Behind the lens

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

Species Directory

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

Bar-headed Geese

A striking and distinctive goose I first saw on the Little Rann of Kutch. But this time I was in a boat and in close proximity. The bold black-and-white head and neck pattern is unlike any other goose along with their orange-yellow bill and legs. In flight these geese appear mainly pale gray with a broad black trailing edge to wings. They breed around lakes and marshes on the highland plateaus of Central Asia and winter in the lowland wetlands and fields of South Asia as far as South Peninsular India. They are the world’s highest flying migratory birds flying at an extreme altitude over the Himalayas, where there is less than 10% the oxygen found at sea level. They have found a way to cross the world's longest and highest land mass - over 1,500km [930 miles] - an almost impossible physiological feat relatively easily.

These geese may represent "the limit" of what birds are capable of and they don't train or acclimatise. They could walk on the top of Everest and have no problem at all.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #PromediagearTR424L, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #WildBirds, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #bhigwanbirdsanctuary, #kumbhargaon, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, #animalsofinstagram, @globalcapture, #barheadedgoose, #goose, #geese

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

Ruddy Shelduck

A striking and distinctive goose like duck with bright ruddy plumage overall and a contrasting pale creamy head and neck. The male has a narrow black neck ring and big white forewing patches striking in flight. Breeds in southeastern Europe and Central Asia, winter in South Asia and often found around saline lakes, reservoirs and agricultural fields.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #PromediagearTR424L, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #WildBirds, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #bhigwanbirdsanctuary, #kumbhargaon, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, #animalsofinstagram, @globalcapture, #ruddyshelduck, #brahminyduck, #wader,

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

Greater Flamingo

Now he paraded forward, now he marched aft. Now he shot up his neck like a periscope and twisted his head first left, then right. He flashed the black petticoat of his under feathers in single- and double-winged salutes. He moonwalked on water, raised a spindled leg balletically, from dégagé position to arabesque. Then honked like indignant geese and rasped like didgeridoos.

For all their public popularity, flamingos turn out to be poorly understood scientifically, and only lately have researchers ventured answers to basic questions like why the birds spend so much time perched on one leg, and contort their heads backward before settling down for the night; how they keep their feathers so “Miami Vice” bright, and select a well-suited mate from the deafening throng.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #BhigwanBirdSanctuary, #Kumbhargaon, #greaterflamingo, #flamingo, #agnipankha, #agnipankhabirdingpoint, #sandipnagare,

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Architecture Siddhartha Mukherjee Architecture Siddhartha Mukherjee

Taj Mahal

Rabindranath Tagore said it is ‘a teardrop on the cheek of eternity’. Rudyard Kipling praised the beauty of the Taj stating it is ‘the embodiment of all things pure’ & Shah Jahan said it made ‘the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes’. No wonder the Taj Mahal is one of the most fascinating architectural marvels in the world. One of three World Heritage Sites in India, it is set in serene Mughal Gardens and stands on a raised marble platform with its back towards the Yamuna River. The four sides of the Taj Mahal exhibit perfect symmetry and feature impressive vaulted arches embellished with Pietra Dura scrollwork, and verses from the Qu’ran in calligraphy using inlaid jasper. The Taj Mahal looks as immaculate today as when it was first built, leaving all who gaze upon it mesmerised.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #architecture, #history, #TajMahal, #Taj, #architecturephotography, #HistoricIndia, #Akbar, #ShahJahan, #MumtazMahal, #MughalArchitecture, #FatehpurSikri, #WonderoftheWorld

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Architecture, Light Painting, Astrophotography Siddhartha Mukherjee Architecture, Light Painting, Astrophotography Siddhartha Mukherjee

Light painting the Bodhisattva

Also known as the 500 Lohan Temple, Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of Bintan’s best hidden treasures. Located in Kijang (South Bintan), the premise is just a short drive away from the main bustling scene of Tanjung Pinang. Step into the temple grounds and be transported into surreal settings of towering structures and the highlight—more than 500 life-sized (Lohan/arhat) stone statues with intricate physique and facial expressions, each one unique and different from the next.

#WildArt.Works, #Photography, #Nightscapes, #Landscapes, #LightPainting, #Astrophotography, #Bintan, #500Lohan

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

Indian Courser

The Indian Courser is an elegant and stately large plover-like bird. It has an erect posture, a strong black-and-white brow pattern, an orange-suffused crown and chest, and slightly down curved dark bill. The Indian Courser inhabits dry open spaces, including rocky plains and arid areas with scattered scrubs and gathers in small flocks outside of the breeding season.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #PromediagearTR424L, #Bird, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #WildBirds, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #bhigwanbirdsanctuary, #kumbhargaon, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, #animalsofinstagram, @globalcapture, #indiancourser, #courser

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

Spotted Owlet

Once again we venture into the grasslands surrounding Kumbhargaon, a nondescript village to the south of Bhigwan, in search of the Spotted Owlets. Surrounding the Ujni backwaters are rich grasslands and fertile farms home to an impressive list of birds, mammals and reptiles. The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) is a small tropical asian owl breeding from mainland India to Southeast Asia and a common resident of open habitats including farmland and human habitation.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #PromediagearTR424L, #Bird, #birdofprey, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #Wildlife, #WildBirds, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #bhigwanbirdsanctuary, #kumbhargaon, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @awpc.hk, #animalsofinstagram, @globalcapture, #spottedowlet, #owl, #raptor,

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

Short-eared Owl

The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread grassland species in the (family Strigidae). Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may not be visible. Asio flammeus will display its tufts when in a defensive pose, although its very short tufts are usually not visible. The short-eared owl is found in open country and grasslands.

#wildartworks, #Canon, #PromediagearTR424L, #Bird, #birdofprey, #Birdinginthewild, #BirdWatching, #naturephotography, #your_best_birds, #planetbirds, #earthcapture, #photo_pond, #earthpix, #naturyst, #conservationphotography, #bhigwan, #bhigwanbirdsanctuary, #kumbhargaon, #yenkathalagrasslands, #yenkathala, #telanganabirds, #indian_wildlifes, #indianwildlifeofficial, #wildlifeonearth, #bbcearth, #natgeowild, #natgeoindia, @globalcapture, #shortearedowl, #owl, #raptor,

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