Winter Birding - Seasonal migrants like Rosy Starlings add some panache

Winter birding – it isn’t over until it’s over

Visiting the same location time and again has been the secret of this year’s winter birding escapades. It’s March but the migrants are still here. Among this week’s surprises was a flock of Garganey, wintering ducks from Europe that I have observed at Kaikondrahalli for the first time Continue reading Winter birding – it isn’t over until it’s over

Encounter: White-cheeked Barbet, the Invisible Chatterbox

The White-cheeked Barbet, earlier known as the Small Green Barbet, just melts into the canopy. But peer into the roof of leaves and you’ll see it devouring fruits and figs I saw this green bird for the first time at Polachira, a wetland near Thiruvananthapuram. My friend Rahul pointed to a bush and said, “White cheeked Barbet”. Where? All I could see were green leaves. Careful scrutiny helped me discern its form. And that was my introduction to Megalaima viridis. In the green canopy, the barbet is tough to spot Look carefully atop fruiting trees, and you can see through its … Continue reading Encounter: White-cheeked Barbet, the Invisible Chatterbox