Flight of the shadows

We were on a car towards the Munnar hill, searching for birds to photograph. Though I only had a basic Canon camera, which didn't bother me for a new experience in birding on the hills, I simply went with the two companions and stayed in the car, peeking through the window. All of a sudden, we reached a valley where we thought to explore a little and began walking. Then a big shadow passed over my head. An eagle with huge wings wide spread eclipsed the sun with warrior like tail pattern and sharp talons, moving slowly like the shadow in the sky. Let’s just say that’s love at first sight.

This eagle wasn't much of a big deal compared to chasing the Great Hornbill which was tough in the Western Ghats. Searching for hornbills always ended up in sighting of Black eagle. Like the king of the jungle, he soars majestically high in the skies yet he can also glide effortlessly at lower altitudes with minimal wing flaps, unlike other raptors. Black eagles can often be spotted around the hills of India, particularly in the Western Ghats. However, there's something majestic and mesmerizing about them that has cast a spellbound over me.

Black Eagle and The Great Hornbill in frame

In 2021, while birding in agricultural fields far from the Western Ghats and my home, an eagle suddenly flew straight towards me and perched on a palm tree. I went near the tree to take a better shot of the eagle and couldn't believe its a black eagle, as there were no records of him visiting this far from the hills.

It's usually a rare sight to witness this raptor perch on a tree. Though I have seen every other raptors that roam in south indian skies this eagle thrills me the most for no reason. Some hill tribes believe it's a bird that never perches. After all, why would a bird choose to perch when it can effortlessly soar like a kite?

As I approached closer, the eagle flew away to a nearby banyan tree just a few meters away. I ran towards the tree through the agricultural field, I heard another bird chirping sound heading towards the black eagle. Of course it was none other than the ferocious Black Drongo claiming its territory and making it clear that the space belongs to him. Drongos are the first line of defense when it comes to protecting territory.

Every strike of the black Drongo was aimed at the eyes of the black eagle, yet the eagle showed no interest on the striker instead glancing over the sky. But then another Drongo followed up making the eagle take off . Imagine standing beneath Black Eagle chased by Black Drongo and a Black Kite nearby.  The eagle flew so close that even my 250mm lens couldn’t capture him fully, also the Black Kite which is bigger looked thin. It was a moment full of chaos and suprise.

Black Eagle chase by Black Drongo

Black Eagle and Black kite

After two months while I was returning from the same spot just thinking taking forty kilometer ride was failure today. Out of nowhere in the middle of road the black appeared soaring like a kite almost few inch near electric post. I immediately stopped the bike taking camera out, untouched by human habitation with only a road winding through the empty land and agricultural fields. He came towards me scanning each palm trees and then suddenly pouncing on one of them with wings struck over palm leaves and grabbing something out, started hovering around my head. And took far across the road and to my delight the Black Winged Kite saw the Black Eagle, started going higher and taking a stope down over the eagle for a strike which missed and diverting eagle again to my path. 

Despite the huge size they often raid nests of birds instead of hunting like other raptors, this time it was adult squirrel whom seems to sacrifice for the nest. I stood still watching intently to see where it would descend, It swiftly leveled down almost five hundred meters away landing on a palm tree inside the agricultural field. I took my bike and followed it to the area where there were slippery pebbles of stones making it off-road thrill.

Black Ealge with Indian palm squirrel

After few meters there was no trail to continue and decided to walk. He perched on a palm tree where I went as close as possible and awestruck in the presence of this fearless raptor. He glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to his breakfast, effortlessly tearing flesh and fur with his 2-inch talons. I stopped capturing pictures, even took selfie while waiting for him to take flight. Fifteen minutes passed, during which he remained focused on his meal. Suddenly, he stopped chewing and fixed his gaze on the sky. His feathers bristled and he seemed unnerved by something above. With a piercing stare, he attempted to intimidate whatever appeared in the sky.

Who could possibly intimidate the Black Eagle when not even the presence of a human standing nearby with camera in hand didn't provoke a reaction? Of course its      !!. 

The sighting near the agriculture field which was twenty kilometer from where I stand itself a new record. This place is another new record of how Black eagle takes summer migration far from hills. Spent few days observing Black eagle here but never close enough.

A year later lot has changed, I was into macro photography and planned to explore the hills of Valparai. I began riding bike around four in the morning, nearly two hundred kilometers from home. When I decided to take a break, sitting near a valley with perfect view of hills the shadow appeared straight towards me. It was undoubtedly the closest and most remarkable aerobatic sighting of black eagle I had ever witnessed. This eagle was putting up a good show right in front of my eyes gliding and pounding as close as possible. He never fails to surprise and its impossible to break the enchantment he holds over me. He always evokes the sense of power and freedom that Western Ghats possess.