bird photography – VAGABOND IMAGES

Quenching the thirst and keeping nature alive

Upendra SwamiJune 1, 2020285 Views4

So after the double rainbow delight of Sunday in the national capital, tempers were again on rise in the sky on Monday. However, it was never close to the sweltering heat that we had early last week when the temperatures crossed 46 degree celsius. Still, hot and humid days are not over and this weather makes you thirsty all the time… and, these birds as well. Isn’t it! A call for the water or the partner! Actually this is the weather and these are the images that make you wonder how essential are these little things to be done around our city homes to keep the nature around live and chirping! These birds which give us joy in our balcony views daily, need to quench thirst as well in this peak summer. What, when there is no open water puddle or pool for them? These little pots a...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown chronicles : Another 10 days passed and ten more to go

Upendra SwamiApril 24, 2020239 Views2

So as expected, what was supposed to be the last day of initial 21day lockdown period, actually brought the confirmation of taking this to a 40 day sit-in. Now, another set of ten days has passed. It has been a month of being stopped into walls of the house, besides some bare minimum steps outside to get things for daily needs. There have been few other reasons to move out as well, such as providing relief to some very needy people around and field trips owing to journalistic profession. But, what continued unabated was putting camera to regular use. So here is the snapshot of third set of ten days into lockdown. Also read: Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of the first 10 days of forced sit-in DAY 21 Lockdown Chronicles Day 21 : Looking back to the first phase! When life w...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lockdown chronicles : Next 10 days and counting

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 2020252 Views8

Things had taken a shape of routine in the next ten days of the lockdown due to COVID-19 spread. Well, I am talking about the photography routine. Although even without photography, watching these trees across and all the avian species moving around had become bit fascinating. Still, nothing can be compared to vagabonding around. That is yet some days away. Hope remained that 21st would be the last day, although all indications point to the contrary. Till then, here are the chronicles of the second set of ten days. (You can follow me on Instagram to see all these as daily feeds.) Also read: Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of first 10 days of forced sit-in DAY 11 Lockdown Chronicles Day 11 : Almost four floor high neem tree is actually a landing and resting site for most of the...

AdventurePhotogallery

Wings of Gold – Himalayan Golden Eagle in flight!

Upendra SwamiMarch 28, 2019594 Views2

First time I saw a Himalayan Golden Eagle in flight or else was way back in 1993, somewhere in Kullu-Parvati valley while trekking to Chanderkhani Pass. But that time I had a film camera and not so good lenses. Focussing was issue and it wasn't possible to use many shots on flying bird in a 36 exposure film. Since then, I had spotted golden eagles on many occasions during various treks in Himachal and Uttarkhand. Last year, during Kashmir Great Lakes Trek I spotted a couple of them deep inside valley at Gangbal pass. But they were still far from reach of my tele lens. In that respect, it was the best opportunity this month I got to photograph Himalayan Golden Eagles when I was biking near Mukeshwar. I was on ridge with view of Nanda Devi peak on one side and valley on other. Eagles were...

AdventurePhotogallery

Menar again, for owls and vultures this time

Upendra SwamiMarch 11, 2019185 Views2

Menar seems to have find a place in my every winter trip to Udaipur. So, when I was in my hometown 'City of Lakes' once again this winter, I had already planned a morning of birding trip. Well, that all depended on birder friends to accompany as I am still quite unfamiliar with that region. So, though my to be companion backed out because of some other work, he managed to hand me over to another of his birder friend, a senior automobile executive. I later realised that Udaipur now has a culture of birding and photography trips every weekend- either solo, with friends or in groups. There are photography groups, birding groups with regular activities, sharing and learning, all with utmost sincerity. Awake and alert! The Short-eared Owl, or 'Shortie', is an unusual owl because it prefers...

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Poetry in motion: Birds in flight at Mangalajodi

Upendra SwamiJanuary 29, 2019155 Views4

Mangalajodi has been an extraordinary experience for lot many reasons. Since my first visit to Chilika almost a decade ago, I was always keen to return to this place for another bird-watching stint. Then, had heard some extraordinary things about Mangalajodi- it being the poachers haven and then a turn-around which converted hunters to protectors. Finally, a big UN award coming its way, raised all the curiosity. It actually was first among the many accolades coming its way. On a misty winter morning a photographer tries to capture birds with his big lens while a Northern Pintail flies past him at Mangalajodi A femail northern pintail takes off as a boat approaches closer at Mangalajodi A female northern pintail takes off for a routine flight at Mangalajodi. They are migrat...

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Guiding their territories : Birds at Keoladeo

Upendra SwamiMarch 18, 2018114 Views3

I am continuing with birds and my trip to Bharatpur's Keoladeo Ghana National Park, sometime back. This time more with just images Shikra can be easily seen at Keoladeo. It is most common small hawk but an aggressive hunter, can be found almost everywhere in the neighbourhood. Like Shikras, marsh harriers are also found worldwide. They are raptors of medium size in the harrier family. Watching them fly is fascinating when they make a V in low flight. Look for them at KNP. You know Keoladeo is also famous for its turtles! Read them about here- The giant turtles of Keoladeo National Park Darters are also called as snake birds owing o their long thin neck which has a snake like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. There are large number of oriental...

IndiaPhotogallery

Morning lights at Menar – the birds village!

Upendra SwamiFebruary 22, 2018378 Views7

City of Lakes Udaipur is famous for many things but rarely for its birds. Ironically village Menar, 15 kms from Udaipur's Dabok airport is known for many things including its birds. Menar is also called as the bird village. More than couple of lakes in close surroundings of the village are known to host a huge number of migratory birds every year. Menar also has a long history which connects it closely to the Kings of Mewar. Rich in culture, this village also has an honour to produce some of India's finest chefs who have worked in kitchens of many celebrities- home and abroad. Residents of this village have been known as Menarias. But my recent trip to this village, roughly around 45 kms from my hometown Udaipur, was purely to catch some morning light. Capturing birds at sunrise (f...

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Lot more than flamingos at Sambhar

Upendra SwamiFebruary 24, 2017171 Views5

Though flamingos were my primary interest and they were who actually pulled my all the way to Sambhar, but wintering at Sambhar is not all about flamingos. Flamingos might be very high in count and attraction but there are many other birds coming for winter migration. As I said in my last post, there are more than 70 species of birds coming here every year. So while I was busy admiring flamingos at Sambhar lake, I couldn't have failed to notice and try to click few other migratory birds. Pied avocet (pictured above) was the among the first one to come across and was quite attractive because of its distinctive beak and black & white appearance. Though there were some northern pintail and pochards as well, but I could manage to get close view of only these northern shoveler

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and finally… the pink flamingos

Upendra SwamiFebruary 23, 2017110 Views6

Moving ahead from Devayani, I was asking every other guy the way to Chatri (cenotaph) of Daadu Dayal. The way wasn't far from Devayani. Just half a kilometre ahead was a railway crossing and the just before the railway line was a dusty path going inside the salt fields along side the now unused railway track. There were many structures in the area, all of them actually remnants of a very well-planned rail network meant for the salt extraction. It looked like a no-man's land. I kept on moving ahead till there was a way. Till that time I didn't even had an idea that how the chatri of Daadu Dayal looked like. Track wasn't easy, but still negotiable and enjoyable. Then, I suddenly saw a man out of nowhere and asked him about the exact location of the cenotaph, and luckily also about the possib