Sunday, December 28, 2008

Black crowned Night heron



Black-crowned night heron splashing in the mangroves. :)))

Open billed stork



Open billed stork is a winter visitor. And they were looking for food in the paddy fields. :)))

Sandpiper



Sandpiper in the field. There was lot of water in the field due to recent floods in the region.

Sand Plover



Sand plover looking for food. :)))

Intermediate egret



A beautiful bird standing still in a puddle of rain water. :)))

Monday, December 22, 2008

Grey spotted owlet



A beautiful, alert bird. :)))

Shikra



Beautiful bird in flight. :)))

Cattle. We hate Leather



These cattle were roaming freely in the backwaters. But for how long? As soon as they become old, they will be packed off to a leather factory for slaughter. Though not all farmers are into this practice. After all the effort they have put in to till the land, after being helpful to farmers, this is the return they get.

Shame on us to allow this to go on.

Sandpiper



Finally spotted this bird this winter season. :)))

Butterfly



A beautiful butterfly. Have been trying for almost two years to take a photo of this particular butterfly.

Purple rumped sunbird



Saw this beautiful bird recently. Very cooperative that day. :)))

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Butterfly



A beautiful butterfly. :)))

Dragon fly



The rainy season is almost over. But I can still see these insects in our place. They are very beneficial as they help in the control of mosquito population. They eat the mosquito larvae.

Pigeon



This pigeon came to our home and I was able to take this photo before he/she flew away. :)))

Goat




This beautiful animal was grazing near the sanctuary.:)))

Wild flowers



Saw these flowers growing on the ground when I went to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. There were so many of them growing.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Hoopoe



A very beautiful bird. What I enjoy the most is being able to get close to the birds. I would like to think that they have now accepted me. :)))

Indian Treepie



I am happy to say that I got this close to this bird. I took this photo with my new camera Canon EOS 1000D. :)))

Flying fox



Flying fox is also known as fruit bat. But they have become rare in the cities due to lack of tree cover. There is also a lot of superstition regarding these species. They are considered bad omen. Hopefully, in the near future they will be more respected and loved. :)))

Small frog?



Very nice frog. But I do not know the name of this species. He is camouflaged with the background.

Asian Koel (male)



Recently, I saw him and the female Koel on the ground looking for food. He is also picking up a leaf which is when I took this photo. :)))

Monday, December 8, 2008

Crimson-Breasted Barbet



I loved the way he llooked out of his nest hole. :))) Was lucky enough to take this photo.

Lesser Golden-Backed Woodpecker



Very beautiful bird. Love to watch them. :))) Recently saw them foraging on the ground too along with Hoopoes and squirrells.

Common Mynah



A beautiful bird, sings wonderfully, has many different bird calls. I have frequently seen them nodding their their head up and down while singing. :))) This is very nice to watch.

Sparrow Hawk



This is a very beautiful bird. I love to watch them. :)))

Magpie Robin (male)



Another beautiful male bird with a beautiful voice. A shy bird too. :)))

Asian Koel (male)



A beautiful black bird. Very shy. Can be heard singing during rainy season. Has a beautiful voice. Sometimes, when I have to work early in the morning, it is great to hear his voice. Refreshes me and keeps me awake. :)))

Yellow-Billed Babblers



These birds are so beautiful. They were preening each other. I just recently learnt the term "allopreening". :)))

White-breasted Kingfisher



I always love to see them. But they are so shy. :)))

Indian treepie



Whenever I go on these birdwatching and bird photography trips these birds always follow me around but just out of sight. :))) They enjoy this game very much. The only way that I know these birds are nearby is that they periodically call out. So I was thrilled to spot this bird on this trip. This one graciously posed for me. :)))

Lesser golden-backed woodpecker



I spotted this beautful bird a few months back. I think this is a male bird. The female bird was also nearby. They were both looking for food, but stopped their activities to pose for me. :)))

Friday, October 31, 2008

Pea Blue Butterfly



Butterflies of India. :)))

Crab



Very beautiful crab. :)))

Garden Lizard



Reptiles of India. :)

Skink



Indian reptiles. :)))

Lemon butterfly



Butterflies of India. :)

Friday, October 10, 2008

Ringed Plovers



Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula).

They feed on insects, crustaceans and worms.

Rat on Cactus. :)))



Rat on Cactus.

I was walking and looking to spot birds when I suddenly heard a scratching sound nearby. When I looked, I noticed this rat climbing the thorn plant (I don't know the name of the plant). :)))

Skink



Skink.

They feed on insects like crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars; earthworms, snails, slugs, and other lizards.

Glossy ibis



Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

They feed on fish, frogs, and other water creatures, as well as on insects.

Cattle egrets and Cattle :)))



Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis).

They feed on insects like grasshoppers, crickets, flies, and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, and earthworms.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Asian Paradise flycatcher



Asian Paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi).

They are insectivorous.

White ibis



White ibis (Eudocimus albus).

They feed on crabs, insects, snails, frogs, marine worms, snakes and small fish.

This bird is a winter visitor to Tamil Nadu, India.

Large Cuckoo-shrike



Large Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina macei).

They are insectivorous.

Magpie Robin



Magpie Robin, female.

Purple heron



Purple heron (Ardea purpurea).

They feed in shallow water. Their food consists of fish, frogs and insects.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Lesser golden backed woodpecker

Lesser golden-backed woodpecker (Dinopium benghalense).

They are insect eaters.

Loten's Sunbird, female


Loten's Sunbird (female), originally uploaded by animtreebird.

This is the female Loten's sunbird

Lotens Sunbird


Lotens Sunbird, originally uploaded by animtreebird.

Loten's sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius).

Their long bills are used for drinking nectar.

Asian Koel (male)


Asian Koel (male), originally uploaded by animtreebird.

Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea).

They feed on a variety of insects, caterpillars, and small vertebrates. Adults predominanty feed on fruit.