Crimson-backed Goldenback

Always i love to frame Woodpeckers and made a wishlist to click Endemic birds in Shri Lanka.even thought for places where we can click these endemic birds.
Our flight landed around at 5.30am at Bandaranaike International Airport Kandy.we missed the early morning sunrise due to bad timing of arrival of Sri Lankan airlines.after clearing all procedure we came out of airport but our tour guide cum leader was delayed by 30-40min.We have option to check in at hotel for refreshment or go on as our schedule,we were already late so choose 2nd option even though we didn't sleep in flight.
We reached around at 10am at Elephant Orphanage,Pinnawela.saw few baby to sub adult elephant there as they were lost in jungle and feed here till they become adult and drop them in jungle.i was looking for birds and hear call but didn't sighted except Sri Lanka Jungle Babbler.while we were returning towards our Mini bus,entered in small garden and Dr.Pragnesh sighted this beauty,i was searching birds slightly away from him.he shout and asked to rush there to click as woodpeckers normally jump one branch to another.i ran towards him and click 3-4 shots but as i wrote it jumped inside the next tree. as i have no good shot,walked towards this beauty and got at least one shot.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2 with Canon 100-400 is2
Manual Mode
f /7.1 || Shutter speed 1/640 || ISO 3200 || 560mm ||
Elephant Orphanage,Pinnawela, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka White-eye

Nuwara Eliya is Located in Central Province of Sri Lanka.We had stayed in Hotel Jetwing St. Andrews.it had great location and just beside the Golf course with excellent garden in it's territory.we have to check out at 8.30am and have no time to explore such beautiful area due to our bad plan.But decided to do birding before 7.30am.
i wake up around at 5.30am and fell chill outside the hotel,it must be 5-7 degree Celsius.after getting ready i was out side the hotel around at 6.15am and my friend Dr.Pragnesh was clicking photos of birds.i joined him.it was cloudy weather and we were struggling to focus for good shot but we got good close shots of many birds as they were very friendly.
Here is one of best photo of Sri Lankan White-eye.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2 with Canon 100-400 is2
Manual Mode
f /7.1 || Shutter speed 1/400 || ISO 5000 || 400mm ||
Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Frogmouth

Before Going This beautiful Country named 'Wonder of Asia"  Sri Lanka, many of my friend told me to click Sri Lankan Frogmouth and have wish list of some birds in my mind.so long story Posted in Sri lankan junglefowl(Mobile Click). it was very difficult for me till first 1hr coz we had walked towards hill area and humidity was very high so became wet with perspiration then our guide went for all locations for this beauty but failed.
myself and Dr.Pragnesh had decided to stay till evening but our guide told that,heavy rain will come in noon so we had decided to return before 12pm so we had started walking to back around at 10.30am.again guide went 2-3 locations but sighted at last location.it was very difficult perch coz we have to walk down very carefully over wet land and if we slip then slide down upto 20ft.. finally we managed without disturbing this sleeping pair.
after clicking record shot,we were unable to frame them clearly coz we can't take from going at other side but i find the way and got this shot from a space between leaf and branches.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2 with Canon 100-400 is2
Manual Mode
f /7.1 || Shutter speed 1/250 || ISO 12,800 || 400mm ||
Sinharaja Rain Forest, Sri Lanka

Nandu's Sanctuary

When ODKF mean Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher comes in mind,everyone knows best sighted in Chipun and many Birders go at Nandu Tambe's hide.he has many hides for best shots of ODKF.This beauty comes there for breeding in June end, after chick grow and ready to fly,went away.

why i wrote topic name Nandu's Sanctuary ? because when i reach there and talked with owner Nandu Tambe for other birds,he told that he had sighted more then 215 species in his near by area,These birds are ODKF, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Crested Hawk Eagle, Brown Wood Owl,Brown Hawk Owl etc so i told him to make a place on Google Map and then upload those images in this place so more people know about it.he told that,how it made coz once he made it but removed and dont know the reason.so i Pinned this area in google map and given name as Nandu's Sanctuary coz this is amazing place and you have to visit it,if you had not visited.This area is Located in Maharstra,22km away from Chiplun,located in Shirwali Village.owns 40+acre of land and converted in forest.

Here r our some mobile clicks

What i say about Nandu Tambe coz he is just 30 yrs old.His original Name is Nishikant  Tambe.he is B.Com Graduate and left his job for his forest.he not only work for ODKF but works for conservation of nature.he told me,"what we will carry with us,when we die.this mother earth is not only for us.if we care for it all cycle shud run smoothly.he is working since 2006(not sure!!!)"

 How to Reach there?

 You can Reach there by your car driven/by train thru chiplun.after confirmation with him for birding,he will sent location and download offline map or you can ask anyone in this village for Nandu Tambe and they will guide you. Loaction on Map of  Nandu's Sanctuary
Nearest Airport is at Pune and its 200+km away from Nandu's Sanctuary.
Chiplun has a Railway station and its in Kokan Rail Lines

So Plan your Birding Session with Nandu Tambe after confirmation by him and made a memorable trip.

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher

Wrote a long long story of my 1st day trip and 1st encounter with Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher but i think more precious photographs so sharing lil words with this Photo.
i wake up around 5.30am and Saswat knocked the door for wake up call,then Viren also wake up and we both ready till 6am coz Nandu told us to reach by 7am.around 6.15am we were on the way to Nandu's Sanctuary,it was 4-5km away from hotel.we saw a Yellow-wattled Lapwing and with morning light in rain drops looks beautiful and click few shots.500-700 mtr before Nandu's home,we saw groups of quail and thought for Yellow-legged Button quail so stop but they noticed us and run inside.finally we reached at 6.40am.
After having tasty hot coffee made by his mother,we sit there at our place but today this beauty didn't come till 9.14am.enjoyed its 20sec presence.then we went for breakfast.during breakfast i asked for how many species, he sighted and Nandu told "more then 215 species" i was shocked and told you have to declared your property as Nandu's Sanctuary.we laughed...he told that he made but somehow deleted so i told that we again recreate it and dropped a pin on google map and created a location as Nandu's Sanctury
Sudden in between we hear a noise of Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and rushed towards call come and i sighted so started clicking it with Viren,in between Pragnesh and Saswat were far away from us but i walked a little and called them.it was best photo of my trip coz i had clicked it in its habitat, not at hide.

Exifs :
Canon 7D Mark2
Manual Mode
f /6.3 || Shutter speed 1/800 || ISO 3200 || 600mm || White Balance : Auto
Nandu's Sanctuary Chiplun,Maharstra