Sunset at GRK

It's a just try to frame sunset as in hurry coz we dont have time much time n location was not found for a good frame.
Story was posted in Spotted Sandgrouse we were in Lodai village for Spotted Sandgrouse.We were 25-30km inside the main road and time was 5.35pm(as clicked last photo of Sandgrouse).we didnt got good shot of this rarity n wanna click but our friend cum guide Bharatbhai Kapdi told us to return coz if sun was set and in the darkness we didnt find to return on main road coz there was no network n no gps.so i had driven my cheetah upto 110+kmph speed to return.
As we were Bharatbhai told to turn on otherside to frame sun behind the tree as we were just 2km away from main road. stop the car with we all came out to frame this beautiful moment but due to sudden brake the dust was coming in the frame so we ran where dust didnt came in frame n clicked 3-4 snaps of it.forget to change some setting in hurry but happy to click with friends.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/200 || ISO 1250 || 150mm || White Balance : Auto
Kutch, Gujarat

Black Redstart

Birding with so many frnds in 2 cars leads to disturbing the birds coz whenever person in 1st car seen bird,they stop and one of person have to came out to show person in 2nd car. same thing happen when person in 2nd car see the bird they have to call the person in 1st car but mostly there is no network in our sanctuary,so have to flash light but all were looking beside the road for sighting and must be blow horn....
Plan was made for Shoolpaneshwar wildlife on 20th November and as routine for birding,wake up around at 4.45am and get ready.after getting fresh and tea drive my cheetah towards city to pick another friend,who had started birding 2-3mnth back,Bhavesh Shah.Then we were on the way to Bardoli to meet another friends.
Around 6am we Reached at Bardoli and Pragnesh was waiting for me outside the city,he came from Silvasa as he didn't seen the Viren Desai's Home.we all meet at Geetakunj and shifted all our bags in two car,parked my cheetah at viren's home.
we were little behind our target as started our journey from bardoli around at 6.30am so we will reach after 8am.There were 2 cars,in 1st car myself,Pragnesh,Bhaveshbhai and Yogesh.in 2nd car Abhay,Viren and Hiren.we took a short break for breakfast at Netrang for 10min then started drive again.before we entered in Sanctuary sudden we saw a bird just beside the road and started clicking.it was fearless and give some beautiful shot even after we came out from car.we had clicked 4-5shots and fly away,not far but then i didn't tried as got awesome shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary,Narmada, Gujarat

Spotted Sandgrouse

Got News frm frnds group of birds came after 19yrs in kutch and he shared photograph with our whatsapp grp and then uploaded to http://birdsofgujarat.co.in so wishlist added in mind but it was aprx 700km away from my home and plan was made...failed since 1+mnth.
finally we was there as mentioned in indian Nightjar. My friend Gani Khatri  had tried for sighting for 2 days for us but failed,even no one was ready to share location.so i was little depressed for sighting.even i was not in contact with Bharat Kapdi before we meet.on 14th i told my guide mahamadbhi (father of Mukim).
After dinner mahmadbhai met me and told that he had talk with Bharatbhai for Spotted Sandgrouse and gave number.i called Bhartbhai for confimation and set a trip.we have to reach aprx at 2.30pm so we had finished our successful trip of Great indian Bustard  and reached on time at Epicenter Homestay Lodayi village, Bharat Kapdi, owner of Epicenter Homestay
told us that he was the 1st to sight the Spotted Sandgrouse on 15th November.even he told us that in 1997 who had sighted these Sandgrouse.Bharatbhai made a tea for us and we talked regarding his birding center.he told us that why he named Epicenter homestay. on 26th January 2001,when earthquake was came the blast was just 1km away from this location on little mount.
Around 3.15pm He told us to go for Spotted Sandgrouse.after drive of 5+km,we entered a dried grassland without grass.he told me to blow horn 2-3times as he always do.later he told that this area is our goddess and whenever i enter, i do like this,we appreciate for his pray to this area.within 1-2km of drive we sighted 3-4 Spotted Sandgrouse and took record shot from distance and tried to go closure but it fly away.then we moved inside.
after drive of 2km my frrnd Pragnesh sighted a bird from far away and told its like a falcon.we focused and i told it laggar falcon.we carefully approached and clicked it but id was difficult....this story will share later.
i think we had spent a hour for this falcon and then we moved ahead for sighting of Spotted Sandgrouse but before we went inside, Bharatbhai sighted Cream-coloured Courser and clicked some good shots.
i think its 4.45pm and we have just 45min and have to go further 5-10km.so again i drive on a speed of 100+km/h speed and reached a location where Bharatbhai told me to slow down for 1km then we stop.he picked Binocular and told to drive as he asked.but these group too fly away.he told us that these Spotted Sandgrouse are disturbed by some photographers so they are flying away.
we follow them and again we tried to go near and around 5.25pm we clicked this shot from distance.then they again fly away.now we have to return as we were 15-20km away from village and if we lost the way,no one can contact us there was no network.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AEMode
f /9.5 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 1250 || 600mm || White Balance : Auto
Kutch, Gujarat

indian Nightjar

We had planned trip for great rann of Kutch few days ago but problem is whom i ask and whom to not and maximum birders be 4 so we skipped many.even our guide was new so thought for success of trip.date was fixed for 14-15 December.
it was a journey of up to 700km and total drive of 11+hrs. as per google.we had decided to start a early as possible so we reach there aprx at 10pm.one of my frnd Dr.Pragnesh will join n coming from silvasa.if he come to my home as early as possible then we will start our trip early.
i have a night shift on 13th n get hardly 1hrs of sleep there,dont know why as i have a chance to sleep at-least 3hrs.think to go before 8.30pm and took sleep but my eyes were sleepless and Pragnesh came with other frnd Viren and Abhay around at 11.30am.
Pragnesh parked his car at my home and shifted all luggage to my cheetah.we started aprx at 12.10pm.after 5hrs of drive we left Ahmadabad.we thought another 5hrs to reach our destination.we were in contact with my frnd Ganibhai,who was residing at Bhuj.he had managed everything for us.around 11pm we reached Bhuj n i had called Ganibhai as he told me to call before entering Bhuj and he came at one point to meet us.he guide us for our destination even he gave me a offline map as there was less chance of internet and gps.
After 10-15min of talks we were on the way to our destination and it was 1 and half hrs away.everything was black except car's light but it was like adrenaline. we went on wrong way as entered in one village coz we unble o identify road even in map,after 5min of drive we again came back on same road then on right way.
it was around 1am and we were hardly 5km away from our destination.my best buddies told me to watch for nightjar on road and we had seen our 1st nightjar from far n stop car.we came out n took record shot from distance.then started crawling on road but we were much away so i stand up and driven my cheetah little closure.again we clicked some good shots but before we get closure by crawling it fly away.
again get set for our destination but just after drive of 500mtr we sighted 2 nightjar and we all were on ground even we dont know how the condition of road.Pragnesh came with lab assistance,he took our photos in his mobile while we were busy in clicking and crawling.
Time lapsed how much we didnt noticed coz it was fun in cold in midnight.when i saw in my mobile it was 2.30am and we had clicked 2 types of nightjar.1st one was Syke's and 2nd one was Indian Nightjar. we had sighted more than 30 nightjar before we reach our destination.
even we lost our way so called our guide around at 3am and after his direction of on light of forest rest house,finally we reached.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/20 || ISO 2000 || 375mm || White Balance : Auto
Kutch, Gujarat

Video by me
see the photos taken in mobile while we were in photoshoot of indian Nightjar

you can see 2 nightjars on road

Great indian Bustard

i'm lucky to frame this Critically Endangered Species,there been only 6 Great indian Bustard in Gujarat.
Most of people likes good looking bird photographs mean if bird is looking clearly in open perch/close up,there been more appreciations.
but i love, how i approach n which frame i like most thats why i share a story.
story behind this photo was posted in http://www.yugworld.net/2016/12/great-indian-bustard.html#.WFoat1xsZzk

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/1500 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : Auto
Kutch, Gujarat

Great indian Bustard

its a Critically Endangered Species so i will not write a full story as i always mentioned the location n how to reach there so sorry for no full story for this species(removed locations).
The number of Great Indian Bustard in Gujarat is just 6.(?)

Recent issue between Gujarat and Rajasthan
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/rajasthan-pulls-a-gujarat-on-gujarat-no-bustard-eggs/

Credit of this species to my best friend Viren Desai as he had sighted from far. we tried to approach little nearer without disturbing but it fly away even we were much away then we had heard that 1-2 person had disturbed them for good shot.

A cold of around 10degree C of early morning and we wake up around at 5am coz we have to drive 100+km after knocking of our room by our guide.after getting fresh we take tea and around 5.30am we were on the way to for GIB.
after left our rooms in grk,we lost in the grk as much dark and road is all side.we roam here n there for 15+min lol.even gps was not working.finally we came on road around at 5.50am.
Still i was driving speed of 40kmph coz there are so many nightjar and they mostly came on road.we have to reach before sunrise but we were late.even we went on wrong way as missed the google's map voice or didn't give voice msg. so we turn on map on tomtom map (paid app) in iphone7 and we reached our destination around at 7.25am.
our guide came there within 5min and we were on the way to search GIB.our guide searched it with binocular...here n there but he failed so moved to another location.we reached at one point where a tree was superbly set with sunrise and clicked a beautiful frame.will share it later.
again we moved at another area.we were roaming places to places and time was passing.we have to leave this area at 10am as we have to go for spotted sandgrouse and it was 150+km away.
and sudden my frnd Viren Desai sighted this beauty.
we had clicked 1-2 shots of peek-a-boo then moved little and got open shots.but as mentioned it was afraid and started flying.we sighted 3.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 640 || 600mm || White Balance : Auto
Kutch, Gujarat

Sykes's Nightjar

As previously mentioned,birding with friends gives lots enjoyment.story posted in indian Grey Wolf i was at Blackbuck National Park, Velavdar on 20/10/16.we did morning and evening safaries there and clicked many birds there.
After end of the day Pankaj went to Patan in his car around at 6.30pm and we had put our camera in camera bag and all ready.i was started driving and talking regarding sighting.my speed was 20km/h even road was clear coz national park area is both side of road so might any blackbuck came n accidentally i hit.after drive of 3-4km,i saw something on the road,its more than 700-800mtr away from me.i ignored at 1st coz might be a stone but when came close its a bird and i id its a Nightjar.our camera were in camera bag and all bags were at 3rd raw of my cheetah.i told my frnd to open camera bag very fast,we have 1-2min as Nightjar eyes were brighten and came normal in 1-2min (imo).we all came out with camera within 1min.didnt seen setting and i had clicked but total dark coz setting was f/5.6, Manual Mode, Shutter Speed 1/750, Daylight and iso was 1000.without delay up my camera's flash and clicked.now Nightjar was framed.thought to change camera setting and i was changing...its furr....gone.but happy to click one good shot

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 1000 || 428mm || White Balance : 8000K || Flash on
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Gujarat

Intermidiate Egret with Fish Kill

Dedication with accuracy give always positive Results.
Around 7am i went to Tena Wetland with Bhavesh Shah on 26th November'16.we clicked many birds with record shot of ferruginous Duck,Lesser Whitethroat and other birds.due to activity on road beside wetland, most ducks went inside but Intermidiate Egret was didnt aware of us n come closure to us as we were sit at one point.it was in search of fish in between water plants.
i had observed Intermidiate Egret , it walk very slowly and take some seconds like statue and attack.2-3 times i missed to take shots.finally got shot with fish kill.

  
Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/3200 || ISO 800 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight
Tena Wetland, Surat,Gujarat.

White-bellied Woodpecker

27th November was lucky day for me coz i had clicked 9th out of 10 woodpecker sighted in Gujarat and Total Birds clicked only in Gujarat reached 305.plan was made and changed time to time and finally i was entered in Vansda National Park around at 8am with Virenbhai,Pragnesh and Yogesh.
After entering more inside the park by driving my cheetah, i thought many are right...not to go at Vansda National Park till December end coz it was totally green in all side, sunlight was hardly coming down, trees are much taller and 6-7 leopards were sighted there.
Till 11.45am we had sighted Jungle owlet, puff-throated babbler, Indian paradise flycatcher and other bird due to extreme low light shots were not upto my marks. then we were thought to in another trap but due to heavy rain during monsoon, road was washed n broken so we parked  at one point and walked nearby.sudden i hear a sound of heart-spotted woodpecker and we clicked more then 50shots with different different angle and light.while we were clicking it,we hear a dog like barking sound and many monkeys were jumping one to another tree and i thought for leopard so we hurriedly walked towards my car.
After 5min all sounds were clear,we find nothing so thought to go inside further.this time Viren was not feeling well so he sit in car. myself and Pragnesh went again there.Pragnesh told that here he had clicked many flycatchers n sudden i hear a sound of White-bellied Woodpecker and spotted but it was far away even we clicked record shot as i had visited Vansda National Park 4-5 times but i was not lucky to click this beauty.after record shot very carefully we approached for good shot with hiding ourself behind the tree but we noticed and it fly away.
i thought for bad luck as clicked shots but all shows half body of it.after 30min again it come back from different side but now at on other tree.it was now in low light but i was lucky to click full body shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /5.6 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 4000 || 309mm || White Balance : Daylight
Surat outkirt,Gujarat.

Run for Life

Cold morning of 2nd December'16 and i had skipped planned to go for photography in early morning. So i wake up around at 9am and after getting fresh,i was taking my breakfast with tea.Sudden my phone ring and call was of from my close friend Viren desai.He told me" Doctor, any place to go nearby Surat for 2 hours as i was in surat for some work and have to return at 12pm"....i replied..one only Tena wetland.he replied,get ready, i am coming to your home.
He came withing 20min and we were at our Spot around at 10.30am. i was shocked coz some of small trees were cut,which were on a bank of wetland so difficult to hide ourselves.even we were late so sunlight was little harsh even though its winter.As my thought all ducks were far away so we had decided to walked on road beside wetland to find newer but nothing find.
We had decided to return at 11.50am and were walking towards Viru's Elntra. sudden i saw a Marsh Harrier was on hunt and ducks were running-flying for life,i told Viru to seat nearby with ready focus.as i thought,the duck will come nearer to us and if harrier will come again for hunt,we will shot beautiful frame of running ducks.
we got 3-4 chance from long distance and clicked 15+ shots.here is best shot from one of them.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/2000 || ISO 1000 || 309mm || White Balance : Daylight
Surat outkirt,Gujarat.