Grey Francolin

While i was alone at home,mostly prefer go for biding.on 24th August around 2pm decided to go for birding.many birders told me in past do birding in morning or evening coz bird are more active in morning or in evening.
after drive of 10min,came on state road n seen small wetland and turn my cheetah towards it.sighted baby of bronze-winged jacana,baby of Pheasant-tailed and baby of watercock.Then i moved inside and seen Grey Francolin from far away.always wish to click close shot of any bird and tried for it.luckily m succeed.before it went inside the bushes clicked from 5-7mtr from sitting in cheetah.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm ||  Exposure Compensation 3+ ||White Balance : 5200k
Surat,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. 

Little Heron

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.
we had clicked many more than 300 photos till noon and took break for lunch.while we were taking lunch,we ha decided to go 20-30km for Red-necked Falcon.as m so much exhausted having so much headache but for my friends,i went. i had avoid to click some good shot coz it was very hot climate and we have to walk 1+km.then we were on the way to return and took some sleep n feel fresh.
Even after sleep and some water n lemon water,feel little headache.Akbar told us to go at one place we can click common kingfisher,it was around 4.30pm and sudden we saw Little Heron aka Striated Heron.i had clicked flying shots and got only one clear shot.my friends went towards it and i was sitting there due to extreme exhausts and again it gives me a 3flying shots.
during my whole trip,i did manual mode and most of shots are little soft due to shutter speed set as 1/1000.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 640 || 350mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmadabad,Gujarat

White-tailed Lapwing

i just came from my morning shift of hospital and alone at home.thinking what to do and called my friend proff. Pravinbhai to join me for birding around at 3.30pm.he was also on the way where i wanna go,so i replied to join there.
around 4pm i reached at Tena wetland,parked my car and called him again to meet him,he was inside the half dried wetland so we meet there after walking of 500-700meter.Pravinbhai was there to click White-tailed Lapwing as he had sighted last year.he was with his binocular and our search begins.
there was only 10% of water remains due to water was used by farmers whose farm were surrounding of wetland.
we call him PC.PC told to watch out in groups of  Red-wattled Lapwing,so we had walked towards other end of wetland but we didn't find. sudden our luck come and PC had sighted this beauty.i had clicked it for record shot and asked to click from other side for close shot and he told direction for approach and i did.walked thru heighten border made for water collection by bend my body at west.after reaching from good close distance started crawling and got this shot.

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Aperture-Priority AE Mode

f /11 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO1250 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k

Tena wetland, Surat, Gujarat

Andaman Serpent Eagle

Thought to click more then 100 birds at Andaman during my family trip but it was very difficult to spot even normal birds there.
on 20th January'16 we have to go at Baratang Cave so get ready around at 5am and went thru our tata winger till one of jetty after 3hours of drive then we went thru government ferry to reach other side of jetty,we reached after 30min.Then we had pick a powerboat to reach Baratang Cave,we reached there after 45 to 60min.
Boatman told us that one guide will with you till cave and give info.from powerboat to cave,i think 2-3km of way and we have to walk.its much humid weather even after wind my body was sweating.didn't remember exact location but 500meter before the cave i was looking on trees n luckily sighted a bird like buzzard.tree were very tall but this raptors was sitting on a half way of tree coz it was searching small household chicks of hen/duck as there was5-6 huts and  family were staying there for earning from travelers by selling lime water,juice etc.
clicked 4-5 shots coz i was far behind from my family.when i shared this pic with my friends,one of my friend Dhairya told that its your jackpot coz it was an Andaman Serpent Eagle.

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Aperture-Priority AE Mode

f /10 || Shutter speed 1/400 || ISO800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k

Baratang Cave, Andaman

Painted Francolin

i have some birds in wishlist and Painted Francolin is one of them.its a very shy bird and always run inside the grass or bushes when notify human.one day munia man Paragbhai msg me a image on whatsapp and ask for id and replied him its a Painted Francolin. PK is very always giving location whenever he sees a new bird.so i told him to go one day.
As planed to go on 13th August and called PK but he had night shift so PK didnt came with me but i reached at given location.PK also remind me to go before 9am n i was searching this beauty here and there by making my way thru mud and soil but till 9.30am didnt find it even though hearing continuous calling.
i was little disappointed due to not sighting of bird even after hearing a call and Around at 9.20am thought to return to my cheetah to go somewhere else place.after siting in my cheetah drink some water and turn on car to on AC as too much humid n sudden seen this beauty on wall,70-100mtr away.without delay clicked some shots and it fly away inside the grass.
This shot was not upto my mark so will go again for best shot for me.
These species of birds are small in size, measuring 30 cm in length and weighing 250 to 350 grams. The face is rufous and the legs are yellowish orange. The females are paler than the males. The legs are devoid of spurs.
Special Thanks to  Parag Kuberkar aka MuniaMan

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Aperture-Priority AE Mode

f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 2500 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k

Surat outskirt, Gujarat

Scaly-breasted Munia

Always try to wake up after 8.30am during my holiday,if m not going for birding.i had planned to visit to my birth town on rakhi day and went in noon.we had made little get together with my all family members.around 11.30pm i went to sleep as much sleepy.
i had set my alarm at 8.45am but disturbed by continuous chirping sound of birds even after closed glass window n wake up at 7.40am.when i sit on bed n seen on my glass window,Scaly-breasted Munia was sitting on iron fence over window n chirping.don't know what was it doing but 3-4min i was just watching from 1-2ft away as glass was totally black so munia cant see inside the room.even my wife wake up n told me why u r standing there,take a photo.i asked it will fly away if slide the glass window.but she asked to take a chance.so within 5-10sec open my camera backpack and ready my bazooka.
now i was thinking how to approach,as if i slide the window,it fly away and during this it fly away.but luckily it sit on electric wire which was 4-5ft away from window.i kneel down near window and slide the glass window.put my bazooka on window and focused n clicked but not satisfied.again focused and clicked...the result is here.

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Aperture-Priority AE Mode

f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 2000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k

CL Farm, Valsad outskirt, Gujarat

Lost in Jungle

After lots enjoyment with family at Ninayi waterfall, Narmada District,around at 6pm we decided to return home.

 

After drive of washed road in rain,aprx 4km from waterfall we reach on main road.just a thought came in my mind to explore unknown area and turn my cheetah to left side rather than right side.it was a hill road and we are going up and up with snake pattern road.

Parked my car at a one point after drive of 5-6km and came out,its a superb feeling to watch mountains covered with green velvet of nature.

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Manual Mode

f /8 || Shutter speed 1/100 || ISO 200 || 18mm || White Balance : 5200k

Samot Hill, Narmada District, Gujarat

Common Rosefinch

After successful lion safari in evening at Sasan gir,we had sighted 2lions, 3 lioness,5 cubs, 1 leopards and many birds got lots happiness coz its our 1st safari n sighted all in one safari.we returned to our resort for night stay.
we have to leave for Junagadh around at 9am so get up around at 7am and ready fast to go out for birding in resort area.i was exploring farm but nothing found except Peacock.i think i had walked more than 1km and reach at a border of farm where one dusty road was border between two farm.crossed it and entered in that farm as they had grown bajra(millet) a one type of crop in india.seen many scaly-breasted munias so very carefully approachedfor close shot and clicked.after clicking 2 shots in camera's lcd,i was happy n sudden seen a red colored bird came close to me n without delay,quickly focused and click.got front pose and within 5-10 second it fly away.it was a Common Rosefinch.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/640 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Gujarat

Kittens

i don't likes cats and dogs after bite by dog,3-4yrs back coz i dont know whats my fault and that dog bite me in a garden while i was walking.
one cat was a frequent visitor of my backyard,sometime it sit there.one day i hear a sound of baby kittens.still avoid to see them,one day my wife told me,its looks so beautiful n click them so on 31st July tried to click with 50mm but they were angry on me n revert back to 600mm.
They had broken my many small trees which were in pots.got only 2-3 good shots and here is one of them.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/125 || ISO 1250 || 329mm || White Balance : 5200k
Surat, Gujarat.

Heuglin's Gull

in early days of my photography always i thought,Best Photo mean close up but it is one best.Birding in winter gives some of best and beautiful shots so i had planned to visit Nal Sarovar & Little Runn of Kutch in Feb'16.The date was confirmed by my birding friends Dr.Pragnesh & Viren and it was 6th Feb.so Pragnesh came with his Ciaz from Silvasa and we meet on Highway around at 3pm on 5th Feb. we reached our hotel near Viramgam,Ahmadabad around at 10pm.all credit to Dr.Pragnesh's Friend Shree Jaypalsinh Jadeja for instant kind help.
we have to reach Nal sarovar as early as possible n before sunrise so decided to sleep before 12am but time as passed in talks n discussion till 1.30am. Still Dr.Pragnesh wake up at 5am n myself at 5.15am.Around 5.30am my guide Akbarbhai call me to come at 6am but we are 40min late.
Finally we were at Nal sarovar aprox 7am.. The whole environment was change as Gujarat's Chief Minister Anandiben was coming for opening ceremony of Bird Festival in noon.Akbarbhai told us, he have to wait for some other work as he might have to go with Gujarat's Chief Minister so he had managed to send his brother Latifbhai.
Finally we were in the boat.we had clicked white-tailed lapwing,brown-headed gull,black-headed gull etc bird.it was around 8.45am and i was there for special species Common Starling and it was sighted till 10am so we were in hurry to go there.sudden i see a gull was flying near to us,as usual i forget to change the camera setting from manual to Aperture-priority coz it was flying and clicked but luckily got a best snap.it was a Heuglin's Gull.

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

Demoiselle Crane Family

i was on spiritual tour with family in November 2015.on 21/11/15 we check out from Dwarka n on the way to Beyt Dwarka.did photography of gulls,its a awesome place.we left the Beyt Dwarka around at 1.30pm for Porbandar.
i was sitting beside driver and after drive of 30-40min from Dwarka,sudden seen a small lake where thousands of Demoiselle Crane and asked to stop for a 5-10min.very carefully approached towards Demoiselle Crane with taking record shot before get noticed and they fly away.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/8000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Dwarka outskirt,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.

Jungle Myna

Sometime you been more happy when you get un-expected thing.i went to Bardoli at Viren's home for photography of Snipe and breeding plumage of Cattle egret's close shot on 22/05/16.reached around at 7.30am and we went in Viren's innova with Viren's son Ansh,Hiren.
At first we went where Viren had clicked extreme close shot of breeding plumage of Cattle egret but that tree was cut so get mine 1st disappointment.so we went to a lake where Viren had clicked Snipe pair,we had search lot but didn't sighted.here get mine 2nd disappointment.
Now Viren thought before we get late,went to a lake where he and Hiren mostly go so fter drive of 30min we reached there.we had clicked Blue-tailed Bee-eater,Lesser-whistling Duck,Purple Heron nd pied Kingfisher nad flying shots of breeding plumage of Cattle egret.its 10am and decided to went a farm where he had sighted francolin but he have no camera that time n missed shot so we went there.its a far away n reached there after drive of 1 hour,in between we had sighted breeding plumage of Cattle egret beside road n clicked good shots.
very well planed farm,liked so much but get 3rd disappointment and leave that place after 30min. Now Viren told go home for lunch as got call so we were on the way to Bardoli via another road.Viren want to show me a engineering miracle of bridge and we reached there after drive of 30min.i had captured a video of that engineering miracle made,will share that video later.while we were clicking swallows,Hiren was waving his hand to come there and i moved quickely.he told"doctor focus on that bird,it must be a Jungle Myna".i told Jungle Myna and here its not possible,even though i clicked from far away and zoom but its blurred.when i tried again,it fly away.Then very carefully seen the eyes in camera and its wow coz its lifer for all of us.
Now the hunt begins for Jungle Myna but we failed to locate till 10min.again thought for disappointment but Luckily Hiren sighted it under the bridge.its very difficult to go down near end point of bridge coz there is no tree or else to we pick and go down,if we slip....gone directly to 30-40feet in the dried river.but finally got succeed. forget to change aperture-priority to manual coz get low shutter speed in images but 2-3images were superb for me.i had recorded a video too but its handheld and too much wind so you cant enjoy the video.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/500Sec || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Bardoli outskirt, Surat, 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. 

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

As story posted in The Train i was at Vansda National Park for Virenbhai's wish to click Malabar Trogon on 13/06/16.after lunch we again gone for birding at the site where we had sighted common hawk cuckoo pair.
we were searching them but unable to sight.so we decided to return home and on the way to exit to park.sudden we saw a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo beside the road n very carefully drive car near to it.before it noticed us,i had quickly focused n clicked few shots.here is the result.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 400 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Vansda Natioanl Park, 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.

Oriental Scops Owl with Video

i was shocked when my friend Dharmesh Kadiwala aka DK called me around at 4pm and asked doctor get ready for night photography at 6pm,coz we have to roam in Bardoli outskirt for Leopard.we had read in news paper n even got info that Leopard was sighting since 2 days.
i went to DK's home around at 6.30pm on 19/02/16,parked my car then we went towards Bardoli in DK's Duster.After reaching there,took our dinner of Khichdi and Hiren n Viren came around 7pm.
we had checked lights,camera settings and journey started around at 7.30pm.i was so excited as it was my 1st experience,even little afraid.
Dk was driving the car,Hiren was on beside Dk and light on left side and Viren n myself were on rear seat with light on right-left side.it was thrilling experience coz road was just wide as car pass on it n bushes,trees are close to road.we reached at one temple near to Tapi river where leopard sighted,talked there with local person and waited for 15-20min but nothing found.then we came on Dhulia Highway and after drive of some km,entered on one road which proceed to village,before we reach there we saw a bird was sitting on cement pole of iron fencing and we stopped,Hiren told it must be a owl.we reversed the car n show light on left side of farm but cudnt locate.we hear a sound of wings just above us on a tree and DK told to show light on that tree.and we sighted a owl.id was difficult as it was our 1st sighting.
As we all know that if we flash a light directly on owl,it fly away so we tried to flash light beside the owl and luckily we get some close shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/100Sec || ISO 3200 || 375mm || White Balance : 5200k || External Flashlight used
Bardoli outskirt, Surat, Gujarat

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