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lenstrails

Nature & Wildlife enthusiast. Traveller. Photographer.

The quick brown fox.. (Read time ~1 min)⁣ ⁣ #m

The quick brown fox.. (Read time ~1 min)⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Desert Fox @lenstrails . ⁣
As you would expect, it took us quite some time to realise there was a fox observing us from a distance. We were busy that winter morning looking for the most sought after and critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (bird).⁣
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Not surprisingly, when I first noticed the fox, my eyes were keen on the tail. The white tipped-tail is one of the easiest giveaway differentiators between this and the more common Indian fox.⁣
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The previous encounter (read here - link in bio - http://www.lenstrails.com/the-tail-that-mattered/) wasn’t clear and this was my best bet. While it finally turned out to be “the Desert fox” I was looking for, the icing on the cake was the habitat. With all this running on my mind, before I got back to senses the fox had already left the scene. ⁣
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I urged the driver to get moving, within a few minutes we spotted this shy creature again. With my reflexes at day’s best, I grabbed the camera and the viewfinder did complete justice showcasing the bright shining coat of the canidae in the morning golden hour. One-two clicks and I bid goodbye to one of the most spectacular species found in the Thar.⁣
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Place: Somewhere in the Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: December 2018⁣ ⁣
For other nature and wildlife stories, continue to visit lenstrails.com
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#wildlifephotography #earthcapture #forest #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifesafari #wildlife_inspired #mammalsofinstagram
#wildlifeindia #ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer #indianwildlifeofficial #wildlifeplanet  #natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #nif #natureinfocus #desertfox #desertnationalpark #wildlifeblog #photostory #habitat

When the light photobombed..⁣ ⁣ #macro_wednesd

When the light photobombed..⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring the Bicolored Frog @lenstrails . ⁣
It is never enough said when it comes to nature and wildlife, but many a times “enough clicked”.⁣
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On several occasions I have stopped my fellow photographers from clicking further. This comes as a learning from one of my first macro photography expeditions, several years ago - then, I too was a culprit of this crime. Not caring about the impact, knowingly or unknowingly I was sucked into the whirlpool of photographer’s greed. Greed to make the “best’ image, with “best” composition, best exposure, best of what not. ⁣
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Thankfully, at this exact time my speed light decided to throw an overpowered burst of light. The review image clearly disappointed me which led me to scroll back. Well, I had had already clicked the best (so called) to my skill and ability, so what was the need to click more!? I grumbled to myself. This led to a series of thoughts on the impact of my footprint, ecological disturbance I could be causing, how I could be blinding these nocturnal species and so on.. Ashamed, I shut shop and let the frog be.⁣
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This awkwardly exposed image will hang on my wall for time immemorial - reminding me of what not to do!⁣
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PS: I have had the opportunity to observe this endangered beauty on many occasions since then. You can find those photostories on my previous feeds.⁣
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Place: Agumbe, Karnataka, India⁣
Season: June 2017⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, continue to visit lenstrails.com
.

#macrophotography #macro_brilliance #macro_perfection #macroclique #macro_vision #wms_macro #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#wildlifeindia #ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #bicolouredfrog #200thpost #agumbe #wildkarnataka #wildlifeblogger #overexposed #photostory #conservation #westernghats

Not as Sparrow as it looks⁣ ⁣ #birding_tuesday

Not as Sparrow as it looks⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Alpine Accentor @lenstrails .
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Hounded by doubt, I was little sure of any species that would be this similar to a house sparrow. But for the clear giveaway of underbelly color and the altitude where we found it, I would have easily mistaken this bird to be a sparrow at first sight.⁣
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Alpine accentor, a fellow birder whispered and I hesitantly stepped in that direction. Photographing birds seemed a far fetched idea - considering it was lunch time, perhaps my stomach and mind were conspiring against me. I progressed nevertheless and wow, a male stopped by to pose in full display of his not so different summer colours.⁣
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These birds were rather unafraid of our presence or movement. Barring some customary display of sadism (hopping around a not so very photography friendly area), this passerine seemed little interested in us and went on with his daily chores.⁣
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After a good fifteen minutes did he bother to take off and I was relieved that I could finally hit the lunch table. Today, as I write this I so wish I could have spent more time with this little beauty.⁣
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Place: Chopta, Uttarakhand, India⁣
Date: April 2018⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
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#bestbirdsofinstagram #nuts_about_birds #wildlifeplanet #birding #birdstagram #yourbestbirds #birdfreaks #birdwatching #birdlovers
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer #indianwildlifeofficial  #natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #himalayas #himalayanbirds #choptabirding #alpineaccentor #accentor #habitatshot #photostory #photostorytelling #wildlifeblogger

The journey must continue.. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #nature_

The journey must continue.. ⁣⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails ⁣⁣
In these trying times, struggling between priorities and battling reasonable expectations (from my nine year old), I thought of escaping into the solace of my notes to write something.⁣⁣
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Incidentally, the random folder I clicked threw open this image from Tal Chappar made a couple of years ago. I found this symbolic to how it is all about the journey. How we continue to negotiate every stretch with hope and expectations to bump into something, something that will pleasantly surprise us, something that will pull us out of this. We shall overcome this as well, yes we shall.⁣⁣
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Place: Tal Chappar, Rajasthan, India⁣⁣⁣
Date: November 2018⁣⁣⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#naturelover #naturegram #naturephotography #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeo #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #talchappar #rajasthandiaries #safariblogger #photostory #wildlifeblogger #mondaymotivation #storyofhope #wildlifeblogger

The runner.⁣ ⁣ #birding_tuesday featuring the

The runner.⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Cream-colored courser @lenstrails . ⁣
The name Courser is derived from a Latin word, synonymous to runner. Which is what you will find them doing most of the time.. ⁣
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Migratory in the north western part of the subcontinent, this bird was on my ‘must watch’ list during my visit to Rajasthan that year. Two of the three days had passed and there was no sign of this bird. What made it difficult was the colour of the bird and the habitat it prefers. The image gives away, what I mean.⁣
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Finally towards the day closing, the long legged beauty gave us the audience. Not just legs, their wings are long too making it apt for distant migration. However, on close observation - their down curved beak is what stands out. They primarily feed on insects on ground and the beak shape has evolved to support this diet.⁣
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Place: Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: December 2018⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com⁣
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#bestbirdsofinstagram #nuts_about_birds #wildlifeplanet #birding #birdstagram #yourbestbirds #birdfreaks #birdwatching #birdlovers ⁣
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer #indianwildlifeofficial  #natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #creamcolouredcourser #photostory #wildlifeblogger #desertnationalpark #rajasthanbirding

Unending Himalayas.. ⁣ ⁣ #nature_monday @lenst

Unending Himalayas.. ⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails . ⁣
Returning from a day long birding escapade, we were on our way back to the discomfort of stay at a much chillier altitude. Only expected solace was the hot phulkas and dal that awaited us for dinner. ⁣
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However, that evening felt peculiarly longer, the setting sun seemed to be at leisure, and unlike the last couple of days my watch wasn’t lying when it read 17.30. Gradually, the scene started to get dramatic and the landscape photographer in me sprung into action. Just one click and I knew the magic was frozen in the frame. ⁣
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This is one of my favourite images from the Himalayas. Every time I devour it, I just can’t wait to get back to the mountains.⁣
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Place: Somewhere near Chopta, Uttarakhand, India⁣⁣
Date: April 2018⁣⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#naturelover #naturegram #naturephotography #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeo #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #himalayansunset #photostory #photoessay #sunrise_sunset_photogroup #loveforsunsets #chopta #uttarakhand_beauty #uttarakhand_travel_diaries

The rolling muntjac.. (Read time ~2 min)⁣⁣ ⁣

The rolling muntjac.. (Read time ~2 min)⁣⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Indian Muntjac commonly known as the Barking Deer @lenstrails .
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Eight hours for 250 kms is what it took by road from Sattal to Chopta. Until this trip, I had always boasted of being immune to motion sickness in twistees. Here, I didn’t throw up, but neither did I settle well. Himalayan journeys are at an all together next level and we all know that.⁣⁣
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The very next morning of our arrival, after a sought after date with the Himalayan Monal, we took to the ghats back from Chopta towards Chopta-Pokhari Road. The beauty about birding in the mountains is it varies at every step (read as altitude), and you get to observe a specific set of birds at each of these levels. And we were behind that indulgence.⁣⁣
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After a couple of turns we saw a shining brown coat at a distance. Even before we made any assumptions, this beautiful Muntjac showed up. The expression on it’s face was as if we were between a child and her candy. Understanding the emotion, we moved on to the next twistee to explore some more Himalayan woodpeckers and tree creepers (bird). Heard a few steps rustle in the woods and there it was again, the same Muntjac. ⁣⁣
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The scars on her body not only reminded us of what a survivor she was but also helped ID track her. This twists and turns catch-catch game continued for a good kilometre or more and neither of us seemed to be in a mood to give-up. She was catching up with an astonishing pace, as if on rolling skates. Not sure if it was plain curiosity or something more but looked like she enjoyed this game more than we did. This image was made just before she gave a final look to the heart’s content and then moved on.⁣⁣
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Barking deer gets it’s name from the bark-like alarm call that it makes when threatened. Another unique trait to this species is that it is omnivorous. ⁣⁣
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Though it has a decent distribution across the subcontinent, it is not common to get a clear look at this beauty due to it’s secretive behaviour. Making this experience and the images I created even more special for me.

An accident called LIFE! (Read time: ~2 min)⁣⁣

An accident called LIFE! (Read time: ~2 min)⁣⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring tadpoles @lenstrails .

Carl Sagan called earth ‘a Pale blue dot’, he was generous. I was reading a book recently where I learned that our solar system is 1/Trillionth of the Universe, leave alone the idea of multiverse. Life occurring here on earth and not on any other known planet/satellites or galaxies, must be a sheer accident isn’t it?⁣⁣
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Mother Earth has already undertaken four and a half billion trips around the sun and in the meanwhile she has been supporting life since in excess of thirteen billion years. And we, started walking on this planet only just a few million years ago and are already toppling the entire ecosystem!? Are we lucky to be here or is the Planet Earth unlucky to have helped us evolve? ⁣⁣
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While we have successfully overpowered and eliminated at lest five other species of humans from the face of earth, us, the only survivors are now doing everything in our capacity to bring the catastrophe of sixth mass extinction onto all other creatures that our planet supports including ourselves. Maximum damage of this being done since the last century. All of this will appear as sheer (depressing) numbers unless we start to wonder what it actually means to be here in the first place and how minuscule we actually are relatively. ⁣⁣
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Amidst all these depressing facts and hopelessness, we sometimes get a chance to see life bubbling in close quarters, and that is when we see hope. Hope from change we could bring in, hope indicating we will actually do something, something somewhere more reasonable to start with. ⁣⁣
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And that hope is what I could resonate with when I witnessed this scene. A school of tadpoles tirelessly heading in a direction, taking turn and returning only to once again head towards another direction with a slight change in degree. I am sure that meant something, at the least a better chance of survival for them perhaps?⁣⁣
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Nature teaches us everything. She teaches us patience, perseverance, persuasion and hope. Let us do our bit, it is still not very late, let us start somewhere, let us be the change we want to bring.

The confusing Egret. (Read time ~1 min)⁣ ⁣ ⁣

The confusing Egret. (Read time ~1 min)⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Western Reef Egret @lenstrails .
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As if Intermediate and Little Egrets weren’t enough, here comes the Western Reef Egret to add to the confusion. This was my first sighting of the bird and I had happily mistaken it to be a seasonal morph of one of our other commonly found Egrets. Turns out, on the contrary this species sometimes occur in white like the other species mentioned above, to deepen the ID confusion misery.⁣
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And, if that does not tickle your brain cells enough, this bird is also sometimes referred to as the Western Reef Heron. Really? Does one bird need so many names!? Then the intrigued me asked an expert who clarified - “Egrets and Herons are much alike and from same family but the former are mainly white”. Ok, hold on - but isn’t this one is grey!? And he responded “yes and sometimes in white, hence presumably the interspersing names”. After hearing this, I stopped worrying about the name or the difference between these two species.⁣
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On a much serious note, it was and is indeed exhilarating to observe the Reef Egrets. Mostly found only across the shoreline of the subcontinent, they are a rarity for us who live in mainland far away from beaches. One behaviour you should not miss is how these birds stalk their prey. Preferring shallow water, often running or stirring the water with their feet or flicking their wings to disturb prey and grab them for a gulp.⁣
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On this occasion, the bird preferred to stand still and wait to ambush prey. We didn’t wait long enough to witness the hunt but I am sure it would have been quite a sight. ⁣
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PS: What I really like about this image is how it clearly describes the habitat and behaviour (hunting) of this beauty. ⁣
Place: Goa, India⁣
Date: January 2018⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com

Sands of time.. (Read time - 1 min)⁣ ⁣ #nature

This Rail left me derailed..! (Read time - 1 min)⁣⁣⁣
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#birding_friday featuring the Water Rail @lenstrails . ⁣⁣⁣
I rushed to the hotel room, picked the bird book and started skimming through it - Index -> Rail ->What rail? -> Yes, water rail!⁣⁣⁣
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The sense of urgency we birders show to ID a bird is something you shouldn’t misjudge. Anything less than ‘desperate’ is a misnomer and I am happy to admit this. ⁣⁣⁣
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We were a bunch of distance learning students studying basic course in ornithology, performing a field study of birds around Nashik (Maharashtra) area. As the evening approached, our professor directed us towards a water hole at a distance. He thought he saw a rail, a water rail perhaps and before he could complete his sentence all of us creeped to the spot. ⁣⁣⁣
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Water rails are actually common but what makes it seem uncommon is their habitat and behaviour. Shy is not the word. ⁣⁣⁣
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However, as our luck would have it, this day was different. Just in a few minutes of our arrival, the rail we were looking for abandoned hiding behind the reeds. It jumped out in open, as if startling us was the only motive. The adrenaline rush was so high that I lost balance and almost fell into the pond, barely managing to safeguard my equipment. ⁣⁣⁣
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Migratory in many parts of the world, water rails are largely resident in warmer regions and make it their breeding ground. Secretive by nature but with an omnivores appetite, they seem confident sometimes and dare to venture out in the open like this one did. That said, they are far more heard than seen.⁣⁣⁣
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I will treasure this experience and the images I created during this, for a long time. ⁣⁣⁣
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Place: Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary, Nashik, Maharashtra, India⁣⁣⁣
Date: January 2019⁣⁣⁣
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For nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com

A pose to die for.. (Read time - 1 min)⁣ ⁣ #ma

A pose to die for.. (Read time - 1 min)⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Bengal Tiger @lenstrails .
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Before any exclamatory reactions, let me tell you - this is just a Yawn.⁣
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A typical setting - humid summer afternoon in a moist/semi deciduous forest. Safari vehicles running from one waterhole to other. Nature and wildlife enthusiasts & Photographers competing with naturalists to show-off their “forest skills” and instincts. Every branch that moves mistaken, every leaf that doesn’t look green considered a camouflage, every deer call adjudged as an alarm and every stone left turned (referring to the gravel on the safari tracks). This is how a typical afternoon looks and feels like in this part of the world. I am referring to Kabini (Nagarhole Tiger Reserve), a popular destination for tourists from world over.⁣
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I had taken off from work and ventured solo to the jungles again. With less than average time at disposal, I had started early that morning and arrived just in time to finish lunch and rush for the afternoon safari. You call it poor planning or impulsive travel, I’ll let you take the credit for giving it a name. ⁣
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Soon after we entered the safari zone, Revu (JLR Naturalist and a dear friend) seemed to be at his best yet again. We visited the first waterhole in vain, second was gone before I realised but soon after we hit the third - there she was, the majestic beast doing what she likes best on a summer afternoon. ⁣
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This day was one of those extremely lucky days for me in the woods, created ample number of images and more importantly memories that would last my lifetime. (A microblog photostory will be published soon, watch this space for the link.)⁣
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PS: While the wish for a “yawn shot” in a frame like this was fulfilled that day, I have been yearning to create one frame with Tiger’s “Flehmen’s response” (If you don’t know what that means, google-up). Someday, perhaps!⁣
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Place: Kabini, Karnataka, India⁣
Date: April 2017⁣ ⁣
For other nature and wildlife stories, continue to visit lenstrails.com

Gecko - 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦..⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring the White-banded Ground Gecko @lenstrails . ⁣
Within seconds of this image loading on your screen, most of you I know would have moved on. I find it rather amusing how people react to lizards at home or in their garden. However, this is not that one.. This is a Gecko..⁣
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Geckos are different, they are smaller lizards, and particularly distinct for their vocalisations. While they all looked similar initially to my untrained eyes, I learnt that in Amboli alone there are species after species of Geckos being discovered year on year even to this day. ⁣
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My first encounter already revealed so much, many unique characteristics - firstly on how they keep their eyes moist. Since they can’t blink, they lick their eyes to keep them clean and moist. Thats some scene to watch and photograph.⁣
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Then, their large eyes caught mine. The enlarged iris (that you see in this image) is how they let more light in darkness which acts as a thorough vision aid. ⁣
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Next was their skin, their scales, their bands and the list goes on..⁣
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I have had many opportunities to observe and photograph Geckos of western ghats since my first encounter. The more I observe them, more intrigued I get by the evolutionary wonders.⁣
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PS: Btw, the one you see on the walls - what we commonly refer to as lizards are technically ‘Common house geckos’.⁣
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Place: Amboli, Maharashtra, India⁣
Season: July 2017⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, continue to visit lenstrails.com
.

#macrophotography #macro_brilliance #macro_perfection #macroclique #macro_vision #wms_macro #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#wildlifeindia #ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #nifhive #natureinfocus #nif #ontheface #geckosofinstagram #amboli #westernghats #loveformacro #photostory #nightphotography

Helluva confusion!⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #birding_tuesday fea

Helluva confusion!⁣
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⁣ #birding_tuesday featuring the Pallid Harrier (ID corrected - Earlier mentioned as Montagu’s Harrier)
@lenstrails .
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“Pallid”, I shouted and we rushed in permissible limits. Our 4x4 reminded us yet again that her age was just a number. Happy and dusted, we reached the spot - a male harrier for sure but was this actually a Pallid Harrier or a Montagu’s harrier, was the brutal debate.⁣
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Honestly, raptor identification is a big deal and correct identification matters more than it should in many occasions, for us birders. My spouse terms it ego struggle, but I contest that opinion as well. ⁣
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Our birding guide was pretty insistent on the species and I eventually gave up. Yet again, I was rightfully wrong and the birding experience only grew richer. If not for that day, perhaps I wouldn’t have ever cursed George Montagu (the British naturalist after whom this bird is named).⁣
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Today, you wake me up in the middle of the night and I’ll tell you how to ID this bird - Pale yellow-brown underparts, belly with vertical stripes and the wing coverts spotted. These are clear give aways until you bump into a melanistic or partially melanistic morph. If that happens, do what I do - just rest your case :).⁣
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Place: Tal Chappar, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: November 2018⁣

PS: *Thanks to all the experts reconfirming, this is indeed Pallid Harrier*
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#bestbirdsofinstagram #nuts_about_birds #wildlifeplanet #birding #birdstagram #yourbestbirds #birdfreaks #birdwatching #birdlovers
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer #indianwildlifeofficial  #natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #nifhive #natureinfocus #nif #harrier #montagusharrier #habitat #wildlifeblogger #talchappar #raptorsofinstagram

Huddle..⁣ ⁣ #nature_monday @lenstrails . . ⁣

Huddle..⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails .
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Gazing through the viewfinder, this congregation reminded me of the wildebeest migration in the African savanna. Coming to think of it, these Indian Antelope (commonly known as Blackbuck) don’t migrate at all. They are confined to grassy plains and thinly forested areas of the Indian Subcontinent. And, it is almost always common to see blackbucks form groups like the one you see here in this image, typically small. ⁣
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But what kept me hooked on, was the frame this grassland and it’s inhabitants had to offer. The sun had started the descent and barely little over an hour was left for us to wind-up. We were combing the grasslands of Tal Chappar Sanctuary one last time for the day, hoping to get surprised by a smaller migratory bird(passerines), aptly for that time of the day. And that’s how and when I ended witnessing this scene.⁣
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It looked like a huddle from a distance, a strategy meet. But for all you know, this perhaps was just another moment where the males herd up to call it a day..⁣
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Place: Tal Chappar, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: November 2018⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#naturelover #naturegram #naturephotography #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeo #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #talchappar #wildlifeblogger #picturestory

Stealing from the darkness! ⁣ ⁣ (Full screen v

Stealing from the darkness! ⁣
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(Full screen view recommended)⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Crested hawk-eagle @lenstrails . ⁣
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Not a particularly unlucky afternoon safari it seemed considering this was monsoon season. But the sun didn’t appear to be in the best form, weak and struggling to cut through the overcasting clouds.⁣
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After eagerly combing through the allotted safari zone for a good few hours, when we were just about to call it a day we saw something. Something, too good to be true - a Crested hawk-eagle perched at eye level and hardly few feet away. ⁣
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As the darkness had already started to overpower dusk, we could barely see little more than a faint figure. I grabbed the camera viewfinder only to be startled - Where is the head!? I whisper-screamed. Slowly, as my camera’s auto focus system started to take control, I noticed that the large raptor was actually busy head down, tracking prey assumably. I was given a few seconds, of which I managed about 10-15 clicks. However, of the lot just this one image is a keeper.⁣
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As I write this, I am goose-bumped even today. Not sure if I would ever get a chance to observe a fully grown crested hawk-eagle this up-close and personal.⁣
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Place: Kabini, Karnataka, India⁣
Date: July 2018⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#bestbirdsofinstagram #nuts_about_birds #wildlifeplanet #birding #birdstagram #yourbestbirds #birdfreaks #birdwatching #birdlovers
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer #indianwildlifeofficial  #natgeowild #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #nifhive #natureinfocus #nif #crestedhawkeagle #dramaticlighting #wildlifeblogger #kabini #wildkarnataka

Hope!⁣ ⁣ #nature_monday @lenstrails . ⁣ Ther

Hope!⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails . ⁣
There was something about this droplet that intrigued me. Upon closer look my eyes clarified - it was not the droplet, but what was trying to hold it, that was drawing my attention.⁣
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It appeared as if these two tiny little blades of grass were trying their best to not let the droplet drop. And every time the drop slipped, they would catch the next drop of rain with the same hope. This drama continued and demanded a picture.⁣
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Though nothing extraordinary, I was glued to this scene, not sure why. Perhaps it was the romance with the green vine snake few moments ago, that had left me in trance. And everything around started to appear vivid and dramatic.⁣
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As I think of it today, I still wonder what was actually orchestrating that surreal scene. Was it the rains? Or the hallucinating me? Nevertheless, I am glad to have made this image, through which I would relive that scene and the complimenting mood forever.⁣
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PS: It has been just a couple of months and I am missing the western ghats already.⁣
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Place: Amboli, Maharashtra, India⁣
Date: August 2019⁣
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For other nature and wildlife stories, visit lenstrails.com
.

#naturelover #naturegram #naturephotography #naturelove #naturebrilliance
#ngtdailyshot #yourshotphotographer
#natgeo #bbcearth #lenstrails #praveenashok #lenstrails_stories #monsoonmagic #westernghats
#amboli #wildlifeblogger #nif #natureinfocus #dailyposts

Oops moment..⁣ ⁣ #mammal_thursday featuring th

Oops moment..⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Indian Fox @lenstrails . ⁣
Several rounds since 4PM, in the deciduous patch around Goshala didn’t yield results. We were looking for the Indian Spotted Creeper (bird) which is found in this region of Tal Chappar. Despite narrowing down on the prosopis tree where we had the best chance of seeing it, luck didn’t favour us.⁣
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Disappointed after making rounds for a good two hours, we started from this place when @raptors_paradise - Anand Prasad ji (birding guide, come homestay owner) floored the 4x4’s gas pedal. Surprised, I asked if he was frustrated? With a broad grin he responded - “Aayiee mean aapko good luck dilata hu” (come let me get you some good luck). ⁣
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Across the subcontinent, there is a popular superstition that seeing a fox brings good luck. While Anand ji was kidding about the luck bit, he had in fact noticed some movement of an Indian Fox while my eyes were busy glued to tree barks looking for the creeper bird. ⁣
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Foxes are crepuscular (active during twilight) and I knew this was my best chance to see one. Few twists and turns and there it was, a shy fox missing no chance to escape our field of view. We positioned our vehicle behind a bush and there he appeared finally to give me a second or two to click his images. Well, it was the oops moment, and I reserve my comments on whose. ⁣
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PS: This species should not be confused with the Desert fox which is also found in this region. While the Indian Fox (in the image) has a black tail-tip, the desert fox can be identified with a white tail-tip. There are other differences too.⁣
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Place: Tal Chappar, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: November 2018⁣ ⁣
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An accidental encounter.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ #macro

An accidental encounter.⁣⁣⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring the Sahyadri Cricket Frog @lenstrails . ⁣⁣⁣
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Previous night’s trail hadn’t pulled our energy down, in fact the adrenaline rush from romancing my first Malabar Pit Viper was still fresh and kicking. The intoxicating rain forest drew us to a near by hill early next morning, a few kilometres from our stay at Amboli, a region popular for hosting orchids.⁣⁣⁣
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The feel of mist in the western ghats is a different experience altogether. When you travel higher the air gets chiller but humidity doesn’t disown you. A sudden super cosy feeling, that feeling of curling up under a quilt with AC set to 16° C. ⁣⁣⁣
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With the rains on and off, we started exploring the ground for orchids endemic to this region. One step at a time and after a few steps forward we bumped into this frog. Luckily, there was no question of misidentification as I knew nothing of this species. What was unique was this frog was not alone, there were many - an army of frogs as it is known. The call was typical, like the clatter of a typewriter. Knelt to make a few decent images and then moved on.⁣⁣⁣
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Today, as I check on it - this turned out to be an endangered species known as the ‘Sahyadri Cricket Frog’. First name coming from the the range it is found and the middle name probably attributed to it’s call. A little bit of research tells me that this is a nocturnal species, not sure how and why we found so many of them in broad day light.⁣⁣⁣
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Like most of the endemic species in the western ghats, this one too is in grave danger and staring at extinction in the face. Let us be aware, spread the word and do our bit to avoid mindless urbanisation that leads to habitat loss and mass destruction.⁣⁣⁣
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Place: Amboli, Maharashtra, India⁣⁣⁣
Season: June 2017⁣⁣⁣
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This one is from ‘Paradise’, yes please! ⁣ .

This one is from ‘Paradise’, yes please! ⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Indian Paradise Flycatcher @lenstrails . ⁣
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It was the year 2011, when I first saw this alien looking bird (I had just begun birding then) and had almost immediately misidentified it. Only when I referred to the bird book did I realise it was a flycatcher, and a commoner. ⁣
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As time passed, wish became desire - to photograph this beauty in a perfect frame. However, on the sidelines, the size and weight of my camera equipment also grew, making it much more difficult to make an image I intended to.⁣
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The catch-catch and catch-up saga continued until as recently as last December, when I finally made a decent image of this one.⁣
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Like me, I am sure there are many birders who have always dreamt to create a picture perfect shot of this bird - aptly named the Paradise flycatcher. And, many more who would have made stellar action images but want to create more. Such is the indisputable beauty of this bird.⁣
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The Indian Paradise Flycatcher (earlier referred to as Asian Paradise Flycatcher) is pretty common, widely distributed across the subcontinent and will never disappoint a keen eye. Their habitat is well wooded country which helps safeguard their otherwise obvious standout features. ⁣
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Male (in this image) has an unusually long tail for a bird this size, exposing it and making it vulnerable. However, Nature gave it two variants to fight the survival game - white & rufous (both colours blend well enough for them to stay camouflaged) and both seem to have sustained appreciatively.⁣
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PS: My history, jinx and then a turnaround with this bird goes a long way. This sure deserves a blog, which I shall share in the coming days. ⁣
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Place: Ganeshgudi, Dandeli, Karnataka, India⁣
Date: December 2018⁣
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A typical setting.. (larger screen view recommende

A typical setting.. (larger screen view recommended)⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails . ⁣
Did I have to wait too long to make this image? Honestly, no.⁣
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At Keoladeo National Park, it is a popular sunset ritual for bird photographers to pay a visit to this location of the park before calling it a day. ⁣
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Some get ambitious and wait for that perfect bird to perch on this dead branch to make an award winning image, while others like me (sometimes) are happy with any bird of sorts. ⁣
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Like the one in this image, a cormorant, who appeared to throw some sympathetic poses at the impatient lot waiting to hit the sack (soon after).⁣
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Yet another lucky field day that was..⁣
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Place: Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India⁣
Date: November 2018⁣
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My first Tarantula.⁣ ⁣ #macro_wednesday featur

My first Tarantula.⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring the Indian Ornamental Tarantula (ID to be confirmed) @lenstrails . ⁣
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This family of hairy spiders are often associated with fear. Sure they have fangs which they use to inflict a venomous bite, or use their hair to cause painful irritation, but these acts do not cause long term damage/prove to be fatal for us humans. While a fearsome reputation precedes them, in reality, barring pain, the venom they inject is much weaker than even a bee sting.⁣
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Tarantulas have evolved in excess of a few hundred million years and mastered the art of web-less living and hunting. Unlike most spiders, Tarantulas are ambush hunters and don’t use web as a tool, in fact they don’t weave webs. They live in burrows and create small tunnel like structures to live in, when they are dwelling in trees.⁣
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The Indian ornamental (in this image) also lives in tree holes and one of the most popular species of tarantula in India. ⁣
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This was my first record of this massive spider and looking forward to more opportunities. The one in the image must be a male, the females are much bigger - I am told their leg span can exceed 7 inches.!⁣
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My first experience with a (this) Tarantula was neither intimidating nor challenging. During that night’s stroll, I bumped into a spider. Pulled my camera out, clicked a shot before it was gone. Only when I got back and asked a few experts to ID this spider, did I know that this was a Tarantula, my first. Ignorance is bliss, you see..! 😀⁣
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PS: If interested in further reading on this wonder species, search for some astonishing facts of Tarantulas in the world, especially the South American bird-eating and hissing Goliath tarantulas. ⁣
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Place: Amboli, Maharashtra, India⁣
Season: June 2017⁣
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A silent pair. ⁣ ⁣ #birding_tuesday featuring

A silent pair. ⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Knob-billed duck @lenstrails .
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One of the largest species of duck isn’t necessarily the loudest. In fact, knob-billed duck is almost always silent except for a sparing croak when inevitable. ⁣
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This species has quite a decent spread, distributed all the way from Southern America to Africa to Southern Asia - wetlands of India and Far East China. I had an opportunity to observe them in the Chilka lagoon of Odisha.⁣
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Without Madan Behra’s (boatman come bird guide) experience, it would have been impossible to even get to this proximity, leave alone observing and making pictures. Larger the species, riskier it is for these water birds in the open wetlands and hence they have evolved to sense and react to even the slightest movements around them. ⁣
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One row at a time, just enough to maintain the optimal buoyancy keeping the boat afloat and avoid getting interwound with fresh water plantation, was not easy at all. But the most difficult part even for Madan ji (with three decades of experience doing this job), was to escape the birds’ senses. We finally did manage to get their audience after a lot of trials, but for a small duration before they took to the air.⁣
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PS: If the globetrotting you wants to be sure of the exact ID, subspecies found here is known as the Knob-billed duck, while the one found in Southern America is referred to as comb duck. The former is larger with lighter flanks and the latter is smaller with darker flanks.⁣
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Place: Mangaljodi, Odisha, India⁣
Date: December 2017⁣
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Leaps and bounds.. (larger screen view recommended

Leaps and bounds.. (larger screen view recommended)⁣
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#nature_monday getting a little technical. ⁣
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Using a mirrorless (vulnerable) camera on a borrowed ND filter (with jugad) for this shot was a crazy decision. Mounting the equipment on a gorilla pod (mini tripod) barely sufficed as moral support. ⁣
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Employing a balancing act on the beach, negotiating the sinking sand, loose rocks and the evening waves was quite a task. Seemed risky and unnecessary but the scene was quite inviting.⁣
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There was something I saw, rather ahead of time. A pre-visualized shot, which only an appropriate long exposure would help create. But the risk of loosing the sun to the horizon was quicker than ever. Those last few minutes are always tricky. ⁣
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Just as I almost lost the camera to the waves, somehow managed to keep the camera steady for a ‘ten seconds’ exposure shot and created this image.⁣
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Mystery unfolded once I picked my camera to view the image, it appeared as if there was some magical light illuminating the rocks. Today, I sit back and wonder if this image was created on account of skill, equipment or by accident; but does that even matter?⁣
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Place: South Goa, India⁣
Date: January 2018⁣
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Biggie in Golden light!⁣ ⁣ #mammal_thursday fe

Biggie in Golden light!⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Indian Gaur @lenstrails . ⁣
This image was made during those days when traffic was such that, Bandipura or Nagarhole seemed next door from Bangalore and was the easiest weekend getaways for us nature and wildlife enthusiasts. No, it was not some twenty years ago but as recently as 2014.⁣
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One such escapade to Bandipura was filled with surprises. We took the morning safari not knowing how creepy and dark even a June morning could be, in a jungle.⁣
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Within minutes of entering the forest, our path blacked out under thick canopy. It was so dark that even at 6.30 AM we had to turn the headlights on. Barely few meters and a loud grunt was heard from a close quarter. It was loud enough to be heard inspite of the safari vehicle exhaust noise and that gave us jitters. The novice us expected that to be an elephant, but thankfully we were wrong. ⁣
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Another grunt and we sure thought something else was behind the bush. Not knowing what to expect, we just waited patiently. Two-three minutes and there appeared this big figure. An Indian Gaur can weigh over a tonne and can easily give a tiger run for its life.⁣
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We spent the next few minutes in absolute silence, anxiously waiting. As if it was a prearrangement, gradually, both the Gaur and the Golden light from the morning sun came out in unison. That is when this image was made, my first of an Indian Gaur in the golden hour and probably the best image of this beast that I have made till date.⁣
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Place: Bandipura, Karnataka, India⁣
Date: June 2014⁣ ⁣
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Welcome home..⁣ ⁣ #macro_wednesday featuring t

Welcome home..⁣
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#macro_wednesday featuring the Marsh Crocodile @lenstrails . ⁣
Habitat shots are my favourite and I rarely miss an opportunity to make one. ⁣
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This boat ride was as good as previous ones. Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary never fails a nature seeker, any time of the year. In addition to many resident and migratory birds, the shallow water at this hotspot draws sizable mugger population to make it their home. The ample rock mounds is an icing on the cake, which these crocs use to bask in the sun. This makes Ranganthittu my favourite destination for observing Marsh Crocodiles.⁣
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It is fairly common to see these beasts open-mouthed. Like other reptiles, crocodiles too don’t have sweat glands and they cool themselves by keeping their mouth open while basking in the sun. Also, as you would see, their head is flattened on the top, and the eyes, ears and nostrils are on the same surface. This helps them to both see and hear, as well as smell while they are all the way underwater. ⁣
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All these and many more physical as well as behavioural characteristics, has helped crocodiles evolve and survive on this planet since about 80 million years ago. In fact, studies reveal that crocodiles are the closest living relatives of birds, sharing a common ancestor that lived around 240 million years ago and also gave rise to the dinosaurs.⁣
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After eons of thriving, this species, the Marsh crocodile is now listed as ‘vulnerable’, sadly. Thanks to habitat loss due to excessive urbanisation, swallowing away rivers, tributaries and fresh water lakes. Let us do our bit, be more aware and do everything possible to protect this wonder species.⁣
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Place: Ranganthittu, Karnataka, India⁣
Season: January 2018⁣
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𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘺𝘢⁣⁣

𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘺𝘢⁣⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Common Myna @lenstrails . ⁣⁣
“Hell yes, I am a territorial bird and I hate it when someone enters my space”, hinted a myna when observed closely in this context.⁣⁣
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Kalahapriya - the one who loves to argue, is one of the many local names this bird has earned since ancient times. ⁣⁣
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Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, this bird has been revered in scriptures and texts since time immemorial. Some good and some not so good contexts, largely for storytelling purposes.⁣⁣
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The common myna is one of those birds that are so common, that we tend to ignore them. Everything in nature is unique and has a purpose, and this beautiful bird is no exception.⁣⁣
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If you ask a birder, a Common Myna is a benchmark when it comes to urban habitat adaptation today. While frequently read about various birds vanishing due to loss of habitat, this bird’s population is on an increasing trend. ⁣⁣
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I wouldn’t want to comment whether this trend is good or bad, but would like to rest my case with a comfort feeling - Nature has her ways to bounce back, and bounce back well, when required.⁣⁣
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Place: Bangalore, Karnataka, India⁣⁣
Date: December 2018⁣⁣
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Long way down..⁣ ⁣ #nature_monday @lenstrails

Long way down..⁣
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#nature_monday @lenstrails .
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Stretching that extra mile was a difficult decision, but the guttural calls of Malabar Trogon kept me hooked and wanting to keep moving in that direction. Two, three, no I think it took ten minutes and there it was in thick canopy. A glimpse and ‘flap flap’, it was gone. Perhaps, a few hundred meters further.⁣
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This winter afternoon didn’t escape humidity of the Konkan, exhaustion started to creep-in and the hydration pack started to shrink. It was time to stop, not just looking for the Trogon but stop taking the trail. That’s exactly when my tiny mirrorless camera popped in my mind and soon it was in my hand sticking it’s ultra wide barrel out. Perfect, I thought while composing the frame and the trail too posed showing-off the curves.⁣
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Got back to the comfort of my tent to notice that the colours in this image didn’t do justice, it didn’t share what I saw and experienced.⁣
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Few moments later, here came a monochromatic version to my rescue. A little closer to that scene, a lot closer to the narrative.⁣
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Place: Cotigao wildlife sanctuary, Goa, India⁣
Date: January 2018⁣
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The blue-winged (full screen view recommended)..⁣
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#birding_friday featuring the Malabar Parakeet (also known as Blue-winged Parakeet) and our weekly quiz @lenstrails . ⁣
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One of the loudest in our forests down south, it is quite common to hear them before seeing them. The one here is a male, the black collar and the red upper beak (mandible) is a clear give away. Female has an all black bill and has only the black collar, a post with female(s) will follow.⁣
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When you observe parakeets eating berries and other fruits such as figs, and flowers, leaf buds etc.; it appears they engage in mammal like chewing. This prompts, the Friday quiz question:⁣
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Question: Do birds chew their food?⁣
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Go ahead, give it a shot and post your answers. Log back in, this evening to see the answer.⁣
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Place: Tattekad, Kerala, India⁣
Date: December 2018⁣
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“The top was missed and so was the ID..”⁣
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#macro_wednesday @lenstrails .
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How (not) to ID a Spider!? ⁣
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Read this week’s short story (microblog) featuring the topic of spider ID: http://www.lenstrails.com/the-top-was-missed-and-so-was-the-id/ (Link in bio - Reading time: 2 minutes)⁣
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Place: Amboli, Maharashtra, India⁣
Season: Monsoon of 2017 ⁣
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The day migrant⁣ ⁣ #birding_tuesday featuring

The day migrant⁣
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#birding_tuesday featuring the Indian Blue Robin @lenstrails . ⁣
My first face-off with an Indian Blue Robin is a memorable one but for a different reason. It was back in 2017, further south west at Tattekad in Kerala. On one of those humid birding afternoons there, I heard the signature sharp and low clicking alarm note of this passerine. In a hurry to get to the bird I rushed through a moss filled bridge, skid and fell flat on the ground with my camera, my first with the equipment. Thankfully, both the equipment and I got away with minor bruises but missed the bird.⁣
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Then, the next birding season I had a clear sight of this beauty for the first time. This time, I almost mistook it to be some other fly catcher but the slightly bigger size helped ID this.⁣
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This image comes from my third encounter at Dandeli, north western Karnataka.⁣
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The Indian blue robin breeds in the Himalayas and migrates down south during winters. Unlike many other birds, since it is a day migrant, you are more likely to spot this beauty. Especially during the passage migration, the Indian blue robin can be found almost all across the peninsular India. ⁣
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Having observed this blue jewel on several occasions by now, I am yet to get lucky with spending enough time to my heart’s content.⁣
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Nature is a bag full of surprises and I am hoping to get lucky this birding season.⁣
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Place: Ganeshgudi, Dandeli, Karnataka, India⁣
Date: December 2018⁣
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Snake hunter!?⁣ ⁣ #mammal_thursday featuring t

Snake hunter!?⁣
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#mammal_thursday featuring the Indian Grey Mongoose @lenstrails . ⁣
The first story we all heard of a Mongoose, is most likely that of how good a snake hunter it is. Well, it is true that snake is on the menu but not necessarily always.⁣
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Like most omnivores, the mongoose too is an opportunistic feeder. Largely preferring live prey - mice, rats, lizards etc., parts of plants, fruits, berries, and roots are more than welcome.⁣
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Whether a snake, hare or a ground bird, the way a mongoose hunts it’s prey is a sight to watch. One lethal bite to the neck or head and the prey becomes an instant meal. ⁣
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But how does the mongoose combat venomous snakes with such efficiency? ⁣
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Well, it is two fold - ⁣
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Evolution - Stiff rigid hair, thick loose skin and specialised immunity to snake venom.⁣
Strategy - By tiring the snake out enticing it to make multiple strikes which it acrobatically avoids.⁣
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I have had many opportunities to observe the Indian Grey Mongoose, however, witnessing it’s stealth at the expanses of Kutch made this experience a special one.⁣
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Place: Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India⁣
Date: January 2018⁣ ⁣
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