Instagram story viewer> @aswindasmavila> Posts

Aswin Das

@aswindasmavila

undefined

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Only true parrot in India??
ഇന്ത്യയിൽ കാണുന്ന ഒരേ ഒരു യഥാർത്ഥ പാരറ്റ്.. ബാക്കിയൊക്കെ?
Did you know India has only ONE true parrot? 🦜👇The common Rose-ringed and plum headed birds we see every day are actually Parakeets (known for their long, streaming tails).The tiny Vernal Hanging Parrot is the only true parrot species native to India! They have short, square tails and a mind-blowing superpower—they are the only bird family in the world that sleeps upside down like a bat! 🦇
Have you ever spotted this tiny wonder in the wild? Let me know in the comments!
#keralabirds #wildlife #birding #naturemalayalam #vernalhangingparrot taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

76k

1k

9 days ago

കേരളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ചെറിയ പക്ഷി - പേൽ-ബിൽഡ് ഫ്ലവർപെക്കർ.
The Pale-billed Flowerpecker, just 8 cm and weighing a mere 4-8 grams, the Pale-billed Flowerpecker is one of the smallest birds in India. These birds are famous for spreading mistletoe seeds. They eat the berries, and the sticky seeds stick to their bills, which they then wipe onto branches. Sometimes they swallow the fruit whole, and the seeds pass through their system quickly and are excreted onto branches, ensuring new growth.
I captured this amazing bird in Payyannur with my Nikon Z6 III
#birding #urbanwildlife #palebilledflowerpecker #malayalamfacts #birdsofkerala taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

5k

357

2 days ago

“രാത്രിയുടെ കാവൽക്കാർ”🦉🦉
Mottled Wood Owl and Brown Wood Owl
The 270-Degree Twist & The Woods’ Silent Kings 🦉✨Ever wondered how owls look right behind them without moving an inch? Both the Brown Wood Owl and the Mottled Wood Owl possess an incredible 14 neck vertebrae (twice as many as humans!) and specialized reservoir blood vessels that allow them to safely rotate their heads up to 270 degrees without blocking blood flow to their brain! This is an evolutionary necessity since their massive eyes are fixed in their sockets and cannot roll.
#keralabirds #wildlife #birding #owls #naturemalayalam taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

8k

352

3 days ago

കണ്ടാൽ പാവം, പക്ഷെ ആളൊരു ഒന്നൊന്നര ബഹുകാര്യസ്ഥനാണ്! 🌾🔥
Meet the Zitting Cisticola, a tiny bird with a very hectic love life. While most small birds stick to one partner, the male Zitting Cisticola is strictly polygamous. He spends his season frantically building up to a dozen half-made nests, flying in distinct patterns to impress as many females as possible! Once a female accepts a nest, she finishes it, while he immediately flies off to build another one and find a new partner. Talk about no commitment! 🤫Captured this hyperactive little architect putting on a show in the beautiful wetlands of Kerala.
📍 Location: Kattampally, Kannur
📸 NikonZ6III + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3
#wetlandbirds #keralawildlife #birdsofkerala #zittingcisticola #birdinformation taken in Kattampally by @aswindasmavila

5k

326

5 days ago

കേരളത്തിലെ കാടുകളിലെ തീകൊളുത്തിയ സുന്ദരൻ! 🪵🔥
Meet the living flame of the Western Ghats—the Malabar Trogon! 🪵🔥 Deep within the dense forests of Kerala lives this stunningly vibrant, crimson-breasted bird. Despite its local name ‘Theekkaakka’ (Fire Crow), it belongs to the trogon family and is incredibly elusive. Spotting one of these rare beauties in the wild is considered a true privilege for any nature lover!നിങ്ങളുടെ നാട്ടിൽ ഈ പക്ഷിയെ എപ്പോഴെങ്കിലും കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ? താഴെ കമന്റ് ചെയ്യൂ!⬇️
#malabartrogon #birding #nikonindiaofficial #karnatakatourism #westernghats
Which one did you like? taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

11k

553

7 days ago

Common kingfisher vs blue eared kingfisher
Which one will you #nikonindiaofficial #birding #malayalamreels #kingfisher taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

2k

171

11 days ago

Indian Roller.. official bird of Karnataka, Telangana and Odisha #birding #birdsofinstagram #nikonindiaofficial #vivox300ultra taken in Kattampally by @aswindasmavila

5k

355

12 days ago

Sometimes, nature saves the best for the very end.
Our weekend at JLR Kings Sanctuary didn’t go as planned. The safari was cancelled a few days before our arrival due to heavy rains. Ironically, we hardly saw any rain during our stay. We spent hours scanning the forests around Nanachi, hoping for a memorable sighting, but luck wasn’t on our side.
With a heavy heart, we started our journey back.
As we slowly drove through the forest one last time, I kept scanning the canopy—one tree after another. And then, almost as if the forest wanted to say goodbye, this magnificent Crested Serpent Eagle appeared quietly beside the road.
It sat just long enough for a few photographs..
Wildlife has a way of reminding us that success isn’t guaranteed, and that’s exactly what makes every sighting so special. Sometimes, a single encounter is enough to make the entire journey worthwhile.
📍Nagarhole tiger reserve
📷Nikon z6iii NIKKOR 180-600mm
About the bird
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is one of India’s most recognizable forest raptors. It feeds mainly on snakes, lizards and other reptiles, using its powerful legs and thick scales to protect itself from bites. Its piercing yellow eyes and distinctive crest make it a true king of the forest canopy.
“The forest owes us nothing. Every photograph is a gift.”
#birdphotography #raptorphotography #indianwildlife #karnatakawildlife #crestedserpenteagle taken in Nagarhole National Park by @aswindasmavila

125

30

13 days ago

Creating memories through frames.. #travelphotography #nikonindiaofficial #wallpaper #elephantphotography taken in Payyanur, Kerala, India by @aswindasmavila

297

37

16 days ago

Not every memorable photograph has to be of a rare bird..
Sunday evening, we headed to the Ezhome backwaters hoping for a productive birding session. The sightings were fewer than we had expected. For a while, it felt like one of those days when nature had decided to keep her secrets.
Then this familiar cormorant quietly landed on a weathered branch, surrounded by the mangroves.
I’ve photographed cormorants countless times. They are among the commonest waterbirds we see across Kerala. Yet, something about this moment made me pause—the soft evening light, the delicate patterns on its feathers, the still water melting into the background, and the mangroves framing the scene perfectly.
It reminded me that wildlife photography isn’t always about chasing the rarest species. Sometimes it’s about noticing the ordinary in extraordinary light. A common bird can become your favourite photograph if everything else comes together.
The Ezhome–Payangadi mangrove ecosystem deserves far more attention than it receives. These mangroves are more than scenic backwaters—they act as natural barriers against coastal erosion, serve as nursery grounds for fish, crabs and prawns, store significant amounts of carbon, and provide shelter to countless resident and migratory birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Healthy mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, yet many stretches along our coast remain understudied and underappreciated.
Perhaps the best reward of this trip wasn’t a long bird list—it was this simple reminder that the beauty of nature often lies in slowing down enough to appreciate what most people walk past.
📍Ezhome Backwaters, Kannur, Kerala
📷 Nikon Z6III + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm
#mangroves #keralabirds #cormorant #earthcaptures #backwatersofkerala by @aswindasmavila

87

17

20 days ago

Some places don’t just offer a stay—they immerse you in nature. 🌿
This April, my wife and I spent a night at Lanternstay, Wayanad, expecting a peaceful getaway. What we didn’t expect was to wake up in the middle of a living rainforest.
Stepping outside our room was like opening the pages of a field guide. In just a short walk around the property, we spotted more than 12 bird species, each bringing its own song to the forest. There were no crowds, no rush, and no need to drive for hours in search of wildlife. The forest simply came to us.
Among all those encounters, one bird kept stealing my attention—the Square-tailed Bulbul. Endemic to the Western Ghats, it may not wear the brightest colours, but its smoky charcoal plumage, fiery coral-red bill, and unmistakable calls give it an incredible presence. Bold, inquisitive, and full of attitude, it seemed to own the forest around it.
For me, Lanternstay wasn’t just a place to spend the night. It was a reminder that some of the best wildlife experiences happen when you slow down, listen to the forest, and let nature unfold at its own pace.
Here’s to places where the alarm clock is replaced by birdsong, and every morning begins with a new discovery.
📍 Lanternstay, Wayanad, Kerala
📷 Nikon Z6III + NIKKOR Z 180–600mm f/5.6–6.3 VR
Some journeys are measured in kilometres. The best ones are measured in moments.
#nikonindiaofficial #wifey #birding #getaway taken in LanternStay - Forest Resort in Wayanad, Kerala by @aswindasmavila

229

27

22 days ago

“Sometimes the smallest birds leave the biggest memories. 💛
The Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher is one of those little forest gems that is easy to hear but surprisingly difficult to photograph. Constantly flitting through the canopy in search of tiny insects, it rarely pauses for more than a second.
During our stay at Lanternstay, Wayanad, this tiny beauty briefly settled on a branch bathed in soft morning light.
Despite its name, it is neither a true canary nor a true flycatcher. Its cheerful yellow underparts, elegant grey head…
Every visit to Wayanad reminds me that you don’t always need a safari to witness incredible wildlife—sometimes all you need is to step outside your room and keep your eyes open.
📍 Lanternstay, Wayanad, Kerala
📷 Nikon Z6III + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm (DX Crop Mode)
#greyheadedcanaryflycatcher #wayanaddiaries #keralabirds #naturelovers taken in LanternStay - Forest Resort in Wayanad, Kerala by @aswindasmavila

54

12

25 days ago