Critters from my garden

I am posting here after a month. COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire in Bangalore and I am not stepping out. Today after lunch, I saw a beautiful footman moth in my terrace garden. I decided to have a closer look with my Macro lens and check out other critters. Here are a few critters I saw before the sun forced me in... 

Here's Nepita conferta - the footman moth...

One really tiny shield bug...

This one was almost invisible...

Then saw this really colourful long-legged fly...

Another angle...

A grasshopper...

I could find some moth eggs in the underside of a leaf...

An assassin bug?

Common housefly...

A shield bug...

Show stopper of  the day was this Indian Green tortoise beetle...

Hope you liked the post. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...

Monarch and the chicks

Last Saturday, I happened to see the nesting activity of a Black-naped Monarch. Here are a few pics. 

Utmost care should be taken to avoid any harm to the birds during nesting season when they are most vulnerable.

Here are a few guidelines to follow during nest photography:

1. Do some research on the bird's and the chicks' behavior, conservation status etc.

2. Observe and read any signs of distress or fear.

3. Use telephoto lens and shoot from a distance.

4. Protect nest from predators and don't disturb the surroundings.

The black-naped monarch or black-naped blue flycatcher is a slim and agile passerine bird belonging to the family of monarch flycatchers found in southern and south-eastern Asia. They are sexually dimorphic, with the male having a distinctive black patch on the back of the head and a narrow black half collar ("necklace"), while the female is duller with olive brown wings and lacking the black markings on the head.

Male Black-naped monarch...

Female inspecting the nest...

Here's a video of the male Black-naped monarch made from a burst...

Some feeding shots...

I also saw a Tickell's blue flycatcher...

Ended the day with the sighting of a beautiful Little Ringed Plover...

Hope you liked the post. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below...

Birding resumes after lockdown

My last birding trip was on March 14. After being homebound for 3 months due to COVID-19 lockdown, I resumed birding yesterday. Hoskote lake again and what a joy to be there and meet all the lovely birds out there.  Here's a photo tour...

After a week of overcast conditions, the weather decided to smile. Hoskote lake was as cheerful and  inviting as a delicious meal...

A Gray Heron stood stock-still waiting for a fish to pass by. I waited for a while and realized that its patience is far better than mine...

An Intermediate Egret too was focused on fishing...

A Little Grebe emerged with water droplets sticking to it...

An Indian Pond Heron was also focusing with its sharp eyes...

I moved away from the lake and found a Gray-headed Swamphen strolling in the vegetation...

A Paddyfield pipit gulped a worm and I was a bit late to capture the act...

A White-browed Wagtail also moved around looking really busy...

A cute little squirrel was doing Balance Beam gymnastics...

A Red-wattled Lapwing got really agitated on seeing me and started screaming "Pity to do it"....

Then, it flew around screaming aloud...

It came back and sat nearby after a couple of rounds and still screaming. I decided to leave him alone...

It is always nice to see the White-throated Kingfisher...

I saw some activity among the cluster of Baya weaver nests...

A closer look revealed nests at different stages of completion...

A female Baya Weaver turned up after a while, indicating that it has accepted a nest built by a male...

The female Baya Weaver was carrying a strand of grass. The females usually build the interior egg laying chambers...

On the other side, I saw many incomplete nests...

A male Baya Weaver arrived...

He looked around to ensure there's no danger...

An incomplete nest needs attention...

I stood at a distance behind a bush and watched the male Baya weaver meticulously build its nest...

He looks satisfied after a few rounds of touching up...

A Jerdon's Bushlark was singing in sweet whistles...

It was nice to see one more White-browed Wagtail...

A Net-winged beetle...

Back at the lake the Gray heron was still standing still...

An Intermediate egret and a Painted stork almost collided while on their fishing expedition...

Finally, patience paid and the Gray heron got something to eat...

The common water hyacinth is invading a part of the lake and needs weeding. The flowers of the weed are so lovely though...

I saw a juvenile Gray-headed swamphen tailing his mother...

The mother caught a grasshopper and promptly fed the chick...

The Gray-headed swamphen chick looked energized after the small meal...

That was a satisfying birding trip after a long break of 3 months. Hope you liked the post. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below...