Behind the lens

a blog every Friday on a specific species of animal or bird and jungle lore

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Great Grey Shrike

Dawn fractured the semi-arid horizon of Baramati, casting a pale gold tint over the grass. Suddenly, a streak of silver, white & stark black cut through the crisp September morning. It was the Great Grey Shrike, the legendary "butcherbird" of the scrublands, arresting the landscape with its sharp, regal presence.

#wildartworks #Canon #CanonC50 #C50 #greatgreysjrike #baramatigrasslands #Birdinginthewild #BirdWatching #conservationphotography #BhigwanBirdSanctuary #Kumbhargaon #indapurgrasslands

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Tri-coloured Munia

Golden hour at the extensive reed beds near the quaint village of Kumbhargaon. A gentle breeze rippled through the tall grasses, making the reed heads sway in rhythmic unison. To the untrained eye, the marshy edges look quiet. But to a patient observer, the reeds come alive with frantic motion as a tiny avian jewel - the Tri-coloured Munia - prepared for its evening routine. 

#wildartworks #Canon #CanonC50 #C50 #kadbanwadi #Birdinginthewild #BirdWatching #conservationphotography #bhigwan #BhigwanBirdSanctuary #Kumbhargaon #munia #tricolouredmunia

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

European Roller

As the sun dips below the horizon at Kadbanwadi, casting a deep amber hue over the scrub forest, I discover the European Roller, a rare turquoise nomad migrating through these grasslands. This blog explores the bird's striking blue & cinnamon plumage, its incredible 10,000-km journey across Asia and our deeply connected ecosystems & why  these fragments of wild grasslands deserve our utmost protection.

#wildartworks #Canon #CanonC50 #C50 #europeanroller #kadbanwadi #migrant #roller #Birdinginthewild #BirdWatching #conservationphotography #bhigwan #BhigwanBirdSanctuary #Kumbhargaon #indapurgrasslands

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Western Yellow Wagtail/ Sykes's Wagtail 

A small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae. A widespread wagtail, favoring wet meadows, marshland, grassy and muddy lakeshores. Occurs in fields and often near livestock during migration.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #BhigwanBirdSanctuary, #Kumbhargaon, #ujnibackwaters, #westernyellowwagtail, #wagtail,

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Purple Heron

In Telangana, finding the Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) often requires patient observation in dense, freshwater wetlands like those near the Ameenpur Lake or the Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary. Unlike the bolder Gray Heron, this species is a master of camouflage within reed beds.

#wildartworks #canon #Wildlife #birdphotography #natgeoindia #conservationphotography #indian_wildlifes #indianwildlifeofficial #wildlifeonearth #planet_untamed_magazine #bbcearth #natgeowild #birdsofthedeccan #manjeera #sungeibuloh #ranganathittubirdsanctuary #bhigwanbirdsanctuary #ammavaripetcheruvu #kudikuntalake #kantegaonlake #Boath #kistareddypetlake #purpleheron #heron #heronconservation

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Grey-headed Swamphen

A very large bluish-purple waterbird with a red bill and forehead shield, as well as red legs and feet with long toes. The tail is flicked up often, revealing fluffy white “underpants.” Juveniles are duller than adults and lack the red bill and shield. An inhabitant of marshy, vegetated freshwater bodies such as swamps, rivers, and lakes; usually in small groups. Feeds, often clumsily, at muddy water edges, in reeds, and on floating vegetation. Makes short nasal grunts and croaking sounds. Formerly part of the species known as Purple Swamphen.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #WildBirds, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #yesbbcearth, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @globalcapture, #india, #telanganabirds, #kawaltigerreserve, #hyticos

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Whiskered Tern

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a small buoyant 'marsh' tern in the family Laridae that superficially resembles the Common Tern, but is stockier and with a less forked tail. The breeding adult has a distinctive dark smoky gray body & contrasting white cheeks (which can look like broad white "whiskers" in flight) underneath a black cap. The non-breeding plumage is a pale silvery gray overall with a faded shadow of the cap. Note the rather stout bill (albeit thinner than Gull-billed Tern) and square tail. It feeds by picking from the surface, not splash-diving like typical terns. Common around wetlands, lakes, and rivers.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #BhigwanBirdSanctuary, #Kumbhargaon, #ujnibackwaters, #whiskeredtern, #tern, #marshtern,

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Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Bird Photography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Gray Heron

The Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. Generally quite common and conspicuous in wetland habitats from marshes and tidal flats to small ponds, ditches, and wet fields; nests colonially in tall trees. Mainly seen as singles or in small groups, standing quietly in or at the edge of water, less often hunting in fields. Plumage is mostly gray overall, with paler neck; the adult has white crown, black eyebrows, and a black shoulder patch. Like other herons and egrets, flies with neck pulled in to form a bulge.

#wildartworks #canon #Wildlife #wildlifephotography #natgeoindia #conservationphotography #indian_wildlifes #indianwildlifeofficial #wildlifeonearth #planet_untamed_magazine #bbcearth #natgeowild #birdsofthedeccan #manjeera #sungeibuloh #ranganathittubirdsanctuary #bhigwanbirdsanctuary #ammavaripetcheruvu #grayheron #greyheron #heron #heronconservation

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