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