Black Drongo

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @600mm, f8, ISO 220, Nikon Z 6 Early morning, October; Drongo is an ancient genus (22 my), related to families of corvids and shrikes. Their black plumage flashes metallic blue and green in the light. Rajasthan

Openbill Stork

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 160, Nikon Z 6 Diffuse sunlight at noon, October; Asian openbill stork, intermediate egret and black drongos hunting in the marshes Rajasthan

Sarus Crane II

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 100 (EV -0.9), Nikon Z 6 Crop (APS-H), late morning; diffuse sunlight, heat shimmer; Black drongo and intermediate egret in blur Rajasthan

Wetlands

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @51mm, f9, Nikon Z 6 Sunset, October; Anhinga perched at the far edge, the flying raptor is crested serpent eagle, its silhouette is in the next shot (one minute later) but the colour has faded, and another anhinga (centre) Rajasthan

Demoiselle Cranes

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @68mm, f7.1, Nikon Z 6 Mid-morning, October; Demoiselle Cranes in wetland setting after the rain season. They give the scene the real scale. The birds that pair for life migrate from China and Mongolia to spend winter in India. Rajasthan

Petals

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @70mm, f2.8, ISO 900; Nikon Z 6 Arti by the Ganga; not quite a celebration as we understand it. It rather is acknowledgement externalised via several aspects (of it) and then also in relation to the individual. The flower represents the earth, the element of wholeness, firmness and strength. If we try to trouble our western brain a little and expand this view of elements to our current times (problems), we could see an imbalance between that earth and its opposite side the air but in a reverse way to what used to be typical for the past times/ages when the air element was lacking. Today the imbalance is caused by its excess and by lack of the solid ground (the groundedness). Happy fools will be quick to offer “that” but the truth is it needs to be rediscovered first (it intrinsically is of passive nature) before it can be realised more and before this equation can help us again. That would have become about as difficult and mysterious as it was since the Palaeolithic ‘with the air’. So, no quick fix that I could see. It was a lot of hard work in those days.

Indian Softshell Turtle

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8 , Nikon Z 6 Late afternoon; this mainly carnivorous turtle is living in Brahmaputra, Ganga, Indus, Mahanadi and other river systems. It forages and hunts all kinds of invertebrates and vertebrates (including birds). This is another example of once-common species which numbers have plummeted by trade to China and other countries in Asia. Despite the concentrated efforts of the local conservationists, the turtles, their parts or chips made of their sun-dried bodies are smuggled in vast numbers and used as “traditional medicine” to cure whatever disease this fashion in superstitions deems fit. It seems that urgent education about the vital and practical (and ethical) necessity for other life to coexist with us is their/our only chance. Most people are naturally attracted to the magic and experience of knowledge - above ignorance, given a chance. Rajashan, NP

Riverbed

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @30mm, f9, Nikon Z 6 Morning; The root bridge in the background isn’t as robust as some other bridges but it’s the longest one in the Cherrapunji region. It always had a special charm to us. The flood season had ended as you can see, but Meghalaya was unusually dry for this time. The land here is always moist but lack of rain was apparent at higher altitudes (besides the locals mentioning it). Meghalaya

Barasingha

Sigma 100-400 OS C @120mm, f5.3, ISO 640, Nikon D750 Fist light; rut season – a young age group of swamp deer; the buck in the foreground isn’t of typical pigmentation, often characteristic white spots along the spine are visible on the buck in the background in the next shot as he is getting up. Brahmaputra floodplain

Lesser Adjutant II

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 280 (+1/3 EV), Nikon Z 6 At sunset , https://tinyurl.com/rhinocerosNearby Brahmaputra floodplain

Mangroves

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @46mm, f5.6, Nikon Z 6 Morning, diffuse light; labyrinth of waterways Odisha

Saltwater Crocodile

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @450mm, f8, ISO 100 (+1/3 EV), Nikon Z 6; This elegant looking estuarine crocodile seemed to be a larger female; she isn’t turning down any proposal for a joint afternoon swim. As a reference to fast lenses, just half of the body is in focus at f8. Odisha

Washing

Sigma 100-400 OS C @400mm, f6.3, ISO 100 (+1/3 EV), Nikon D750 The tributary on which we found the root bridges higher upstream. Meghalaya

Fisher

Sigma 100-400 OS C @210mm, f5.6, Nikon D750 Woman trailing a bait. The distinct tint of the water comes as a result of its mineral content which is similar to that of South Island rivers in New Zealand. The perception of the river lit by the sun changes with the wind. On a windless day and with the sun high, the boats look as if they are suspended in the air. Increasing gusts (towards the afternoon) on a breezy day like this, with the transparent water rippled and sparkled can isolate the boat to a strong effect as if a long exposure filter was used. This shot that conbines both is about as still as we could get. Meghalaya

Hawk-cuckoo II

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 1250, Nikon Z 6; Lit by the soft diffuse light; a moment before disappearing into the thicket she or he (young bird plumage) paused on the branch. Rajasthan forest

Hawk-cuckoo

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 1250, Nikon Z 6 Morning; this cuckoo has seconds earlier swallowed a caterpillar (photographed). Cuckoos are known for catching hairy caterpillars that are safe from most other insect-eating birds. When it comes to their family tree, the cuckoos are long thought to be an archaic group of birds. The latest molecular data (May 2020) struggle to find relations to other basal groups with which the cuckoos are often associated. That again points to a relatively separate lineage with few changes in that sense (phylogenetically). Their simple feet that are of the original, zygodactyl arrangement may well be a sign of it as well. Rajasthan forest after monsoon

Painted Stork III

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, Nikon Z 6; Crop (slightly more than APS-H), the focus covers both birds at this point. Rajasthan marshes

Painted Stork II

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, Nikon Z 6; Slight crop (less than APS-H), late afternoon; a nesting pair during a ritualised affectional display. The male, on the left, had a long stick in his bill at the start. Rajasthan marshes

Pond Heron

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 400 (+1/3 EV), Nikon Z 6; Early morning; Indian pond heron; only pond heron (Ardeola) living in Europe is Squacco https://tinyurl.com/seeInTheD-Delta Rajasthan marches

Rhinoceros

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, ISO 200, Nikon Z 6; Late afternoon, lesser whistling duck, Brahmaputra floodplains

Mangrove; Daybreak

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 S @40mm, f6.3, ISO 100 (-1.3 EV, brightness toned down by a reference image of the scene), Nikon Z 6 Odisha

Rhesus Macaque

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @390mm, f8, Nikon Z 6; Afternoon forest along the marshes Rajasthan

Sarus Crane

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, Nikon Z 6; Hazy noon; a pair of Indian sarus crane feeding on fringes of the marshes. This tallest flying bird is considered sacred in India. It can be seen close to people in the rice paddies. Forms of archaic relation between the living world and humans, normally seen below us or inconvenient, are alive in India. Rajasthan marshes

Egret II

Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @370mm, f8, Nikon Z 6; Crop (APS-H), late morning, intermediate egret; a southern range egret, not even wintering in Europe. The tree trunk in the background is a branch of a large tree laying on the ground. Rajasthan wetlands