Painted Stork

Birding with close friend n family gives lots fun.its very difficult to bypass many friends when you go for birding in long distance.i think it hurt many friend,if we can not take him for birding but sometime it must be done coz need some privacy with close friend n family while we go for birding for log distance.Apologizes
its a yes-no for Jamnagar trip since long time with my best buddy Pankaj coz we want to go Narara Marine National Park as wanna show it to my son Yug.we were went there last year but unable to see Marine national park as we were late. finally booked hotel sudden and went in noon around at 1.30pm of 26th Oct'16 by driving Cheetah.its about around 600km drive from south Gujarat to Western Gujarat.we reached there around at 10.30pm and Pankaj came from Patan,North Gujarat, he reached there around at 10.15pm.
Even though we had stopped at 2-3 points,we were exhausted n went for sleep but around 12am my son got fever and my bad luck was we didn't took syrups with us.sudden i step down to hotel counter for any medical store but he told that at this time no medical store will open as almost closed at 11pm.still i went out,where to go coz it was 1st time and dont know where to should i go for medical store.sudden open my google search n asked for medical store near by me and sighted Super Medical.got contact number and called but he told that it was closed.i had  told that i am a doctor,came from Surat and Requested for a syrup for my kid and he gave direction to reach there,walked around 1.5km then return then my son sleep normally.
we wake up around 8am and went Lakhota Lake for birding and enjoyment for our kids.As my Son and Pankaj's Princess meet 2nd time till now,both get little time time for adjustment and they enjoyed lot in park.we did birding but very few birds are there.then contacted my birding friends at Jamnagar and Dhairya Jhaveri called me,he told me for birding sight. he had given one number but that person didnt came.So Pankaj contacted another person and we were lucky to have a guide cum bird watcher cum naturalist cum good human being,Krunalbhai.
Till noon we enjoyed there and returned hotel for lunch.Krunalbhai was waiting for us and went 2 places for birding but dint sighted much.
Next day we have to go at 4.30am and started our journey around at 5am.we reached there around at 6.30am with one stop for breakfast.i got my 3lifer.while i was driving and sighted a Painted Stork very close to us, cudn't resist myself to click it.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3000 || ISO 1250 || 450mm || White Balance : 5200K
Jamnagar outskirt, Gujarat

Blackbuck (Male)

I feel.its a achievement of taking frame of flying birds or Running Animal or jumping animals coz its little difficult to focus.
As mention story at Indian Grey Wolf i was at Blackbuck National Park Velavdar on 20/10/16 with my friends. i was specially there for harrier but cudn't stop myself to click jumping blackbuck.as we were roaming in Blackbuck natinal park and seen this Blackbuck from far ready to run so very quickly focus on it but before i focus it started running with jump.this photo was soft n log distance shot but like it.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/2000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Gujarat

Indian Grey Wolf

Blackbuck National Park, Velavdar is the heaven for Harrier lovers.Except Pied Harrier,all Harriers came there between August to March for wintering.They roost on ground and hunts locusts,snakes,lizard,small rodents and birds which help as biological pest control to farm crops,maintains the Eco-system of grassland.
Pankaj have to go at Bhavnagar medical collage as an external examiner for final exam on 19/10/16 so we had planned a trip of Blackbuck National Park,Velavdar on 20th.many of my friend wanna join me but didn't informed them as if we go in 2-3 cars the person in 1st car took photos n rest will none.
So i set a plan with my best friend and birders Viren Desai, Hiren Joshi and Dharmesh Kadiwala to go Blackbuck National Park in noon of 19th.
i went to Kadiwala's home to pick him and then went Bardoli to pick Hiren n Viren.thought to cross bharuch 4.30pm but we were at bardoli at 4.30pm and Pankaj checked in at Blackbuck National Park's dormitory.we had reached around at 12.30am after hectic traffic.
After 5hrs of sleep coz we were on discussion for our website http://birdsofgujarat.co.in ,we were all ready for morning safari for Indian Grey Wolf after tea at dormitory n went inside with guide Sikandar after pay of entry fee n camera fee.searched at each suspected location for sighting but failed to sight it.Even we did photography of harriers at both side of park.ended before closure of park in noon.
we went outside of park, on a highway for lunch and after 1hr came back.thought for some sleep at rest room but don't know i was unable to sleep.we again went inside the park for evening safari.now our focus was on harriers specially on male harriers.The reason was they looks beautiful due to their color.and succeed for Montagu's harriers male gives some excellent flying shots.
Around 4.30pm our guide told to go at lake side/water collection side coz Indian Grey Wolf might come there for water drink n bath.frankly speaking i was against to there coz one wishlist bird "pallid harrier male" was still pending and if we went there,time will lapse n sunlight will gone so photo will not click good, still we went there n luckily sighted Indian Grey Wolf,credit to our guide Sikandar who sighted from far and we went there very hurriedly coz they were about to run inside and speedily we focused and clicked,got 5-6 shots from long distance.not a good click but happy to sighted there.shot was against the light but love this evening light.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Gujarat

Blue Rock Thrush

As winter started i went on search for Eurasian Wryneck in the evening at my favorite birding spot.before i reach a point where i had sighted this bird, seen a bird size and pattern of myna/starling  and clicked a record shot.as Sun was behind of it and the photo was totally silhouette so ignored this bird.
next day i have a court in the morning but due some circumstances the medico legal case that i had seen went in noon so came back home again and went court at 3pm.the case was over 4.30pm and i took my camera so went again that place for Eurasian Wryneck but didn't find it,Luckily clicked again that mysterious bird when i see in camera's LCD thought for Blue Rock Thrush but don't know about previous sighting of it in Surat and sent pic of it to my birding partner friend Dr.Pankaj for confirmation.He told your are right.i was so happy for sighting but have only 3-4 photos and all are silhouette.i had tried to recover all photos but not happy with results.
A thought came in mind,i had sighted this bird consecutive day so it must be there or near by area and have to visit in morning for sighting.reached there around at 8am n stopped my cheetah there.this beauty was there like waiting for me...lol.clicked lots photos with some are eye level shots after getting out from sun-roof of my cheetah.here is 1st best shot with green background.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Male)

Planned trip for lens comparison with my friend Viren Desai on 9/10/16,so we went at my favorite birding place at 10am.
after taking some shots of pied bushchat,stonechat we were roaming at that place and sudden seen an Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Male) was coming towards us at low level sudden stop my car and came out for click.it gives hardly 5-10sec n luckily i got this shot.not a clear shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/8000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200K
Surat Outskirt, Gujarat

River Tern

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 at 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 had sighted Asian openbill,River Tern, Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Western Reef Egret, Cattle Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Painted Stork etc. didn't find new winter birds so decided to frame flying Birds and 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 coastal highway n sit there.can't 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
Dharasana wetland, Bilimora Outskirt, Gujarat

Little Tern (Breeding with non-Breeding Flying)

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.we did crawling for most of photos,it was amazing experience to crawl over sand with sea water and all credit to my friend Dilipsinh Chudasama aka DC.
DC told us to move for terns and we were following them.Pankaj and DC were started crawling as they had sighted Little and Saunders's Tern.we did crawling for 200+mtr for some good shots.in between i had sighted Little Tern 100mtr away from my left hand side and clicked.out of 4 shot this was a 1st shot and liked most so sharing with all of you.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/6000 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Mandvi Beach, Kutch,Gujarat.

Great Cormorant

Waiting of many days n postpones of great trip of Nalsarovar n LRK had started.myself, Dr.Pragnesh n Viren Desai were on way to Ahmedabad on 5th Feb'16 around at 3pm by Ciaz of Dr.Pragnesh n we reached our hotel around at 10pm.all credit to Dr.Pragnesh's Friend Shree Jaypalsinh Jadeja for instant kind help.
we have to start our journey to Nal sarovar as early as possible n before sunrise n decided to sleep before 12am but time 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.our guide told us, he have to wait for some work but his brother Latif will join us. The whole environment was change as That time's Gujarat's Chief Minister Anandiben was coming for opening ceremony of Bird Festival in noon.
We paid for entry ticket n by one boatman n Latifbhai we were on birding.we had sighted Brown-headed Gull,Black-headed Gull, Pallas's Gull, Caspian Gull(it was confirmed after my best friend Dr.Pankaj told me for different type of Gull,looking like Pallas's Gull ), Pelican, White-tailed Lapwing but i was waiting for main part mean Common Starling.
We are returning for lunch after taking photos of Common Starling and seen a Great Cormorant sitting on a pole and given some close n beautiful shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8|| Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 250 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat.

Plain Prinia

on 28/09/16 i went for search of Eurasian wryneck in evening.expecting of its sighting as i had sighted n clicked but in low light,shot was not up to my mark.so reached my birding hotspot But the result for Eurasian Wryneck was zero so thought to move at different location.
Both side of road was covered with green small plants with yellow flowers on top.it looks so beautiful and i was driving with enjoying this beauty.sudden seen 3-4 birds came on top of these plants and very carefully driven my cheetah still they noticed me due to engine sound but they ignored me and gave many types of pose,today i am sharing this shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Surat outskirt, Gujarat

Pied Bushchat (Female)

Many times i get unexpected sightings.on 28/09/16 i went for search of Eurasian wryneck in evening.expecting of its sighting as i had sighted n clicked but in low light,shot was not up to my mark.so reached my birding hotspot n searching here n there at speed of 5km/h in my cheetah.
As zero result at one spot,decided to go at other side and i was on the way at speed of 10-15km/h.sudden seen a sparrow size bird just close to road and very carefully driven to it and from sitting on driver seat took 4-5shots.and the result is here.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Surat outskirt, Gujarat

Darter

My friends had clicked Eurasian Wryneck so also i want to clicked it, i had clicked last year but wanna good shot. but unable to sight so went my favorite birding spot Tena.
After parked my cheetah went thru border of wetland to search winter waders.as usual didnt find but hear calling of Painted Francolin very close but inside the bushes.
Then i left as sun was like storming on me and weather was too humid.after sitting in my cheetah,sit for 3-5min with AC on low.then on the way to home from other side of wetland,still i was looking in the wetland and sudden saw a darter.Stopped and clicked some shots with different different of settings in camera with bright sunny light.
had increased little saturation as  i like for 1920 x 1080 frame.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Surat outskirt, Gujarat