Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

On 20/01/16 our trip was to Baratang cave, Andaman.we wake-up and ready around at 6.30am.our cab driver cum guide was waiting at our hotel n we were on the way.we reached at check point of forest where  Andaman tribe known as Jarawa lives, around at 8am.We were reached there too early coz the permit given at 9.30am but our car was 70+ car away from 1st car.
our guide told us to take breakfast at one hotel a sits very popular,but we sit there,sudden i sighted green colored bird so quickly came out from my seat with my bazooka to frame it coz i thought for  Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and it was.i had clicked one good shot of single Chestnut-headed Bee-eater which was sitting on a wire then it fly away and sit on a branch where other bee-eaters were sit.it was far away from me but i love this frame so posting it.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /11 || Shutter speed 1/500 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k || Exposure Evaluation +1/3
Baratang Check point,Andaman.

Lesser Goldenback (Female)

it was Superb meet on 28/02/16 at Thol,sighted many birds and meet many birders 1st time who came all over Gujarat.story posted in Common Pochard .
i was busy in clicking Darter with Aneeket,Dharmeshbhai,Hirenbhai and Virenbhai. my frnd Pankaj called me to come at meeting point for presentation so we were returning. after walking of 10-15steps,i met with great photographers...Vivekbhai Mansata, Dilipbhai Chudasama and Nirav Pomal.they were clicking some birds n i asked for which bird,they told me its white-browed Bulbul.i ignored clicking as i clicked it,sudden i seen common woodshrike and went there for close shot,all of them came there but it fly away.within few seconds one red-yellow colored bird came close to us n we all get ready to frame.it was great moment coz we all were following this beauty and it was Lesser Goldenback (Female).

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /10 || Shutter speed 1/320 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Thol,Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Large Grey Babbler

Many Birds came to Thol so my frnd and me set a meeting on 28/2/16 for our 1st meet of state level birders group ,story posted in Common Pochard .
After 1st session of birding till 11am,we had set a presentation for bird id and raptors in thol.after 2+hours of marathon sitting finally its finished and we were plan a lunch at one hotel outside thol so we all were moving towards our car,sudden i saw a bird which looks like a babbler but tail is longer than jungle babbler so click for a record shot.my frnds told its jungle babbler and very common so ignore it but this bird gave very close shots and background was excellent with bokeh.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /10 || Shutter speed 1/320 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Thol,Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Darter

i went to Thol on 28/2/16 for our 1st meet of state level birders group made by me and my frnds,story posted in Common Pochard .
i had expected good shot of Darter there and clicked but water level was high so cudnt get close shot of Darter but enjoyed lot there.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/640 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Thol,Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Bluethroat (Male)

As posted Story line in Bluethroat (Female) and promised for Video of Bluethroat (Male),i am uploading this image.i was so close to this beauty,you can see my shadow in its eye.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/800 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat, Gujarat

its bit difficult to shoot video on ground level.

Bluethroat (Female)

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 of Male and Female.
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 1/500 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat, Gujarat

tried for a Video,its much difficult to focus coz i was lying down on ground and bird is much active. i had also shoot a video of Bluethroat (Male),its better than this,will share next day.

Gull-billed Tern

One thing i learn from my experience,never avoid to click any bird even if you r confirm with id.and most of time i ignored to clicking during my birding trip.
i was on family tour on Saurashtra and on 22/11/15 around 8am we check out from our hotel and then went to Triveni sangam then went to Geeta Mandir-Lakshmi Narayan Temple.it was located on Hiran River,i was looking for birds and terns were flying over river.ignored at first but don't when i clicked 2 photos.
yesterday i was looking in my old folders n luckily got this n shocked coz it was Gull-billed Tern.missed good n close shots as they were flying very closely.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/2000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm
Somnath, Gujarat

Spotted Redshank (Breeding Plumage)

Best part of going with your favorite guide is he can sight different birds from far and without binocular.
as i was on birding for Breeding Plumage at Nal Sarovar with my frnd on 14/04/16 posted story in Black-tailed Godwit,we went further inside the lake and Akbar told to get ready to click Spotted Redshank.we approached very carefully n click few shots but we get noticed n it fly away before we take close shots.
Breeding Plumage of Spotted Redshank is total in black color with white spots over wing but here the color is started blackening.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

Collared Pratincole (Breeding Plumage)

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary trip on 14/04/16 was specially for Breeding Plumage of waders.as posted story in Black-tailed Godwit,we went further inside the lake.we took photos of Phesant-tailed Jacana,Whiskered Tern n other birds then we moved toward our special bird, Billion's Crake sighted.
After we came out from boat,we seen group of Collared Pratincole and they were in Breeding Plumage so we cudnt resist ourselves.we took shots from far but they noticed us n fly away.Pankaj told me that they came again at same place for wet their throat for nesting so he lying down on ground so Hiren n myself also did same.after waiting with zero movement like sleeping,groups came again n we took some superb frame.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1500 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

Black-tailed Godwit (Breeding Plumage)

Feels extra-ordinary when a Bird Photographers see Breeding Plumage.Summer is a Breeding Plumage season for waders and i had planned to visit Nal Sarovar with my close friend Dr.Pankaj on 14/04/16,my another friend Hiren also joined me from Surat.
Hiren came from Bardoli to Surat around at 4 pm and we went to Ahmedabad in my car. After drive of 300+km we reach at Hotel Stay inn,Changodar, Ahmedabad outskirt around at 11.30pm.did check in n after fresh, we went for sleep coz we have to wake up at 5am n have to drive aprx 70km.
Wake up around at 5am an after refresh we were on the way towards Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary.due to traffic we reach around at 6.30am,we meet Pankaj there n with our favorite guide Akbar & Latif we went inside the lake after paying entry fee n camera fee.
After 10min we sighted Black-tailed Godwit in Breeding Plumage n started clicking.got some nice shot.
My camera setting was wrong but recover the image lil.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /11 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

White-rumped Shama (Juvenile)

Sometimes we cudn't find good shots during whole birding session,same occurred during my trip at Vansda National Park.
My old frnd n room mate Dr.Pankaj had decided to go at VNP for birding on 9/5/16 and he told me to come with him but i wanna go for night photography with my other frnd ,even i hv to manage to go 20km away from my house at national highway in early morning so i said him to no but he told me to come pick up me near my home.after long discussion i was with him for VNP.
Pankaj n his family started their journey from Ankleshawar around at 5.30am n they came around at 6.30am near my home.we reached at VNP around at 9.15am.we entered n searched birds but our bad luck was on so we didn't sighted any birds till noon,its very disappointing for us coz happened 1st time with me.
we had seen many birds like Blue-naped Monarch, Oriental White-eye, Indian Grey Hornbill, Whit-bellied Woodpecker, Greater Goldenback Woodpecker etc but cant take any single good shot.
we had changed many locations for sighting.around 3.30pm we sit at open water tank made on ground for animal n thought birds will came but we also failed there.we both decided to move,while we reach at Pankaj's Thar,Viralbhabhi n kids were enjoying to frame White-rumped Shama,she also came to call us n luckily we went there.we both had clicked more than 100 clicks of White-rumped Shama as it was juvenile and very close to us.
when we moved ahead for other bird,after driving of 500mtr,we met Birding group from Jamnagar they are Hardik Pala, Urmil Jhaveri, Kirit Bhanshali etc. i think they were also clicking White-rumped Shama but cudnt got good shot n i asked him for White-rumped Shama (Juvenile) n i think they all clicked with good shot.
will post video with another angle.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /13 || Shutter speed 1/125 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Vansda National Park, Dang, Gujarat

Greylag Goose

As i had mentioned in post of White Stork,I went Pariej Lake again on 19/12/15.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 n we got lifer.Then we went to Pariej Lake for Small Pratincole n Hard work for sighting we got Small Pratincole too.
it was around 2.30pm n we decided to leave for breakfast n then return as i hv to go at Anand railway station to catch a train for Surat.while we were return i had seen groups of Greylag Goose lil away from me and tried to approached towards them for good shot.i knew that i will noticed n they fly away so quickly focus them n click one shot,it was ok so when i i go for next shot they started flying n got this osm frame.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/5000 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Pariej Lake, Anand, Gujarat

Western Reef Egret

Before saurastra trip in November'15,i was at Bilimora for 2-3 days in Diwali vacation.i called my FB friend Dr.Dharmeshbhai to come with me for birding but he was busy so went alone.
So on 16/11/15 wake up at around 7am went at costal highway,Bilimora to Valsad.i was there to click flying shots of terns.there was a wetland near Dharasna n parked my car beside road.went inside n sit at border of wetland.birds were busy in searching of fish in early morning n many egret came close to me n after taking fish fly away.
Western Reef Egret was not aware about me n came extreme close,lucky to frame it very closely.

----: exifs :----

Canon 7D  Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/4000 || ISO 1000 || 
Bilimora outskirt, Gujarat