Monthly Archives: March 2023
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).
Coppersmith Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India, March 2023 — One of the more colorful of small Indian birds, and certainly one of the most noisy…its constant one note call, blongk blongk blongk and on and on, is a feature of the Indian forest, at least here in Bharatpur. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .3 EV.
Sarus Cranes in the twilight
Sarus Cranes: along the road to Bharatpur, India, March 2023 — This group of a dozen rare Sarus Cranes was in a farm field not visible from the road, but our guide lives nearby and “takes care” of the group, paying the farmers to give the cranes space and monitoring their safety, so he knew right where they were likely to be. We hiked in just a field or two to find them. It was late in the day and the light was going, but still! This is the largest crane in the world, standing over 5 feet tall. Impressive, majestic, and peaceful. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 2500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet: Ashkok Country Hotel, New Delhi, India, March 2023 — As it got later in the day, the Parakeets became more cooperative and the light less so. Still, I got a few shots of them as they gathered into their night flock. Though it is called a parakeet it is full sized parrot size. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th, plus 2.3EV and ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th, plus .7EV.
First Indian Birds!
Common Myna: Ashok Country Hotel. New Delhi, India, March 2023 — I did not know what to expect for my first birds of India…certainly not the Jungle Crow, but that is what the grounds of the Ashok Country Hotel (actually pretty deep in greater New Delhi) had to offer at 10am this morning. Already hot in the sun. I went looking for something better. Saw a parrot (sp?) and a few raptors overhead (likely Black Kite and Common Buzzard), and for close shots had to settle for this Common Myna in the back of the gardens by the old pool. Still not something I would see in Maine (though maybe in Southern California). Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 125, 1250, and 640 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Heathrow
Heathrow airport in London on an early Tuesday morning. Half way to India. (If only!) I have a few hours to chill here before boarding the flight for Delhi and the Indian Adventure. iPad Pro wide angle. Processed in Apple Photos.