View allAll Photos Tagged yesbbcearth
One of those rare encounters when I was at the right place at the right time. That one bold jump was the difference between life and death for the spotted deer.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. The Peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h during its characteristic hunting stop, making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom. It has a body length of 34 to 58 cm and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm. The male and female have similar markings and plumage, but as in many birds of prey the peregrine falcon displays marked sexual dimorphism in size. Males weigh 330 to 1,000 g and the noticeably larger females weigh 700 to 1,500 g. In most subspecies, males weigh less than 700 g and females weigh more than 800 g, with cases of females weighing about 50% more than their male breeding mates not uncommon.
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is about 25 cm (9.8 in) long with a white with a black mask, a white supercilium and black breast bands. Its black and white plumage and crest, as well as its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish, make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail. It usually hunts by hovering over the water to detect prey and diving vertically bill-first to capture fish. When not foraging, it has a straight rapid flight and have been observed flying at nearly 50 km/h.
Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) has light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. It measure 32–39 cm from head to tail, with a wingspan of 65–82 cm. Females are noticeably larger, with the adult male weighing 136–252 g, around 155 g on average; the adult female weighs 154–314 g, around 184 g on average and have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail. Their plumage is mainly Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives. The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler.
Lesser goldenback Woodpecker (Dinopium Benghalense) is a large species at 26–29 cm in length. It has golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black and not red as in the greater flameback. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat finely marked with white immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region. The head is whitish with a black nape and throat, and there is a greyish eye patch. Unlike the greater flameback it has no dark moustachial stripes.The adult male has a red crown and crest. Females have a black forecrown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller.Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. The long tongue can be darted forward to capture insects.
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks. The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye. There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.
Sexes are similar, but young birds are washed-out versions of the adults.
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) head is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. There are no pale shaft streaks on the coverts. The eyes are ruby red. Juveniles are duller black with spots on the crown and there are whitish bars on the underside and tail. The sexes are similar in plumage but females are slightly larger.
Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) males are characteristically dark sooty grey above with rufous thighs and vent. In flight, the wing lining is white, contrasting with the dark wing feathers. Females can be more difficult to identify as they share a pattern common to many falcons, but are distinctive in having an orange eye-ring, a red cere and reddish orange feet.
Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis) is about 26–27 cm long and breast is brownish and not blue as in the European Roller. The crown and vent are blue. The primaries are deep purplish blue with a band of pale blue. The tail is sky blue with a terminal band of Prussian blue and the central feathers are dull green. The neck and throat are purplish lilac with white shaft streaks. The bare patch around the eye is ochre in colour. The three forward toes are united at the base.It has long and compressed bill with a curved upper edge and a hooked tip. The nostril is long and exposed and there are long rictal bristles at the base of the bill.It is best known for its aerobatic displays of males during the breeding season. It is often seen perched along roadside trees and wires and are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forest habitats. It is not migratory, but undertakes some seasonal movements.
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) is a small and stocky bird, barely 21 centimetres in size. The upperparts are grey-brown, heavily spotted with white. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is pale and the iris is yellow. There is a white neckband and supercilium. Sexes are similar. The flight is deeply undulating. The nominate form is darker than the paler forms such as indica of drier regions. They roost in small groups in the hollows of trees or in cavities in rocks or buildings. It nests in a hole in a tree or building, laying 3–5 eggs. They are often found near human habitation.
Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis) is about 26–27 cm long and breast is brownish and not blue as in the European Roller. The crown and vent are blue. The primaries are deep purplish blue with a band of pale blue. The tail is sky blue with a terminal band of Prussian blue and the central feathers are dull green. The neck and throat are purplish lilac with white shaft streaks. The bare patch around the eye is ochre in colour. The three forward toes are united at the base.It has long and compressed bill with a curved upper edge and a hooked tip. The nostril is long and exposed and there are long rictal bristles at the base of the bill.It is best known for its aerobatic displays of males during the breeding season. It is often seen perched along roadside trees and wires and are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forest habitats. It is not migratory, but undertakes some seasonal movements.
Oriental White Eye ( Zosterops palpebrosus) are small about 8–9 cm long with yellowish olive upper parts, a white eye ring, yellow throat and vent. The belly is whitish grey but may have yellow in some subspecies. The sexes look similar. About eleven subspecies are well recognised.They forage in small groups, feeding on nectar and small insects. They are easily identified by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish upperparts.
Coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) has crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in the Indian subcontinent. Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit eating but will take sometimes insects, especially winged termites.The red forehead, yellow eye-ring and throat patch with streaked underside and green upperparts, it is fairly distinctive. Juveniles are duller and lack the red patches. The sexes are alike
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. The Peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h during its characteristic hunting stop, making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom. It has a body length of 34 to 58 cm and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm. The male and female have similar markings and plumage, but as in many birds of prey the peregrine falcon displays marked sexual dimorphism in size.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. The Peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h during its characteristic hunting stop, making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom. It has a body length of 34 to 58 cm and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm. The male and female have similar markings and plumage, but as in many birds of prey the peregrine falcon displays marked sexual dimorphism in size.
Indian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) adults are 19–22 cm long. Their heads are glossy black with a black crown and crest, their black bill round and sturdy, their eyes black. Female are rufous on the back with a greyish throat and underparts. Their wings are 86–92 mm long. Young males look very much like females but have a black throat and blue-ringed eyes. As adults they develop up to 24 cm (9.4 in) long tail feathers with two central tail feathers growing up to 30 cm long drooping streamers.Young males are rufous and have short tails. They acquire long tails in their second or third year. Adult males are either predominantly bright rufous above or predominantly white. Some specimens show some degree of intermediacy between rufous and white. Long-tailed rufous birds are generally devoid of shaft streaks on the wing and tail feathers, while in white birds the shaft streaks, and sometimes the edges of the wing and tail feathers are black.
Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica) has grey upperparts and blackish remiges, but the colour of the remaining plumage depends on the subspecies. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have whitish underparts and just chestnut tips to the tail feathers.They are fairly omnivorous, eating fruit, nectar and insects. They fly in tight flocks and often rapidly change directions with great synchrony.
White-bellied treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra) has white head and body makes it easy to distinguish from the sympatric rufous treepie. This tends to be found in more dense forest and is less associated with human habitation than the rufous treepie. The white-bellied treepie is 48 cm long. The back of the neck is white, and the throat and breast are black. The thighs are black, and the undertail coverts are chestnut. The rest of the underparts is white. The back is chestnut-brown. The wings are black and have a white patch. The rump is white. Two-thirds of the two central tail feathers are silver-grey, and the terminal third is black. The other tail feathers are black. The beak is black, and the legs are greyish-black.
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
is 13–14 cm with plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches. It has a strong white supercilium. The male has an iridescent blue bib edged below with successive black, white and rust coloured borders.
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) is typically darker above and paler below, with a white rump and whiter underparts with less orange on the breast. The male in breeding plumage has black upperparts and head, a conspicuous white collar, scapular patch and rump, and a restricted area of orange on the throat. Female has pale brown upperparts and head, white neck patches (not a full collar), and a pale, unstreaked pinkish-yellow rump. Males in winter plumage are intermediate between summer males and females, with a supercilium resembling the whinchat from this species and the female it can be distinguished by the full white collar.
Demoiselle crane (Grus virgo) is 85–100 cm long, 76 cm tall and has a 155–180 cm wingspan. It weighs 2–3 kg. It is the smallest species of crane. The demoiselle crane is slightly smaller than the common crane but has similar plumage. It has a long white neck stripe and the black on the foreneck extends down over the chest in a plume. It has a loud trumpeting call, higher-pitched than the common crane. Like other cranes it has a dancing display, more balletic than the common crane, with less leaping.
< kalij pheasant > Male & female both
#kalijpheasant #Lophuraleucomelanos
Sattal is at 1250-1300m height ( KMVN sign board suggests 1219 m), located in Kumaun Region of Nainital district of Uttarakhand, just 80 mins drive from Kathgodam, connected via Shatabdi trains from the National capital, Delhi.
As the name suggests, it has seven lakes , namely,
1. Panna Tal or Garud Tal
2. Naldamyanti Tal
3. Hanuman Tal
4. Sita Tal
5. Ram Tal
6. Laxman Tal
7. Sukha Tal or Bharat Tal
Also this place is not just about birding, it has other activities like camping, boating, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking.
So far as birding is concerned, it has three different areas to explore - studio, hide and trail.
Through my various posts, i will try to explain all the three aspects of birding. I will post the butterflies and mosses as well which I clicked during the hike within forest.
Set amongst the dense forests of oak and pine trees, Sattal is among the very few of the unspoiled biodiversity in northern India.
Sattal is unique for having 500 species of resident and migratory birds, 20 species of mammals, over 525 species of butterflies and over 11,000 species of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects.
There are some small hotels and resorts catering to tourists looking mainly for birding and enjoying the nature walk.
#travel #travelphotography #travelblogger #travelgram #traveling #incredibleindia #birdsofinstagram #nikondxfx #sattal #uttarakhand #natgeo #natgeoyourlens #nikonofficialindia #natgeoindia #earthfocus #nikon #nikonphotography #earthfocus #earthcapture #ours_clickz #birdphoto #birdphotographers_of_india #birdphotography #yesbbcearth #birdsofindia #nature #naturephotography #natureinfocus #natgeoyourshot #your_best_birds #birds_perfection #naturelovers #starbopixelclub #nikonphotography #nature_brilliance #natgeowild #bbcearth #NiFFeature #bbcwildlifepotd #nikonindiaofficial
@naturein_focus @bbcearth @natgeowild @natgeo @natgeoindia @natgeoyourshot @birdphotographers_of_india @birds.nature @bbcearth @birdsonearth @naturein_focus @discovery @natgeowild @nikonindiaofficial @nikonasia @nikoneurope @bbcwildlifemagazine @bbcwildlifepotd @bbcearth @bbchindi @birdphotographyindia @best_birds_of_world @bird_brilliance @indianwildlifeofficial @nikonindiaofficial @indian_forest_official
Long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach) is a typical shrike, favouring dry open habitats and found perched prominently atop a bush or on a wire. The dark mask through the eye is broad and covers the forehead in most subspecies and the whole head is black in subspecies tricolor and nasutus. The tail is narrow and graduated with pale rufous on the outer feathers.
Isabelline shrike (Lanius isabellinus) plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts. This migratory medium-sized passerine eats large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a larder. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes.
Lesser goldenback Woodpecker (Dinopium Benghalense) is a large species at 26–29 cm in length. It has golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black and not red as in the greater flameback. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat finely marked with white immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region. The head is whitish with a black nape and throat, and there is a greyish eye patch. Unlike the greater flameback it has no dark moustachial stripes.The adult male has a red crown and crest. Females have a black forecrown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller.Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. The long tongue can be darted forward to capture insects.
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is 93–122 cm long with a 2.3–2.8 m wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh 6.2 to 10.5 kg and females typically weigh 6.5 to 10.5 kg. It is a typical Old World vulture in appearance, with a very white head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers.
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) is a small swallow, measuring 18 cm in length. It has bright blue upperparts, bright white underparts and a chestnut cap. Immature birds lack tail wires, and have dull brown caps. The species is named for the very long filamentous outermost tail feathers, which trail behind like two wires. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the female has shorter "wires". Juveniles have a brown crown, back and tail.
Thick-billed flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile) is about 10 cm long and has a dark stout beak and short tail. They are dark grey brown above and dull greyish with diffuse streaking on light buffy underparts. The rump is slightly more olive in the nominate race. The bill is dark, somewhat stout and heavy and the iris is reddish. The sexes are not distinguishable in the field and the juvenile has a paler base to the mandible and less streaks on the underside.There are whitish spots at the tip of the tail feathers. The nominate race is found on the plains of the mainland of the Indian Subcontinent.
Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is glossy black with a wide fork to the tail. Adults usually have a small white spot at the base of the gape. The iris is dark brown.The sexes cannot be told apart in the field. Juveniles are brownish and may have some white barring or speckling towards the belly and vent, and can be mistaken for the white-bellied drongo. First-year birds have white tips to the feathers of the belly, while second-years have these white-tipped feathers restricted to the vent.They are aggressive and fearless birds, and although only 28 cm in length, they will attack much larger species that enter their nesting territory, including crows and birds of prey. They fly with strong flaps of the wing and are capable of fast manoeuvres that enable them to capture flying insects.With short legs, they sit upright on thorny bushes, bare perches or electricity wires. They may also perch on grazing animals.They are capable of producing a wide range of calls but a common call is a two note tee-hee call resembling that of the Shikra.
Purple-rumped sunbirds (Leptocoma zeylonica) are tiny at less than 10 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations for nectar feeding. They are sexually dimorphic. The males have a dark maroon upperside with a blue-green crown that glistens at some angles, bright green shoulder patch and violet/purple rump patch which is generally hidden under the wings. The underparts are whitish with dark throat, maroon breast band and purple/violet patch in the throat which is visible in some angles. The iris is generally reddish in color. In the Western Ghats, it can overlap in some areas with the crimson-backed sunbird but the male of that species has reddish upperparts, a broader breast band and generally darker eyes. The female has a white throat followed by yellowish breast. The upperside is olive or brownish. The uppertail coverts are black and a weak supercilium may be visible.Their call is ptsiee ptsit, ptsiee ptsswit or a sharp twittering tityou, titou, trrrtit, tityou...
White-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis ) is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the white-throated kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short distance movements. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds.
Purple-rumped sunbirds (Leptocoma zeylonica) are tiny at less than 10 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations for nectar feeding. They are sexually dimorphic. The males have a dark maroon upperside with a blue-green crown that glistens at some angles, bright green shoulder patch and violet/purple rump patch which is generally hidden under the wings. The underparts are whitish with dark throat, maroon breast band and purple/violet patch in the throat which is visible in some angles. The iris is generally reddish in color. In the Western Ghats, it can overlap in some areas with the crimson-backed sunbird but the male of that species has reddish upperparts, a broader breast band and generally darker eyes. The female has a white throat followed by yellowish breast. The upperside is olive or brownish. The uppertail coverts are black and a weak supercilium may be visible.Their call is ptsiee ptsit, ptsiee ptsswit or a sharp twittering tityou, titou, trrrtit, tityou...
Cinereous Tit ( Parus cinereus ) has a broad black ventral line and has no crest. The underparts are white with the black central stripe running along the length. The female has a narrower ventral line and is slightly duller.The upper tail coverts are ashy while the tail is black with the central 4 pairs of feathers ashy on the outer webs and all but the central pair are tipped white. The fifth pair is white with a black rachis and a band of black on the inner web. The outermost pair of tail feathers are all white with a black shaft. The undertail coverts are black towards the centre but white on the sides. This tit is part of a confusing group of species but is distinct in having a grey-back, black hood, white cheek patch and a white wing-bar.
Black-and-orange flycatcher (Ficedula nigrorufa) males are distinctly black headed with black wings. The female has the black replaced by dark brown and has a light eye-ring. They are usually seen singly or in pairs. The young bird at around two weeks of age is brownish orange with a whitish vent and abdomen. The head has dark streaks and the wings appear bluish with a trace of brown. There is a pale ring around the eye and the orange tail appears stumpy. They feed on insects by flycatching low over the ground and also pick insects from the ground.
Tricoloured Munia (Lonchura malacca) have pale brown upperparts, lack the dark head found in adults, and have uniform buff underparts that can be confused with immatures of other munias such as the scaly-breasted munia. It is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It inhabits wet grassland habitats.
Disfrutando de un refrescante momento ️💧 ¡Nada como un sorbo de agua fresca para recargar energías! 🌿
Gaudint d’un refrescant moment ️💧 Res com un glop d’aigua fresca per a recarregar energies! 🌿
#nikond850 #sigma150600contemporary
@bbcearth @nikoneurope @nikonspain @thegreatplanet #natgeoyourshot #bbcearth @natgeo@natgeoesp
@discovery #tufotonatgeo #bbcwildlifepotd #viewbug
#best_wild_planet #niffeature #animalelite #natgeoyourshot #cpteatureme
#bbcwildlifePOTD #earthcapture #featured_wildlife #roamtheplanet #ourplanetdaily #stayinandexplore #earth_deluxe #portraitperfect #earthpix @discoverearth #earthoutdoors #wildportraitpic #lensbible #wildblisses #natureTTL #nb_nature_brilliance #nature_perfection #NatGeophotographer #NGPhotographerChallenge #yesbbcearth
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. Adults measure 40–48 cm long with a wingspan of 95–120 cm. Males weigh 315 gms while the slightly larger females weigh 445 gm. The male is whitish grey above and white below, with narrow black wingtips. It differs from the hen harrier in its smaller size, narrower wings, paler colour, and different wing tip pattern. The female is brown above with white upper tail coverts, hence females and the similar juveniles are often called "ringtails". Her underparts are buff streaked with brown. It is best distinguished from the female hen harrier on structure. It is very similar to the female Montagu's harrier, but has darker and more uniform secondaries from below.
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is species of lark by the crest of feathers that rise up in territorial or courtship displays and when singing. It is a non-migratory bird.It is roughly the same size as a Eurasian skylark, but shorter overall and bulkier around the head and body, and very similar in appearance,with a height of 17 cm and a wingspan of 29 to 38 cm , weighing between 37 and 55 g .It is a small, brown bird which has a short tail with light brown outer feathers. Male and females have no real differences, but young crested larks have more spots on their back than their older counterparts. Its plumage is downy but sparse and appears whitish.
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles Exustus) is brownish sandgrouses with an elongated and pointed tail when in flight. When grounded, they appear as very short-legged birds, with a small head. They will stretch out their long necks when wary. It is sexually dimorphic in colouration.
Chestnut-tailed starling (Sturnia malabarica) have grey upperparts and blackish remiges, but the colour of the remaining plumage depends on the subspecies. It have white irises and a yellow bill with a pale blue base. The sexes are similar, but juveniles have whitish underparts and just chestnut tips to the tail feathers.
Blue-throated blue flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides) is medium-sized flycatcher with broad-based bill. Male nominate race has dark blue upperparts, including tail and edges of flight-feathers. The common habitats are dense undergrowth and ravines in dry broadleaf evergreen and mixed deciduous forests.
Bronzed drongo (Dicrurus aeneus) is somewhat smaller than the black drongo and has more metallic gloss with a spangled appearance on the head, neck and breast. The lores are velvety and the ear coverts are duller. The tail is slender and well forked with the outer tail feathers flaring outward slightly. Immatures have their axillaries tipped in white. The young bird is duller and brownish with less spangling.
Eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla) have bills shorter and less dagger-like than those of other woodpeckers. Their upperparts are barred and mottled in shades of pale brown with rufous and blackish bars and wider black streaks. Their underparts are cream speckled and spotted with brown. Their chief prey is ants and other insects, which they find in decaying wood or on the ground. The beak is brown, long and slender with a broad base and sharp tip. The irises are hazel and the slender legs and feet are pale brown.
Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons) adults are green-bodied with a black face and throat bordered with yellow. It has dark brown irises and blackish feet and bill. It has a yellowish orange forehead and blue moustachial line (but lacks the blue flight feathers and tail sides of blue-winged leafbird). Young birds have a plain green head and lack the black on their face and throat. The black of the face and throat appears slightly duller in females. The southern Indian race, has a narrower yellow border to black face. The throat is black and it has a blue sub-moustachial stripe and duller orange forehead.