Bank Myna
Bank Myna: Chambal River near Rathambore, Sawai Madhopur, India, March 2023 — I will be in airplanes and airports for most of the next two days getting home from India, so I will make one more post while I have wifi here at the hotel in Delhi. This is a Bank Myna from near the Chambal River, an hour’s drive from Rathambore, where we took a short boat trip to look for birds and other river creatures. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/1000th. (Bright Indian afternoon sun!).
A Tiger is still a cat…
Tiger: Rathambore Tiger Reserve, Rathambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, India, March 2023 — I don’t know why it always surprises me but it always does when big cats behave just like house cats. Maybe it is really more amazing that house cats still behave so much like big cats. The “rub my tummy” move seems universal, though I am pretty sure no one, at lest no human, has ever rubbed the tummy of a Tiger when the tummy was on offer. Still. Cats will be cats. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 1250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Tiger!
Tiger: Rathambore National Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur, India, March 2023 — After three previous attempts our last Tiger drive this afternoon rewarded us with this young female resting in the shade above a pond. We watched her most of the afternoon as she did resting cat maneuvers. Her eyes were closed, cat like, most of the time, but occasionally she looked out across the pond at her admiring audience. Quite an experience! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .3EV.
Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle: Rathambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, India, March 2023 — Still no Tigers, but this nice Crested Serpent Eagle along the way. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Gray Langur
Gray Langur Monkey, Rathambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur, India, March 2023 — We took 2 Tiger Safaris today, and one birding safari, in Rathambore National Park. We saw no Tigers but we saw considerable other wildlife and birds. We found a troop of Gray Langur monkeys while birding inside the park, which included this mother and child. Langurs are peaceful, gentle, leaf eaters, with long prehensile tails. Sony Rx10iv at 561mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal: Agra, India, March 2023 — You can’t really visit northern India without visiting the Taj Mahal. We went just at sunrise but unfortunately the haze (smog) of Agra did its best to obscure the beauty of the monument. Still. It is impressive in its scale, in its design, and in its workmanship. Worthy of its reputation. Sony Rx10iv at 40mm equivalent. Auto mode. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Sarus Cranes
Sarus Cranes: Chambal Sarus Crane “Reserve”, India, March 2023 — The Crane “reserve” is not any kind of reserve that we Americans would recognize. It has no official status and very few specific protections. It is recognized by the courts of India as being significant, but that is about it. Unlike most cranes, who are long distance migrants, the Sarus is largely resident in the areas of India where it nests…using mainly wetlands and farm fields. They are the tallest flying birds. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 # f4.5 @ 1/1000th.
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo: Chambal River, India, March 2023 — Not a particularly Indian Bird, I have seen their American cousins in Florida and Cuba. I have seen the Greater itself in Africa for sure, and possibly in Europe, but this is my first Asian Flamingo, my first Indian Falmingo. There were half a dozen along the sandy shore of the Chambal River when we were out on our boat trip this morning. They flew off and circled us as we approached. Sony Rx10iv at 586mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4.5 @ 1/100th. Plus .3EV.
Indian Thick-knee
Indian Thick-knee, Keoleado National Park, Bharatpur, India, March 2023 — We worked hard for these, but eventually found 4 together. Dry country birds. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Indian Roller
Indian Roller: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India, March 2023 — One of my most hoped for birds when I travel east to Europe, Africa, and not Asia, is the roller. European Roller in Europe – Lilac-breasted, Purple, and Broad-billed in Africa – Indian here in India. I have not had what I would call a good photo opp (the birds we saw yesterday were wee and far, as they say, but this will do for a start 🙂 Such blue! Cropped and enlarged in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. ISO 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus 1.3EV (because the birds were perched against the sky before they flew).