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We took a slightly different route to accommodate maximum birding spots which really get paid off. I am sharing you a few images which I managed to click during these trips. It’s my pleasure to share these for your valuable suggestions and comments to improve.

1. Eurasian Blackbird

This bird was there in my target list from long and thank you Neelan for spotting this beautiful bird. The shot is taken from Nilgiris, on the way to Ooty.
Ooty and nearby areas are hostage for several vulnerable birds and mammals. Once rich with dense beautiful Shola forests, these areas are now becoming shorter and shorter day by day. Several near threatened species like Black & Orange Flycatcher and others are in danger zone with the present situation here.

2. Eurasian Collered Dove

The picture is taken from Theppakkad, near to Masinagudi. Collared Dove is a medium size dove, similar to Rock Pigeon but slightly slimmer and longer-tailed. We could also spot Laughing dove and several other bird species from this area. The forests looks like rain shadow as it is very near to Bandipur and Muthumalai Forests. The summer was started already and the color is slowly changing from Green to brown and dusty.

3. Common Sandpiper

This shot has taken from Mulloorkkayal, near Parappoor, Thrissure Kole wetlands. Normally these birds are a bit shy to expose themselves to humans. I had to literally crawl almost ten twenty meters through the muddy small pathway of kole paddy fields to take a favorable position. Luckily the effort get paid off with some close up portrait shots of this bird

4. Ashy Prinia

This is also taken from Mulloorkkayal, near Parappoor, Thrissur Kole wetlands. There were too many in this area, restlessly moving around the long grass bushes. Though the continuous call makes it easy to spot these birds, their restlessness makes them a very hard subject for photography.

5. Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (Yellow Legged Green Pigeon)

Shot taken from Theppakkad, Masinagudi. There were a flock of 10 to 15 birds on this tree. It’s taken from a bit distance and the evening light was too warm. It was almost getting late in the evening and we were driving to a small dam site near Masinagudi. On the way we met a herd of Gaur and several Spotted Deers. The chances for photography was poor due to low light and thickness of the forest.

6. Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae)

This small passerine bird is another good catch, taken from a nearby spot to Kalhatty water falls on the way to Ooty. We reached there early morning itself with a list of targeted species. Luckily we managed to photograph over ninety percentage of species from our list. This is an excellent birding spot on the Masinagudi – OOty route. You need to park your vehicle and take a few hundred meter walk to reach this spot.

7. Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Black-chinned Laughingthrush)

And last but the very best from these trips, Nilgiri Laughingthrush. An endangered species, its global population is principally confined to the Nilgiri Hills, India. I had met Grey-Chested Laughingthrush from Munnar earlier but this was my first meeting with its cousin Nilgiri Laughingthrush. I thank Anil (Neelakandan) to take me to this beautiful spot at Doddabetta. We could also capture other critically endangered species like the Black & Orange Flycatcher and White-bellied Shortwings from the nearby birding spots in Ooty. The remaining habitat also faces severe threat from grazing, lopping, and intrusion.

Size and Colorization

Nilgiri Laughingthrush is a birds sized about 20cms similar to grey-chested laughingthrush. It has a black upper throat with a rufous colored cheek, lower throat and central underparts. It has a clear black eyeline bordered with a thick white supercilium. The upperpart is fully brownish. The race jerdoni has a grey breast with faint streaks. Male and female have similar in colorization.

Distribution and Habitat

Endemic to the Niligiri region of peninsular India, the distribution is restricted very much due to it’s habitat lost. Though it’s common in its habitat the population is small and reducing due to heavy destruction of Shola forests. The preferred spots are Shola forest with dense undergrowth and fringes. Also in wooded gardens, forest edge and patches of thick scrub.

The race jerdoni is restricted to the Brahmagiri areas of Coorg and Wayanad, while the nominate race cachinnans is found in the Nilgiri hills.

Photographing this bird is a real challenge, as it keeps moving inside the thickets rarely popping out to show its presence. Chances are high to spot these endangered species at Doddabetta and Ooty areas of Nilgiri hills.

Breeding

Breeding season from January to June during an year. The nests are being made from February to beginning of June. The nest is normally built using roots, dead leaves, small twigs, and lichen, neatly lined with very fine grass stems. They normally have two eggs in greenish-blue with a few large and small brown spots and streaks.

Diet

This species mainly feeds on invertebrates, nectar, flowers and fruits, mostly within three meters of the ground. The feeding time is at early morning and late afternoon.

Call

This is a noisy bird with a distinctive laughing call.

Size and Colorization

(Image copyright: Dr. Naseer Ommer)

Black and Orange Flycatchers are small as size of house sparrows.

Male and female are distinct in colorization. Male Black and Orange Flycatchers are having black head and wings with a brighter Orange in rest of the parts. Female flycatchers are having brownish head and wings with a light eye-ring.

Distribution and Habitat

Black and Orange Flycatchers are commonly found in dense Shola Forests in high altitude mountains (above 1500m). The density was about 2.8 ha per pair during the breeding season. It is a highly parochial bird and no local movements other than dispersal of young have been noted. Territories are maintained by a pair throughout the year.

Breeding

The breeding season for Black and Orange Flycatchers is during March to May and are found very vocal during this time. Female builds the nest on a low bush or branch usually made from sedges. They usually lay two eggs which are grey in color with spots.

Diet

Black and Orange Flycatchers feed on insects similar to other flycatchers low over the ground and also pick insects from the ground. The peak feeding activity is at early morning and towards dusk.

Call

A high-pitched soft chee-ri-rrr-ri or a whistling “whee-chee-rii-rirr’ with variations. The alarm call is a zit-zit.

Indian White-backed Vulture (Picture Courtesy: Wikipedia)

In North India, these two species were so common until 1990s. Like other vultures these are scavengers, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring high in thermals and spotting other scavengers. In late 1990s they all get killed by eating infected dead cattle meet. The cattle were injected Diclofenac and that’s found as the real culprit. The Ministry of Environment has tried their best to retain the population but failed miserably.

This is the second successful year for the Ornithological Survey projects by the State Forest and Wildlife Department, Kerala. Last year, in 2009, their first project was “Along the trail of Salim Ail’ – a detailed survey from Palakkad gap to Kanyakumari – through the same trail of Salim Ali. In 2010, they are conducting surveys at Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts.

The team also has spotted Speckled Piculet (Picumnus innominatus), Jerdon’s Baza (Aviceda jerdoni) and Olive-backed Pipit, (Anthus hodgsoni) from the region. These are also very rare sightings in Kerala and we are expecting to hear more in the coming days.

The team members, C.K. Vishnudas, Raju S., and Vinayan P.A., had started their field survey in Kurichiad range, under the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary on November 2. Kazhukankolly in the Kurichaiad range is the only known habitat of the critically endangered Indian White-backed Vulture (Gyps Bengalensis) in the State, the report says.

The Great Hornbill is the State bird of Chin state in Myanmar, and Kerala and Arunachal in India. The conservation status of this beautiful bird is rated as ‘Nearly Threatened’ by IUCN 3.1 and is in the Red List.

Size and Colorization

The Great Indian Hornbill is a large bird with an average length of 95-120cms and a wingspan of 150cms. The average weight is measured as 2.5 to 4 kg and is the heaviest among other hornbills.

The most eye-catching feature of the hornbill is its bright yellow and black casque on top of its large bill. When viewed from front the casque appears U-shaped and from top it is bowl-shaped with two ridges along the sides that form points in the front. The casque is hollow and the purpose is unknown but some believe that it’s the result of sexual selection. Male hornbills have been known to indulge in aerial casque butting, with birds striking each other in flight.

The female hornbill is shorter than the male and has blue eyes instead of red and with the orbital skin in pink. There is a red color in the back of the casque in females while the underside of the front and back of the casque is black in males. Male has a brighter yellow beak and primaries by spreading the preen gland secretion which is yellow.

The young birds have no trace of a casque on birth, it takes about 5 long years to have a full developed one.

The wing flaps are heavy and the sound produced by birds in flight can be heard from a distance. The flight involves stiff flaps followed by glides with the fingers splayed and up-curled.

Habitat and Roosting

In South Asia they are found in a few forest areas in the Western Ghats and in the forests along the Himalayas. Their distribution extends into Thailand, Burma, Malaya and Sumatra. Their habitat is dense mature forests in high altitudes. They are highly dependent on larger stretches of forest unlike many of the smaller hornbills. The habitat lost and hunting has really affected these beautiful species.

They found to be using the same roosting sites and are very punctual. Birds will arrive by sunset from long distances, following the same routes each day. Several tall trees in the vicinity may be used, the birds choosing the highest branches with little foliage.

Food and Feeding

In the wild, the Great Hornbill’s diet consists mainly of fruit. They highly attached to Figs as a main food sources. They are primarily frugivorous although they are opportunists and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds especially to feed their newborns. They are normally seen in small parties with larger groups. They don’t consume water in its direct form but obtain from their diet of fruits. They are important dispersers of many forest tree species.

Breeding

The Great Indian Hornbills are known to form monogamous pair bonds. Great Indian hornbill forms a pair for many years and in some cases, for the entire lifetime. They are mostly seen in groups of 2-40 individuals.

Their nesting behavior is very interesting compared to other birds. They prefer large tall trees in mature forests to build a nest. Female hornbills build nests and the opening is sealed with a plaster made up mainly of feces. Only a small slit will be there to be fed by her mate. She remains imprisoned in her nest until the chicks are semi-developed. The male feeds his family for the entire period until their chicks are ready to take off.

Call

During the breeding season they become very vocal. They make loud duets. These calls begin with a loud “kok” about once a second given by the male and joined in by a female. The pair then calls in unison turning into a rapid mixture of roars and barks.

All Kerala Bird Photography Competition, 2010

Ref Source: WWF India Website

Subject: Birds of Kerala (Any bird species reported within the boundaries of the state of Kerala and reported till June 2010. Human elements and the manmade things must not be present anywhere in the picture).

Conditions for entry

• Each entrant may submit a maximum of 4 Prints. Prints should not be smaller than 8 x 10 inches and not larger than 12 x 18 inches in size
• Each entry should bear the Name and Address of the entrant, Title and serial Number as entered in the entry form
• No entry fee. Entries will be retained with WWF-India and will be used for non commercial or educational purpose with due acknowledgement.
• Jury: Eminent Persons in the field of Ornithology and bird photography in Kerala.
• All possible care for the entries will be exercised but no liability will be accepted for loss or damage to entries. Unless otherwise specified in the entry form, the permission to reproduce the entries rests with WWF-India.
• Jury’s decision will be final and binding. Submission of entries automatically implies acceptance of conditions mentioned above.

AWARDS

First Prize: Rs.3000/- and Certificate
Second Prize: Rs.2000/- and Certificate
Third Prize: Rs.1000/- and Certificate

IMPORTANT DATES

Closing Date: 9th November 2010
Judging: 10th November 2010
Notification: 11th November 2010
Exhibition: 12th & 14th Nov. 2010

Download the Form

• Entry form Bird Photography Competition 2010 62 KB pdf

All entries should be addressed to
State Director
WWF- India, Kerala State Office,
C.O.Madhavan Road, Moolavilakom,
Vanchiyoor P.O, Thiruvananthapuram- 695 035
Phone: 0471-2302265 Email: wwfklso@gmail.com

In Kerala with 44 main rivers and countless other water bodies, this species is a common resident here. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaption to enable it to see prey under water.

Size and Colorization

This is a sparrow-sized bird with 17 cm in length and weighs around 30g.

This has bright blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill; has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile. Their wings and the tail are bright blue in colour. They have also a blue head with the white mark on either side of it. Legs are short and in orange colour. The wings and tails are short while its bill is long and pointed.

The flight of the Kingfisher is fast, direct and usually low over water. The short rounded wings whirr rapidly, and a bird flying away shows an electric-blue “flash” down its back.

Breeding

Common Kingfishers usually mate during the spring season. Male initiates the courtship by chasing the female while calling continually and later with offering fishes in their beaks. The females lay 6 – 7 eggs. Eggs are incubated for about 20 days. Fledging period rests from 23 -27 days. They do-not build nests on branches. They usually build small burrows excavated on a lower vertical riverbank or in an old style well. They place their eggs on a litter of fish bones and disgorged pellets. Both the male and female bring food for the young and take care of them. Young ones are somewhat blue to pale red in colour.

Habitat

Common Kingfisher prefers to live near streams, slow flowing rivers, ponds and lakes. Like all kingfishers, the Common Kingfishers is highly territorial; since it must eat around 60% of its body weight each day, it is essential to have control a suitable stretch of river. It is solitary for most of the year, roosting alone in heavy cover. If another kingfisher enters its territory, both birds display from perches, and fights may occur, where a bird will grab the other’s beak and try to hold it under water.

Diet

Common kingfisher feeds on aquatic insects, small fish and prawns. They mostly hunt during early morning or evening hours.

Call

The Common kingfisher has no song. The flight call is a short sharp whistle, chee, repeated two or three times. Anxious birds emit a harsh, shrit-it-it and nestlings call for food with a churring noise.

It was in 1995, last time it is reported from Thattekad. Dr. R Sugathan the famous ornithologist and a student of Dr. Salim Ali, identified one Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher near a stream inside the sanctuary. Two weeks back, Ornithologists spotted this beautiful bird once again close to a stream near the watchtower. This time they were lucky enough to take several photos of this colorful bird, as the report says. Anyway, this is a wonderful news to nature enthusiasts and bird watchers in Kerala. We are excited very much and hope this would lead to some serious surveys to discover more about its population and distribution in Kerala.

According to many books and available records, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is possibly found near to streams in high dense forests of Western Ghats. But even at the bird survey conducted in 1933 by Dr. Salim Ali himself, he could only spot this bird from the Ashambu Hills (Agasthyar Hills). He has mentioned this in his famous Ornithology book, Birds of Kerala. Due to the large volume of habitat loss the chances might have become very rare to locate one. Only a few times it is reported from Kerala so far.

This photo was taken from Thattekad (as it claims) by collaertsbrothers

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher ( Ceyx erithaca)

The size is just 14cms for this kingfisher, the smallest found in Kerala.

This is the most beautiful and colorful bird among other Kingfishers. You will be amazed to see the brilliant mixing of colors like orange, black, violet, yellow, blue and red on its small body.

Colorization: Its head is in orange color with a glittering bright violet shade. The upper-parts are in black with shiny blue lines. The throat is in white color and full of bright orange colored lines in the bottom. The beak is in orange with a shade of yellow color for adults.

The juveniles are less colorful.

Size and Colorization

They are sized up to 31cm long. Trogons have distinctive plumages among male and female.
Male: The male has a black head and breast in the Indian race H. f. malabaricus, and dark grey in the Sri Lankan H. f. fasciatus. A white border line separates the black upperparts from its crimson bottom. The back and tail are cinnamon, and the wings are dark grey. The bright crimson red bottom of the male makes it easily
Female: The female lacks the bright red colour and is largely cinnamon, with a darker shade on her head and breast. The wings are brown.

Breeding

The make their nest by carving rotting trees or stumps using their bills. The male and female take own turns to complete this job by a month time. The floor is made out of the wood powder and no additional items are used. Two eggs were seen to be the normal in a study in Kerala although older works suggest that the typical clutch is of three eggs. The eggs are laid with a gap of two days and incubated by both males and females with the females usually incubating at night. The incubation period is about 19 days. The newborns are fed mainly caterpillars for the initial days and later with bugs and flies. The adults continue to feed the fledged juveniles for nearly 5 to 6 months. They are socially monogamous with pair bonds lasting more than a season.

Diet

Malabar Trogons feed exclusively on insects and fruits have not been noted in their diet unlike in the New World trogons. A study in Kerala found that they foraged mainly at 5 to 10 m with females tending to forage lower within the canopy. They sometimes descend to the ground and search for insects under leaf litter. They will sometimes fly and try to flush prey and then hover to pick up prey. They may also hang upside down to reach prey on vertical tree surfaces. Prey are often mashed or struck on a branch between the mandibles before feeding on them or prior to feeding young.

Call

The contact call is a series of about five low intensity “cue” while these where of higher intensity in territorial fights. The alarm call is a “hrrrr….” and a similar call is also delivered prior to roosting.