River Lapwing , Vanellus duvaucelli (Linnaeus)

Photographs taken near Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, Dist-Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Its size is slightly greater than that of a francolin.It is an obvious cousin of the Red-wattled Lapwing.It is vinous grey and light brown above and on the breast, and white below.Forehead,crown, occipital crest and throat are black bordered with white.A black patch on the abdomen and rump and tail are white with a broad black tip to latter.On ground the hunched posture with the head and neck almost furtively drawn in is a notable feature.In flight a large white patch or bar on the wing , black wing tips and and white pattern on head are the diagnostic features.Both sexes appear alike.


They can be found as pairs or small parties on the sand-banks and shingle beds of large rivers.They are distributed over a large portion of northern and eastern India .They are distributed in the western UP. Nepal, Bhutan, NE states,Bangladesh and Myanmar .Towards south they are distributed in western MP and Andhra Pradesh.Their territory also extends in the Indo-Chinese sub-region.They are not seen in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.Their habitat is almost always the shoals and sand banks in larger rivers.
Their call is a single-noted high-pitched insistent , tee tee tee.

The pointed black horny spur on the bend of the wing could be an effective weapon of offence, but it has not been observed to be so used.
Its nesting season is March to June .The nest is a shallow scrape in the sand on an exposed river bank .Eggs are 3-4 olive stone or yellowish stone , blotched and spotted with shades of brown and black.

This River Lapwing has been photographed near the Rihand dam, Bijpur,Dist-Sonbhadra, UP,India

Black Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa (Temminck)

Its local name is Baza,Kala Baza , Karan kul(Hindi)
It is a large black bird with long down-curved bill, a conspicuous white patch near the shoulder and brick red legs.It has a naked black head with a triangular patch of crimson warts on the crown.Both sexes appear alike.They can be found as pairs or scattered parties on the open countryside..They are distributed in the drier portions of the Indian union (excepting the western seaboard) south to Karnataka,Pakistan,and Bangladesh(rare). Not seen in Sri Lanka.Their closely allied specie P.davisoni occurs in Myanmar.
They are often found in the neighbourhoods of rivers and jheels but by no means they are so dependent on water as the Oriental white Ibis.They can feed around the dry margin ,higher up and in the surrounding stubble and fallow land.They keep to favoured localities and roosts in accustomed trees .Parties fly in V-formation with steady wing beats alternated with short glides.
It feeds on insects , grains and small reptiles .

This Black Ibis has been photographed near the Rihand reservoir ,Rock point, Bijpur, Dist-Sonbhadra, UP,India
Its call is a loud nasal screaming cry of 2 or 3 notes reminiscent of the Brahminy Sheldrake.The call is uttered mostly on the wings.
Its nesting season is ill-defined.It is March to October in North India and November-December in the south.Its nest is large cup-shaped made up of twigs and lined up with straw, feathers etc.The nest is high up in the tree , generally away from water , built singly (not in colonies or amongst heronries).It also sometimes utilises the old nests of eagles or vultures.Eggs are 2 to 4 , bright pale green , either unmarked or with spots and streaks of brown.

Black Ibis at Tadoba National Park, Chandrapur,Maharashtra

Black Shouldered Kite , Elanus caeruleus(Desfontaines)

It is locally known as Kapassi (Hindi, Bengali).
It is the size of approximately a house crow. A dainty hawk , ash grey above , white below with a black line above the eyes .The black patches on the shoulder are conspicuous at rest as well as in flight.When closed , the wing tips extend beyond the short,square white tail.
It is distributed patchily throughout the Indian union from the base of the Himalayas,and in Nepal,Bangaladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.It is resident and locally migratory.
Its habits are rather crepuscular, but also active during daytime.It inhabits well wooded country and cultivation,and also thin decidious forests and grasslands.It avoids dense jungles as well as arid plains.It keeps to a favoured locality, perched on the same pole or tree-top from day to day , whence to keep a lookout and pounce upon the crawling prey.It has a sluggish , slow flight with deliberate wing strokes alternated with short glides. It cocks its tail from time to time , jerking it up and down between the drooping wings.It hovers in mid-air to scan the ground.At the site of a prey it parachutes down in steps, with motionless wings raised vertically above the body till when only a few feet above closes them and drops on the quarry , bearing it away in its claws.Its food consists of locusts,crickets,mice,lizards etc.
Call : A shrill squeal , seldom heard.
Nesting : Nesting season is practically all the year.Its nest is loose and untidy like that of a crow.It is made up of twigs and some-times lined up with roots and grass in small trees. Eggs are 3 to 4 , yellowish-white , densely blotched with brownish red.Both sexes share in domestic duties.

This Black Shouldered Kite has been photographed at the Rock point , near Rihand nagar,Bijpur, Dist-Sonbhadra , UP , India

Indian Roller (Coracious benghalensis)

This Indian Roller was spotted at the lake , off the Baran bridge, Bijpur,Dist-Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A striking Oxford-and-Cambridge-blue bird with big head, heavy black bill, rufous-brown breast , and pale blue abdomen and under tail.Its size is roughly that of a pigeon.The dark and blue portions of the wings show up as brilliant bands in flight.Both sexes appear alike.They are typically seen singly perched on telegraph wires etc preferably in open cultivated country.They are distributed practically throughout the Indian union Their habitat is open cultivated country and light deciduous forests. From a lookout on a telegraph wire or other point of vantage it pounces upon some large insect,frog or lizard on the ground returning with it either on the same perch or flying leisurely across to another nearby.Here the quarry is battered to death and swallowed.This bird is highly beneficial for agriculture since it destroys large quantities of harmful insects.It has a variety of loud,raucous croaks and chuckles.Indulges in spectacular courtship displays , somersaulting and nose diving in the air to the accompaniment of harsh grating screams. Nesting season is chiefly from March to July .Its nest is a collection of straw , rags and rubbish in a natural tree-hollow at moderate heights ,also sometimes a hole in the wall of a building.




Photographs taken at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Chandrapur, Maharashtra

Indian Pond Heron (Ardreola grayii)

Indian Pond Heron (Ardreola grayii) is commonly known as Bagla,Andha Bagla, Chama Bagla, Khunch Bagla etc in India.It is an egret like marsh bird chiefly earthy brown when at rest , but with glistening white wings , tail and rump flashing into prominence as soon as it flies.In breeding season it acquires a maroon hairlike plumes on back , and long white occipital crest.Sexes are alike.They are found singly or loose parties at jheels or ponds.Their distribution is throughout the Indian union.They are found where ever there is water,river, jheel ,road-side ditch,kutchaa well or temple pond , often even in the midst of a populous town,also they are found on the sea-coast in mangrove swamps,tidal mud-flats etc.
Its normal method of feeding is to stand hunched up at the water's edge, watching patiently for movement and jabbing at the quarry when opportunity offers.Sometimes it wades into the shallows , moving forward stealthily and with circumspection, neck craned and bill poised in readiness.It feeds on frogs,fish,crabs and insects.Its flight is typically with steady wing beats and neck pulled in.It roosts in large leafy trees in mixed congregations of crows and other birds.
Nesting season is chiefly from May to September(SW monsoon) and the nest is a untidy twig platform like that of a crow and situated in a large mango ,tamarind and such like trees shared with other egrets.
The photographs of this Indian Pond Heron has been taken at the lake near Baran bridge, Bijpur,Dist-Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh , India.

White Breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis )

This Kingfisher has been spotted near Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Rihand) lake in Sonbhadra district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.

The White Breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis ) is locally known as Kilkila or Kourilla in Hindi.Its size is between a Myna and a Pigeon.It has a brilliant turquoise blue colour with a deep chocolate-brown head , neck and underparts , a consicuous white 'shirt front' and long heavy pointed red bill .It has a white wing patch prominent in flight.It is found singly in cultivated and wooden country both near and away from water.Their distribution is in the plains and the lower hills thorough out the Indian Union.

They are seen at ponds,puddles , rain-filled ditches , inundated paddy fields and near the seashore.Also seen in light forests at considerable distances from water.From a favorite lookout from a telegraph wire or post, it pounces down on creeping prey and flies off with it to another perch nearby where the victim is battered to death and swallowed.Its common food is fish , tadpoles, lizard, grasshoppers and other insects.Occasionally also young bird and mice.
Its sound is loud crackling and chiefly heard during flight.Also it has a loud, not unmusical, frequently repeated chattering song , delivered from a tree-top or some exposed elevated perch.
Its nesting is principally from March to July and the nest is typically a horizontal tunnel in the ground , dug into the side of a dry nullah or earth cutting.

 A Kingfisher spotted at Periyar National Park, Kerla