Wildlife Images from the Indian Subcontinent

About me: A regular employee in the IT industry with a really interesting hobby – birdwatching.  My intention is to create a photoblog of the avian/mammals species that i have recorded on camera and get genuine critique of my work. In the coming months I also intend to spread the awareness of wildlife and how it helps us to create a balance in the natural environment through awareness activities across schools and other educational institutions.

Equipment: Canon 7D Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM Canon EF 1.4X II Extender Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Olympus Trooper 10×50 DPS 1 Binoculars

Note: Click on image to see full size version. All images are copyrighted. Please contact me if you intend to use them for publication etc.

Panthera Tigris or the Bengal Tiger is one of the most enigmatic creatures from the Indian forests. Spending time with these wild beasts makes one feel so insignificant . This huge male here has savored a belly full of  meat and is getting out of the pool to return to the shadows.

A record for species comparison. Spotted vs Barking deer.

A Godwit and black tailed. Found in thousands in the mangalajodi marshes of Odisha these guys make for an awe inspiring sight when in flight. A name so beautiful that even god found itself at the wit’s end.

These ungulates are huge and the are particularly alert with the young ones around which make for an easy meal for larger predators. Anecdotally, the tiger is said to mimic the call of the sambar to deceive it while hunting. They also can be taken by crocodiles, mostly the sympatric mugger crocodiles. Leopards and dholes will take young or sickly deer.

Ospreys or fishing eagles are usually found near large water bodies and feed on fishes and other small rodents. The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

Standing at level ground at a height where these raptors glide is a moment to behold and sight to remember. Goa has many of these abandoned forts at high altitudes where one can spend quality time with the avian wonders that the northern parts of the western ghats has to offer.
The gentleman here is bhraminy kite and are usually found close to water bodies.

The Indian Peafowl is one of the most beautiful avian life that one can witness. One can notice the entire color palette on these handsome birds. They are at their colorful best during the monsoons when they fan their feathers out to dance to glory. One would easily spot these heavenly birds in most of the forests in India.

An extremely sleepy Short Eared Owl tries to hide itself in the thorny bushes near Bajana in Gujarat. Asio flammeus will display its tufts when in a defensive pose. However, its very short tufts are usually not visible. The Short-eared Owl is found in open country and grasslands. The word flammeus is Latin for “flaming, or the color of fire”

Moving away from the head on shots of birds is very difficult but one really has to work on composing images that captures more than the regular pretty faces and colors. This is a purple heron that takes off in Mangalajodi marshes in Odisha.

A migrating desert wheatear makes a great environment image in the Bajana area of Little Rann of Kutch.

A tree pipit begged for attention as we continued to shoot the flycatchers and I eventually had to give in and click this. Glad I made the choice.

A bold Syke’s Nightjar stays put as we close in for a full frame shot. Glad we made it.

A spotted owlets scrutinizes the forest floor for supper.  The image was shot very late in the evening after the afternoon safari  at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve near the Moharli gate. These little beauties always make for a super cute scene and I seldom miss an opportunity to click. It is extremely important to first visualize what you want to click and then make the right adjustment in the camera itself to try and get as close to the real experience.

Prince from Paradise (Asian Paradise Flycatcher -Subadult male)
A young male Paradise Flycatcher shot in the outskirts of Pune- India

A short eared owl (Asio flammeus) prepares itself for another evening in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat with a quick neck massage. These birds can effortlessly turn their heads in a 180* direction These shy beauties always maintain a healthy distance between themselves and their stalker (photographers).