Cattle Egret – Breeding plummage

The cattle egret in marriage dress – Breeding plumage.  Cattle egret is mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, cattle egret develops orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become red.

Brahminy Kite Juv

Just like black kite brahminy kite is also a scavenging bird feeding on dead fish and crabs by the rivers / lakes and ponds. This bird finds a place in the Hindu mythology as Garuda. Unlike the adult the Juvenile lacks the distinct white head and the markings.

Wood Sandpiper

  A small wader and a long distance winter migrant known to fly about 2300 to 4500 kilo meters non stop. They usually breed in the sub artic wetlands and migrate to Africa, India and other parts of south Asia.

Pond Heron

A very common bird around the wetlands of India. This individual is in assuming breeding plumage. For some individuals during breeding season the legs turn to red color.

Ashy Minivet

A long distant migrant and one of the surprise find of the 2015-16 winter around Bangalore. For a bird that is rare even a cluttery image like this will work :-). The male is grey above and whitish below. It has a black cap with a white forehead and there is a white band across the flight-feathers. The outer tail feathers are white. The bill and feet are black.