Posts Tagged ‘Mallyadi’

Small Pratincole

February 18th, 2009
by Krishna Mohan
Small Pratincole

Small Pratincole

Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) or Little Pratincole is a resident breeder in India, Western Pakistan and southeast Asia. It breeds on gravel or sand banks in rivers, laying 2-4 eggs in a ground scrape. Breeding areas include small areas in northern Karnataka and northern Kerala near Kannur. This was Photographed in Malyadi Bird Sanctuary.
This species is only 16.5-18.5 cm in length, with a 15-16 cm wingspan. Because of its small size, the Little Pratincoles can be briefly confused in flight with swifts or swallows.

This bird has short legs, long pointed wings and a short tail. Its short bill is an adaptation to aerial feeding. On the ground, it looks mainly pale grey (hence lactea, milky). The crown of the head is brown.

The wings are grey above with black primaries and black and white bars at the rear edge of the inner flight feathers. The underwings are mainly black. The tail is white with a black terminal triangle. The belly is white.

The most unusual feature of the pratincoles is that although classed as waders they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.

The Little Pratincole is a species of open country, and is often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects.

EXIF info…
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Time: 1/320 sec.
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Aperture (F Stop): f/5.6
ISO Used: 125
Flash Used: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance: As Shot
Focal Length: 400.0 mm
Metering Mode: Spot
Date Time: 2009:02:15 08:37:45
GPS Location in Google Map:
12° 53' 21.4" N, 74° 49' 14" E, 33 m.a.s.l.
Copyright © Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Photography | Comments (0)

Barn Swallow

February 17th, 2009
by Krishna Mohan
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Last Sunday (15th Feb 2009) I went to Malyadi Bird Sanctuary. This is an abandoned clay query 9 kms away from Kundapura inhabited by water birds for the swampy land created by collected rain water in the left over clay fields. This year I was little late to reach there. Usually I used to go in the month of January. This birds were much less in number as well as variety.

Here is a common swallow (also called Barn Swallow) Hirundo rustica sitting on the wooden post beside the swamp. Shot using Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM using Giottos Monopod as support.

EXIF info…
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: EF400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure Mode: Auto exposure
Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Aperture (F Stop): f/8.0
ISO Used: 800
Flash Used: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance: As Shot
Focal Length: 400.0 mm
Metering Mode: Spot
Date Time: 2009:02:15 08:19:05
GPS Location in Google Map:
12° 53' 21.4" N, 74° 49' 14" E, 33 m.a.s.l.
Copyright © Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (0)

Page 2 of 212