Uploads from Graham Ekins

Typical open country, Kaziranga National Park, February 2013,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:39:07 -0700

This gives some idea of the open areas in large sections of this incredible reserve. You can just make out a Rhino in the distance and a flock of Bar-headed Geese on the water’s edge.

Woodland track, Central Section, Kaziranga National Park,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:38:25 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This was typical of the light woodland in the central section of the park. It was alive with birds as well as mammals.

Evie and Graham Ekins, Kaziranga National Park, February 2013.

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:37:09 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This image was taken by our excellent guide Sudesh Pradhan in the central section of Kaziranga National Park. This was the only area where we were allowed to leave our jeep. We always had an armed guard to fire warning shots if a Tiger, Buffalo, Rhino or Elephant approached the vehicle.

Sunset, Kaziranga National Park

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:36:29 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

The light winds and clear skies gave plenty of opportunity for sunset shots.

Elephant Grassland, Kaziranga National park, February 2013,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:35:57 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This gives some idea of the open grassland areas in large sections of this incredible reserve. Elephants, Buffalo and Rhinos could just disappear in this tall grass.

Wetland pool, Burapahar Range, Assam, India

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:35:15 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This reserve 40kms west of Kaziranga is home to the very vocal Hoolock Gibbons. In this image you can see a group of sleeping Lesser Whistling Ducks. The forest behind was the main area for the Gibbons in the park. This reserve also has a high density of Eurasian One-horned Rhinos.

Red-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer bengalensis,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:26:34 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This dark throated form of Red-vented Bulbul was common at lower elevations in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. They would often be found in quite large numbers in the morning on a favourite fruiting tree. This image was taken in the grounds of Bon Habi Resort Hotel close to the entrance to Kaziranga National Park, Assam. This race can be found from the E. Himalayas (e Uttar Pradesh) to NE India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Long-tailed Minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus laetus, female,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:26:04 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This was one of the less common Minivets seen at Kaziranga National Park in February 2013. This race can be found from E Nepal to Sikkim, Bengal to Western Assam (Khasi Hills).

Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis capensis,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:25:47 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This is a truly stunning Kingfisher, being the size of a Eurasian Jackdaw but with a huge bill. I photographed this bird in Kaziranga National Park in February 2013. This race can be found from
Nepal to India, Sri Lanka and NW Myanmar.

Asian Elephant, Indian Elephant, Elephas maximus, IUCN Endangered, female,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:25:27 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

In Kaziranga National Park Indian Elephants were seen each day, both bulls and family groups of females with young. This female was the first of such a group. They can be found across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Asian population is still decreasing due to habitat loss and poaching.

Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria nipalensis,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:24:28 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This large Parakeet with a huge red bill was often seen flying high over both Ranthambhore and Kaziranga National parks. At the latter location we found one perched for a couple of minutes, this was when I took this image. This race has a wide range from Eastern Afghanistan to Pakistan, through North India to Bangladesh.

Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus albirictus,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:24:19 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This was a common species both in Rajasthan and Assam. This bird was one of several attracted by a grass fire in Kaziranga National Park in February 2013. Note the dark eye and glossy black back which help to separate it from Ashy Drongo. This race can be found from SE Iran to Afghanistan and across Northern India.

Eastern Imperial Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:59:28 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This juvenile bird was quite a surprise as I expected it to be another Steppe Eagle. I then noticed the curvature on the secondaries and the streaking on the breast and brown tips to some of the underwing coverts. This was the only one we saw during 2 months in N/NE India and so I was pleased to get this record shot.
This species has been split from Spanish Imperial Eagle or as Clements calls it Spanish Eagle. It has a vast range from Central Europe eastwards to Mongolia, wintering Africa eastwards to N. India and China.

Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis orientalis,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:59:21 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This race has a vast range from the S. Himalayas to SE Asia, Ryukyu Islands and the Indonesian Arch. We only found them once during our 2 month stay in India at Burapahar Range Reserve, 40kms west of central Kaziranga. 5 were feeding from power lines crossing part of the reserve. It is likely that all these birds were wintering and would migrate north later in the spring.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti leschenaultia,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:59:12 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This delightful, small Bee-eater was not seen during the first couple of days we visited Kaziranga National Park. We then started to see small groups, by the time we left they were common in the forested areas. This race can be found from Sri Lanka and SW India to Thailand, Indochina and Malay Peninsular.

Yellow-footed Pigeon, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Treron phoenicopterus phoenicopterus,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:58:59 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This well marked Pigeon was seen in flocks of up to 40 in Kaziranga National Park as well as in the grounds of the Bon Habi Resort Hotel near to the entrance to Kaziranga National Park. This race can be found from E Pakistan through N. India to Assam and Bangladesh.

Capped Langur, Trachypithecus pileatus,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:58:42 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This forest Langur was seen frequently in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. It has a cap of dark fur that help separate from other Langurs. It is the common forest Langur of NE India. There are several sub-species that vary in the intensity of the cap and body hair colour.

Indian Spot-billed Duck, Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 11:58:09 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This well marked duck the size of a Mallard was seen in groups of up to 15 at Kaziranga in February. They became commoner during our stay suggesting that birds were starting to migrate through the National Park. The markings appeared to me to be brighter than the nominate race seen elsewhere in India called poecilorhyncha. This race can be found from Assam eastwards to Myanamar and the extreme S of China and Laos. This species has recently been split from Eastern Spot-billed Duck that breeds in NE Asia. I have seen these in Japan and they are not as brightly marked as these birds.

Jungle Myna, Acridotheres fuscus fuscus,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 02:25:32 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This species was incredibly common at Kaziranga National Park. In the evenings we watched a flock of several thousand birds wheeling in the sky like Eurasian Starlings in Western Europe. It seems too big a population to be supported by local breeding birds. It seems likely that some of those seen were winter visitors. They were very partial to nectar from the large red flowers of the “Flame of the Forest” trees (Butea frondosa).

Jungle Myna, Acridotheres fuscus fuscus,

nobody@flickr.com (Graham Ekins) — Sun, 12 May 2013 02:24:59 -0700

Graham Ekins posted a photo:

This species was incredibly common at Kaziranga National Park. In the evenings we watched a flocks of several thousand birds wheeling in the sky like Eurasian Starlings in Western Europe. It seems too big a population to be supported by local breeding birds. It seems likely that some of those seen were winter visitors. They were very partial to nectar from the large red flowers of the “Flame of the Forest” trees (Butea frondosa).