Traveling to Delhi for work last spring, I was not very optimistic about birding there. Still, I contacted a local guide and shot for the moon: “Can you show me any owls”? Much to my surprise, he could, all within an hour`s drive of my hotel in Delhi (which after all is a contender for the most populous city in the world, similar to Shanghai, where I live).
The Brown Fish Owl is the most common of all Fish Owls. Its ear tufts seem to be almost horizontal rather than vertical.
This Dusky Eagle Owl is blind on one eye but still seems to be doing ok. Well, it mostly hunts at night, when it is dark anyway.
This Indian Eagle Owl was relentlessly mobbed by some crows. Makes it easy to find the bird, but oh, poor owl … (and of course, difficult to get a good photo as the crows always found the owl first)
My favorite, however, was the smallest, the Spotted Owlet. And as an added bonus, it was also the easiest to see, and the most common one. Somehow, it is a perfect combination of looking both cute and fierce – even if it is just stretching its legs …
More owls here.
Love owls and love Delhi.
Love the post.
Exactly what Simon said ??
Wonderful photos, Kai. Number 6 of the spotted owlet series is particularly brilliant.
Hmm … those question marks were supposed to be an emoji. Ignore them, but the rest of my comment is just as true.
Nice to see some old friends, the Spotted and the Indian Eagle Owl…
Very cool. May I ask how can I contact the guide you worked with? Thank you!
The guide I went out with was Sanjay Sharma, phone 9812470521, sanjay@sanjay-birding.com