Birds Around Me

While driving through the south of Spain during the Christmas holidays, saw flashes of reds and whites flying alongside our car, and in the fields. 10s of them.   And then I saw just one White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in St James Park when we came back to London, that too for literally one click.  They are very beautiful in flight, with red beak and feet, flapping their wings only occasionally.  Their nests are often very large and may be used for many years, you can see them on top of a lamppost, chimneys, treetops, etc.  White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)  St. James Park, London, UK

Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)  has the second largest wingspan of all living birds (after the great albatrosses) ranging from 226cm to 360cm. You can always find them in St. James's Park, London. At times you will see them in the nearby parks as well, they are free to roam but their home is St. James's Park. You will see them interacting with tourists, gulping fish, and sharing the space with Cormorants, Geese, Ducks & Grey Heron. Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) St. James Park, London, UK   Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) St. James Park, London, UK Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) St. James Park, London, UK Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) St. James Park, London, UK Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) St. James Park, London, UK

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) were originally introduced from North America, it is now a commonest goose in most of southern Britain, grazing in tame flocks in urban parks. It has large, brownish body, pale breast, black neck and distinctive white chinstrap.  It can be separated from Barnacle Goose by brown rather than grey plumage, with pale breast and white chinstrap, rather than black breast and rounded white patch at base of bill. -- Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) RSPB Rye Meads August 2022 Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) RSPB Rye Meads August 2022 Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) RSPB Rye Meads August 2022 Canada goose (Branta canadensis) Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, UK August 2020 Canada goose (Branta canadensis) Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, UK August 2020 Canada goose (Branta canadensis) Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, UK August 2020 Canada goose (Branta canadensis) Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth, UK August 2020 Canada goo...

Java sparrow, as name suggest shouln't be there in my garden in the UK. But guess what I had in our garden on once but twice. I was lucky enough to have my camera by my side clicking my garden resident Dunnock. On the second occassion it appeared breifly near the feeder and has never seen again. Today, I got to know from my neighbours that it was from the house in our lane, the household had few exotic birds as pet and they had to release the birds, as they couldn't afford feed and take care due to COVID situation. They release 2 Java Sparrows and few other song birds. I really hope either they found a new home or are still surviving.  Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora) 

I have a love and hate relationship with one of the most abundant birds of Britain -  Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). I see them on every walk & everywhere, I hear them all the time, I know where they are but find it very difficult to photograph. Spent hours and hours trying to observe and click these pretty, small birds. Wren is not the smallest but the shortest bird in Britain.  The first time I managed to photograph Wren was in April 2016, when I bought my Nikkor 200-500.  Will be sharing my pictures from the last many years. Please do let me know your favorite one. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)  # Spring is the best time to see and photograph shy and elusive birds, especially when they are busy collecting food and doing feeding rounds for the new ones. This one was collecting food while the young one was calling from the bushes nearby. It was a good few minutes before it disappeared in the bushes. It's pretty amazing how skillful they are with stacking food....