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Look Away First, You Lose!

Blogging has taken a back seat because we're in the process of moving to a new residence. Woodwork, painting, and the like are devouring my evenings. 


We had some intermittent rain, and on a very overcast morning, I ventured to Saul Kere for a short birdwatching trip. Here are some photos from the trip.



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A dense, overcast sky threatened rain, spilling a few drops every now and then.



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Undeterred by the slight rain and overcast skies, the joggers and birdwatchers of Saul Kere continued their pursuits.



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The rain and wind scattered a carpet of gulmohar flowers beneath the tree.



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A brahminy kite circled overhead, searching for fish in the water below.



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...and with a swift dive, it plucked a fish from the water.




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I watched a black-winged stilt couple. One would turn its head for a serious chat, only to be met with the other stilt giving it the cold shoulder. Then, in a blink, the roles would reverse, with the first stilt getting the silent treatment. It was a never-ending game of "look away first, you lose!




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Having gorged itself on a hearty fish, the brahminy kite seemed to be unwinding, its gaze lazily scanning the horizon.




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Rain brings new leaves.



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A grey heron's patience put mine to shame. It waited so long and so still for a fish, I couldn't keep up.



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The great cormorant next to the little egret was like a goth hanging out with a ballerina.



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Another test of patience with a grey heron. Obviously I failed.



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A spotted-dove elegantly perched in the foliage.



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A gaggle of great cormorants, wings spread wide, attempted their best Titanic pose. 




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Always a treat to encounter a red-vented bulbul, especially during their breeding season when the males are particularly vocal.



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With a nervous flick of its tail, a shy white-breasted waterhen emerged and then disappeared.



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The black drongo, known for its mimicry, perched on a branch, calling out in a variety of sounds.



...and then launched itself into a swift dive.




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And then, the showstopper of the day arrived! So close that I had to step back to focus better on this stunning oriental magpie-robin.





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Completely unfazed by my presence, it snatched a lizard.





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Yet another spotted dove! They were everywhere today.



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Last sighting: a white-cheeked barbet.



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I hope you enjoyed this post! Share your thoughts in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.


42 comments:

  1. Brahminy kite looks so special and unique.

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  2. Hope your new house is coming along nicely and that the actual move will go smoothly. It’s good to squeeze in a little time for birding though.

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  3. Wonderful shots again specially that oriental magpei-robin close-up.

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  4. Excellent photos.I hope everythings goes well with the moving.

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  5. Brilliant captures!
    Best wishes for smooth moving..

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  6. Best wishes for the new home. Yes, thats many work with it...

    ...fantastic scenes again here with the different birds!

    Greetings by Heidrun

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  7. Congratulations on these beautiful photographs again! I wish you all the best in your new home. Blessings and Aloha friend

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  8. Good luck getting things in order for moving. It can be a lot of work but a good opportunity to clear out things you don't need...Michelle

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  9. Again, your shots are amazing. HOpe you settle well in your new home.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  10. Hello Shiju,
    Beautiful series of photos of which the Brahminy Kite and the Eastern Magpie Robin are my favorites.
    I wish you the best of luck with the move.
    Greetings Irma

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  11. so beautiful. All of your birds. I hardly see, or hear any anymore. :( I hope you like your new home.

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  12. Amazing birds, Great photos.

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  13. Nothing fun about moving, except when you really settle in and enjoy it — good luck with your work on the new place! Your photos as always are really enjoyable and fascinating. I just read a novel set in Bangalore, and mentioned your blog in my review today.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  14. Wow, as busy as you are you still got some great photos!!

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  15. The brahminy kite looks very beautiful. Good luck with your new residence!

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  16. Moving is exhausting, I agree... but also worth it (hopefully - after all the stress we found out the kid above plays basketball right above where I sit right now, then some dinosour-like stomping guys moved in... etc etc, wishing you more luck!).
    Wow on the colorful leaves.
    Wonderful shot of the kite. And fun story of those two birds!
    OK, I learned you are not very patient ;-)
    I may again repeat myself.. .you are a great photographer. The drongo taking off... wow.
    Oh, that seems to be a tiny magpie. The Aussie ones are bigger and look different, too.
    Yes, thank you, I did enjoy this post! Have a great Saturday with maybe not too much work...

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  17. Congrats on your new home, I hope your move is going smoothly. Awesome collection of birds and beautiful photos.
    The Brahminy Kite is a beauty. The Stilts are lovely. The Magpie Robin is a pretty bird. All the photos are lovely, another great post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend

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  18. You got amazing photos of the magpie-robin! WOW! And I'm happy for you and your move. How exciting. Don't work too hard!

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  19. Interesting and sharp photos of the birds, and a beautiful tree. It is of great concern that the fjord near my home nearly is empty for fish. Where shall all the seagulls and other fish-eating birds go?
    Good luck with the moving!

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  20. "the cormorant next to the little egret was like a goth hanging out with a ballerina" made me laugh out loud, what a great description!! the pictures of the magpie robin are nothing short of stellar, they are really spectacular!! moving sucks, it is why i still live in the same home for 40 years. i have decided my kids can throw all of my "stuff" away!! awesome photography!!

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  21. The new leaves photograph is very beautiful. Thank you for sharing all your beautiful photographs with the rest of the world. Be well, Shiju!

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  22. Wow, lots of great pics! Love the magpie-robin pics, so much detail, perfect shots!

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  23. Amazing photos a lots too thanks for sharing, I hope your moving went or is going ok 👍

    Have a birdtastic week 👍

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  24. Beautiful collection of photos. I see a lot of cormorants here in Sydney. Although I am not much of a bird watcher, my facorite are the black swans that visit the lake in the neighbourhood.

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  25. ...Shiju, thanks for taking me along to see Mother Nature's treasures. I hope that we can do it again.

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  26. Beautiful captures of the birds, very nice to see. Good luck with the moving.

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  27. Wow! So many awesome birds and fantastic photography ~ thanks, Good luck with your moving to new home ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. Best of luck settling into your new home. It is a lot of work, but is worth it! Thank you for linking up these fantastic shots.

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  29. Stunningly gorgeous images!
    Thank you for sharing at https://bethere2day.com/wwoat-fully-trained/

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  30. Despite your busy schedule with the move, you've managed to capture such incredible moments.
    The photo of the oriental magpie-robin is stunning.
    Good luck with settling into your new home—I hope it brings you lots of joy and inspiration for more beautiful photography.

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  31. Moving can be overwhelming; I moved in January and didn't blog much for a while afterwards. Beautiful photos!

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  32. So fresh and so beautiful your images! Lovely and precious!
    Happy WW and a fine week!

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  33. So very beautiful. Love these photos.

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  34. Beautiful autumn Landscapes! And the birds are exceptionally surprised!🥰
    Happy WW 🤗

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  35. Your're right, the magpie-robin is quite stunning. Great photos!
    And it all looks so lush and green now after that dry spell.
    Hope everything goes well with your move 😺

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  36. Lovely scenes again. Congratulations on the move, on the new apartment. Yes, there is a lot of work to do.

    Thank you for your lovely contribution to MosaicMonday. Hugs from Heidrun and I wish you a pleasant week

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  37. Bird lovers would always love to come to read your blog

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  38. The photos of the magpie robin with the lizard in its mouth are incredible!
    Herons and cormorants are probably my two favourite birds. They are the most interesting birds we see in the UK.

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  39. Moving is always such hard work - I hope that you adore your new place. Your photos, as always, are stunning. Happy new home! Thanks for taking part and sharing your snaps with #MySundaySnapshot.

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  40. I love the shot of carpet of Gulmohar tree, in my city we have same blooms of Gulmohar , Amaltas and Jacaranda on the paths . I enjoyed the snippet about Oriental magpie robbin bird. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.

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  41. Moving is so much work but worth it in the end...I do love the herons....so prehistoric looking....Michelle

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