Familiar Fields, Unfamiliar Feathers

A day spent with a camera on the farm in Coimbatore can be as rewarding as any distant birding expedition, as the local avian residents seem to dance and sing their own welcome.​

The Joy of Birding at Home: Coimbatore Farm
Sometimes, the journey for discovery lies not in faraway places but right at your doorstep. This became clear one tranquil morning in November, strolling through fields and groves on the family farm in Coimbatore. The air was scented with promise, and the lens felt lighter, as if the birds themselves beckoned, asking, “Why wander so far? We’re right here, waiting.”

As the light grew golden, the farm came alive with songs and colour. A Bay-backed Shrike perched atop a branch, its plumage gleaming against the green. Nearby, a Brown Shrike watched from the shadows, curious and composed.​

The morning soon turned playful. The Jacobin Cuckoo called out with melodious urgency, flitting through sun-kissed foliage. A Sirkeer Malkoha, secretive and striking, slipped among thick leaves, its long tail gleaming with every flicker of movement. Meanwhile, Tawny-bellied Babblers scurried through low thickets, chattering in lively companionship, as if voicing stories for every attentive ear.​

White-browed Bulbuls serenaded the morning with their cheerful notes, and the Yellow-eyed Babbler glided between branches, its eyes bright with curiosity. The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater darted and danced in aerial acrobatics, catching the day’s first insects in mid-flight.​

It was as though every bird had gathered to perform, showing that beauty and wonder truly thrive close to home. Each photograph was a gentle reminder: the farm, too, is a sanctuary, wrapped in feathers and song.

In the end, the chorus of the morning seemed to tease: “Why roam so far and wide, when joy perches right beside you?” The spirit of birding resides as much in local fields as in distant forests — all it asks is that you look, listen, and greet the dancers where they are!