Dave Williams's 2018 Big(Photo)Year!

[Dave Williams]

237)Small Minivet

The only ones I saw, a pair

Small Minivet  Pericrocotus cinnamomeus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

and the less colourful female.

Small Minivet  Pericrocotus cinnamomeus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

238) Indian Peafowl

Despite, or maybe it's because you see these as captive "pets" in all sorts of places both in the UK and abroad it's a thrill to see them in the wild. 

Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

The female

Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Raiding the vegetable crops?

Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

but free as a bird should be!

Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

239)Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Common but not always easy to see close by.

Pale-billed Flowerpecker   Dicaeum erythrorhynchos by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

240)Paddyfield Pipit

Pipit and Larks are a bit of a 'mare but I am reasonably confident on the ID of this one.....I think!

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Alternative opinions welcome of course.

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Richard's Pipit is also a contender. The eye stripe is much more obvious than anything illustrated in my field guide.

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

241)Oriental Magpie-Robin

Very vocal, lovely little birds.

Oriental Magpie-Robin   Copsychus saularis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

 

Oriental Magpie-Robin   Copsychus saularis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[PeterHG]

Great shot of that Oriental Magpie-Robin! I agree about the Peacocks, it's so good to see them where they belong.

[Dave Williams]

242) Blyth's Pipit

I'm not 100% on this one but location and chest stripes fit the bill so to speak ( that looks good too!)

Olive-backed Pipit   Anthus hodgsoni by Dave Williams, on Flickr

If anyone has a different opinion do tell me!

Olive-backed Pipit   Anthus hodgsoni by Dave Williams, on Flickr

This one is different again and although I'm not counting it it could be Blyth's Pipit

Blyth's Pipit    Anthus godlewskii by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited March 20, 2018 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

243)Purple-rumped Sunbird

This pair investigated a palm tree a few feet from our hotel balcony a couple of times a day.

Purple-rumped Sunbird   Leptocoma zeylonica by Dave Williams, on Flickr

I'm not sure if they are after nectar or insects.

Purple-rumped Sunbird   Leptocoma zeylonica by Dave Williams, on Flickr

The male isn't that obviously Purple and neither is the female either.

BH2I6313 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

244) Red-wattled Lapwing

Fairly common and noisy too. They tend to send an alarm call whenever anyone goes near which can send everything scattering. Damn nuisance really!

Red-wattled Lapwing   Vanellus indicus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

245)Yellow-wattled Lapwing

I only saw one pair which i was delighted to see as I have only ever seen them on a couple of previous occasions.

 Yellow-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus malabaricus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

246) Red-whiskered Bulbul

Not as many around as i expected but this one showed well on the next to last day after many failed attempts.

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Galana]

5 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Richard's Pipit is also a contender.

 

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

I'm not counting it it could be Blyth's Pipit

I share your feelings on Pipits. almost as bad as Cisticolas.

FWIW I think your Paddyfields may be Richard's (very uprights and prominent supercileum) and your Olive-backed could all be Blyth's. The breast and belly is much more marked in Olive-backed whereas your birds most of the spotting/streaking is confined to the upper breast. Shame you did not get the little b*****s to turn round. Makes no different to the markings so you choose!

Edit. Nearly forgot my manners. Great new additions too. Lots of 'likes'.

Edited March 20, 2018 by Galana
Additonal text.

[Dave Williams]

@Galana  Ta! I have changed the Olive-backed title but too late for the Paddyfield. Number remain as was though.

[Dave Williams]

247) RocK Dove

nesting in the hotel eaves these are as close to Rock Doves as I'll ever find.

Rock Dove  Columba livia by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

248) Spotted Dove

Very timid and took flight on approach too. Maybe they get shot at?

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

249)Rufus Treepie

A single sighting and only the third I have seen from recall. Oddly, had one in last year's BY too.

Rufous Treepie  Dendrocitta vagabunda by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[xelas]

What a imposing vagabond! Determined to reach #300 before May?? Well done, Dave.

[TonyQ]

Lovely additions- that Red whispered Bulbul is a spectacular bird.

[Dave Williams]

250) White-bellied Sea Eagle

One of my favourite birds in India. As big and imposing as any I have seen.

White-bellied Sea Eagle   Haliaeetus leucogaster by Dave Williams, on Flickr

The perched ones were taken on a boat trip.

White-bellied Sea Eagle   Haliaeetus leucogaster by Dave Williams, on Flickr

White-bellied Sea Eagle   Haliaeetus leucogaster by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited March 20, 2018 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

@xelas 300 by May? Maybe! I have reached the half way mark to my target which to be honest is going to be tough to achieve even though I have lots of time to achieve it. One thing is for certain, I prefer taking pictures to processing them. It takes far too much of my time.

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

these are as close to Rock Doves as I'll ever find

Oh ye of little faith. Wild pure breds still exist in GB. Flamborough and NW Scotland.

And the way you are going 300+ by May is almost certain. (Especially if you can remember to pack your camera on day trips to Dublin!!)

[Dave Williams]

251) Black Drongo

You can see the white cheek spots...just!

Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

There were quite a few hunting the edge of a grass fire.

Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

252) Streak-throated Swallow

There were many swallows flying around the edge of the grass fire too.

Streak-throated Swallow  Petrochelidon fluvicola by Dave Williams, on Flickr

I used a lot of shutter life in an attempt to catch one in flight.

Streak-throated Swallow   Petrochelidon fluvicola by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Much easier just to look up at the wires!

Streak-throated Swallow  Petrochelidon fluvicola by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

253)Barn Swallow

I'll wait "til they get to the UK before in flight attempts. They drive you nuts eventually!

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

254)White-browed Wagtail

One or two seen locally.

White-browed Wagtail   Motacilla maderaspatensis by Dave Williams, on Flickr