Behind the lens

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

Species Directory

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Streaked Weaver

Finding and photographing the Streaked Weaver (Ploceus manyar) is an exercise in exploring vibrant wetland ecosystems. Often overshadowed by the more common Baya Weaver, the Streaked Weaver is a resident species specialized in reedy habitats near water bodies. I found and photographed these weavers near the banks of the Godavari River. The massive Sri Ram Sagar Reservoir serves as a critical habitat for various bird species, especially during the monsoon and winter months.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Wildlife, #naturephotography, #earthcapture, #conservationphotography, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, #Kawal, #KawalTigerReserve, #hyticos, #nirmal, #wildtelangana, #telanganawildlife, #streakedweaver, #weaver, #weaverbird, #reedhabitat, #waterbodies, #sriramsagarreservoir,

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

Siberian Stonechat

Every winter, as the vast landscapes of Siberia and temperate Asia surrender to ice and snow, a remarkable natural phenomenon unfolds: a mass migration of millions of birds seeking survival in warmer climes. Among the most resilient of these avian voyagers is the Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus), a tiny bird that flies thousands of kilometers to the Indian subcontinent. In Telangana, this little flycatcher becomes a familiar, welcome sight during the cooler months, transforming open scrublands and wetland margins into temporary winter homes.

The Siberian Stonechat is a chunky little bird of open landscapes; often seen on exposed perches. The breeding male has a black head, broad white half-collar, and rusty-red chest while the non-breeding male is patchier, with a paler head and chest.

#wildartworks #Canon #SiberianStonechat #Stonechat #BirdWatching #WildlifeVideo #NatureDocumentary #BirdPhotography #Ornithology #AsianBirds #MigratoryBirds #WildLife #NatureLovers #Migrant

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

Red-breasted Flycatcher

A distinctive, small and winter migrant flycatcher where the males have a rusty-orange throat that continues onto the breast. All plumages have a distinctive tail pattern with black terminal bar and white sides. The wings relatively plain & a white eyering is noticeable. When perched, the tail is often held cocked with the wingtips drooping. It breeds in mature deciduous mixed forest, wintering in forests, woodlands and parks.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #telangana, #india, #umamaheshwaramtemple, #achampet, #flycatcher, #redbreastedflycatcher, #telanganabirds, #oldworldflycatcher, #nallamallaforest, #ananthagiri, #ameenpurlake, #wintermigrant

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Firefly

Abscondita chinensis, a captivating species of firefly belonging to the family Lampyridae and subfamily Luciolinae, is a luminous wonder native to tropical Asia. Known for its remarkable bioluminescent displays, particularly during its mating season, it plays a vital role in its ecosystem as a predator and contributes to the charm of natural environments. It lives in various habitats, and its bioluminescence, especially during mating, adds a magical quality to its existence. However, threats from pollution and climate change highlight the need for conservation efforts to protect this insect. These were photographed in Telangana.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Wildlife, #naturephotography, #earthcapture, #conservationphotography, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, #Kawal, #KawalTigerReserve, #hyticos, #nirmal, #wildtelangana, #telanganawildlife, #telanganaanthropods, #telanganabeetle, #beetle, #Insectsoftelangana, #Absconditachinensis, #Lampyridae, #Luciolinae, #firefly, #asynchronousfirefly, #synchronousfirefly,

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Celebrating International Tiger Day

Imagine a world without tigers! No regal stripes cutting through the jungle, no powerful roars echoing across the grasslands, no piercing amber eyes watching from the shadows. This isn’t just a grim fantasy - it is a future we’re racing towards - but today, July 29th, we are fighting back

Welcome to the International Tiger Day, 2025!

#wildartworks, #Canon, #conservationphotography, #yesbbcearth, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, #india, #telanganabirds, #kawaltigerreserve, #amrabadtigerreserve, #nagarjunasagarsrisailamtigerreserve, #hyticos, #tigerconservation, #internationaltigerday, #internationaltigerday2025, #tigerdaycelebrations, #tigerdayevent, #glandpharma, #telanganastateforestdepartment, #tsfd,

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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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Robber Fly/ Assassin Fly

The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called Assassin Flies. It is one of the largest families in Diptera Brachycera. The adults and larvae are predaceous on other insects, especially on plant-feeding insects, and thus help in the natural control of insects. They are world wide in distribution, represented by about 5000 species belonging to over 400 genera. Only about 750 species under 80 genera are known from the Oriental Region, of which 300 species and 45 genera are from India. Stenopogon is a genus in the family Asilidae with at least 200 described species. Today is about one of them from the Kawal Tiger Reserve.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Wildlife, #naturephotography, #earthcapture, #conservationphotography, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, #Kawal, #KawalTigerReserve, #hyticos, #wildtelangana, #telanganawildlife, #telanganaanthropods, #Insectsoftelangana, #Asilidae, #Stenopogon, #robberfly, #assassinfly,

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Wildlife, Amphibian Photography, Herping Siddhartha Mukherjee Wildlife, Amphibian Photography, Herping Siddhartha Mukherjee

Indian Skittering Frog

The Indian Skittering Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis) is a common dicroglossid frog found in South Asia. It is known under numerous common names, including Indian Skipper Frog or Skittering Frog. They are often seen at the edge of bodies of water with their eyes above the water. They noisily move away from the shore when disturbed, giving them their common name. They are rarely seen outside water.

Of the eight species of skittering frogs found worldwide, seven exist in India, and one new species was discovered only in 2016.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #herping, #Wildlife, #naturephotography, #earthcapture, #BBCWildlifePOTD, #conservationphotography, #yesbbcearth, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, #india, #kawaltigerreserve, #hyticos, #TelanganaWildlife, #TelanganaFrogs, #Frog, #telanganaamphibians, #amphibian, #taillessamphibian, #amphibianphotography, #frogphotography, #IndianSkitteringFrog, #CommonSkitteringFrog, #SkitteringFrog, #FrogWatchIndia,

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