NatureStop: April 2012

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Co-existence...

Last December, as we were visiting folks back home in Assam(India)we had to visit our favourite Kaziranga National Park, which is a World Heritage Site.The park hosts two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses..
These shots below are however taken from the road so we were not able to get close shots of the birds but we just wanted to share what we saw and it really a great feeling to see all birds and animals co-existing in nature.We also did not want to crop the pictures and take away the beauty...Hope you all enjoy seeing them as much as we did...

This is the road to Kaziranga.

Mustard fields all around...

On our way back we stopped wherever we spotted wildlife...we first spotted this One Horned Rhino.If you take a closer look at the pictures below you maybe able to spot the swamp deer, some ducks as well the Cattle Egret.

While the wild water buffaloes laze in the morning sun the monkeys(are they???)roam around...

A Spot-billed Pelican is near by...

Great Adjutant Stork in flight...

We also spotted this Lesser Adjutant Stork along with the Asian Openbill Stork and the Cattle Egret.

This picture here has has Greater and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Cattle Egrets, Indian Pond Heron,Wooly necked Stork and maybe a Serpent Eagle...

And finally the water lilies..

Thank you Springman for hosting World Bird Wednesday.To check out for more birds please visit http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/.Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Asian Openbill Stork ,Assam(India).

The Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans) is a large wading bird in the stork family . This distinctive stork is found mainly in and around the Indian subcontinent. It is mainly greyish white with glossy black wings and tail and the adults have the beak with a narrow gap formed by the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible. Young birds are born without a gap in the bill and this structure is thought to be an adaptation that aids them handle snails. Although mostly resident within their range, they make long distance movements in response to weather and food availability.

We spotted quite a number of these Asian Openbill Storks as we drove around Assam in India last December.

We saw this one flying high up and followed till it landed on the tree...

We also spotted this Greater Adjutant Stork along with the Asian Openbill Stork.

Thank you Springman for hosting World Bird Wednesday.To check out for more birds please visit http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/.Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Mosaic Monday:Scenic Switzerland

These pictures were taken on our vacation to scenic Switzerland last August.

Thank you Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday.Do check out more mosaics at Little Red House Enjoy and have a great Monday!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

White-throated Kingfisher Assam, India.

The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher which is a tree kingfisher. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season they call loudly in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.

The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the White-throated Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.

These images of the White-throated Kingfisher were taken when we were in India(Assam) visiting family last December.

http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/is where you can check out for more birds.Thank you Springman for hosting World Bird Wednesday!!Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Lesser Adjutant Stork.

Last December when we were visiting our family in India(Assam) we were driving down a stretch in Nagaon when we spotted this Lesser Adjutant Stork .
We parked the car to get a few shots.

When we later downloaded the images we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Lesser Adjutant Stork was actually devouing a snake...

Do check out more birds at http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/. Enjoy and have a great Wednesday!