“Silent Predator”

   Reptors or Birds of prey, hunt and feed on other animals. Owls are nocturnal birds of prey feed on invertebrates (insects, spiders), fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small mammals. Owls are equipped with special adaptations like binocular vision and binaural hearing make them efficient predators. They have special hooks on the front of wings feathers offer silent flight that allows the owl to swoop behind prey undetected. They always fascinated me and one of the bird who inspired me to start birding. There are 200 species of owl but sadly i have only 5 species in my list.

 #1 SPOTTED OWLET (ATHENE BRAMA)

Spotted owlet, Location:  Kensville

  It is  known as “Chibari” in Gujarati. Spotted owlet is small (21cm) white- spotted grayish brown to brown color owl with yellow eye and prominent white eyebrow.

Spotted owlet, Location : Gir national park

 My first experience with this bird was 2 years ago. We went to Kensville  for architecture photography where i spot this beauty first time. There was 3 spotted owlet and spend almost 30 mins with them also got some beautiful images. After that i clicked so many images of this bird at different places like Ranthambhore, Gir, Gandhinagar, Vadodara etc.. but  images which i captured at Kensville are very special..

Spotted Owlet Location: Gir national park

Red Headed Bunting”

         Red Headed Bunting “Lifer of the day” it was in my wish list since one of my friend share its image and today my wish was fulfilled. Usually every Sunday we used to go for biding but today its special day. Its “Salim Ali Bird count day” After a gap of 20 years BNHS announced the revival of Salim Ali bird count all over the country to commemorate the birth anniversary of “Bird man of India’ Salim Ali. This year date for bird count is Nov 15 so we went to Timbi Lake near Vadodara for birding. It was amazing experience. 2 lifer.. Red headed bunting, Greater painted snipe....and 64 species..

Here is my  birds checklist:

Wood Sandpiper                                     Greater Painted Snipe

Little Stint                                              Red Headed Bunting

Black Breasted Weaver                            Baya Weaver

Red Avadavat                                          Scaly Breasted Munia

Tricoloured Munia                                   Indian Silverbill

Grey Francolin                                        Glossy Ibis

Black Headed Ibis                                   Demoiselle Crane

Black Headed Ibis                                   Indian Pond Heron

Lesser Whistling Duck                            Greyleg Goose

Eurasian Spoonbill                                  Grey Heron

Black Kite                                               Rose Ringed Parakeet

Little Swift                                              Common Hoopoe

Purple Sunbird                                         House Crow

Jungle Babbler                                         Yellow Eyed Babbler

Large Grey Babbler                                  Plain Prinia

Paddyfield Pipit                                        Citrine Wagtail

Tawny Pipit                                              White Wagtail

Little Egret                                               Intermediate Egret

Cattle Egret                                               Little Cormorant

Eurasian Marsh Harrier                              Bronze Winged Jacana

Red Wattled Lapwing                                Common Pigeon

Red Collared Dove                                    Eurasian Collared Dove

Indian Roller                                             White Throated Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher                                   Pied Kingfisher

Green Bee Eater                                         Long Tailed  Shrike

Bay Backed Shrike                                     Black Drongo

Rufous Treepie                                          Wire Tailed Swallow

Bluethroat                                                 Common Stonechat

Pied Myna                                                 Bank Myna

Common Myna                                          Lesser Whitethroat

Rosy Starlin                                               Brahminy Starling

Black Winged Stilt                                     Zitting Cisticola