red-whiskered Bulbul
49. Red-vented Bulbul
50. Bluethroat
51. Rosy Starling
52. Common Myna
53. Stonechat
54. Pied Bushchat
55. Paddyfield Pipit
56. Black-winged Stilt
57. Spotted Dove
58. Indian Peafowl
59. Indian Golden Oriole
60. Ashy Prinia
61. Brahmini Starling
62. Oriental Magpie Robin
63. Indian Robin
64. Desert Wheatear
65. Purple Sunbird
66. Baya Weaver
67. Citrine Wagtail
68. Jungle Babler
69. Common Babbler
70. Plain Prinia
71. Eurasian Spoonbill
72. Common Teal
73. Common House Birds

other Species may found
1. Yellow Wagtail
2. White Wagtail
3. Red Avadavat
4. Scaly-breasted Munia
5. Black-headed Munia
etc
My Camera's Battery dies otherwise more clear n sharp shots came. will go there for other new species identification.

Lesser Kestrel

Taking Photo of Raptor is achievement for me.i always want to frame Kestrel as it is a winter visitor.while i was on birding with my family at Blackbuck National Park, Velavdar, Gujarat.. i was excited to frame Harriers.
we were stayed at one hotel at border of Ahmadabad n decided to get up early n reach aprx at 7.30am at velavdar but due to traffic jam at railway crossing near by Dholera,we reach around at 8.30am.while we were 1-2km away from entrance of park, we saw Blackbuck on road n stopped my car to frame.took 2-3 photos n run inside so i was looking around n sudden seen this beauty.before framing,i thought it for Black-shoulder Kite but when i seen in cam's lcd,it's a new species. try for another shots n moved lil close to this bird n took another 2 shots but when i moved 1step further, it fly away.
even during whole day i thought for one shot of Common Kestrel but not Succeed.
when i returned home, transferred my all photos on 20/10/15 n seen all photos but ignored this.my frnd Dr.Pankaj made a whatsapp birding grp for id n tips sharing,so i shared this image 10days back for which Kestrel it is, around at 12am. sudden my friend Dr.Dharmeshbhai told me for female Common Kestrel but other friend Vivekbhai show the nail color n debate started. finally discussion of 10-15min with lots images for Reference, Vivekbhai told me that You r lucky person to record a Lesser Kestrel.its a wow feeling...
Lesser Kestrel is a widespread passage migrant.
Size : 29 - 32cm
Thank you Vivekbhai n Dr.Dharmeshbhai.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : Day Light
Blackbuck National Park, Velavdar, Gujarat

Bluethroat Male

Now addicted to Photography. Ground Level Shot gives magical results.
After a clicking of Brown Crake on 8/11/15,i am not satisfied with sharpness so decided to go again at that place.on 10/11/15 around at 8am i was again there and took a stance of lying down on ground.waited for 10-15min but Brown Crake didn't came so decided to move further in.while i turn n sit on ground, i saw a bird far away from me n seen bluish tone on throat n thought for Bluethroat so focused n clicked...wow my prediction was right so again i lay down but the bird go inside n then fly away.
i am lil disappointed as its winter visitor n missed a good shot,but moved on the dusty road.after a walk of 500-700mtr my luck came again n i seen this beauty.take a lying down position on ground and crawl up to 10-20mtr,its very difficult that time but anyhow i managed to get a good shot.
size : 13–14 cm
Bluethroat is found in North America only on the tundra of Alaska and the Yukon Territory.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/400 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat, Gujarat

Brown Crake

While u take ground level shot in early morning, the result is extra ordinary.
After so long time i was on birding on Sunday.its planned with my Sharpness expert frnd Dr.Vijayendra Desai.we met around at 6.45am n thought for many new species as winter started. but VD told that he must be return at 9.30am coz he have to attend election meeting.He told me that, you didn't clicked Brown Crake so we will go there for you.
After a drive of 5-6km we reached the point but not at destination.he told me to go on dusty road but road just enough for my car,if another vehicle come from other side then one must have to return in reverse gear.so we decided to park the car at road side and gone thru walking.
VD show me the sight where he had clicked the Brown Crake,but we didn't seen them so we moved ahead for clicking Red Munia and we still moved ahead. while i was clicking Red Munia, he told to click Brown Crake as they came on road. they were far away so we both walked lil n VD lying down on road n started crawling so i had also did same.after 10-15ft of crawling,one of Brown Crake go inside.i missed the shot but VD told me that they came again so be calm.after 2-3min of waiting one of Brown Crake came n took this amazing painting.
Brown Crake, or Brown Bush-hen, is a waterbird in the Rail and Crake family found in South Asia. Its genus name, Amaurornis, comes from the Greek amauros, meaning "dusky" or "brown" and ornis, meaning "bird".
all credit to VD.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat, Gujarat

Birds Photo Taken by Yug

When you see good photos taken by your kid,its a very pride moment.i was on birding with my family at Pariej lake,Anand.while i came out from car to taking photos, my son Yug asked to give my old camera so i gave him.Yug is 7yrs old and i see him, he was copying my moves as he seen me when i was taking photos.i told him to go closure of birds with little movement with taking photos.
At first he was clicking randomly so most images came blurred.so he complained me, i told him first half press shutter button n if you see the bird is clear then fully click the shutter button.and the result is here.
Little Egret, Intermittent Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-tailed Godwit.
image is little sharpen(even i don't know the proper way of Sharpening) n cropped to 66.97% by me.

Exifs :
Canon 600D
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1250 || ISO 200 || 194mm || White Balance : Day Light
Pariej Lake, Anand, Gujarat

Little Ringed Plover

Many time i missed or ignored Little Ringed Plover due to its small size.its smallest in plover family n just 14 to 17cm sized.so when i was on birding tour with my wife n son,i had contacted to my friend Dr.Bhavesh Mengar for species found near by Pariej Lake, Anand District, Gujarat.He told me for many winter birds n Little Ringed Plover so i was excited to frame Little Ringed Plover with good shot.
when we entered the lake area, i sighted Thick knee and stopped my car.while i was framing Thick knee,seen Little Ringed Plover n i moved myself to this beauty.took many shots n this one is sharpest for me.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/640 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : Day Light
Pariej, Anand, Gujarat

White-eyed Buzzard Juvenile

While my trip was near to end around at 11.30am, my guide told me to go for another round from other side.so we were on the way,my wife was driving car n after a drive of 500-700mtr,my guide told me for White-eyed Buzzard juvenile.so my wife very carefully n slowly driven car near to this beauty.took 1st but it was out of focus so again i focused n clicked 2 shots n seen in cam's display it was OK.while again i gone for click the bird noticed my movement n fly away,i missed that moment.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 1/1250 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : Day Light
Blackbuck National Park, Velavdar, Gujarat