The Birds of Bharuch, Gujarat...

Here are some of the common birds i got to capture in Bharuch, a place in Gujarat. Sunbirds have always facinated me with their amazing colors. Here are some images of Sunbirds. The Sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

The Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica) is a sunbird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Like other sunbirds, they are small in size, feeding mainly on nectar but sometimes take insects, particularly when feeding young. These Sunbirds are tiny at less than 10 cm long. Purple-rumped Sunbirds are sexually dimorphic. The males have a dark maroon upperside with a blue-green crown that glistens in some angles, bright green shoulder patch and violet/purple rump patch which is generally hidden. The underparts are whitish with dark throat, maroon breast band and purple/violet patch in the throat which is visible in some angles. The female has a white throat followed by yellowish breast. The upperside is olive or brownish. The uppertail coverts are black and a weak supercilium is visible. Captured at Bharuch, Gujarat...

The eclipse (non-breeding) male has a pale olive brown or yellow-grey upper plumage, except for blackish wings and tail. The chest and abdomen are yellow with a blue central streak extending from the throat to the abdomen. Males in the eclipse plumage were formerly separated as species currucaria.

The non-breeding male purple sunbird has a much duller ‘eclipse’ plumage that resembles the female, with yellow underparts and a dark line of feathers running down the center of the throat and breast.

The birds mate between the months of April and August. Both the male and the female assist in building the nest which is flask-shaped, with an overhanging porch at the entrance, and a trail of hanging material at the bottom end.

The Eclipse Sunbird feeding on the nectar....

After building the nest, the birds abandon the nest for about a week before the female returns to lay one or two greenish-blue eggs. The eggs take a further week to hatch. The female may leave the nest for short periods during the day during incubation.

After the chicks have hatched, both male and female assist in the care of the young, which leave the nest about two or three weeks later.

The Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. Feeding its baby bird. Captured at Bharuch, Gujarat...

The Scaly-breasted Munia or Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) known in the pet trade as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia extending from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines.

The Scaly-breasted Munia is 11–12 cm long. The adult has a stubby dark bill, brown upperparts and darker brown head. The underparts are white with black scale markings. The sexes are similar, although males have darker markings on the underside and a darker throat.

The Red-vented Bulbul...

Peacock... Our National Bird..... Look at its colors... 

Peacock... One of the most wonderful creations of God....

The Red-vented Bulbul...

A view at Honnavar, Jog Falls and a Trek to Yana.....

Honnavar lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and on the banks of the river Sharavati, forming an estuary. It lies midway between Panaji and Mangalore. Some of the important places around Honavar include the towns of Murudeshwara and Idagunji, Apsarkonda places of religious importance and Karikanamma, a scenic mountain that has the breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea. Have captured some of the wonderful places from and near by Honnavar....

Amazing Beach at Honnavar, Karnataka, India.

A view at the Honnavar beach....

Looks like a golden beach........

Joger Gerosoppa Falls Jog Falls is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India, Located near Sagara, Karnataka, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. They are also called Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi..

Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft), making it the second-highest plunge waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a height of 335 m (1100 ft) in Meghalaya.

Sharavati, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, next to Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk and takes the northwesterly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, precipitates itself down the Falls of Gersoppa, and passes that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is some 29 kilometres distant, discharging into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara.

The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m (960 ft) deep, and the water comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Halfway down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet the Raja. A third fall, the Rocket, shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, the Rani, moves quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam.

A falls found while driving towards Jog Falls.........

A falls at Honnavar.......

A road in the forest on the way to Yana... Fallen trees as a result of heavy rains...

Found a giant mushroom......

The two rock monoliths or hillocks, surrounded by thick forests and streams, rise sharply above the surrounding area near the Yana village. They are part of the Sahyadri hill range in the Western Ghats in South India and give a conspicuous identity to Yana and the entire hill range. The two hillocks are approachable only by walking through the lush forest growth and have attracted tourists and pilgrims. In the first rock hill, Bhairaveshwara Shikhara, there is 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide opening in the rock face that leads into a cave. Within the cave, there is a bronze statue of 'Chandika', an incarnation of the goddess Durga. The cave has a swayambu ("self manifested") Shiva Linga ("symbol of Shiva") over which spring water trickles from the roof of the tunnel overhead. Emerging as a small stream, called the Chandihole, it eventually merges with the Aghanashini River at Uppinapattana. Devotees from among the local people see the emergence of the river as Gangodbhava

Caves inside the huge rocks of Yana.....

Tall stones of Yana.............

A view from the inside gaps formed within the Yana rocks.....

Yana (Kannada: ಯಾಣ) is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India that is known for the unusual rock formations(Karst) or (Asteroid) in its vicinity. It is located in the Sahyadri mountain range of the Western Ghats, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Karwar port, 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Sirsi, and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Kumta.

Found a unique species of spider....

Awesome body structure....

Look at the way it weaves its web.....

The Magical Western Ghats........

Here are some pics which i took during a trek to a place called Muthodi. This forest of Muthodi is a place near Chikmagalure, Karnataka. Surrounded by thick dense forest and one of the well known Tiger reserves in Karnataka. 

A walk in the woods of Muthodi forest. Thick and dense forest... Full of green and with a variety of amazing creatures... A wonderful experience in the nature... Got to capture a variety of creatures in this forest of Muthodi, a place near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....

The Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) is a hornbill that is endemic to the Western Ghats and associated hills of southern India. They have a large beak but lack the casque that is prominent in other species of hornbills. They are found mainly in dense forest and around rubber, arecanut or coffee plantations. They move around in small groups, feeding on figs and other forest fruits. Their loud cackling and laughing call makes them familiar to people living in the region. Captured at the Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka..

Look at these bright colors.... Especially the collar part of this and its bottle green coloured legs... There are more than 1 million species of beetles and this is one of them... Only 4 lac species have been described so far ..... I wish i had a macro lens! Would have got a better pic with better details.. But still managed to get a pic..... This one was shot with a 70-300mm lens, hand held..

A species of Trantula.... A Giant Spider... Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and very large arachnids belonging to the Theraphosidae family of spiders, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Though all tarantulas are venomous, few species have been claimed to cause human fatalities, though some bites cause serious discomfort that might persist for several days. Encountered such species for the first time... ID please... Had an awesome trek... Captured at Muthodi forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka..

Here is a species of Trantula.. Giant spiders of the wild... Bites of many species are known to be no worse than a wasp sting, accounts of bites by some species are reported to be very painful and to produce intense spasms that may recur over a period of several days; the venom by the tarantula Pelinobius muticus also causes strong hallucinations. Before biting, tarantulas may signal their intention to attack by rearing up into a "threat posture", which may involve raising their prosoma and lifting their front legs into the air, spreading and extending their fangs, and (in certain species) making a loud hissing by stridulating. Their next step, short of biting, may be to slap down on the intruder with their raised front legs. This is how these spiders try to defend themselves from anything which would harm them. Or could also be said that this is how they scare the predators. Well, here it was warning me to be away.. Its very interesting to understand the behaviour of these.. This was the biggest spider i found till now...

A closer look at the mouth parts of the giant spider found during the trek at Muthodi, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka.. Though all tarantulas are venomous, few species have been claimed to cause human fatalities, though some bites cause serious discomfort that might persist for several days. The bites of many species are known to be no worse than a wasp sting, accounts of bites by some species are reported to be very painful and to produce intense spasms that may recur over a period of several days; the venom by the African tarantula Pelinobius muticus also causes strong hallucinations.

Found a group of Butterflies... If observed closely, you can see one Butterfly laying an egg...

A butterfly from Muthodi forest.... Leaves here give a lighter touch to the pic... Looks like someone has sprayed pink colour over the leaves....

Spotted a Vine Snake.. Fluorescent Green in colour, during an awesome trek to Muthodi, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka. This was one of the best wild life forest trek i had till now....

A Vine Snake.. Fluorescent Green in colour.. Spotted this moving around in the greens... And got to capture it when it came out....

Camouflage.... A reptile at the Muthodi forest, Karnataka... 

Look at this reptile.... Perfect camouflage...... Captured at Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....

A closer look at the Reptile... The way in which it camouflages with the surrounding environment is amazing...

Missing a Macro lens here..... Eyes of this look so beautiful.....

A closer look at the Reptile... Look at the camouflage....

"Bicolored Frog - Breeding Male". The bicolored frog (Clinotarsus curtipes) is a species of frog found in the Western Ghats of India. This frog has a very toad like disposition. The tadpoles of the species are black and form dense and compact schools in slow moving streams in forested areas.

The Bicolored rog (Clinotarsus curtipes), While inhabiting a large range, the species’ numbers are declining. Its habitat is razed to make way for large plantations. It is also in danger of road deaths during its breeding season when it migrates to breeding areas. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists it as near threatened and India is setting the stage for recovery efforts by listing it as a protected species. While subject to risks of human activity, bicolored frogs evade predators by playing dead!

HARD WORK......!! A beetle trying to move the food which it stores for next few days.... Look at the way it moves... The weight of the object is more than the body weight of the beetle.. Hence, it moves it with its hind legs. As, hind legs has more power...

Tiny little Beetles....

A Giant wood Spider....

Some insect.... It just had laid its egg over the leaf..... Captured at the Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka...

Some insect... Look at the body colors and the construction of the same.....!!

A leaf insect.....

A Giant Wood Spider... Captured while constructing its web...

A closer look at the Malabar Squirrel climbing straight upwords the tree... It hardly stays on the ground..... Captured at Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....

A closer look at the Malabar Squirrel.... Captured at Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....

Dew drops during the early mornings in Muthodi forest.....

The cutest looking bird... Known as Oriental Eye or Silver eye... Famous for the Silver ring around its eye....

An oriental Eye... Also know as the Silver Eye.... A tiny bird....

A Snail on its journey.....

Dew drops at Muthodi forest........

I guess this one is a Cricket...... Look at the amazing eyes and its body construction.....

SUSPENDED IN AIR..... This was the most difficult to focus.... This one was suspended in the air... If closely observed, a very thin thread can be seen.... Such pics are very tricky, as it becomes very difficult to focus, as even slight blow of air makes the subject to move. and with deep background, it becomes even more difficult when shooting with a 300mm lens.....!! Managed to get this pic some how....!!

A Malbar Squirrel... The giant squirrel which never touches the ground.....

Peacocks at the Muthodi forest....

A reptile, resting on the leaf... 

Malabar Squirrel.... Captured at Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....

The dragonfly is an insect that has inhabited the earth for several years – almost 300 million years to be exact. There are more than 5000 species of dragonflies that exist today.

What a place to walk this is.... Lush green everywhere........

This is a dung beetle. They belong to three basic groups - rollers, tunnelers and dwellers. The rollers shape pieces of dung into balls and roll them away from the pile. They bury their ball to either munch on later or to use as a place to lay their eggs. Tunnelers bury the dung treasure by tunneling underneath the pile. And dwellers actually live inside dung piles.Dung beetles are part of nature's clean-up crew.

Captured a different species of monkey........

Some kind of worm... pretty big in size.... When disturbed, it coils and has a pretty hard body covering.... Check out the next pic for the coils...

The worm when disturbed, coils in this way... Nature has given this defensive mechanism to overcome its predators.... 

Wondering what this must be... An insect???? Or the Exoskeleton of an insect????? Looks like its totally empty inside......!!

An insect which looks bit different... Captured at the Muthodi Forest, near Chikmagalur, Karnataka....