Painted Sandgrouse

Since last year i was waiting for trip to kutch during September coz during this time,passage migratory birds come.so booked a guide Vikramsinh Sodha.why we choose him,just coz of he has exclusive and good locations so think to try.
Wake up at 4am and after getting ready driven from Surat to Kadodara cross road to pick my besties Viren Desai and Hiren Joshi,they came from Bardoli.after taking tea break,we reached Ahmadabad around at 10.30am as expected and pick my roomie  Pankaj Maheriya.then started journey towards our destination.
Pankaj shoot our video during journey as a trip report and took our lunch break at Halvad.after lunch again we stared our journey and reached our destination,Kunj Birding Homestay at 5.15pm.
warm welcomed by Vikramsinh,we get fresh ourself and talked lil...sudden Vikramsinh told for tea but we told to go for Painted Sandgrouse as it was walking distance from there but we went there by car as much hot and humid weather.
After Parking of my XUV 500,Vikramsinh show us the Painted Sandgrouse and loved to watch them coz it was in my wish list of beautiful birds. Vikramsinh told that enter in cordoned area very carefully then crawl towards them so we did but terrible experience coz i did it after long time and many time feel a pain of spikes of dry wild babool but result was heavenly.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/500 || ISO 1600 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Kunj Birding Homestay, Nakhatrana,Kutch, Gujarat.

Pied Kingfisher with Fish Kill

During Monsoon i visit Tena Lake,Surat outskirt frequently.i was again there in the evening of 22/06/16 and expecting flying shots of Pied Kingfisher.Started photography of it since 4pm but failed to frame it with fish kill.but finally got succeed at 4.23pm.here is one good shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/4000 || ISO 800 || White Balance : Day Light || 600mm
Surat outskirt, Gujarat

Indian Roller

Taken leave on 14/09/15 so around 8am went for birding. till 10am didn't get good photos so decided to return home around at 10.30am.
i was Driving slowly to see any activity beside the roads for any new winter bird. sudden i saw an Indian Roller sitting on a electric wire, i just avoid it but thought that the electric wire was not much at high level coz road was lil higher level from ground so reversed my car and parked very carefully.thought that Indian Roller will fly away so i set my af point to all and started approaching very carefully with  focused to get closure shot but i was noticed and it fly away but i was ready for flying shot and clicked 4-5 shots.i was very happy coz out of  5 shots, in 3 shots Indian Roller was in the frame with enough sharpness.
so here is my favorite shots with good frame as i had posted this bird with closure look.

Exifs :
Canon 600D
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/1600 || ISO 400 || White Balance : Day Light || 600mm
Surat outskirt, Gujarat

Barn Owl

You will be more happy when you sight a bird accidentally which is in your wishlist.Same thing happen when we were returning from Shoolpaneshwar to home on 23/03/16 and we sighted Indian Grey Hornbill,so i had stopped the car n came to click them.we got record shots.
i went still inside and meanwhile Vijayendrabhai called me in very law voice, who is 100mtr away from me.So i went there n asked,what??? he saw the location from n told there must be an owl.so i clicked from far for id, when we saw in cam's display we were excited coz it was Barn Owl.
we approached very carefully coz it was partial sleeping in burrow of a tree.But we were noticed n fly from burrow but sit on a tree just 30mtr away from us.Luckily we got good shots.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
f /16|| Shutter speed 1/180 || ISO 800 || 150mm || White Balance : 5200k
Shoolpaneshwar wildlife Sanctuary,Narmada, Gujarat.

indian Wild Ass

I had clicked Laggar falcon,Peregrine Falcon and other birds in Little Rann of Kutch.we were in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary.we were traveled 100+km since 3pm to 6pm,our last click was of harrier n our guide Becharbhai told us u were in wild ass Sanctuary n you must click Indian Wild Ass with Sunset so be fast n sit in jeep.we went at one point from where we can see Indian Wild Ass were going n Sun was set behind them.even watching them is pleasant experience.
As at first avoid to click but tried one click n its superb so run myself to frame group of wild ass.sit on ground set my camera on tripod n waited for shot.click...click...click but Sun was lil above them so again run to frame them after 500+mtr from our jeep to find the best place n click...click...click.now got good result.
This Shot was clicked at 6:22pm.its a first try of photo in sunset light n in hurry forget to change the camera setting.but if you know,how to play with Photoshop n get desired frame.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 500 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.

Saker Falcon

After much awaiting, finally i was at LRK aka Little Rann of Kutch on 6th of Feb'16 with Dr.Pragnesh n Viren Desai,i was much late for birding as winter birds specially raptors might went even though i was there for Peregrine Falcon.its a wild ass sanctuary.
Around 3pm we reached at Bhavna resort & Farm after morning session at Nal Sarovar. our guide Becharbhai was ready,after getting  refreshed we went for birding for evening session.we had finished our evening session at 7pm n returned at our hotel.took dinner n went for sleep early after recharge of battery of our camera coz we were very tired n have to wake up early in the morning.
Get ready around at 5.30am, our guide Becharbhai came n told for took tea.approx 6am we were on our exclusive safari,it was 12-15 degree cold, i forget to take my jacket n feel freezing sensation while we were in jeep coz our location was 40+km away n we were on speed of 50+.
After drive of 1hr+ Becharbhai stopped at one point n sighted Montague's Harrier,we took shots after 5min again we were on search of raptors.after 30min of drive Becharbhai again stopped and looking in Binocular at one point where he sighted Greater spotted eagle n Imperial Eagle.we went there n took record shot.while we tried to approach for closer they fly away. i asked to go towards imperial eagle n game was on....we took shot n try to approach for closure,it fly away.this game continued for 40+min then we stopped chasing imperial eagle n went inside.
while we were going towards perching site of  Peregrine Falcon after drive of 10-15min,Virenbhai seen one bird flying and we went towards there,stopped far away n took record shot.Becharbhai came with book of indian birds n told to show for id n we all got shocked n happy coz its a Saker Falcon.
Becharbhai told that we can try to get closure but this bird cant give good shot so we tried to approach towards this beauty.Mostly we stop n it fly away.we tried for 6-7times in 1+hr n didn't got good  shot but i got good flying shot from front n side.

Details from Google

Male length: 45 cm

Female length: 55 cm

Male wingspan: 100 - 110 cm

Female wingspan: 120 - 130 cm

Male weight: 730 - 990 g

Female weight: 970 - 1,300 g

The saker falcon can be both highly agile and extremely fast as it hunts close to the ground , capable of diving for prey at 200 miles per hour.( source ) 

 

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
07/02/16, 8:28AM
f /8 || Shutter speed 1/2000 || ISO 1000 || 600mm || White Balance : 5200k
Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.

Forest Owlet

After so many days our trio (Viren, Hiren & Myself) set a plan for rarity in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary.Viru called me to set for a trip for Forest Owlet on 02/09/17 but i have to arrangement in hospital and mean while also got a whatsapp from Mukeshbhai Bhatt for Rarity so i called him and he asked to get ready when i say.we also talked for Forest Owlet as he is going with group of Jamnagar.
we all had set to meet Bardoli at 6am so i was ready at 5.15am n driven my chittah towards bardoli from surat and reached at 6am.Viru was ready and we went to pick Hiru from his home and then reached at chamunda hotel on Dhuliya road.after one hour other car came and meet them then driven onward Mahal,North Dang.
it was about 80-90km away with ups n down of mountains but enjoyed the surroundings.we stopped at check point of Bhenskatri and took tea break,Mukeshbhai introduced with Birders from Jamnagar n met with Chirag Solanki, Amitbhai and Kishan.
After 10min we proceed towards Mahal Camp site and finally reached at our destination for Rarity.Forest Owlet is Diurnal species  still need luck for sighting but i have location so we find it and we were much happy coz seen 3 Forest owlet at one place and 4th one calling from otherside.
This Photo was taken from long distance,even much soft coz my tripod was broken so taken handheld and vibration control(image stabilization) was off but managed lil bit in ps.
Taken more than 50shots with video but love this frame so sharing it.

Exifs :

Canon 7D Mark2

Manual Mode

f /8 || Shutter speed 1/1000 || ISO 1250 || 600mm || White Balance : Daylight

Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Dang,Gujarat

Little Heron

i had planned to visit Nal Sarovar with my close friend Dr.Pankaj on 14/04/16,my another friend Hiren Joshi also joined me from Bardoli.

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 and 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 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 so i took some sleep n feel fresh.

Even after sleep and some 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