Nicolas Shin photography

April 2025: After a crazy start to the year, I was in desperate need of a full system reset. So we booked five quiet days at Eden Farms, a lush little paradise tucked away in Goa. No schedule, no meetings, no alarms — just trees, birds, and hammock time. Heaven.

Eden Farms is exactly what it sounds like: green, peaceful, and full of life. The family who runs it grows coconut, mango, pineapple, and cashew. The mix of orchards, jungle, and open fields makes it a haven for birds — and for anyone who enjoys doing absolutely nothing while surrounded by nature.

Morning Birdwalks (and Missed Photo Ops)

Each morning, I’d stroll around the farm with my camera, pretending to be a pro birder. I spotted a ton of incredible birds — Blue-tailed Bee-eaters flashing electric green and turquoise as they darted after insects, elegant Peafowl strutting around like they owned the place, and a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers hammering away on a coconut tree.

There were also Coucals creeping through the undergrowth and the stunning Black-rumped Flameback, a flashy woodpecker that definitely lives up to the name. But while the birds were there, my photography luck was... not. Let’s just say the memory card came back lighter than expected.

Black kite

A Sleepy Surprise

One lazy afternoon, post-birdwalk, I was dozing off in a hammock when I heard a bit of drama in the branches above me. A crow was harassing a smaller bird, being a bit of a bully. I looked up, expecting maybe a myna or a dove — and bam! Indian Scops Owl. Just sitting there, wide-eyed and totally unbothered.

It was my first time seeing one, and I was grinning like a kid. These owls are tiny (barely the size of your hand), perfectly camouflaged against tree bark, and often overlooked during the day. But once you see those big, expressive eyes, you won’t forget them.

Indian Scops Owl and house crow

Indian Scops Owl

The Kingfishers: Stars of the Farm

But the absolute stars of the trip were the kingfishers. Eden Farms is home to two stunning species: the Common Kingfisher and the White-throated Kingfisher. Both are show-stoppers in their own right.

The Common Kingfisher is a tiny, electric-blue missile with an orange belly and a bill like a pair of precision tweezers. It doesn’t actually spear fish — instead, it dives headfirst into the water and grabs its prey with impressive accuracy. Then it flies to a perch and whacks the unlucky catch against a rock or branch to stun or kill it before swallowing.

One morning, I saw all of that drama unfold — not with a fish, but with a frog. While I missed the actual dive, I managed to capture a shot of the kingfisher proudly holding the frog in its beak, slamming it against a rock with ruthless efficiency. Nature, unfiltered.

The White-throated Kingfisher, on the other hand, is a little chunkier and just as flashy. With bright turquoise wings, a chocolate-brown belly, and — no surprise — a brilliant white throat, it’s a regular around the farm. Unlike its smaller cousin, this kingfisher isn’t picky — it goes for insects, lizards, frogs, and small fish. A true generalist and a bit of a show-off, often sitting out in the open like it owns the place.

Common Kingfisher

White-throated Kingfisher

I came to Eden Farms to rest, and I definitely did. But I also left with a head full of bird names, a camera full of almost-good shots, and a few magical moments I’ll remember for a long time. Not bad for five lazy days under the coconut trees.