Monthly Archives: January 2010

Rann of Kutch: Day 1 – Arrival

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Steppe Eagle in Banni Grasslands

Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis

This time I kept a daily journal of our trip and I am reproducing it here as it was written without any changes…

21st Jan, 2010: We started from home at 7:50am, a wee bit late by my estimate but Swati was cool with it so I did not say anything. Flight was on time, Security people did not question too much about the Camera gear we were carrying.

We had a 3-hour layover at Mumbai, while on the customary “browse the bookstore” round I found a new book by Richard Bach “Hypnotizing Maria” – more on that book perhaps in a separate post later. The flight to Bhuj was delayed by an hour. As we came into land at Bhuj, Aasim remarked, “Looks like we are landing in middle of no where!” We got out of the aircraft to the thundering sound of fighter jets on low flying sorties. The Indian Air Force shares the Bhuj airport. Continue reading →

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-31

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Bird list from Kutch visit, 21st Jan 2010 to 28th Jan 2010

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Am sure I have missed some larks and warblers which I just didn’t care to note and a few waders which I could not identify. The thing I am most thrilled about is having 37 lifers

  1. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
  2. Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus – Lifer
  3. Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
  4. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
  5. Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica
  6. Gadwall Anas strepera
  7. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
  8. Common Teal Anas crecca
  9. Garganey Anas querquedula
  10. Northern Pintail Anas acuta
  11. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
  12. Yellow-crowned Woodpecker  Dendrocopus mahrattensis
  13. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
  14. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
  15. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Read the complete list of 160

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-24

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-17

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-10

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My first photo of 2010

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Banzai!!! - Explored

Banzai!! A Black-winged kite launches for an attack

I just realized that this was the first photo that I took in 2010. We were on our regular morning walk and the roads were pretty much deserted. This particular fellow we have been tracking since it was a juvenile just out of the nest. Usually raptors are very camera shy but this individual I would like to think knows us and likes to pose ;-)

This photo also made it to Flickr explore on 6th Jan 2010

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

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Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) or outside Asia, African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae (“Milkweed butterflies”) subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae.

It is believed to be one of the first butterflies to be used in art. A 3500 year old Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest illustration of this species.

The Plain Tiger can be considered the archetypical danaine of India. Accordingly, this species has been studied with in greater detail than other members of its subfamily occurring in India.

See an earlier post on Striped Tiger (Danaus genutia)

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danaus_chrysippus

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-03

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