25) ORANGE HEADED THRUSH (Geokichla citrina)

25) Orange Headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina)

1) Bhandavgarh 23/04/2016

2) Canon 600 D

3) I took evening safari at Bhandavgarh to  see tigers. While on the look out for tigers, all of a sudden, this bird flew down from nowhere and perched on the branch just in front of us. 

4) As it was posing wonderfully, I went on merrily clicking the bird.

5) It lasted for few seconds and the bird flew away leaving me with these photographs.

6) As per the Ripley Guide, this bird is a resident of hill ranges from south of Satpuras.

7) Wikipedia also has information on this bird. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange-headed_thrush

24) CRESTED LARK ( Galerida cristata)

24) Crested Lark ( Galerida cristata)

1) Dahod Reservoir, Mandideep on 21/05/2016

2) Canon 600D

3) Dr Sangeeta Rajgir and Md Khalique of the NGO called Bhopal Birds took me to the above reservoir to sight Saras Crane. There I saw Crested Lark. The reservoir was mostly dry with some patch of water in some places. It was very difficult to sight and focus this bird against the backdrop of  dry ground, dry grass and small rocks and photograph it.  

4) Wikipedia gives more information on this bird and their link is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crested_lark

23) LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadius dubius jerdoni)

23) Little Ringed Plover (Charadius dubius jerdoni)

1) Dahod Reservoir, Mandideep on 21/05/2016

2) Canon 600D

3) Dr Sangeeta Rajgir and Md Khalique of Bhopal Birds took me to the above reservoir to sight Saras Crane. There I saw  Little Ringed Plover. Since this place is in central India outskirts of Bhopal, far away from the sea shore, I guess this one is " jerdoni' and not "curonicus".

4) Wikipedia gives more information on this bird and their link is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_ringed_plover

22) SMALL MINIVET (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)

 22) Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)

1) Van Vihar on 26/05/2016

2) Fuji HS 10

3) This was a small bird but was not sitting still to get a perfect photograph

4) To know more about this bird it is better to refer to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_minivet

21) GREATER RACKET TAILED DRONGO ( Dicrurus paradiseus)

1) Greater Racket Tailed Drongo ( Dicrurus paradiseus)

2) Bhandavgarh on 23042016 morning

3) Reference : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_racket-tailed_drongo

20 ) ASHY-CROWNED SPARROW-LARK

Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark.

1) At Dahod Reservoir near Mandideep

2) 21/05/2016 Morning

3) Reference:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashy-crowned_sparrow-lark

19) TICKELL'S BLUE FLY CATCHER

Tickell's Blue Fly Catcher Female 

Tickell's Blue Fly Catcher Male

1) Tickell's Blue fly Catcher Female and Male

2) Vanvihar, 12/05/2016

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tickell%27s_blue_flycatcher

18) GREY FRANCOLIN

Grey Francolin

1) Grey Francolin

2) Vanvihar , 12/05/2016

 reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_francolin

17) LAUGHING DOVE

1) Laughing Dove

2) Arera Hills, Bhopal

3) May 2016

4) As per the Wikipedia, the laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East east to the Indian Subcontinent. This small long-tailed dove is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground. A rufous and black chequered necklace gives it a distinctive pattern and is also easily distinguished from other doves by its call. 

It is a common and widespread species in the scrub, dry farmland and habitation over a good deal of its range, often becoming very tame. The species is found in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 

The species is usually seen in pairs or small parties and only rarely in larger groups. Larger groups are formed especially when drinking at waterholes in arid regions.Laughing doves eat the fallen seeds, mainly of grasses, other vegetable matter and small ground insects such as termites and beetles.They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground 

in grasslands and cultivation. 

5) Reference : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughing_dove

16) EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE

1) Eurasian Collared Dove

2) Samardha

3) 08/05/2016

4) According to the Wikipedia, is a species of dove native to warm temperate and subtropical Asia, and introduced in North America in the 1980s.

It is grey-buff to pinkish-grey overall, a little darker above than below, with a blue-grey underwing patch. The tail feathers are grey-buff above, and dark grey tipped white below; the outer tail feathers also tipped whitish above. It has a black half-collar edged with white on its nape from which it gets its name. The short legs are red and the bill is black. The iris is red, but from a distance, the eyes appear to be black, as the pupil is relatively large and only a narrow rim of the reddish-brown iris can be seen around the black pupil. The eye is surrounded by a small area of bare skin, which is either white or yellow. The two sexes are virtually indistinguishable; juveniles differ in having a poorly developed collar, and a brown iris.

The collared dove is not migratory but is strongly dispersive. Over the last century, it has been one of the great colonisers of the bird world. Its original range at the end of the 19th century was warm temperate and subtropical Asia from Turkey east to southern China and south through India to Sri Lanka. 

The collared dove is not wary and often feeds very close to human habitation, including visiting bird tables; the largest populations are typically found around farms where spilt grain is frequent around grain stores or where livestock are fed. 

The song is a coo-COO-coo, repeated many times. 

5) Reference : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_collared_dove

15) SPOTTED DOVE

1) Spotted dove

2) Photographed at Samardha

3) 08/05/2016

4) According to the Wikipedia, the spotted dove is found across a range of habitats including woodland, scrub, farmland and habitation in its native range in Asia. 
In India, it tends to be found in the moister regions. These doves are mostly found on the ground where they forage for seeds and grain or on low vegetation.


5) Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_dove

14) BLACK-WINGED STILT

This photograph of Black-winged stilt was taken by me at Vadhvana Wetlands near Dabhoi in Gujarat few years back using fuji HS 10 camera. 

The black-winged stilt, common stilt, or pied stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family.

Adults have long pink legs, a long thin black bill and are blackish above and white below, with a white head and neck with a varying amount of black. Males have a black back, often with greenish gloss. Females' backs have a brown hue.

The breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. In Europe, the black-winged stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrant north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries.

These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_stilt

13) WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER

The photograph of White-throated Kingfisher was taken  at Vadhvana Wetlands near Dabhoi in Gujarat using Fuji HS 10 camera.

The white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the white-breasted kingfisher or Smyrna kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from Turkey east through the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short distance movements. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season, they call loudly (kililili) in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-throated_kingfisher

Trying to identify

The photograph of this bird was taken by me with Fuji HS 10 camera at Vadhvana wetlands near Dabhoi in Gujarat few years back. 
I am trying to identify the bird. I guess the bird in this photograph  may be a female Knob-Billed duck.

11) NORTHERN SHOVELER

Northern Shoveler 

I took this photograph of Northern Shoveler with Fuji HS 10 camera at Vadhvana Wet Lands near Dabhoi in Gujarat.

Initially mistook it for Mallard. But from the photograph, it can be seen that the bird is having a long spatulate bill. Hence identifying it has Nothern Shoveler. 

The northern shoveler ( Anas clypeata), is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, wintering in southern 

Northern Shoveler

Europe, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Central, and northern South America.

This species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The breeding drake has an iridescent dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border. In early fall, the male will have a white crescent on each side of the face. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake resembles the female.

The female is a drab mottled brown like other dabblers, with plumage much like a female mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is grey tinged with orange on cutting edge and lower mandible. The female's forewing is grey.

Northern shovelers feed by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water. They use their highly specialised bill (from which their name is derived) to forage for aquatic invertebrates – a carnivorous diet. Their wide-flat bill is equipped with well-developed lamellae – small, comb-like structures on the edge of the bill that act like sieves, allowing the birds to skim crustaceans and plankton from the water's surface. This adaptation, more specialised in shovelers, gives them an advantage over other puddle ducks, with which they do not have to compete for food resources during most of the year. Thus, mud-bottomed marshes rich in invertebrate life are their habitat of choices

source and reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_shoveler

10) PURPLE SWAMPHEN

The Purple Swamphen photograph was taken with Fuji HS 10  at Vadhvana Wetlands near Dabhoi in Gujarat

This hen sized bird can generally be seen in most of the marshlands and swamps in India.

9) GREYLAG GOOSE

I took the photograph of Greylag Goose with Fuji HS 10 at Vadhvana Wet Lands near Dabhoi in Gujarat.

This goose is a winter visitor in India according to the Helm Field Guides Book, Birds of the Indian Subcontinent authored by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp and published by Oxford University Press. It feeds chiefly by grazing, mainly at night; rests on large lakes, rivers and open fields by day.

The greylag goose (Anser anser) is a bird in the waterfowl family Anatidae as per Wikipedia. Its distribution is widespread, with birds from the north of its range in Europe and Asia migrating southwards to spend the winter in warmer places.  It is the type species of the genus Anser and is the ancestor of one type of domestic goose, having been domesticated at least as early as 1360 BC. The genus name is from anser, the Latin for "goose”.

Greylag geese travel to their northerly breeding grounds in spring, nesting on moorlands, in marshes, around lakes and on coastal islands. They normally mate for life and nest on the ground among vegetation. A clutch of three to five eggs is laid; the female incubates the eggs and both parents defend and rear the young. The birds stay together as a family group, migrating southwards in autumn as part of a flock, and separating the following year. During the winter they occupy semi-aquatic habitats, estuaries, marshes and flooded fields, feeding on grass and often consuming agricultural crops.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greylag_goose

Bird's Assembly : Birds at Vadhvana Wet Land

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Took photographs of these birds with Fuji HS 10 Camera  at Vadhvana Wet Land near Dabhoi in Gujarat in the year 2011.

Please assist me in identifying and listing them if possible

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8) WHITE WAGTAIL:

This photograph of White Wagtail was taken with Fuji HS 10 Camera by me few years ago at Vadhvana Wetlands near Dabhoi in Gujarat.

According to Wikipedia, the white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family (Motacillidae).This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range but otherwise migrates to Africa.

The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures.

Wikipedia reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_wagtail

7) EURASIAN COOT:

The Eurasian Coot was photographed with Fuji HS 10 camera by me at Vadhvana Wetlands near Dhaboi in Gujarat few years back.

According to the Wikipedia, the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia and parts of Africa. The coot breeds across much of the Old World on freshwater lakes and ponds. It occurs and breeds in Europe, Asia, Australia, 

and Africa. 

The species has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. It is resident in the milder parts of its range but migrates further south and west from much of Asia in winter as the waters freeze.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_coot

6) ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET

The photograph of Rose-ringed Parakeet was taken with Nikon Coolpix few years ago by me somewhere at Mysore.

The Wikipedia informs that the rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the ring-necked parakeet, is a gregarious tropical Afro-Asian parakeet species that has an extremely large range.

The rose-ringed parakeet is sexually dimorphic. The adult male sports a red or black neck ring and the hen and immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck rings. Both sexes have a distinctive green colour. Rose-ringed parakeets measure on average 40 cm (16 in) in length, including the tail feathers, a large portion of their total length. Their average single-wing length is about 15–17.5 cm (5.9–6.9 in). In the wild, this is a noisy species with an unmistakable squawking call. It is herbivorous and not migratory.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the information : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose-ringed_parakeet

5) SPOT-BILLED PELICAN:

The photograph of the Spot-Billed Pelican was taken with Nikon Coolpix camera by me at a Lake in Mysore some years ago.

The Wikipedia states that the spot-billed pelican or grey pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is a member of the pelican family. It breeds in southern Asia from southern Pakistan across India east to Indonesia. It is a bird of large inland and 

coastal waters, especially large lakes. At a distance, they are difficult to differentiate from other pelicans in the region although it is smaller but at close range the spots on the upper mandible, the lack of bright colours and the greyer plumage are distinctive. In some areas, these birds nest in large colonies close to human habitations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot-billed_pelican

4) GREY HERON :

The photograph of Grey Heron was taken with Nikon Coolpix camera by me some years back at a Lake in Mysore.

The Wikipedia states that the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_heron