Chendur Photography

Chendur Photography Wildlife and travel photographer exploring stories from nature, with a focus on birds and life around rivers and forests. Living in Hyderabad now.

Sharing moments from Africa, India, and beyond.

The smaller bird looked badly outmatched. But it was the hawk that was being chased away.At Pousada Piuval in the Pantan...
04/09/2026

The smaller bird looked badly outmatched. But it was the hawk that was being chased away.

At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, I watched this Great Kiskadee repeatedly mob a Roadside Hawk perched out in the open.

Great Kiskadees are bold birds and will aggressively challenge much larger predators when they feel threatened, especially near nesting areas. Mobbing is a common anti-predator strategy where smaller birds harass a raptor until it decides the area is no longer worth staying in.

The Roadside Hawk eventually took off, giving a great view of its broad wings, barred underparts and powerful talons.

One of those moments where size clearly did not decide who was in control.

At first, all you notice is the red.Then it opens its wings, and suddenly there is a lot more going on.This Vermilion Fl...
03/09/2026

At first, all you notice is the red.
Then it opens its wings, and suddenly there is a lot more going on.

This Vermilion Flycatcher was photographed at Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, Brazil. The bright red plumage of the male is already striking, but when it spread its wings, the darker flight feathers and patterns became much more visible.

An interesting fact about Vermilion Flycatchers is that they often hunt from an exposed perch. They sit quietly, watch for insects, then suddenly fly out to catch them in mid-air before returning to the same or a nearby perch.

That combination of brilliant colour and quick aerial movement makes them one of the most enjoyable small birds to photograph in the Pantanal.

One looked like it belonged in the African savannah. The other made sure everyone knew exactly where it was.At Pousada P...
02/09/2026

One looked like it belonged in the African savannah. The other made sure everyone knew exactly where it was.

At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, Brazil, I came across a Red-legged Seriema and a Southern Lapwing, two very different birds sharing the same open landscape.

The Red-legged Seriema is a striking ground bird with long red legs and an upright stance. It spends much of its time walking through grasslands hunting insects, lizards, snakes and other small prey. Despite its crane-like appearance, it is not closely related to cranes.

The Southern Lapwing is much smaller, but far louder. Highly territorial and protective around nesting areas, it will aggressively call at anything that comes too close, including animals, vehicles and people.

Pousada Piuval was one of those places where the wildlife did not always require a safari drive. Sometimes you just had to walk around, watch carefully, and wait.

The caiman was caught, but the hunt was not over. What happened next showed why the jaguar is the most powerful predator...
30/08/2026

The caiman was caught, but the hunt was not over. What happened next showed why the jaguar is the most powerful predator in the Pantanal.

The Hunt: Part 2

With the caiman firmly in its jaws, the jaguar delivered its killing bite to the back of the skull.
This is not a random choice. A bite at the back of the head can disrupt the connection between the brain and the rest of the nervous system, quickly paralysing the caiman and preventing it from fighting back with its powerful jaws and tail.

One of the photographs captured the jaguar’s eyes at that moment. There was an intensity and ferocity in them that was impossible to ignore.
The jaguar then dragged the heavy caiman out of the water and through the thick bushes. Watching it pull such large prey across the riverbank was another reminder of its incredible strength.

A hunt that began with patience and stealth ended with raw power.


Note - The Part 1 of the hunt is here https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0XxG16VPCNzUDTeKKUiYfPA7hcjRHE5s7tXbiuZBPXnUa25qjJPvpps3gqAvHrqocl&id=100094171035949

For days, every jaguar hunt we followed had ended in failure. Then one afternoon, a jaguar crossed the river twice, and ...
29/08/2026

For days, every jaguar hunt we followed had ended in failure. Then one afternoon, a jaguar crossed the river twice, and everything changed.

The Hunt: Part 1

We had been tracking this jaguar for nearly an hour as it swam between the banks of a river in the Pantanal. It suddenly spotted a caiman resting near the water.

The jaguar quietly swam back across the river. Staying low and almost invisible in the vegetation, it slowly crawled towards the caiman.

Then it jumped. The startled caiman rushed into the water, but the jaguar followed immediately. Jaguars are excellent swimmers and are among the few big cats that regularly hunt in water.

After a tense struggle, the jaguar finally emerged with the caiman in its jaws. Unlike most big cats, jaguars often kill using their exceptionally powerful bite to the back of the skull.

But catching the caiman was only the beginning.

Part 2 continues with what happened next.

As the sun went down over Pousada Piuval, a lone Crab-eating Fox appeared and started searching the grass for food.It mo...
25/08/2026

As the sun went down over Pousada Piuval, a lone Crab-eating Fox appeared and started searching the grass for food.

It moved slowly through the fading light, stopping often to sniff the ground. Then it noticed us. For a few moments, curiosity took over and it stood watching before continuing on its way.

Despite the name, Crab-eating Foxes do not live only on crabs. They are opportunistic feeders and eat insects, small animals, fruit, eggs and other food they can find. In the Pantanal, that flexibility helps them survive across both dry and seasonally flooded habitats.

A quiet encounter, but one that became much more memorable in the last light of the day.

A tiny bird that is almost impossible to miss once it appears.At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, I came across this Verm...
22/08/2026

A tiny bird that is almost impossible to miss once it appears.

At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, I came across this Vermilion Flycatcher, one of the most striking small birds of the region.

The male is known for its brilliant red plumage, which stands out sharply against the greens and browns of the Pantanal. Like other flycatchers, it often hunts from an exposed perch, making short flights to catch insects in mid-air before returning to the same spot.

Its habit of sitting out in the open also makes it a great bird to photograph, especially against the wide landscapes around Piuval.

Some birds look even better once they take flight.At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, I photographed this Black-collared ...
21/08/2026

Some birds look even better once they take flight.

At Pousada Piuval in the Pantanal, I photographed this Black-collared Hawk gliding across the wetlands and woods with its broad wings fully stretched.

This species is closely tied to rivers, marshes and flooded areas. Its strong curved talons and rough feet help it grip slippery fish, though it also feeds on frogs and other small wetland prey.

Piuval’s mix of wetlands, grasslands and woodland makes it an excellent place to watch raptors like this moving between different habitats.

One moment it was perched quietly. A second later, the wings opened and the Savannah Hawk was airborne.In the Pantanal, ...
18/08/2026

One moment it was perched quietly. A second later, the wings opened and the Savannah Hawk was airborne.

In the Pantanal, I managed to capture the sequence of a Savannah Hawk taking off, from the first push with its legs to the full extension of its broad wings.

The Savannah Hawk is a common raptor across open habitats in South America, including the grasslands, marshes and seasonally flooded areas of the Pantanal. Unlike many hawks that hunt mainly from the air, it is often seen sitting on low perches or even walking on the ground looking for prey.

Its diet is quite varied. It feeds on insects, frogs, small reptiles, rodents and other small animals, which makes it well suited to the constantly changing conditions of the Pantanal.

One interesting feature is its long legs, which are useful when hunting on the ground or moving through shallow wetland vegetation. Its broad wings are also well adapted for slow, controlled flight over open country.

Photographing a take-off sequence is always interesting because the first few frames show just how much work goes into flight. The legs push hard, the body leans forward, the wings spread, and within moments the bird is completely airborne.

A flash of wings, a sudden plunge, and breakfast was pulled straight from the water.In the Pantanal, we watched a Black-...
16/08/2026

A flash of wings, a sudden plunge, and breakfast was pulled straight from the water.

In the Pantanal, we watched a Black-collared Hawk patiently scan the water before swooping down and grabbing a fish. It happened in seconds, but the precision was impressive.

The Black-collared Hawk is strongly associated with wetlands and rivers across tropical South America, making the Pantanal ideal habitat. Fish form a major part of its diet, and it often hunts from a perch close to the water, waiting for the right moment to strike.

One interesting feature is its technique. Unlike an osprey, which can plunge feet-first into the water, the Black-collared Hawk usually makes a much shallower attack, snatching fish from near the surface with its talons.

Its bright rufous body, pale head and distinctive black chest band also make it one of the more recognizable raptors of the Pantanal.

For a wildlife photographer, the difficult part is anticipating that split second when a bird sitting quietly suddenly turns into a fishing missile.

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