Image
details
1/25 sec, f/5.6; ISO 500
Canon 40D, Canon 100-400 zoom
Location: Karnala bird Sanctuary, 60 kms south of Mumbai
Date: July 2008
Shoot details
The image was
rather a planned one. This tiny jewel of our jungle is a breeding
migrant to Mumbai region in monsoon and occupies specific sites. It is
found deep inside the shady forest streams and is extremely shy. I found
one such site on one cloudy day. I visited this site again the following
day and observed & studied its favorite perches for almost 2 hrs, before
setting up my equipment in an appropriate place. This bird only came
thrice on this perch in the almost 4 hours that I stood motionless
rooted at one spot (without a hide), so much so, that a calotes lizard
found my leg as an unmovable structure and came to rest on it. Taken
under extreme cloudy conditions and shade, this is a special image for
me.
Species details
The Oriental
Dwarf is our smallest kingfisher at 13cms. A bird usually
associated with woodland streams, most recent records come from the ghats and Konkan
area in south-western India.
A
Birds of India presentation
