(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO500-800; hand-held; Manas NP, 28/02/23) Rufous-necked Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus ruficollis ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO800; hand-held; Manas NP, 28/02/23) Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) is a near-threatened species of parakeet that is endemic to Southeast Asia and is characterised by a salmon-colored chest on a bright green body, gray-blue head, and a thick black moustache. Males have bright red upper bills while the females’ bills are totally black ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO160; hand-held; North Bengal, 10/03/23) (Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/3200, f/5.6, ISO220; hand-held; Kaziranga NP, 02/03/23) Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus): It was interesting to spot a Lesser Adjutant foraging in the roadside fields while driving on a highway in North Bengal. This large wading bird is actually a stork but has bare head and neck like a vulture, an adaptation seen in the storks of Leptoptilos genus. This helps in their scavenging habits because a feathered head and neck can get clotted with blood and other substances wh ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/5.6, ISO360; hand-held; Manas NP, 28/02/23) (Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO1250; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus): This attractively coloured barbet is a common inhabitant of the lowland and hill forests of the Himalayas and is abundant in a variety of habitats in the northeastern part of India, including villages and even urban areas, showing that it has adapted well to the presence of humans. Its call is a fast, repetitive ‘took-o-rrook’ sound, uttered almost continuously, and is one of the ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/5.6, ISO320; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus), Latpanchar, Mahananda WLS: A tiny songbird who some consider as the smallest bird in India (measures ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/5.6, ISO3200; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Common Green-Magpie, (Cissa chinensis), Latpanchar, Mahananda WLS: This brightly coloured and noisy bird can surprisingly be difficult to spot as it glides through the foliage of lowland and mid-altitude subtropical forests. But once seen up-close, the image is unforgettable ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO640-900; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), Latpanchar, Mahananda WLS: As alluded to in my earlier posts, this hyperactive bird also paid a visit to the Red Nongmangkha flowers. One can see its pollen laden crown in the pictures, underlining its role as an important pollinator of many plants ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO800-1600; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata), Latpanchar, Mahananda WLS: As posted earlier, while waiting for Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird to show up on the Red Nongmangkha flowers, a male Black-throated Sunbird appeared in the shadows nearby. It did make a quick visit to the flowers but didn’t stay long enough to give a decent picture. This male looked quite devoid of colour when compared to the other male sunbirds. It was partially due to the poor lighting which sort of obscures the iridescence of the feathe ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO900-1250; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata), Latpanchar, Mahananda WLS: As we were waiting next to the Red Nongmangkha (Phlogacanthus pubinervius) flowers, an apparent favourite of the sunbirds, a Black-throated Sunbird male did come but it stayed in the shadows and didn’t reveal its iridescent feathers fully. But our disappointment at the inability to see the sunbird in good lighting was partially mitigated by a Rufous Sibia and an Indian White-eye who spent some time on the flowers and gave us some good ..read more

(Nikon D500, 200-500mm lens; 1/640, f/6.3, ISO320-3200; hand-held; @Mahananda WLS, 25/02/23) Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis): Another star attraction of the sanctuary is this large colourful hornbill. Male has rufous head, neck and underparts, black glossy wings with white tips, and black tail with white lower half; while the female is all black, except for the white wingtips and lower half of tail. The bill has broad black grooves on the upper mandible, with no visible casque. Both sexes have a turquoise blue patch of skin around the eyes, cobalt blue cheeks and a scarlet red thro ..read more