Birds of Himachal – A Photo Story of the Winged Beauties
Bird watching has become a quintessential ritual of our trips over time. Whenever we have the opportunity to spot some feathered friends, we eagerly venture out with our camera and spend hours outdoors looking for them. Basically, in a team of two, I have been the spotter (my keen eyesight being our secret weapon) and Sush has been the one to capture these beauties through his camera lens. What began as a curious hobby has now spread its roots deeper and is gradually turning in to a heartfelt passion. Also, through moments of quiet observation, we’ve come to appreciate the remarkable intelligence and intricate behaviours exhibited by these winged creatures.
On our recent trip to Himachal Pradesh, as the Spring-Summer season embraced the region, we found ourselves amidst a flurry of avian activity. Early mornings and evenings, the air was filled with different bird calls and songs. Exploring the villages and adjacent woods close to both our accommodations, we were able to spot almost 50 different types of birds. Our patient stakeout in certain areas (of course from a safe distance so as to not disturb them) paid off well and we could capture some of these avian wonders in their most magnificent form.
Join us on this visual odyssey as we embark on a journey of wonder, where every fluttering wing and melodic trill serves as a reminder of the boundless beauty that surrounds us.
Indian Grey Hornbill
After Coorg (Karnataka), it was our 2nd time seeing this bird. And this time in a pair. They were mostly perched on a tall tree behind our accommodation in Kandhbari.
Great Barbet
Great Barbets were abundant in the area and we could hear their distinctive (and loud) call most of the time. Yet it took some effort to spot this bird as it blends really well with its surroundings.
Blue-throated Barbet
Love how beautifully this bird is given all the eye-catching colors.
Oriental White-eye
This bird was the most difficult to photograph, because it kept moving all the time, not even settling down for a few seconds in one place. So glad this shot came clearly.
Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie
Had to patrol the area it was seen the previous day for 2-3 hours to have a few good shots. This pair seemed to build a nest and kept flying around collecting straws and bamboo leaves.
Verdite Flycatcher
This one literally won our hearts with both its beauty and intelligence. A pair of male and female were living a little away from our stay in Naddi. So Sush tried to wait close by to capture a few good shots. Now this little male put on quite a good show trying to keep his attention and the moment he got distracted, the female would fly into the nest. So we got some amazing shots of the male and a few for the female before bidding them goodbye. Such amazing creatures!
Black-headed Jay
Spotted this one flying around and sitting on the trees close by as soon as we entered Gallu village. But it was so evasive that it took us a while to capture it in the camera. Got delayed by half an hour for our trek waiting for it. But at the end, it was worth it. Read More….
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