Indian Golden Oriole, feeding with love

 

Indian  Golden Oriole, (Oriolus kundoo) is a species of oriole found in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. The species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Eurasian golden oriole, but is now considered a full species. Adults can be told apart from the Eurasian golden oriole by the black of the eye stripe extending behind the eye.

The female is dull greenish-yellow overall with dirty brown/green wings and a completely yellowish tail. Both males and females have red iris. Most often found feeding in tree canopies either singly or in pairs.

 

  The Indian golden oriole is a partial migrant.  It breeds in central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The Indian populations are largely resident while the other populations are migratory The breeding season is April to August, the nest being a small cup placed in a fork near the end of a branch. 

 

  

 

Nests are often built in the vicinity of the nest of a black drongo, Both parents take part in nest and brood care

Orioles feed on fruits, nectar, and insects

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

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Koklass Pheasent in feb

 

Koklass Pheasent another very shy bird, caught in the rain. Found in very high altitude, largely vegetarian, consuming pine nuts, shoots, bamboo shoots, and seeds. They become highly insectivorous during the warmer months, feeding almost exclusively on ants,

 

 we had seen these birds in chopta, in Uttarakhand

mom - daughter

 The hand that guides you in most major trips of life

Asian bee eater at work

  Like other bee-eaters, this species is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is about 9 inches long,  with about 2 inches made up by the elongated central tail-feathers. 

The sexes are not visually distinguishable. The entire plumage is bright green and tinged with blue especially on the chin and throat.

 

THE STORY

Hunting mode on

Going for the kill

CAUGHT it

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

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Barn Swallow and stories of them

 

Barn Swallows dart gracefully over fields, barnyards, and open water in search of flying insect prey. Look for the long, deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from  other  swallows.

 

the Barn Swallow is said to have consoled Christ on the cross, and in many areas superstitious farmers believe that nesting Barn Swallows bring good luck to their farm. Farms certainly bring good luck to Barn Swallows.

 

Swallow tattoos are one of the most popular in the navy and have a number of meanings. Each swallow represents 5,000 nautical miles in a sailor's career. A swallow with a dagger would be used as a memorial of a lost comrade at sea

 

 

 

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

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Black Dwarf Honey Bee

 

Apis Andreniformis aka  Black Dwarf Honey Bee, A rare species seen here  pollinating flowers while feeding on these flowers

 

 

 

 

 Brakes applied as bee prepares to land

 

 

 

 a pollen drops off

 

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

Yearly visitor IPFlycatcher, display of site fidelity

 

2 days back I had read about a bird visiting the same garden every year for 4 years, the phenomenon Iis called : site fidelity  and the story was from Srilanka

SO camera in hand I too set off to see if it is true for my favourite bird, does it also come visiting the same patch every year, and Lo and Behold, I did find a Indian paradice Flycatcher, in the same vicinity as I had photographed last year.

They say Proof is in seeing it in real life, here is proof.

 

 

 

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

Koklass Pheasent

 

One images a day series - Day 1873 since lockdown, May 12^th 2025

The koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) is a species distantly related to pheasants and are most closely related to grouse and turkeys Koklass are the only species in the monotypic genus Pucrasia. Both the words koklass and pucrasia have been onomatopœically derived from the bird's territorial call^.

Are boreal adapted species, which separate into three distinct species groups? They are one of the few game birds that regularly fly uphill and are capable of sustained flights of many miles. They are monogamous with a slight tendency toward social polyandry both parents rear the chicks. Koklass are largely vegetarian for much of the year consuming pine nuts, pine shoots, bamboo shoots and seeds. They are highly insectivorous during the warmer months that coincide with nesting and chick rearing. During this phase of their life cycle they live almost exclusively on ants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

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Vultures

 

Himalayan Vulture 

Bearded Vulture, aka - Gypaetus barbatus.

Traditionally considered an Old World vulture it actually forms a separate minor lineage of Accipitridae together with the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a lozenge-shaped tail—unusual among birds of prey. It is vernacularly known as Homa a bird in Iranian mythology

Just SO majestic in flight I say , photographed at Chopta, as we admired them, one came to have a closer look at us.

Fumigation

 

With the coming of summer, time to clean up the shrubs and fumigate.

 

But what about the benefits and damages, which is greater, when you fumigate the roads.

Chopta diary part 1

 

The magical place called Chopta, in Uttarakhand

Green Tailed Sunbird

Rufus necked Tit

More of the same

Home sweet Home for the birds

Yellow Browed Tit

Black Throated Bush Tit

Indian Yellow Tit

the list goes on ,,,

When the world works mysteriously - Another day in Puri

 

Today we spend the morning by the beach in Puri

 

and then had bought  veggies and fruits, fish and so on, 

 

 

and we took a ride back home, the TOTO driver agreed to drop us home for Rs 100(flat rate for 2 km ride, I know was on the higher side but too tired to walk) ), but as we reached home we realized we had forgotten to buy dry grocery’s like coffee, rice, dal, haldi and so on,

 

As we reached home the auto driver wanted to drop us 200 metes before the agreed upon spot, we as we complained about his breaking his end of the deal, he in Anger told us, “ he would drop us back where he had picked us from “ and turned his auto around” Did I mention world works in mysterious ways ) 

 

Well I was hard pressed to maintain a straight face and looked at my friend Mukta who was with me and looked sad (as best as I could) trying hard not to smile or laugh as he took us back, saving us a ride back and forth  and of course he did it for free (we were planning to go back for the do grocery’s anyway)

 

 

Alls well that ends well, though I would like to believe the TOTO guy took us back so we could get our dry grocery as he was a good human but we all know what the truth is.