Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

Yesterday my friend Professor Pravinbhai updated post of Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher at his collage(Navyug science collage, Surat) so i msg him to click this beauty.he invited me for Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and Black-naped Monarch,he told to come in evening.But me and my other all time birding friend decided to go in morning.
During winter, sunrise is late so we went around at 8.30am but today was cloudy day,even though we went there.we searched this beauty but didn't find.so Vijayendarbhai called another friend Professor Anilbhai coz Pravinbhai was at NSS camp.Anilbhai came from busy schedule to welcome n gave location.it was great moments when we see this beauty in city area.
Light was very low n Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher went away from location so after some time we decided to come in evening n went at Gaviyar Lake for water birds.even there we didn't find not much new species so we return home at 11.30am.
Around 12.30pm i called Pravinbhai for his lens n he told me to come at collage as Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher is now easily visible.so i went again there n took many good n close shots of Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, even record the video.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Exposure Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/200 || ISO 2000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Surat, Gujarat

 Tried to record a Video

Black-winged Kite with Rat Kill

Birding with friends is fun.i was on Birding with Vijayendra Desai, Parag Kuberkar and Prasad Dingankar on 2/10/15 at DPS School Vesu,Surat for Marsh Harrier. as we didnt find Harrier but got Stonechat, Pied Bushcaht, Rosy Starling, Long-tailed shrike.so we had decided to return.
on the way to main road, Vijayendrabhai told to stop car so i stopped.Vijayendrabhai and Prasadbhai came out from car for close shots of common myna or else(exact didnt remember). after a 1-2 min i saw a Black-winged Kite is coming toward us with Rat Kill n sudden i came out to taking snap.we all were ready n focusing on Black-winged Kite with Rat Kill.i clicked 3-4 shots n got 3 clear shot but only one shot with good frame as Black-winged Kite is easily visible with Rat Kill.

Exifs :
Canon 600D
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Surat, Gujarat

Crested Serpent Eagle

After parking of our car,we moved towards Zarwani Waterfall with our guide.we crossed 1st n 2nd crossing of water of waterfall n while we were crossing 3rd cross of waterfall, my Friend Hirenbhai told to locate a bird far away from us, focused on given sight after crossing on very slippery surface n seen on display of my 7D Mark2,it was Crested Serpent Eagle.i was lil disappointed as it was too far from us n now we have to reverse again for get good shot so Hirenbhai told us that this bird will remain there for long time if it is not hungry.so moved towards waterfall.
While we again came to this point of crossing,focused my cam toward this area n luckily Crested Serpent Eagle was there.so we decided to move towards Crested Serpent Eagle to behind of it.Hirenbhai find the way,it was not a road,Hirenbhai was walking on a corner of 45-50degree of small hill.there were so many small to medium sized stones.i was behind Hirenbhai,Virenbhai n his 10yrs old son Ansh were behind to me.Ansh is also a good photographer.we all are walking very carefully coz if we slip, we will fall to 20-25ft.
After reaching 50+ mtr we had taken record shot coz its our 1st sighting. we were still gone closure with caution to didn't notify. we all had took good shots from back of Crested Serpent Eagle.then we decided to moved ahead to take shots from front side but didnt got place so went down towards riverside n take shots of side pose after crossing lil river.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 1/160 || ISO 100 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Zarwani , Narmada, Gujarat

i had tried on video also

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

While we were 2-5 km away from Zarwani Waterfall as i had mentioned that stopped my car for Minivet. i saw a very tiny bird jumping on branches of tree from far n thought for Woodpecker.i was right when i clicked 1st shot,it was a Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker.
size is just 13cm.
it is very difficult to focus due to its small size n active,even though i took 10+shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Exposure Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 500 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k || Exposure Compensation -1/3
Zarwani , Narmada, Gujarat

Zarwani Waterfall

Chilling cold around at 4am on 25th Dec'15 and wake-up for trip to Shoolpaneshvar. After everything ready i was driving my car with my family n reached Netrang around at 7.30am where my Friends Hirenbhai,Virenbhai n Himanshu were waiting for us as i was late due to heavy traffic as i was on the rout Surat-Hansot-Ankleshwar-Netrang and they came from Bardoli-Mandvi-Netrang.
My close friend Dr.Pankaj also on same trip but he was not coming to Shoolpaneshvar as he went in past so he start his journey when we left Netrang.he told me to go at Zarwani Waterfall for birding so we had decided to go this place.
while we were on way to Rajpipla, dont know the location but exact at one of up hill i stopped the car as i saw a purple color sunbird on a tree near by road n one big bird far away to it.so we all went to frame it n climb at little hill.it was White-eyed Buzzard.within 1-2min it fly away n Hirenbhai sudden smell a dead animal,so he asked any wild animal is coming/going inside the jungle.He sighted the Jackal.out of we 4 Photographers,only Virenbhai was lucky to frame it clearly.
Then we started trip to reach there as early as possible and after driving of 30min,when i saw in my car's rear view mirror,there was no innova car.so thought i was on a speed of 110km/h, may be i am so faster, so parked my car at side of road n waited....5min passed but they didn't came. finally i called Hirenbhai but there was network problem so unable to talk, decide to go back to see what happens. after drive of 2-3km,they were clicking Greater Couccal as it was just 5ft away from there.
Finally we reached at a Forest check point where we paid our car entry fee of 400 per car.Again photo shoot started,now it was with Rufous Treepie.
After 10min of Photoshoot we moved ahead for our destination.before this waterfall, i saw a minivet and stopped car so we again started photoshoot.while we were busy in clicking small minivet,Hirenbhai sighted White-bellied Drongo n we moved to it.when i was clicking drongo,i was just looking here n there n seen black color bird n thought for Tit so moved towards this bird,clicked 2 shots n fly away.i was looking where it goes n sudden sighted woodpecker. literally i run to click as it was very small in size from far away n clicked for record shot.when i had seen in camera's lcd, i was very happy as it was pygmi woodpecker.then i called my friends to click but very slowly. there we enjoyed clicking as clicked 5+ bird species.
finally we reached our destination of Zarwani Waterfall around at 9am.one person came to us n asked to park car inside for other car to came there n park,at 1st i ignored him but did as he told. he own a tea stall so we drink tea there n talk with him.his name is Manilal.he told us it is 1-2km of trekking to go close of Zarwani Waterfall,n we have to cross water coming from river two times.he came with us to help to cross river as stone were placed there.while we close to this 1st cross, one family was crossing n they ignored the help of Manilal n one kid fall.water level is aprx ankle level but all cloths were wet.
we all enjoyed this trekking with photoshoots of birds which we saw on our rout.many of us lil slipped but Manilal saved us from wet ourselves.at last we reached the end point.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Exposure Mode
f /32 || Shutter speed 5Sec || ISO 100 || 51mm || White Balance : 5200k
Zarwani , Narmada, Gujarat

Small Pratincole

As its name Small Pratincole, sized as 16-19cm n found near water body.its very difficult to sight due to its color.
As i mentioned in my last post, i was on birding at Pariej Lake for White Stork n Small Pratincole. Many Many Thanks to Dr.Bhavesh Mengar,who was with us from 7.30am to 6pm n he work hard to sighting of this tiny bird.
we had took many shots from distance then sit at one place where took good shots with pleasant background,this credit to Dr.Pragnesh.
While we were returning after another frnd Dr.Kaushal join us, seen this beauty was taking water bath n cudn't stop myself to take photos.Took many shots,later i will upld those pics.
This pic was taken while this Small Pratincole was taking off after bath.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Pariej Lake, Anand, Gujarat

White Stork

I went Pariej Lake again on 19/12/15 After so many no for birding trip with my roomie during my MBBS n friend, Dr.Pragnesh.we did get together with another batch mate Dr.Yogesh Mistry till 2am at Baroda,though Pragnesh wake up at 5.30am as he always wake up early on birding day.
We left Baroda around at 6.30am n another frnd Dr.Bhavesh Mengar join us at near by Sojitra on Anand-Tarapur road.
Dr.Mengar told us to go 1st at surrounding area of Pariej Lake for White Stork as he had clicked 7days before. so we entered thru small road for White Stork.after driving of 2-3km he told us to locate for White Stork both side of road in a group of Painted Stork.Pragnesh n myself  were looking for another bird but Dr.Mengar was looking for White Stork for us. after clicking of few birds we were 5+km inside of main road n Pragnesh was driving his Ciaz, i was siting beside him n Mengar was siting on back,sudden he asked to stop car for looking in group of 5-6 painted stork for White Stork n we got lifer.
sudden we came out n very carefully approaching towards the White Stork but cudnt got good shot n fly away inside the farm.we walked aprx 1+km inside n got good this shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Exposure Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/500 || ISO 200 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Pariej Lake outskirt, Anand, Gujarat

Black-headed Munia

While you were with your some of birding frnd for birding,its gr8 time.it was around 6.30am n i was with Vijayendra Desai on 11/10/15.it was a one way type dusty road n a single car can run on this road.there are both side greenery of rice farm.we reached there after crossing the unmanned  rail crossing.
there was a little wetland n Vijayendrabhai told me that here we can frame bunting n munia so hide our-self in the grass just close to road.i was little afraid to do as cobra n other poisonous snakes been found in our area. even though i sit at one place n waiting for birds.
within 5minutes i saw group of Black-headed Munia on branch of  lil higher grass n after 1min they landed on ground where little water was on ground.i was trying to frame n sudden one person came towards us n all munias fly away.i  was very angry but what to do.
Waiting of 15-20minute again this group came on ground n took some shots but cant manage good position.

Exifs :
Canon 7DMark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 1/640 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Surat, Gujarat

Lioness - The Queen of Sasan Gir

On a Sasan gir trip,after framing of two lions we r on our root.after drive of 15min we show this queen,she looks so beautiful.i had clicked only 2 shots as my guide had seen other group of lioness n young cubs so we moved further.
out of 2 shots the 1st shot was out of focused due to handheld n the lioness was behind the tree.

Exifs :
Canon 7DMark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/160 || ISO 2000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Gujarat

White-eared Bulbul Pair

it was 20/10/15 n my 1st stop for photography trip was at Pariej. All credit to Dr.Bhavesh Mengar coz he was with me for whole morning even though he was busy with his family for garba till late night n around 8am we meet.
as in past post of Pariej lake on Indian Thick-knee & Little Ring Plover, i had mentioned that i was busy in clicking Indian Thick-knee n Dr.Mengar asked to click Little Ring Plover.same thing happened.while i was clicking Little Ring Plover, Dr.Mengar ask to click White-eared Bulbul.
At 1st sighting this bulbul were far away so clicked only 2-3 photos but Dr.Mengar sighted other at just close to road.we were very close to White-eared Bulbul groups. i think i missed to take group photo but captured best moments of Love Bird.(will share those love n caring photos)

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : Day Light
Pariej, Anand, Gujarat

The Lion

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.I had told him for birding.
after 5mins we saw a monitor lizard, 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.due to other gypsy came we moved ahead.
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 i saw a leopard n asked to stop the gypsy but while we stop leopard walked inside,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 talking 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.

don't know why i always try to take close-up of all birds n animals.i think i missed some good photos.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/200 || ISO 2000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Gujarat

White-throated Kingfisher with catch

Winter gives heaven like feeling for Photographers not only due to winter birds but also for natural n clear weather.
i was on birding with Aneeket, Hiren Joshi, Viren Desai and Dharmesh Kadiwala on 31/10/15 at Tena wetland,Surat Outskirt. we had clicked many winter birds from 7am to 9am then moved to roadside.also clicked 5+ species there.
Around 9.30am we decided to return home, sudden i seen White-throated Kingfisher with catch sitting on an electric wire.clicked but photo was not good as sun was behind it.i called my birders as they were busy in clicking other bird.
When they came Kingfisher fly away but not gone far so we run towards this beauty n framed it.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 200 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat

Eurasian Hobby

Eurasian Hobby breeds in Himalayas,widespread winter visitor.sized 30-36cm.
Early Morning Birding gives clean n crisp photos so as always i was on birding on my favorite route on 08/11/15, specially for Brown Crake with Vijayendra Desai. we reached there around at 7.15am. we had clicked Brown Crake, Red Munia, Tri-color Munia and other birds till 9am.Vijayendrabhai have to return at 9.30am so we were on way to home but i still want to go other place,so Vijayendrabhai called our friend Sartajbhai to join me but he was not ready at that time.
Thought to go alone in my car on beach side road of Surat outskirt for Red-nacked Falcon as my friends had clicked,but didn't find. so i was on way to home around at 10.30am, sudden see a new bird sitting on electric wire just close to road.sudden came out n started clicking,took around 50 shots from different angle but missed flying shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat