Jewels of the Canopy 💚
#intothewildwithrufus
There’s nothing quite like unto stepping out into nature, and seeing what the local wildlife nay birdlife has in store for you on your adventurous bird walk deep into the forests.
Today’s birding walk was one such awesome walk by all means! And yes, we also spotted a surprise ICUN’s endangered species – the vulture!
One of our first sightings was - what we call - a true jewel of the canopy - a White-cheeked Barbet!
The second lovely sighting of the day was actually a beautiful Sambar deer quietly grazing. But if you look closely at the grass right next to it, we were still on theme! 😊 A little Myna was trailing right beside the deer, likely taking advantage of the insects stirred up by the sambhar’s gaze nay graze! Such joy indeed to see this interconnectedness between mammals and birds, peacefully co-inhabiting the same space.
Perched high up on a wire, we then spotted a majestic Black-winged Kite. With its clean white breast, soft grey plumage, and signature black shoulder patches, it looked so beautiful with its fierce, deep-red eyes scanning the ground below for its next meal.
Next up was a Red-naped Ibis striking a pose on a thick, dead branch. Unlike water-loving ibises, these guys are often found foraging in drier agricultural land.
We also managed to capture a beautiful Black-rumped Flameback (also known as the Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker).
Against a perfect, clear sky, we then caught sight of a male Rose-ringed Parakeet. With its bright green plumage, prominent red beak, and the distinct black and rose-colored collar around its neck, it brought a wonderful tropical vibe to the day’s sightings.
Yet another joyous sighting today was the Black-hooded Oriole nestled among the green leaves. The contrast on this bird is absolutely breathtaking!
We also spotted the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. Its most spectacular feature is its tail: two elongated outer feathers trail down, ending in unique, twisted “rackets” or flared tips.
Then came the cream of our sightings – an imposing vulture perched powerfully on a thick, weathered branch! Its relatively bare, greyish head and strong, sharply hooked beak are classic features of a scavenger. We shot this rare sight against a stark, blown-out white background, and so the image beautifully isolates the bird, even as it surveys its surroundings.
It is the White-rumped Vulture, and it is on the IUCN Red List, classified as Critically Endangered!
This species has experienced a catastrophic population collapse (dropping by over 99% since the early 1990s) across its native range in South and Southeast Asia.
As such, watching this vulture today is a living symbol of ecological resilience and recovery.
More… on the way…
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