One thing about nature that has always blown my mind is the amazing camouflage some animals and birds have. Crucial to its survival, I have seen creatures big and small pull off the ultimate camo-card! There are many different types of ‘being camouflaged’. Some silently blend with their surroundings, others use bright disruptive colour, and few also “mimic” other animals to ward off potential predators. However, they are all saying the same thing: Catch me if you can!

It takes a trained eye to spot such a creature. Thanks to the many wonderful people who have accompanied me in my journeys, I have managed to get first hand glimpses of such wildlife. In this series, I shall share photos of wildlife and the extent of their amazing camouflaging abilities. In some cases, you may have to play Hide and Seek, and yes you will be the seeker!

Great Rann of Kutch (GRK), September 2018

We were birding in GRK when our expert guide Jugalji stopped the car in a spot and casually asked, “Do you want to stop to photograph this?“

I was thinking in my head, “what??”. At the risk of sounding stupid, I did ask him, “Eh, what is there?”.

He pointed at the heap on of pebbles and stones to our right. I bore my eyes into the stony ground. I waited. And then…. there was movement.

1. What did you spot?
2. How many did you spot?
3. Where are they?

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Scroll down for the answer.

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Three Painted Sandgrouses (2 Males and 1 Female) were resting on the stony slopes. Being a common bird in that region, our guide was casual and relaxed. He knew we would have seen many before. However, to sight birds like this is all together a different thrill.

Further Reading
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reference/camouflage-explained/

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