While lions are the main attraction in Gir National Park, India, there are also a lot of birds. Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher is an attractive medium-sized flycatcher with blue upperparts and orange-and-white underparts, with the most orange on the chest and the throat. Spotted Dove is a small and somewhat long-tailed pigeon that is a common resident breeding bird across its native range on the Indian subcontinent.
Incredibly, well over 900 species of birds have been seen in Costa Rica. Many look exotic and even better, many are common and easy to see! Some of the more beautiful of those exotic Costa Rica birds are the tanagers. Small and brightly colored, they frequent a wide array of habitats and several can be seen in hotel gardens as they feed in fruiting trees and bushes.
A resort we stayed at in Costa Rica put out fresh fruit each morning attracting local, colorful, birds. It was a sight to watch the feeding frenzy.
Posting some images from a short trip to San Francisco. The ever present sea lions and birds on the wharf with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The sea lions camped out in PIER 39’s West Marina have been endearingly coined The PIER’s “Sea Lebrities!”
Spotted a red-wattled lapwing at our resort in Gujarat, India. The red-wattled lapwing is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching.
The early morning sun casts a golden glow on the bird reflections at a pond in our resort in Gujarat, India
The existence of River Andhari inside the Tadoba National Park in India gives way to a wide diversity of water birds, and raptors. There are approximately 195 species of birds that have been recorded in the park, including three endangered species, including the grey-headed fish eagle, the crested serpent eagle, and the changeable hawk-eagle. Not a big bird watcher, but captured some bird images in the park.
Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, the 3.5 mile Santa Monica beach is an iconic example of the famed beautiful beaches of Southern California.
The beach sign below has cutouts for the umbrella and the birds so that the colors change depending upon the shade of the sky in the background.
The exotic Mute Swan is the elegant bird of Russian ballets and European fairy tales. The name ‘mute’ derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Here is a mute swan at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
A covered barge with feed at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC attracts a variety of birds
An ideal spot to dine while overlooking the ocean. Birds too have a sheltered cove for their feeding.
Silhouette photography is all about getting your lighting right. A silhouette effect is created when a light source is placed behind your subject, with little to no light in front of your subject. Here the bird and tree are silhouetted against a serene sky.
Birds find a nice perch surrounded by reflections on Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
A peaceful coexistence between a bird and humans at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
The King Vulture is an uncommon, large, and spectacular bird of lowland tropical forest, mainly in wilder areas and not around human habitation. Most often seen soaring overhead in mid-late morning, often fairly high up; rarely seen perched. Striking adult has a colorful head and neck, piercing white eyes, and mostly white plumage with a black trailing edge to the wings and tail. Here is a captive, perched vulture at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
King Vulture
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren’t really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings.
Some bald eagles in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina.
Bald Eagle Posing
Bald Eagle
The Eurasian eagle-owl’s large, very distinctive, orange eyes provide excellent night vision. This male bird is at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eyes of a Eurasian Eagle Owl Male
The Eurasian eagle-owl is a species of eagle-owl that resides in much of Eurasia. It is one of the largest species of owl, and females can grow to a total length of 30 inches, with a wingspan of 6 ft. 2 in, with males being slightly smaller. This bird has distinctive ear tufts, with upper parts that are mottled with darker blackish coloring and tawny. The wings and tail are barred and the underparts are a variably hued buff, streaked with darker coloring.
Here is a male Eurasian eagle-owl at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eurasian Eagle Owl Male
Eurasian Eagle Owl Male Piercing Eyes
Outstandingly maneuverable, Lanner Falcons use their large tails and relatively low wing loading to perform exceptionally to the lure and can take a range of small birds as prey. The piercing eyes of a Lanner Falcon at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Eyes of a Lanner Falcon Male
Lanner Falcon Male Closeup
The Lanner Falcon is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and Asia and is a bird of open country and savanna. Males and females look alike, but the browner young birds resemble Saker Falcons even more. However, Sakers have a lighter top of the head and less clear head-side patterns. Here is a male Lanner Falcon in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Lanner Falcon Male Perched on a Rock
Tethered Lanner Falcon Male
Photos by Ravi 