Birds Around Me

Earlier during the week on a birding walk, my son asked me a question - Papa do you like bird watching or photography? I didn't know why he asked this out of the blue, so I answered - not sure Aadit, let me think. I wasn't sure so, I posted this question on my twitter account (@BirdsAroundMe) to get views from fellow birders and photographers. It has helped to shape my answer. On the next walk last Friday, I asked Aadit - why did he ask? And his answer left me a bit emotional and gave me a different perspective - a simple, innocent, child's perspective. I asked him to write it for me and Aadit(12) did it today. Sharing with you all. Please do read and feedback. Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe Bird Watching Vs Bird Photography Some people like bird photography and some like bird watching.  Personally, I   like watching, most of the time when you’re watching you think, “wow that was stunning” and when you are photographing often it is “missed it again”. When you’re taking a

Common Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler Both Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler belong to the same family - Phylloscopus. They arrive in the UK at the same time of the year and look extremely similar. I spotted a bird pictured in the blog yesterday (26-June-2020) around Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth. Not able to exactly ID this one so seeking help from fellow birders and experts on Twitter and Flickr. I am adding more pictures in the blog to help identify and posting the comments from twitter (@BirdsAroundMe) as a reference and as a log. Avaneesh Shukla @avienvironment This is common chiffchaff or simply the chiffchaff,is a common&widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic. Birds Around Me @birdsaroundme Replying to @avienvironment Thanks a lot. For my future reference why not Willow Warbler? I was confused because of colour of legs. Avaneesh Shukla @avienvironment The easiest way to tell these two bird

1500 km Ride And A Dead Bustard -  This blog story takes me back to 2002 and a story that changed my perspective about a lot of things, including life. During the Diwali holidays at our home in Bhopal, I was sorting my stamps and stumbled upon a 1980 Great Indian Bustard stamp. Stamp sorting was an annual Diwali ritual for me then. There was nothing special about the stamp but it was the only stamp that I had from 1980 complete  with  a first-day cover and a brochure. Not sure why but my dad asked me to show him the brochure and it triggered a conversation. He said he had heard something about this bird but was unable to recall the details. He was sure that there were less than 1000 or so remaining. Both my dad and I read through the brochure and discussed how he used to watch 100s of birds when he was posted in Pachmarhi as a bank officer.  The conversation created a kind of anxiety and I wanted to see this bird, I wasn't into bird watching by any means at that time. I was busy wr

The Greylag Goose (Anser anser) is a species of bulky large goose in the waterfowl family, native to the UK and most of Europe. Found widely often mixed with Canada Geese and other waterfowl.  Bird Facts: Revered bird by Ancient Egyptians and was revered across ancient Eurasia. Gray tones: True to their name, their plumage is a mix of silvery grays and white, with darker streaks on their backs and wings. Think sleek and sophisticated, like a sky-bound tuxedo. Orange beak and pink legs: A splash of color breaks up the gray, like a stylish pair of boots and sunglasses. The beak is large and powerful, perfect for nibbling on grass and aquatic plants. Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Behavior: Honking Haven: You can't miss the loud, honking calls that echo across the water. They use them to communicate, warn each other of danger, or simply chat amongst themselves. Think of it as their own goose gossip network. Family first: They form strong, lifelong pairs and raise their young together. Yo

Red Kites (Milvus milvus)  were extinct in The UK, due to persecution, poisoning, and woodland clearance. Saved from the brink of extinction in the UK, the magnificent Red Kite is another symbol of conservation in the UK. n 1999, the red kite was named 'Bird of the Century' by the British Trust for Ornithology.  Identification:  An elegant bird in flight, soaring on long wings held at a dihedral, and a long forked tail, twisting as it changes direction.    Where:  Broadleaf woodlands, valleys, and wetland edges,  Sometimes you are just lucky to get a clear shot just from your office window. camera - ready. lens - ready. subject - ready. light - ready. was just lucky, as I was cleaning my kit. Red Kites (Milvus milvus) are often seen sunbathing also known as basking or sunning, in open areas on warm sunny days.  Birds sunbathe for a couple of reasons, primarily for preening. Preening keeps feathers in good condition. Healthier feathers, better flight, and a better chance of attr

The Chaffinch is one of the most common birds in the UK. They are well camouflaged that most of the time you will hear them and you will spot them while they just take off.  The common chaffinch was popular as a songbird and used to be captured in large numbers. They were caged and sold all over UK. This is one of the birds that I saw in India (Northern) and in the UK. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Taken On: 29-May-2020 RSPB Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, UK  ( 53.198289, -1.0641388) Bird Facts:  Chaffinch has few different types of songs and have dialects based on the region.

Marsh Tit - Poecile palustris Taken On: 29-May-2020 RSPB Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, UK  ( 53.198289, -1.0641388) The Marsh Tit is a small bird with a black shiny cap, similar to Willow Tit. The similarity between the two birds makes it a nightmare for birdwatchers to identify. The key to a definite separation lies in the call both Willow and Marsh call is distinctly different. Remember that Marsh Tit's call is similar to a sneeze and that is the easiest way to differentiate. Usually found in the same places with other tits especially Blue Tit.  Very gregarious, eats insects and seeds. All the pictures in the blog were taken in Sherwood Forests, Nottinghamshire, UK. The forest made famous by legends of Robinhood. Bird Facts:  They are known to hoard seeds, for rainy days.