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Yet another birding trip to Saul Kere

The astoundingly good sightings from last week made me revisit Saul Kere lake this week. I was treated with some exceptional scenes. Here are the pics...

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As I began the walk, I saw several Pied Bushchats. Here's a female...
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I saw a pair of Spotted Dove having a moment of intimacy...
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I watched their courtship display flight, involving taking off at a steep angle with a loud clapping of wings and then slowly gliding down with the tail spread out...
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An Oriental Garden lizard happily occupied a White-cheek Barbet's nest hole on a coconut tree...
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A Black Drongo flew in with its insect breakfast...
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A Green Bee-eater swooped around for insects...
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I caught just one glimpse of a White-breasted Waterhen...
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A squirrel was busy branch hopping...
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A male Purple-rumped Sunbird flew in...
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A young boy (Vedant) was able to follow the Sunbird's flight to its nest. The nest was cleverly hidden in the foliage...
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Once again a Green Bee-eater caught my attention...
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A Red-vented Bulbul was seen sitting on a barbed-wire fence...
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A cat made an abortive bid to hunt the bulbul...
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A Grey-headed Swamphen was trying to untangle its feet stuck in the reed...
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I watched till it got out of the mess...

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A Juvenile Red-whiskered Bulbul was seen. It lacks the red patch behind the eye...
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I found a Scaly-breasted Munia next...
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And a Purple Heron was doing its usual skulking act...
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Another Black drongo was seen...
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A White-cheeked Barbet was using its bill to excavate nest cavity in a dry tree, probably necessitated by the squatter lizard...
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I saw the Brahminy Kite I had seen last week at the same location...
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The last bird of the day was an Ashy Prinia...
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A Painted Snipe refused to show up from behind a bush despite waiting for close to 20 minutes. That was probably my only disappointment of the morning. Hope you liked the post. I look forward to your thoughts.

Do join me on Instagram at @shijuvenate



41 comments:

  1. What a great series of photos of the different birds.
    The courtship photos of this Spotted Dove are truly amazing.
    I wish you a nice weekend.
    Greetings Irma

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  2. A fine post with a series of high quality images. I am sure that you are now well-equipped to contribute a section to a textbook on avian mating!

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  3. Hello,
    Another great outing, so many beautiful birds and photos. Wonderful series on the Spotted Doves. Neat capture of the lizard looking out of the nesting hole. I could not pick a favorite, I loved all of your photos. Great post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  4. The watercolor application to some of your pictures is nice. Love seeing all the wildlife you pictured here. The kite looks more like an eagle with that huge bill and those all knowing eyes. The doves are fancy with those spots. Enjoyed all the pictures, but it makes me sad when I see a cat loose and able to attack birds.

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  5. Always loved your photos, Thanks for all pics.

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  6. I'm loving your pictures again. The Spotted Doves are just beautiful and now I can't remember if I saw them in Goa. I hope so. Nicely done, the lizard peeping out. And you can even make a naughty old cat look interesting. Hope it didn't take any birds? I always shoo cats away from my birding places.

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  7. Are you an artist as well? I love your photos and the first two are amazing with the photos put together. Love the Sunbird and the lizard is a neat capture! Happy weekend!

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    1. I do watercolor, but these are created using Photoshop.

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  8. ...Shiju you saw a fabulous collection and the Spotted Dove with their wings spread are my favorites. Your watercolors are wonderful.

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  9. so many beautiful photos I don't know where to start - just a wonderful post today

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  10. Amazing set of photos, I love the lizard peering out of the barbet's nest and the birds of prey always appeal to me.
    Keep well, Diane

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  11. Thanks so much for sharing with us birders this weekend. Have fun birding!!

    Nature shown in perfection!! In every way

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  12. Stunning photos!
    I did not expect to see a lizard among all the bird shots. x

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  13. Amazing photos, especially of the Brahminy Kite with its wings out from its body. I always enjoy seeing what you have photographed. The beginning photo is pretty creative.

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  14. Hi Shiju, You really have some great photos here. I am happy to have found your blog. It is a real pleasure looking through your photos. Wishing you a fine week ahead. John

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  15. You take great photos. They are all beautiful. I like the close ups of birds and cat.

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  16. Beautiful paintings and photos. Nice cat.

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  17. So many amazing images, but it's the happy lizard that really makes me smile. Thanks!

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  18. Beautiful photos! I always enjoy seeing your pictures of the bee-eaters. We see a lot of bulbuls here but a different variety, the white-spectacled bulbul.

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  19. What a fab set of photos loved the arty ones too :-)

    Have an artistictastic week 👍

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  20. Positively stunning! You have such talent.
    Thank you for joining us this week at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/08/warm-strawberry-puff.html

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  21. Lovely photos! I am particularly partial to the ones of the hunting cat.

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  22. The photos are a joy to see. I have no idea how you managed to capture the mating display of the doves.

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  23. wow. that is a lot of stunning shots. Love the Spotted Dove images. They are such beautiful birds. :)
    Some birds seemed to be "out of place" a waterhen in a thorny shrubbery?
    The Brahminy Kite, such a stunning bird. And the squirrel, in such a cute position. :)
    Thanks for sharing it all.

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    Replies
    1. The tree it is sitting on is in the water. Convenient to spot prey from there.

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  24. Hi Shiju,
    I want to thank you from the deep of my heart for visiting my Blog and writing such lovely words of appreciation.
    In your shots you've caught such stunning creatures and moments of their days which amazed me, thank you for sharing it all with us!
    Wishing you a most wonderful remainder of your week
    Xx Daniela at ~ My little old world ~

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  25. Shiju, really like the swamphens, their colors are so artsy:) All excellent shot but I want to mention the bird at the nest, and the squirrel, and cat. Had no idea people kept house cats where you live. Is this artwork yours? It is beautiful!! If it is yours, have you thought on selling it? It's really good enough!
    Emille (Jesh)

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    1. Jesh, the artwork is created using Photoshop. I do watercolor paintings, but I am still learning the tricks and haven't reached the level where I can even think of selling.

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  26. outstanding...but the courtship of the doves really stole the show for me!!

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  27. Oh wow to your images both photoshopped and real!! Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is Time. I hope to see you link up again. Warmest wishes, Denyse.

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  28. Your pictures never fail to raise my spirits. Simply beautiful.

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  29. Wonderful! It's as if I could reach out and touch these creatures!

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  30. That's a great selection of beautiful photos, especially those of the doves.

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  31. Beautiful series..Your pictures are amazing..Love the Doves in flight..Have a wonderful weekend.

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  32. You have really seen something extraordinary. I especially like the photos of the pigeons' courtship flight. The oriental garden lizard - what a discovery! - I think it was looking for bird eggs? I love cats, but right now I'm glad it's attempt to hunt the Bulbul failed ... Fortunately, the Swamphen managed to break free. Would you have helped her if not? Lots of wonderful animal sightings, and it's wonderful that you saw the Brahminy Kite again!
    All the best from Austria,
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/08/tagesausflug-in-die-wachau-von-romern.html

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  33. The doves are stunning and I love the photos of the bird trying to save its own foot.
    Your paintings are beautiful too.

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  34. Amazing! I almost couldn't stop looking at the Dove series -- so very beautiful. All are wonderful.

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  35. Positively stunning! You have such talent.

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  36. Great shots of the wings in Action! #Keithsramblings

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