Had not gone out for birding for some time now due to complete lack of time. Got a opportunity and some spare time this sunday morning and off I went to a local birding hotspot. Felt good to take the familiar paths after what seemed like ages. The rains had rejuvenated the parched land and mother nature had worn a beautiful green carpet.Vast rice fields spread around till the eyes could see interspread amongst coconut grooves. It felt so refreshing and lively this beautiful sunny morning.Saw a pale-billed flower pecker immediately at the start of the trail.It gave me some good poses before deciding to fly off.Some Indian silverbills and spotted Munia's were busy foraging on the grounds.An almost comaflaged white breasted kingfisher waited for his next catch silently and patiently under some mangrove shrubs.white breasted water hens were busy searching for their morning breakfast in the brakish waters. A Black drongo playfully fooled around teasing any bird that crossed it's path.A pair of Black kites patrolled overhead searching for some prey.Hearing my footsteps a greater Coucal spread it's beautiful golden brown wings and flew off. Baya weavers searched around for some nesting materials. Cormorants basked in the sun sitting on small tree tops.Spotted doves sat in pairs and whispered sweet nothings into each others ears.Rose ringed parakeets foraged noisely on a tamarind treetop.A pair of common babblers and another of the Golden Oriel were busy feeding themselves on some juicy grubs found on the moringa tree. Bank mynas and common mynas were sitting on the back of some cows and were feasting on insects found there.
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ASHY PRINIA |
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BAYA WEAVER |
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A PAIR OF SILVERBILLS |
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PALE-BILLED FLOWERPECKER |
I was trying to approach some Baya weavers sitting on a shrub when out of the blue a small bird came and sat in front at a large distance away on a perch. I first completely ignored and dismissed it for some common bird but upon closely looking at it I was in for a shock.This was a Red-Necked Falcon: a bird of prey in the falcon family !!
I couldn't believe my luck at sighting this beauty at this time of the season. The falcon sat for some time and then with amazing speed dived amongst a group of bank mynas that it was tracking for some time now for a unsuccessfull kill. I watched as it kept trying to make a kill first at the bank mynas then at some common mynas. After sitting on a perch where I clicked this picture it soon was mobbed by a group of noisy crows who disturbed it so much that the falcon was forced to fly speedily far away.
The sun was very hot by now and I decided to turn back. With a content smile on my face I was walking back when I spotted a Grey bellied cuckoo singing on a small shrub. Nice sighting to end a perfect birding day.
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RED-HEADED FALCON |
Hope you folks enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed the birding.
