Red-vented Bulbul,The Nesting

The breeding season of Red-vented Bulbul is from March to July.It builds its nest at the fork of a branch of tree or bush generally at a height of around 2-5 m (7-15 ft). Nests are occasionally built inside houses.The nest is cup shaped built with rootlets. Mostly three eggs are found which are pinkish in color blotched with brown.Both the parent incubates the egg for a period of 15-18 days. The chicks remain in nest and are fed for about 10 to 12 days by both the parents.They keep the nest clean by swallowing the fecal material.

This nest in above photograph is built in a Bougainvillea plant in my friend's house just in front of the main gate. I watched it regularly and taken few shots without disturbing the bird.This photograph is taken by my Nikon F801 camera with a 200 mm lens.This is a bright example of man and wildlife thriving side by side.Enjoy the bird watching and know the bird in your back yard.

Red-Vented Bulbul

Common name: Red-vented Bulbul
Species          : Pycnonotus cafer
Family            : Pycnonotidae
Size                : Smaller than a Myna

The Red-vented Bulbul  is a passerine bird  of the bulbul family .The body is a grayish  brown with a scaly pattern above and gray below.The Red-vented Bulbul is easily identified by its  crested glossy black head .  The rump is white while the vent is red i.e  a distinguishing  red patch under  the tail. The black tail is tipped with white. Both male and female look alike.This bird is commonly seen in gardens, scrub jungles and also near human habitation and cultivated lands.It feeds mainly on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects etc. Mostly seen collecting figs to eat from the  trees like peepal and baniyan. The bird can be easily identified from its  whistling sound .It can be easily reared and tamed.In India it is used as a common fighting bird which shouldn't be.After all birds are born to be free.It is nice to observe them in their natural habitat moving freely.

Asian Paradise Fly catcher, The nesting

Nesting Season of Asian Paradise flycatcher is generally June to August i.e the rainy season.It may be due to availability of more flying insects during this period.

The nest is conical in shape and just the size of a tea cup.It is found hanging from a tip of a small and thin branch of a tree generally at a height of 8ft to 15ft from the ground. The nest is woven with fine grasses and fibers.The outer wall of nest is plastered with cob webs and spider egg shells. It is observed that the female alone built the nest.The female generally lays four numbers of pale pink colour eggs with blotches of reddish brown.In some cases three eggs are also found. Incubation takes nearly 18 days and both the parent incubate the eggs alternately.The nestling period is around 10 to 12 days.The chicks are raised by both the parents.

It is quite thrilling to watch the parents feeding the nestlings.I observed it very close to the nest.The photograph is taken by my pretty old Nikon 801 camera with a 200 mm lens.Watching nature so close is a rare experience to share.Enjoy the bird Watching.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher, The Male

The typical adult male "Asian Paradise flycatcher" is about 20cm long.But the long ribbon like tail of almost 30cm is the most significant character of the male.It is amazing to watch the bird with such a long tail flying from tree to tree and hunting flying insects.

Another significant character of the male is that it changes it's color during it's development from subadult to adult male .The subadult male ( first two years of growth ) have chestnut brown color on the back with whitish underpart and metallic blue black head.When it grows to adult male i.e in third year from hatching it changes it's color to shining white except the head.The wings laterally appears to have black stripes.In some cases in the second year of development the male with partly white and partly chestnut brown color tail is also seen.

This is the beauty of nature in true sense.I watch these birds for hours and admire their beauty.All these photographs are shot with my pretty old Nikon F3 camera and a 200 mm lens.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Asian Paradise Fly Catcher
Species : Terpsiphone paradise
Family : Corvidae
Size : About the size of Bulbul

The Asian Paradise-flycatcher is a noisy bird with a sharp skreek call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, hunting by flycatching .Pairs are seen moving after winged insects in shady grooves and thin jungles near nullahs. Sometimes seen near homestead in rural areas. The birds are seen moving only after the tiny creatures that fly and catch those in flight. The birds as observed are not sedentary and arrive at this locality during March much before the rain every year.

The sub adult male and female look alike except the tail.The bird is usually 20cm long while the male has a 30 long tail which is the unique character.The body of the female is chestnut brown color with grayish underpart.The head and throat are metallic black.The eyes have blue circle.The tail is short and roundish.I will tell about the male in my next post which is very unique as compare to other birds.Now enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Black naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Nesting

The breeding season varies from June to August i.e. the rainy season.This may be due to the reason that plenty of food is vailable at that time.

The nest is a small conical cup shaped structure. It is made of fine grasses woven together plastered outside with cub webs and spider egg cases etc. It is built on a hanging twig of plants mostly at a height of 6 feet to 8 feet. The female mostly lays four numbers of eggs which are pale creamy pink color blotched with reddish brown. Both the parent incubate the egg for about 16 to 18 days. Fledging takes place in around 10 to 12 days, both the parents take care of the chicks.

The photographs are shot in Barapahad forest of Bargarh district in Orissa, India. I watch the chicks leaving the nest one by one. It is so thrilling that even I skipped my breakfast and launch to watch it. This is the beauty of bird watching. I don’t have any expensive camera. I used the pretty old Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens.

Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Male

The adult male black-napped monarch flycatcher is a small about 16 cm bird.The male's head, chest, back and tail are blue.The wings are darker.The belly is white.There is a black band around the throat and black crest on the crown and hence the name "Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher".It has short legs and sits upright while perched on branches.It often hunts by fly catching.It makes a sharp sound and easily noticeable.

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Species: Hypothymis azurea

Family : Corvidae

Size : 16 cm

The Black-naped Monarch fly catcher is a small passerine bird.This bird is seen across Southern Asia from India and Srilanka east to Indonesia and Philippines.This species is usually found in thick forest mostly mixed bamboo forest and other well wooded habitats.They hunt making agile movements after winged insects.

The male and and female looks different.The female is brownish grey on the back,wings, tail and breast and has a blue grey head.The photograph above is that of an adult female.Such a graceful bird it is.Enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail Warbler, The Nesting

The nesting season varies from from June to September. Male birds are polygamous. the female builds a small nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves. The nest is a deep oblong pouch of vegetable matters glued together with cobwebs and attached with the blades of grass .It is generally built at a height of about 2 inches from the ground. It lays about 3-4 Nos of eggs. The eggs are whitish spotted with red & brown colour.It weighs about only one gram. The incubation period is about 12 to 14 days. Both the parents raise the young for a period of 10-12 days. The main food of this bird consists of Insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars etc.

The nest in the phot ograph is located in a waste land near Mahanadi river bed.I waited for long hours to take some feeding shots among wild grasses.I used a Nikon F3 camera and 200 mm lens.This is the wonder of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

Species: Cisticola Juncidis

Family: Cisticolidae

Size: Smaller than sparrow

It is a beautiful small bird about 10 cm long. It has a whitish underneath and a heavily striped back in dark brown colour. The tail is short with whitish ends. The tail is constantly flicked open like a fan hence the name fantail warbler. The beak is sharp and pointed.

These birds are more easily heard than seen . Its presence is easily felt as it utters a sharp sound too frequently. It has a constant chik chik chik sound very sweet to heard. The bird is seen moving in open grassy lands, reed beds & paddy fields. Taking photograph of this bird is a very hard task. I located the nest in a riverbed and able to take the shots in my Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens. Enjoy watching the bird

Paddyfield Pipit

Species : Anthus rufulus

Family : Passeridae

Size : Larger than a sparrow

Primarily it is a ground bird and seen in grazing fields, stony grass lands and usually walking quickly to short distances shaking its tail. It is very often seen sitting on a rock or stone.

It is a small and slender passerine bird with a long tail. The lateral feathers are white. The underside of the bird is streaked with dark brown while the upper part of the body is brownish gray. The legs are pink in colour. The male and female look almost alike and hence very difficult to distinguish.It looks graceful while standing.

It is so exciting to watch this bird moving from place o place.This is why I love bird watching. Though this bird is not colorful , it is so graceful to watch.