Bird watching – VAGABOND IMAGES

Quenching the thirst and keeping nature alive

Upendra SwamiJune 1, 2020351 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...

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Lockdown Chronicles : Last 10 days which weren’t the last

Upendra SwamiMay 7, 2020231 Views0

What were presumably supposed to be the last ten days of a 40 day nationwide lockdown in two phases- a 21 day first phase and a 19 day second phase. Ten days of hope and anticipation, which actually concluded in start of another phase of distress. Altogether a big human tragedy has unfolded in all this, which reflects in the first image. Experiments with camera continued but many other things keep happening! Let's travel through these ten days. Also read: Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of first 10 days of forced sit-in DAY 31 Lockdown Chronicles Day 31! : Life in a metro! With nowhere to go in the lockdown, this migrant labourer has nothing else but shade of an under-construction flyover to cook his daily meals! DAY 32 Lockdown Chronicles Day 32! : While everyone was...

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Lockdown chronicles : Next 10 days and counting

Upendra SwamiApril 14, 2020313 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...

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Lockdown chronicles : Photo diary of first 10 days of forced sit-in

Upendra SwamiApril 3, 2020282 Views2

For all travel bugs, it is hard to- not just stay at one place but confined to boundaries of their homes. No different for me. It isn't so that my routine has changed drastically, but it is in your mind that you have been forced to do something by a competitor who is in no mood to give you any chance. With spring travel planes shelved, I had to put camera to some use to keep my hands in habit of holding the five kilogram heavy tele lens. Trees across my first floor balcony became the frames and birds & flowers the characters. So, here are the modest offerings of the first ten days of nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus. DAY 1 Lockdown Chronicles Day 1! : Putting camera to some work during lockdown. A pair of yellow footed green pigeon on the tree right adjacent to my balcony...

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Poetry in motion: Birds in flight at Mangalajodi

Upendra SwamiJanuary 29, 2019252 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, 2018180 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...

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Morning lights at Menar – the birds village!

Upendra SwamiFebruary 22, 2018717 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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Keoladeo : Tips to travel inside park for some serious bird watching!

Upendra SwamiFebruary 9, 2018376 Views3

Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur in Rajasthan has always been the numero uno of India’s bird sanctuaries. One of the oldest and the most acclaimed one. It is also close to hearts of all birders as it was the playground of India’s most known birder, none other than Salim Ali for more than half a century. Visiting this park is always a thrill for serious bird watchers. Watching birds here need some good planning. I will be discussing tips for good experience of bird watching at Keoladeo in few posts. Here is the first one on means to travel inside the park and the charges associated with them. Firstly, it is a bird sanctuary, not a tiger reserve. Hence no safaris are needed here. Since we don’t have normal wildlife, else than deer family, reptiles and predators are v...

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The tall, beautiful and a mate for life!

Upendra SwamiNovember 18, 2017133 Views4

They are the true 'love-birds'. Always found in pair and always remain loyal to each other. Hardly we recognise bird species with these qualities but our guide or naturalist- as they liked themselves to be called as, was more than beaming in explaining Sarus Cranes to us in this manner. But it was really so amusing to hear all this, though we had already heard about crane couple 'singing' and dancing together and seen some amazing photographs earlier too. Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur has been one of the favourites to watch this amazing bird, although they can be found in Gangetic plains. There number is decreasing constantly everywhere, including Keoladeo, due to various threats. Hence it was on top of my bucket list while going to this amazing bird sanctuary. Our naturalis...

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Birding in a tiger reserve

Upendra SwamiJanuary 22, 2017238 Views12

I am not a birder specifically, but being interested in wildlife I love bird watching as much as I love sighting tigers. Both give you equal chance to play with your camera. All the tiger reserves and national parks per say (other than specific bird sanctuaries) too have rivers, lakes, ponds and other water holes which are shelter for waterfowls and migratory birds. Jungle themselves are best places to see the birds. Having been to few bird sanctuaries, this was first time I specifically kept time to see birds in a tiger reserve and I was certainly not disappointed. Hence, comes this fourth post from Sariska visit. Sariska is a big national park and has many perennial sources of water which in turn become good harbouring ground form birds. Hence, when you are close to a water body, ...