Commander Caterpillar

Sahyadri Commander (Moduza procris) Caterpillar

I saw this strange & bizarre looking caterpillar on the leaves of Mussaenda frondosa in my garden. The caterpillar was dirty brown with a chestnut tinge and dark reddish brown splotches all over. The body also bore numerous processes which helped it to break up its outline. Just like Hans Christian Andersen’s classic The Ugly … Read more

Paddyfield Pipit

I had earlier written about Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus). I had another opportunity to meet this bird. It was well camouflaged in the tall grass. I was shooting at a playground. Despite people around playing cricket near it, the bird was busy foraging along with its companion. I was using Canon EOS 1D Mark IV … Read more

Robber Fly

I do a lot of close-up photography with my Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM + 1.4x or 2.0x extender. That’s not the most usual combination for close-up photography, but has several advantages: Long working distance: Due to the long focal length (420mm or 600mm) I can work at a longer distance from your subject … Read more

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Chestnut-tailed Starling

That Saturday, there was a cacophony of birds in my garden. As I went out I saw a White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), a paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) and a pair of Chestnut-tailed Starlings (Sturnus malabaricus) were having their own private hunting party. So I picked up my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV fitted it with … Read more

Brown Shrike

Brown Shrike

That Sunday evening as I was returning from my photography round, I found this Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) sitting on an Indian Almond (Terminalia catappa) Tree. I was quite far away from the bird and there was no way I could approach the bird without startling this vigilant bird. I was holding Canon EOS 5D … Read more

Micronia aculeata moth

Micronia aculeata

That night coming home for dinner I spotted this moth on our kitchen floor. Being a pretty common moth around my house I assumed that I will get lot of information about this white moth. It was sitting on the vitrified floor tile which I have used in my kitchen. Dark clay color of the … Read more