Jungle Owlet

After many plans finally i was on the trip to shoolpaneshwar with Dr.Pragnesh,Dr.Hiteshbhai and Vijayendrabhai.storyline posted at Kid Tribe of Shoolpaneshwar.
This area is  large with mountains so there is no specific location for sighting of birds.we were exploring as Dr.Hiteshbhai knows the place but not confirm for sighting of any birds.we had clicked Shikra,white-eyed buzzard juvenile,petronia etc bird and then around 10am we were going slowly and sudden Pragnesh seen a owlet n he asked me stop the car.i was driving and its down-hill so unable to break quickly even though managed to reverse the car very carefully coz car was diesel and engine sound may disturb the owlet.from the car we all confirmed that it was a Jungle owlet.we all came out of car but Jungle owlet was little careless or else it didn't fly away.took some awesome shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /9.5 || Shutter speed 1/800Sec || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Shoolpaneshwar , Narmada, Gujarat

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Birding with bird watchers gives exclusive feelings.Since long time i was wanna go birding with Prof.Pravinbhai and Prof.Anilbhai, it was sudden plan.
On 17/07/16  i got a call from Prof.Pravinbhai around at 10am to get ready to go at his village and we went there with Prof.Anilbhai.Pravinbhai had a fracture in his left leg but manage for me.around 12.30pm reached at his home.
after reaching there get fresh and Anilbhai ask to took camera,and we inside his farm.sighted IPFC,Scaly-breasted Munia,Tailor Bird,Ashy Prinia,Grey-breasted Prinia,etc bird.due to cloudy weather with showering of rain and trees, unable to take good shot.Pravinbhai called Anilbhai to returned home for lunch.it was a memorable taste.
After getting lunch,we take little rest and around at 3pm we went for a special bird.it was around 4-5km away.parked car at one side of road near a grassland and i came out with Anilbhai.i saw a strange as Anilbhai came with only Binocular and Pravinbhai was unable walk for long distance so he was sitting there in his car.what a dedication for me,salute to both person.
Pravinbhai told us to go inside the grassland to sighting of special bird for me,so we entered from far,i was behind Anilbhai and sighted a Brahminy Myna at eye level and cudnt stop myself to frame so very carefully went closure and took good shot.thought for closure shot and walked little and sudden one bird from grass fly away.when i focus n clicked that bird and seen towards Anilbhai,he told me its a Yellow-crowned Woodpecker.
He asked me to approach very carefully, i did and result is here.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/750 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || Exposure Compensation 2+ || White Balance 5200k
Chikhli outskirt,Navsari, Gujarat.

Tufted Duck

Thol Bird Sanctuary is a good place bird photography,you can sight many types of birds.i was there for our 1st meet of Gujarat birders on 28/02/16, story posted at Common Pochard.
After intro with friends and breakfast,we moved towards lake in 6-8 group.after walking some distance we had sighted many waders but far away,even though we had sit at one place.we had taken many shots till 10am.sudden i saw a different type of duck,far away from us.i had focused and clicked.zoom in lcd for id but forget the name even told to my group members to click.it was far away from us so clicked only 4-5 shots and here is best from it.

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

Grey Plover

i was at Modhva beach near Mandvi,Kutch on 30/04/16 for Breeding Plumage of Waders.we reached at beach around 7am with my friends.read a full story at Ruddy Turnstone (Breeding Plumage) with video
its a soothing morning after  exhausted driving of 700km from Surat to Mandvi,Kutch.we had walked atleast 2km after parking our car at beach and feeling romantic sound of ocean,wind with birds.
i was behind with my friends Viren and Hiren and behind Pankaj and Dilipsinh Bapu.as usual i had started photo from distance for record shot and Dilipsinh bapu started crawling in sand then sea water to get closure,Pankaj and Hiren also did same.i was lil afraid to do as didnt did in past but for getting something best,you have to loose something.i had also copied my friend and here is the result.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Mandvi Beach, Kutch,Gujarat.

Waterccock (Female)

on 24/07/16 got a chance of Sunday Birding in morning.did birding till 11.30 and thought to Return home after superb sighting of Waterccock (Female & Male) with flying shots.
Came on main road,i was about to turn on road to my home and sudden changed my mind to go opposite side just for drive and went upto 5km but didnt sighted any bird.so again stop the car n u-turn for home.after drive of 3km i saw a bird like a pond heron but neck was longer so stopped and took 5+photos.then accelerate the car but low speed and sudden saw a Waterccock (Female) lil away from me and without delay clicked 5-6 shots from the car.little soft at bill but lucky to have got good shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 1250 || 600mm || Exposure Compensation 2+ || White Balance 5200K
Surat outskirt,Gujarat.

White-throated Kingfisher

Don't know why monsoon is less in my area.i was expecting wetland should be filled but it was just above from the depth.it was 23/07/16 and came from night shift even though i was feel fresh otherwise i went sleep in noon but gone for birding 1st time with my cheetah(XUV500).
Reached around at 2.30pm and sit at my favorite spot.Expecting birds to come around at 3pm but rain showering started and run to go inside my car.it was not a heavy rain but wet the field so thought to return home from different road.after a drive of 2km reached on main road,thought to visit a bridge,just want to see if its completed or not which join to hajira but it was incomplete.
Turned my car n looking on side of road where water also collect in monsoon n make like a wetland.seen a White-throated Kingfisher flying towards me sit just close to road.at low speed try to go closure but it fly away from my left side of road to right side of road n sit 200mtr from me.went there through car,it notice me but don't know why it didn't fly so took 3-4 record shot of wet White-throated Kingfisher.Then again think to go closure but it fly down where water was collected and sudden speed my car to park close to that place where it was sit n stopped the engine.luckily it came n sit at same place.and result is here.
its 100% cropped.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1500 || ISO 1250 || 600mm || Exposure Compensation 3+ || White Balance 5200K
Surat outskirt,Gujarat.

Watercock (Male)

Mostly i didn't get chance to Sunday birding due to my shift duty.today i have chance but planed for long drive with family towards bilimora but failed so around 10am went to a place where i sighted Watercock (Male).i was expecting good shot as yesterday i missed.
Reached around 10.30am and searching here and there but cudn't find.it disappoint me coz i had waled on borders of rice crop farm around 2km.returned to my cheetah(Mahindra XUV500) and thought to went at wetland.
i was on a speed of 10-15km/h and looking at the rice crop farms,after drive of 1km,sighted watercock.Stopped my car and sudden came out as this beauty had noticed me.quickly focused n took shots,but it started flying but i was lucky it didn't gone backside and fly parallel to me and clicked 8-10shots and all r focused and clean shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/4000 || ISO 1250 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat outskirt,Gujarat.

Marshall's iora

As Story posted at Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Close up (Male) we reached at Fort Mahadev for our next day session with our friend Nirav Pomal.
it was a dusty road with lil going up hill and Babool tree beside the road. Pankaj and Nirav were in Nirav's Swift and i was with Hiren in Viren's Elatra, we were following Nirav's Swift.Nirav sudden stop the car and came outside so we all came outside.He told,here we can sight Marshall's iora and search begins.luckily we sighted male and clicked as record shot then tried for good shot even after following inside the Babool tree jungle,we failed so we return towards our car and decided to go for Black Francolin.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Fort Mahadev, Kutch,Gujarat.

Lesser Flamingo

For Breeding plumage, i went Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary on 14/04/16,story posted at Black-tailed Godwit.we reached there around 6.30am and entered in the lake with our all time guide Akbar and Latif.it was pleasant feeling in the early morning to see sunrise and birds all around.
We had started clicking birds since starting of our journey,i was clicking only breeding plumage.we were searching Terns coz in summer many Terns came there.But find only Little Tern and didn't got good shot.
We moved towards sight of Pratincole,while we were going seen Lesser Flamingos and i was avoid to click as i have shots clicked in Surat and Published in Divya Bhasker News Paper.My friend Pankaj was clicking them and thought why m not clicking as he had already clicked Lesser Flamingos at Nal Sarovar, so started clicking and got this amazing shot.When i had seen this photo,find excellent light with beautiful background makes it lovely frame.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /13 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

The Train

On 13/06/16 i was at Vansda National Park with my frnds Viren and Hiren before closure of park.we entered around at 8.15am and did birding till 1am.we were hungry so went other end for some food at small shop.before we reach there we cross a narrow-gauge train line n i saw train is coming so after crossing the track,stop my car to frame this beautiful train.
its a Bilimora Waghai Passenger(52001) train which run between Bilimora to Waghai.which Starts from Bilimora around at 10.20am and reach Waghai at 1.20pm. it travels 63km.This Passenger train  (52002 ) again start journey at 2.30pm from Waghai to Bilimora and reach by 5.35pm.then in night this train (52003) again starts for Waghai around at 7.40pm from Bilimora and reach waghai at 10.40pm. in early morning this train (52004) starts from Waghai around at 6am and reach Bilimora around at 9.20am.it has 11 stops and they are Bilimora, Gandevi, Chikhli Road, Rankuva, Dholikuva, Anaval, Unai Vansda Road, Kevdi Road, Kala Amba, Dungarda, Wagahi.
we had heard that this train should be stopped by Indian railway due to loss but its the only way of some tribe area to connect with developed area.not only tribe people travel by this train but many people from open casts also enjoy this one and only toy like train in south Gujarat.i had experienced this ride in last monsoon n it was pleasant experience not only for me but my kid also enjoyed lot.
by this train train you can visit Wagai Botanical Garden(3-5km from Waghai), Gira Waterfall(5-7km from Waghai) then you can go to Gujarat's only Hill station Saputara(50-55km from Waghai).

 
Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/500 || ISO 500 || 23mm || White Balance : 5200k
Vansda, Navsari,Gujarat

Request :-
Please, please do not litter at any hill station or any other tourist place. Carry an extra bag and keep empty wrappers of food articles and other garbage in it. Empty it in garbage bins available en-route.

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Female)

A long story posted Saker Falcon Flying Shot ,we were in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary around at 3.30pm on 06/02/16.our guide Becharbhai have good experience of more than 6yrs in this field so he knew the locations.
we had clicked Short-eared Owl, and moved ahead in the jungle of desert.clicked Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse male and female.it was a great experience when we clicked them.then again moved ahead and around 6pm we saw Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Female).we followed this beauty for good shot but it fly away and didn't gave chance for good shot.our guide told us for last try and finally got this shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.

Greater Painted Snipe (Female)

i went to Nal sarovar bird sanctuary for breeding pluamge on 14/04/16,story posted in Black-tailed Godwit (Breeding Plumage).
with breeding plumage our target was also for special species so around at 10am we reached the point where it been sighted n started searching in the bushes in the water with bino but we failed to locate.Pankaj and Hiren was busy in clicking in Pratincole and i was with our guide Latif. sudden Latif told me very silently to come close,before i reach there the beauty fly away n got only 2 shots of Greater Painted Snipe (Female).

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 500 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

The Cousins

Sometimes i feel,i get extra ordinary pics.while we were returning for lunch/breakfast from Pariej Lake on 19/12/15 White Stork,we saw Darter n stopped to click it.
As my camera's battery was law,i was taking pics very carefully to avoid unwanted click to save battery and thats why i didn't shoot a video. we get Darter,Indian Cormorants,Little Cormorants and Great Cormorant(?).
Happy to click The Cousins in a single frame.

 Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Exposure Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Pariej Lake outskirt, Anand, Gujarat

Small Pratincole

As i mentioned in my last post of  White Stork, i was on birding with Dr.Pragnesh 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 for sighting of this tiny bird as its name Small Pratincole,its size is 16-19cm n found near water body.its very difficult to sight due to its color.
Around 2pm we had decided to return at Tarapur chokdi for lunch/breakfast.while we were going towards our car,i had sighted  Small Pratincole close to us n started approaching towards it very carefully.i think i was aprx 10mtr away from this beauty n almost near to water so avoid to get inside the water as thought,might be this bird disturbed n fly away.clicked some shots n love this mirror image.
due to intermittent clouds,i had set iso 800 n during this photo-shoot,sudden sunlight was bright n whole pic was filled with extreme light so reduced background light to looks beautiful.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Pariej Lake,Anand,Gujarat, India.

Cotton Pygmy-goose Male

Love to spend time at Tena wetland,Surat.when rain start the water birds like duck,heron etc birds came there n whole day u can see them.
on 07/07/16 around 3.30pm i reached there n find a place where i can click eye level shot.i was waiting to any bird came near to me n group of Cotton Pygmy-goose came, focused n clicked but failed to get good shot as camera was on tripod n all shot were out of focus.after 15min another Cotton Pygmy-goose Male came n tried to focus n succeed,get little low shutter speed but liked the shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 1600 || 600mm|| Exposure Compensation : +2 || White Balance : 5200k
Surat outskirt, India.

Yellow Bittern Flying Shot

Monsoon is the season for Macro n Landscape Photography lovers coz give everything beautiful.Even many bittern,herons came for breeding.
As i had sighted Black Bittern last week n clicked photo closely but its against light n in flight so unable to recover color.so i went again n again 3-4 days continuously on same time but didn't sighted again.but get lucky to frame Yellow Bittern closely and also in flying.
There was cloudy weather n much low light around at 5.30pm so i had increased iso to 2000 and || Exposure Compensation at +3 even not get sufficient light but happy with shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/4000 || ISO 2000 || 600mm|| Exposure Compensation : +3 || White Balance : 5200k
Surat outskirt, India.

Collared Kingfisher

Sometimes you will search for commoner n find nothing.i was at Neil island,Andaman on 22/01/16 an searching birds near coastal areas n find Collared Kingfisher many times.as light was low due to clouds so didn't get good shot even i was close to it.but liked it.story was posted at Brown-backed Needletail

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/200 || ISO 2000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Neil island, Andaman Islands, India.

Lesser Whistling-duck Pair

Birding in Morning gives peace of my mind but mostly i prefer evening session for birding as it gives time from 3pm to sunset so good n original light comes.
on 30/06/16 my friend dr.Pragnesh was with me at Tena wetland,he came from silvasa n reached around at 4pm,after picking me we reached there at 4.30pm.i told him to sit at my place from where i clicked many birds n this area also gives superb n original green background.we have to step down little n he went very carefully.as i don't want to go there as i had clicked some good photos on previous day.even though thought to step down.i had gave my camera to Pragnesh n started stepping down very carefully but due to little rain the small part slide down,i had tried myself to stop but when i stop,my left foot was in the mud...lol,my left shoe,sock n lower end of pant was filled with mud.even though calm myself n sit there for birds.
And result is here.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/2000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || Exposure Compansaion : +2 || White Balance : 5200k
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat.

Greater Flamingo with Surprise (Find if You Can)

While you go at same place again n again you get something new so again i went to tena wetland on 29/06/16 in noon. story posted in Pied Kingfisher Diving
i was sitting on a bank of wetland looking for new bird n seen Greater Flamingo,which was away from me.i was waiting for a good shot n wind came.the feathers were open from wings n sun came out from clouds.thought for best timing and clicked shutter continuously. after clicking seen in camera's lcd,it was good shot with clear eye.spend some time till 5pm and returned home.
Transferred pics to my desktop,i was happy to see all photos specially pied kingfisher in diving shot n came out with fish kill from water.Today i was processing this photo for publishing in Divya Bhaskar news paper and shocked coz Greater Flamingo was well focused but chick of Red-wattled Lapwing was also in focus.its a wow feeling. you can see this little beauty just above my watermark.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1500 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || Exposure Compansaion : +2 || White Balance : 5200k
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat.