Photos: Earth >> Asia >> India >> North >> Delhi >> Delhi

Register

  << Previous Next >>

Remembering a Clumsy Visitor


Remembering a Clumsy Visitor
Photo Information
Copyright: iris'hues ss (iris) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 361 W: 39 N: 664] (2071)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon SX100 IS
Exposure: f/4.3, 1/501 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-12 22:45
Viewed: 515
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi,
This is Remembering a Clumsy Visitor

The vacant plot behind our apartment building has quite a few number of tress. I had been seeing quite a few birds have happily made this place their home ever since the plot fell vacant and is awaiting government clearance for an apartment to be constructed there. Last year on an early summer morning I was drawn to a very quirky noise coming from the nearby tree across the small alley. I walked out on to the balcony and looked around and saw nothing. But a sudden “whoosh” had me wheeling around and the next thing I see is this large grey bird on our living room balcony’s railing…I almost squealed with excitement…well and that must have got the bird excited and scared too, it had this puzzled look in its large red eyes and in seconds it flew away….I should say this large bird is a wee bit clumsy in its movement and expressions…and has to push itself with its large body in flight…mostly flying from tree-top to tree-top.Well, to this day I wonder what made it come over so near to human habitation …was the summer heat and some thirst???

While the summer visitor never returned I found one like him/her a few days back in the park where I go for my walks and here is the shot for you. I had to clone a bit of the dried branches to remove the clutter.
Thanks for looking in.
*******************************************************

The Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a common hornbill on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. They have grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending up to the point of curvature in the horn.
Indian Grey Hornbills usually form their nest in tree holes. A peculiar characteristic of this bird is that the female stays inside the nest and the male seals the nest hole leaving only a small hole for feeding the female. In this way they safeguard the eggs and hatchlings. While inside the nest, the female will pluck out all her feathers and throw them outside the nest so that it can maintain the required space along with the growing chicks. The regrowth of the feathers in the female coincides with the maturity of the chicks at which point the nest is broken open.
These birds usually feeds on fruits including a variety of figs (Ficus spp.) and occasionally on small insects, lizards, small snakes etc.
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Coraciiformes

Family: Bucerotidae

Genus: Ocyceros

Species:O. birostris

(Source:Wikipedia)
PaulH, Argus, Alex99, SkyF, oscarromulus, rousettus, sranjan, jaycee, vanderschelden, marhowie has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Neighbour of the day,

Beautiful colors and a lot of details.
The bird is what centerd, be better another composition.
Sharpnes is very good.

regards Gert

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1205 W: 0 N: 4610] (13714)
  • [2008-03-12 23:38]

Hi Iris

A lovely shot - excellent POV with outstanding colours and detail. Well observed and captured.

James

Hello Iris,

You must have been surprised to see this large bird on your balcony! It looks like something from the dinosaur age!

You have captured interesting details of this strange bird.
I appreciate what a previous critiquer has said about the composition. It was my thought exactly but because the twigs would be lost by a crop, the photograph loses more than it gains! You were right to leave it like this!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 23 N: 2761] (10082)
  • [2008-03-13 2:21]

Hi iris,
nice to see another post from you. Interesting POV and composition, your DOF and focus is very good too. This is a very eye catching looking bird, well caught!
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 132 N: 7075] (22101)
  • [2008-03-13 4:46]

Hello Iris,
Must be quite an experience having an Indian Grey Hornbill on your balcony! This is a fine capture of it on a bamboo stem taken from an interesting POV. It looks like it has found a hollow tree to nest in and has found this bamboo twig to line the nest, which is probably why he was interested in your flat: looking for nesting material!
Thanks for sharing this fine image and the story to go with it!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2008-03-13 9:25]

Hi Irishues.
Simply perfect picture of an amazing bird. I am impressed with wide DOF, razor sharpness of all attractive details o the bird and tree branches, excellent lighting, sweet eye of your model and curious glance, lovely blue sky. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-14 3:23]

Hello Iris,
a great shot, with a lot of interesting detail. The colors and sharpness are excellent. POV and composition just wonderful.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 104 N: 4589] (20415)
  • [2008-03-14 9:38]

Great bird Iris! Lovely pose, great moment. Well seen and well done, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11866)
  • [2008-03-15 4:28]

Bonjour Irishues,

Bravo pour cette belle capture.
Merci.
Joseph

Iris,
I used to see them in Goa where I was born; and, later in life I saw different types of them in Brazil where we have travelled to extensively.
A lovely bird.
Well photographed. Loved your notes. By the way their beaks, though huge, are "ALMOST" weightless.
Warm greetings from COLD COLD Canada, Mario.

hello Irishues,
very nice capture of this beautiful hornbill. Nicely composed and focused. POV is different, but very nice. Lighting, colors and BG also very nice. Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 8 N: 4318] (14043)
  • [2008-05-01 9:56]

Hi Iris,

What a wonderful picture and a great story to go along with it. What a thrill to see this Hornbill on your balcony. I love the shot just as it is and think the composition is most effective. The bird is in a great pose and details are nice and sharp. I love the eye and that beak!!

Jane

Hello Irishues,
Never saw the Indian version. It appears to be a very beautiful one, I see. I like its overall grayishness and its monochromatic colours.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Iris,
Good details, color, and exposure..
Interesting pose and POV from behind. The twig in its mouth brings something extra, a big plus :)
Howard

Hello Silpa,
Its an excellent sharp capture of the hornbill commonly seen in North India. I lived in Delhi Cantt and found them having great time. TFS.
Regards-Subhash

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 24 N: 4870] (15888)
  • [2008-07-15 9:10]

Hi Silpa,
Splendid shot of this great looking Greay Hornbill in a fabulous pose and holding a twig for house building. Immaculate sharpness and nice details on its plumage. The blue sky acts as a fine backdrop. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF