Bird watching

It is a nice feeling to know that you have completed three fourth of the journey before the sun rises. 

Had been to Bhigwan for bird watching. Being there early had its advantages. I could shoot some good silhouettes. 

You had to point your camera in any direction and you are sure to catch two or three birds in one frame. Long beak, short beak, curved beak, gap in between beak.  Asian Open bill stork is identified by the gap in between the beak. 

 It was just coincidence that the nostrils of this open bill stork was in line with my camera by which I could see the light passing through and through.  

The eyes of this Night Heron is very mesmerizing. 

  

The painted stork breeds on trees either in mixed colonies along with other water birds or by themselves. Here this one has come down for fishing.

The Grey headed swamphen (Purple swamphen) has an elaborate courtship display holding water weeds in his bill and bowing to the female with loud chuckles. I noticed that they have huge feet.

Purple swamphen

I saw one of them pulling out a weed. He uses a lot of energy to pull out that weed which is almost six feet deep underground. After all the trouble he just leaves it and goes, perhaps not happy with the roots to be presented to a prospective bride. (you can see it in the video) 

The black headed Ibis had its beak open.

It was fun to see a pair of the Spoonbill wading in the water, hunting for fish. 

Spoonbill

Looks like this pair of Black Winged Stilt birds were out for a synchronized walk.

 Clicked some birds sitting on a wire like this Black Drongo and the Pied Bushcat 

 Black Drongo

 Pied Bushcat (male)

 Pied Bushcat (female)

The black bandit mask is very prominent in this Bay Backed Shrike.

Bay Backed Shrike

These wagtails were busy trying to catch some insects in the field. They were agile and quick. You can see the insects against the rising sun. 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

The green Bee Eater sort of blended well with all the greenery around him.

Green Bee Eater

The Grey Heron scanning the sky line while the black winged stilt trying to locate a fish.

Saw a pair of Ruddy Shelduck (also known as Brahmini Duck) lazing in the water. 

The nest of the Glossy Ibis is a platform of twigs and vegetation positioned one to seven meters above water level. 

Glossy Ibis

The Painted Stork kept walking, meeting new friends along the way. While wading, he stirs the bottom with one leg, while the beak is ready to catch the fish. 

  The bullock carts were busy going into the fields to pick up the sugar cane 

These are later transferred to the tractors or trucks. 

Each tractor had a good sound system with huge speakers on either side. So you can hear a variety of songs blaring out when you pass a convoy of tractors.

People usually go to Bhigwan to see Flamingos but as per this local guide none of them made a landing as the water level was too high.

    

The local fishermen made the most of it by using their boats to catch fish.

The exact location where I clicked these pictures.