Birds-2!

Continues from Birds!

I am back from my hometown, Surathkal with pictures of more birds that visit there. This time around, I took along my niece and nephew on a 2 Km trek along the paddy fields near my house. As we followed the cry of peacocks; we were lucky to find several other species of birds. Some are known, some are not, so again please help me find the names!

Some interesting observations about the birds –

The Koel was rubbing its feathers on the ground. This is perhaps the process called anting, where the birds rub the feathers over ants or millipedes that in defense, secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, that act as insecticide, fungicide and bactericide, or to make them edible by removing the distasteful acid.

Cattle egret - During the breeding season, the cattle egrets develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing.

Male Asian Koel (Probably Anting)


Cattle Egret (Breeding Plumage)


Rufous Treepie (Thanks to Arun for identifying this)


Asian Openbill Stork



Indian Peacock





Jungle Myna (Thanks to Arun for identifying this)



Crow Pheasant Or Greater Coucal (Thanks to my sis Anu for identifying this)





White-throated Kingfisher





Great Racket - Tailed Drongo




Common Myna


White Breasted Waterhen (Thanks to Arun for identifying this)

Comments

  1. You need work as an environmentalist ..... Trust me you would do a great job .......

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  2. Rahul...Thanks...I would want to in my own small way.

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  3. Fantastic shots! U live in paradise!

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  4. Rakesh - Ya but this paradise is a result of industrialization. Peacocks are seen only since last 5years. I predict this is due to many hills being sacrificed for the power plant that is coming up near Padubidri. The fields you see, with cattle egret etc, are sold to some builder and we haven’t seen a crop in them since last 8 years. I long to see the lush fully paddy fields surrounding my house. :-(

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  5. You should watch 'Up', Russel is a "wilderness explorer" ;-)

    Lucky you, when I open my house door, all those I see are foxes.

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  6. Hi Ajeya,
    As usual....great pics!!

    I haven't been around for a while now, will blog soon.

    Happy Shooting!!

    Anu

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  7. niki yokotaJune 01, 2009

    woow look like encyclopedia!
    so many beautiful birds :O
    thanku sooo much for sharing your awesome pix ajeya chan.
    i didnt know that kingfisher is a bird.

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  8. Anuradha NagarajJune 02, 2009

    Beautiful pics!
    "Kupla" is called "Crow Pheasant"
    in English.

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  9. I would have to say I love that peacock a lot! When they fan out their tail..its the most amazing sight ever. I note that Indians love the feather too, what is the significance of that..I always see them during Deepavali celebrations and in Indians shops here.

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  10. Dot - :-))

    Anu - Thanks...Welcome back, hope to see updates on your blog soon.

    Niki - Thanks u! :-)

    Anuradha - Thanks Anu.

    Mkate- Yep Peacocks are beautiful. Well, no significance as i know of, but its mostly admired for its clors and beauty and its a symbol of one of our Gods- Lord Krishna who is seen wearing it like a crown. And Peacock is also the Vahan (symbolizes vehicle) for Lord Karthika (Subramanya or Murugan)

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  11. AnonymousJune 03, 2009

    The unidentified birds are Rufous Treepie, Jungle Myna and White Breasted Waterhen

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  12. There are some lovely pictures there. I especially like the Rufous Treepie.

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  13. Cherry Pie...Welcome & thanks

    Indrani - Thanks

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