Oct 31
by Admin in Rajasthan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, white rumped vulture

Adult white rumped vulture face portrait, DNP

The White-Rumped Vulture is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined. White-rumped vultures die of renal failure caused by diclofenac poisoning. In the 1980s, the global population was estimated at several million individuals, and it was thought to be “the most abundant large bird of prey in the world”. As of 2016, the global population was estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals. The white-rumped vulture is a typical, medium-sized vulture, with an unfeathered head and neck, very broad wings, and short tail feathers. It is much smaller than the Eurasian Griffon. It has a white neck ruff. The adult’s whitish back, rump, and underwing coverts contrast with the otherwise dark plumage. The body is black and the secondaries are silvery grey. The head is tinged in pink and bill is silvery with dark ceres. The nostril openings are slit-like. Juveniles are largely dark and take about four or five years to acquire the adult plumage. In flight, the adults show a dark leading edge of the wing and has a white wing-lining on the underside. The undertail […]
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Oct 31
by Admin in Rajasthan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Bangalore, camel, Digitalfrescos, fauna, Mammal, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500

Ship of the desert by the watering hole, DNP

Ship of the desert by the watering hole  
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Oct 31
by Admin in Rajasthan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Bangalore, desert hedgehog, Digitalfrescos, fauna, hedgehog, long eared hedgehog, Mammal, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500

Long eared hedgehog, DNP

The desert hedgehog is one of the smallest of hedgehogs. The spines (or quills to give their correct name) on its back can be banded with coloring similar to the four-toed hedgehog. It is usually identified by its dark muzzle. If desert hedgehogs are threatened, their muscles go tight and pull the outer layer of skin around the body, making their quills stick out in all directions. The quills tend to be longer than other hedgehogs for better protection against predation. As such it is extremely difficult to catch one. The desert hedgehog is reported to be a common species with a wide distribution and a large population. It is believed to be reasonably tolerant of habitat modification, and is not considered globally threatened. No major threats are reported for the species, although some note that increasing desertification within its range may be leading to the fragmentation of its populations, and in some areas it may suffer increased mortality due to road traffic. This is classified as least concerned by IUCN.
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Oct 31
by Admin in Rajasthan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Bangalore, desert hedgehog, Digitalfrescos, fauna, hedgehog, long eared hedgehog, Mammal, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500

Desert hedgehog on the sand dune, DNP

The desert hedgehog is one of the smallest of hedgehogs. The spines (or quills to give their correct name) on its back can be banded with coloring similar to the four-toed hedgehog. It is usually identified by its dark muzzle. If desert hedgehogs are threatened, their muscles go tight and pull the outer layer of skin around the body, making their quills stick out in all directions. The quills tend to be longer than other hedgehogs for better protection against predation. As such it is extremely difficult to catch one. The desert hedgehog is reported to be a common species with a wide distribution and a large population. It is believed to be reasonably tolerant of habitat modification, and is not considered globally threatened. No major threats are reported for the species, although some note that increasing desertification within its range may be leading to the fragmentation of its populations, and in some areas it may suffer increased mortality due to road traffic. This is classified as least concerned by IUCN.
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Sep 29
by Admin in Rajasthan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bird, birds, common coot, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500

Common coot feeding, Jaipur

The common coot is also known as the Eurasian coot. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia and parts of Africa. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old. This is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, often given at night. It is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. It does the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed in territorial disputes. As with many rails, its weak flight does not inspire confidence, but on migration, usually at night, it can cover surprisingly large distances. It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump. It is seen here grazing on the aquatic vegetation on a fresh water body. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.
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