Pied Starling

f/5.4 , ISO 400 , 1/320 sec


f/5.4 , ISO 100 , 1/640 sec

Spotted these colourful Pied Starlings (Gracupica contra) around the Palm Beach road in Navi Mumbai. This noisy, colourful and hyper active group of birds were all around me. This bird also called the Pied Myna, is found all around India and especially around human habitations and wetlands.
The images above were clicked with a 300mm lens, and I certainly felt a dire need of a longer lens. Unfortunately Sony is not marketing its 400mm lens in India and its Tele-convertors cannot be used on my 300mm lens. Hence regrettably I have decided to change my camera system and the decision has been fortified after this shooting session. Sony has a lovely camera and lens system, but it seems like it's not meant for wildlife enthusiast and leaves a lot to be desired.

Birds in Love

It is said that, when two people love each other, one unconsciously tries to imitate the actions of the other. If you ever wondered if its applicable to the animal kingdom too, then these photographs are ample proof. The first 3 photographs are of a bulbul couple and the last one are a pair of Myna.

Javan Myna

Clicked at Singapore, the city is filled with these birds, hence in Singapore it not illegal to kill this bird. This bird is also replacing the common myna in the city. In villages this bird normally rides on oxen and feeds on insects disturbed by the bovines movements.

Common Myna

Startled looking at my camera, the Myna dropped the food crumb it was carrying. I tried getting nearer to it for a closeup photograph but the bird was elusive. Being an urban bird, I was surprised seeing it on my ship feeding on garbage.
This particular one was photographed off the Iranian coast.

Free Ride- Jungle Myna

A Jungle Myna taking a free ride on this Jersey Cow. Had to Photograph this in fading light, though the aperture was at max still the slow shutter created a motion Blur. The only option was to boos the ISO, which I generally resort to as a last option. f/4.5 , 1/13sec , ISO 200
The South Indian variety like this one has a blue Iris