tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29234163271121187272024-02-02T13:35:15.065+05:30Beauty around meUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-82403090885887272202020-06-10T21:51:00.000+05:302020-06-10T21:51:39.711+05:30A new visitorThis evening my dogs were going beserk. Then my nephew came in and said there was a monkey on our roof and I looked out and there he was sitting on the roof jutting into our kitchen backyard, quite unconcerned by 2 dogs barking dementedly. In between, he would bend over and look at them and that would bring on fresh paroxysms. Finally, I got my dogs inside the house, hoping that would encourage the monkey to come down and go off among the trees. But no, after the dogs were inside he climbed up to the top of the roof and there he sat for quite a long while and then onto the divi-divi tree I have near my front verandah. I stood outside looking at him. <br />
After some contemplation, he decided to come down from the roof, but not down that tree. He then looked at me and finding me unthreatening, he walked across--upright to the other side of the front yard and sat on the low wall there for a bit to decide his further actions and then he disappeared. I don't know whether he is still around or went off down the road. I must say he was very bold and didn't seem very scared of the dogs or humans. The poor guy had lost his left arm, as in from the wrist down. But he seemed to be managing ok. I do hope he won't come near my house again to torment my dogs and just stays in the trees around; after all there is enough fruit for him to eat, without coming near the house.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-91240506049728595442020-05-05T19:00:00.001+05:302020-05-08T11:18:26.204+05:30The tale of a mynah family.A mynah couple had a nest in the hollow of a tree behind my room. I had seen them flying around. I know they can be very aggressive if any other bird flies into their territory, because I have seen them chase a woodpecker.<br />
So, the other day, my sister was here and we were trying to record some music. But there was this huge racket going on outside, which went on for quite a while. The mynah pair were screeching, and going on at a loud decibel level. We looked out of the window wondering whether there was a snake outside or if it was a crow pheasant, which steals eggs of other birds, but could see nothing. As my sister and I stood watching, after a bit we saw a cat (we have many feral cats around here). We saw the mynah pair were trying to dive bomb the cat. The cat was moving away from their nest and I thought they had been succesful in chasing the cat. Then we noticed the cat looking into the undergrowth and there we saw hiding a little mynah chick. Obviously it had started to fly but could not yet get up. It had tried hiding while dad and mum were trying to chase the predator away. But alas, the cat saw a slight movement and that was it. The parents still tried screeching and dive bombing the cat. But they couldn't get it to release their baby. When the cat killed the chick and went off with it, they quietened down and flew off.<br />
This was a little over a week ago. This evening, an hour ago, I was sitting outside and along came dad and mum mynah with one little chick in tow. The chick was like a gawky teenager, long yellow legs with a small body. But anyhow the chick has learned to fly. Here is a picture of the family that I managed to click with my phone. You can barely see the chick among all the jackfruit leaves that fell this evening before a summer shower.<br />
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This is just the mamma bird and chick. The chick was learning to eat the insects off the ground.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-4476385866252939482020-02-01T17:58:00.003+05:302020-02-01T17:58:57.850+05:30Small happennings in bird world on the hillA couple of funny/cute incidents occured recently. <br />
On an afternoon recently (hot and dry), I heard a strange tapping outside the house in the front. Wondering if it was a cat or a crow, I peeped through the window to find a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous_treepie#/media/File:Rufous_treepie_(Dendrocitta_vagabunda_vagabunda)_Jahalana_pair.jpg" target="_blank">Rufus treepie</a> pecking at the side mirror of my car! I went out as quietly as I could to take a picture, but it flew away. This happenned again a couple of days later, but on my husband's car mirror. This time too I was not quiet enought to get a shot.<br />
The other day, while our plants were being watered I notice that there was small leak in the hosepipe and the water was coming out in a tiny shower. Since someone else was watering the plants, I got the opportunity to see a really cute sight. I watched a sparrow come and alight near where the water was spouting out of the leak. I thought she was drinking water. Then she shook herself and I realised there was a smaller leak near where she was and she had been having a pleasant shower. It was so sweet. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-88373585854247684082019-08-31T12:47:00.001+05:302019-08-31T12:47:56.081+05:30PicturesThe best of what I could get<br />
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A chickadee at the bird feeder after those spikes were added to keep the squirrels away--it did not!<br />
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A chaffinch looking at me through a cloudy window.<br />
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The usual gull around Illinois lakes.<br />
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The spotted gull that I saw on the Michigan Lake beach, which google says is a younger bird.<br />
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The naughty squirrel lying on the outside cushion box after her depradations on the bird feeder.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-61757322561562294352019-08-23T18:56:00.000+05:302019-08-23T18:56:03.940+05:30Backyard birds in ChicagolandI was in the Chicago burbs almost 2 months. As my son has a bird feeder in the backyard and that too quite close to the house, I got to see a number of native birds. I did a little googling to identify the birds I might see.<br />
I was so happy to be able to spot and identify many birds. The most common birds to visit the the bird feeder, were the sparrows. Of course there were many robins around. But one site I looked at said that robins don't come to the feeders. Then there were a pair of house finches. I loved the splash of red on them. Mourning doves came fairly often. A cardinal pair visited almost every day. I saw a couple of gold finches. I noticed a black-capped chickadee and I was lucky enough to spot a woodpecker on my last day. The only thing was it was a bit too far for me to identify the specifc one it was, though it might have been a downy woodpecker as it was quite small. I did spy in their backyard a really tiny bird, a sort of humming bird I think. There were the occasional grackles and a european starling. In the park and at the lake near where they live, I saw a band of American crows and the red-winged blackbirds. They are such beautiful birds. The mandatory geese and ducks were there. But those I have seen and noticed over the 7 times we have visited.<br />
There were gulls near the lake and they all seemed to be grey and white. So I was surprised to see, at the beach near Lake Michigan, in downtown Chicago, the grey and white gulls and some who were spotted. When I googled it, it said that the spotted ones were the younger gulls, which seemed amazing as some of the spotted gulls were as big, as the grey and white ones. I must say the gulls there were really raucous and so used to people feeding them, they were almost aggressively begging for scraps.<br />
I just loved the show the birds put on for me every day. <br />
But also fun were the antics of the squirrels at the bird feeder. One particular squirrel was very bold and so very hungry. Then one day I noticed her teats and decided she must be pregnant or feeding and stopped chasing her off the feeder. I used to occasionally feed her the kids' leftover cereal. She got quite used to me and usually stayed in the vicinity, even if I was sitting outside.<br />
I really wish I had had a really good camera to take blog worthy pictures of the birds I saw. What I did get was not too good. I'll post the pictures of the birds and the squirrel in my next post.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-57084172537808658562019-05-28T08:37:00.003+05:302019-05-28T08:37:36.902+05:30Gulmohur tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This tree of mine is like a Phoenix. the branches have been lopped off at least 3 times. As the branches used to grow too near the house, and the tiny leaves blocked the roof tiles, I have had to cut the branches often. After the last cut, the tree again began sprouting and now it is full of flowers. It was a favourite of my eldest son, who passed away. He used to be upset every time I chopped the branches. He would have been happy to see it now. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-5166676705901055242019-04-22T16:12:00.003+05:302019-04-23T20:04:17.697+05:30My furry friends.These furry friends kept me company on walking up, up, up the hills, and just sitting quietly by me whenever I sat on the verandah. But of course the little pup never sat quietly. But she loved with her whole self.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-73505343366600679042019-04-22T14:03:00.001+05:302019-04-23T20:45:05.622+05:30Pictures from my one week relaxed holiday in the hills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Blue, blue skies!<br />
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Visitors in the garden--<br />
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A pair of bulbuls were nesting in a hanging creeper with the red flowers( in the first picture).</div>
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A watching squirrel who came down to the grass later, to be chased by the bulbul as it ventured a little nearer the nest, though way down in the grass.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-42775957271652095712019-04-20T16:08:00.000+05:302019-04-20T16:08:05.155+05:30Cooler climesI have been in Kodaikanal for a week, enjoying the pleasant weather after the heat of the hometown. I will post pictures after I get back home, as the con of this place is that the internet is very slow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-77227487663535529712019-04-01T22:38:00.001+05:302019-04-01T22:38:54.406+05:30Hot and Thirsty--pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A racket-tailed drongo</div>
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A tree pie</div>
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A thirsty ant, sitting on the pipe edge<br />
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There were around 3 drongos. I saw the tree pie and a drongo drinking water together. Then one of the drongos, dived into the bowl, not once but twice-. I guess the tail was too long to sit in the bowl and bathe like the crows. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-65957729100084864522019-03-30T21:52:00.002+05:302019-04-11T22:47:21.464+05:30Thirsty!It has been very hot here, where I leave and we are apparently going through a heatwave, by Kerala standards. There has been no rain for around 2 months now, which is not usual here. So, the ground is dry, and the wildlife has very little water.<br />
I have a birdbath on the ground, in my yard. I have seen various birds come to drink and the crows having a bath, each waiting their turns politely. I have seen squirrels and a cat come and drink from the bowl. I try to see that the stagnant water is thrown out and fresh water put in once in 3 or 4 days. Yesterday I saw a squirrel come by and drink water, after making sure there was nobody around.<br />
But this evening I saw an interesting sight. The water tank next door was overflowing and I saw a <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Greater_Racket-Tailed_Drongo.jpg" target="_blank">racket-tailed drongo</a> fly over to where the water was overflowing, sit on the pipe and drink it's fill. The water was flowing quite heavily too, not a dribble. I never thought a bird would drink from flowing water. I have only ever seen my Labrador retriever drink like that. What thirst does!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-36274544818146408412019-03-27T15:03:00.000+05:302019-03-27T15:03:40.363+05:30A huntHearing a piercing and repeated bird cry from just outside the house, near my bird bath, I crept out of the house carefully. I saw a bird of prey--a kite possibly, with a grey head. On searching through google, the bird I saw seemed most like a grey-headed fish eagle. But after reading up about it, that seems almost impossible. Whatever, the bird seemed a young one, because it was making a huge commotion. After a bit, I saw it fly and swoop down, and then I saw it sitting in my driveway with a chameleon in it's beak. It then came back and sat on the tree I have right next to my front verandah. I tried to take a picture with my phone. But before I could adjust everything it flew off. I presume it must be a young one, because he/she was shouting out his triumph in getting his prey. I did try to find an image I could use here. But I could find nothing quite like what I saw. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-66248729140866338252019-03-05T15:39:00.000+05:302019-03-05T15:49:31.145+05:30Kovalam, an all time favourite.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we had a long weekend, my husband and I decided to go to Kovalam in the south of Kerala, which is around a 3.5 hours car drive from here. It was obvious that we had not been for quite a long while--for us--for we found the roads had been widened and were in the process of getting even more efficient.</div>
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It was hot and extremely sunny, what we call here, heat to fry an egg in. But as always, hot or not, the sea has it's own allure.</div>
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Kovalam has a great many stray dogs, all of whom I believe are being vaccinated regularly. Most of them lie in the shade under the beach beds, or whatever shade is available, near the beach, in the day. Unfortunately I did not get a shot of any of them. But, to me strange, I saw a couple run down to the sea and stand in the water around noon. This is unusual as the sand can really burn their feet at that time. [Maybe the sand on the part of the beach they ran down, was not so hot.] By the time I was able to focus my phone camera(they were pretty far away), they had run away.</div>
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Here are some of the pictures I did get.</div>
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New addition, surf boards. I saw a tiny sign board saying surf school on the beach.<br />
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The mix of sea, beach and the sunset always call to me.<br />
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Tinge of red below thunderclouds: but disappointingly there was no rain.<br />
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and of course the lighthouse at Kovalam.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-53591367577610773352019-02-22T22:18:00.001+05:302019-02-22T22:18:17.703+05:30Some recent picturesThe full moon recently through bamboo leaves<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqugt6wV_pR8L0eL4ed8nu1yb8rPUS1dAgLhEmaRH8h05onSLDtsptbtyMDn0DwB0HfeBXA8R2q6HiNjrARf7b4h3JrspQj_Aqs2c1f0mJ2wpHjzwSE25ujHkm4YTS9j2YMGO-ZoSe76g/s1600/full+moon+Feb+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqugt6wV_pR8L0eL4ed8nu1yb8rPUS1dAgLhEmaRH8h05onSLDtsptbtyMDn0DwB0HfeBXA8R2q6HiNjrARf7b4h3JrspQj_Aqs2c1f0mJ2wpHjzwSE25ujHkm4YTS9j2YMGO-ZoSe76g/s400/full+moon+Feb+2019.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The photo of the flowers from an evening walk, and growing at a neighbour's. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-84411380494770940092018-08-30T20:30:00.001+05:302018-08-30T20:30:04.695+05:30Pretty decor for my tree<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUldRvDyC3hhg2AwjhldBFq353MNdRXj0E7A5__3RBOQCldf8LO_g68arRZ-w5JAlRyTt6_FN4te3SLB1dGtMykDj13jbAhCcmT6vC6as1xyldrt2r6Q-oOeVwZzHdVlV8ViiCTg4ZGmYW/s1600/IMG_4171-729977.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6595527575172106322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUldRvDyC3hhg2AwjhldBFq353MNdRXj0E7A5__3RBOQCldf8LO_g68arRZ-w5JAlRyTt6_FN4te3SLB1dGtMykDj13jbAhCcmT6vC6as1xyldrt2r6Q-oOeVwZzHdVlV8ViiCTg4ZGmYW/s320/IMG_4171-729977.JPG" /></a></div>
Fungi on an old tree in my front yard. Some are as big as plates. I love the markings and the frilly edges.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-28327341107403364822018-07-25T18:58:00.000+05:302018-07-25T19:00:10.689+05:30Poisonous catch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, I was driving into my car porch, when I saw a crow pheasant in the grass way ahead of me. Something about the way it was acting made me stay in the car and watch. I realised it was trying to catch a black scorpion. I somehow managed to drag my phone out and took a video. It is a little long distance . Please watch full screen to see the action.<br />
On my phone, when I enlarge the image I realised the bird attacked the venomous tail first. Anyway, it got it's catch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-21381940825765473012018-07-08T15:50:00.002+05:302018-07-08T15:50:56.462+05:30Magpie robinsI was recently in Cochin at my daughter's home. There i happen to spy a pair of magpie robins. I love the way they look and their sweet whistle like calls. Somehow here, in spite of all the trees we have around here, I hardly ever get to hear the magpie robin these days probably because their calls are drowned out by the loud raucous calls of the racket-tailed drongos. I have to admit their calls can be beautiful too. It is just that they are <b>so loud</b>! I managed to get pictures of the pair, male and female--<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2xkHFMeIztjS8MUNUEWHG_2RElrurQd6_NK08_Rfs52L2UBzW8Ord3WBlXu9LmbqehlP-e6xkLWp_i6170FM41doc8NmPwNrp1bADN9k5Q6n9QKAowGYyqTIW_ZTkzA5QjBe1UldVhkP/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2xkHFMeIztjS8MUNUEWHG_2RElrurQd6_NK08_Rfs52L2UBzW8Ord3WBlXu9LmbqehlP-e6xkLWp_i6170FM41doc8NmPwNrp1bADN9k5Q6n9QKAowGYyqTIW_ZTkzA5QjBe1UldVhkP/s320/IMG_4080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_2065421810"></span><span id="goog_2065421811"></span>This was the first time I got to see a female so close. I see she is a dark brown. I was unable to record their song though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-23186696046014048152018-05-09T13:35:00.001+05:302018-05-09T15:31:33.154+05:30Backyard VisitorThis little fellow visited my backyard a week back. Look at him sitting so coolly while my dogs bark, waiting for them to turn their heads so he can swoop down to catch some insects.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-90231370530435447722018-05-02T19:12:00.000+05:302018-05-02T19:12:35.407+05:30A chaseI am sitting outside on my front verandah. An Indian kestrel lands outside. I had heard it's screech earlier. I find a crow is chasing it. The crow lands near it and the kestrel takes off again and I see now what the crow is after. The kestrel has a dead mouse in it's claws. About half an hour later I see the kestrel sitting on a tree and there is nothing with it. I wonder whether the kestrel managed to hide it's prey or whether the crow stole it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-80413363973575600352016-07-14T19:24:00.000+05:302018-04-02T17:02:55.514+05:30Mother Nature's magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid16SF173Urb6Jv7P7K_peHgZkkUdMm2EO9TiLk2g4CeOfcN4V9mqQ1r7vDRcHhJkRVjWW1lelc0IT-QEH18u9wFigTc7zs56tBVxV1OMa7ZGXzkS2mj0SLqyn88Pn4rdhboJILrKvpruz/s1600/File_000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid16SF173Urb6Jv7P7K_peHgZkkUdMm2EO9TiLk2g4CeOfcN4V9mqQ1r7vDRcHhJkRVjWW1lelc0IT-QEH18u9wFigTc7zs56tBVxV1OMa7ZGXzkS2mj0SLqyn88Pn4rdhboJILrKvpruz/s320/File_000.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A leaf insect. I was fascinated by the fact of the little veins. It just looked like a leaf with eyes and 2 legs visible. It was around 2" in length.<br />
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Another interesting find<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UyMiwVELrgtKCrWInX3H741FmKS_f4UJewJ_HkUVdcNuaycfx7eu1QshRZoUOqm0fxExq6mBpiMUeqbvlZIqsvugwsL_St0V5ysNC8HUl4LoRswn_xGUpceOr2rgdgORW-pSHZX3U3I9/s1600/File_000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UyMiwVELrgtKCrWInX3H741FmKS_f4UJewJ_HkUVdcNuaycfx7eu1QshRZoUOqm0fxExq6mBpiMUeqbvlZIqsvugwsL_St0V5ysNC8HUl4LoRswn_xGUpceOr2rgdgORW-pSHZX3U3I9/s320/File_000.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a passion fruit flower. Can you see a white spider on it? Isn't Nature's camouflage wonderful?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-34725578709582478492016-03-20T22:26:00.001+05:302016-04-08T09:16:17.920+05:30Scented air.It is once again that time of year, when the night air is perfumed by the scent of the little mahogany flowers. Heady!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8WqszynULyFkV7Q6QEgOTCFWJu9tcFsKqXp8P4tWUum2epk-tCSE2dZ3oDExtNyPmWmAzWBax0YkuhZfgrSoPFybJFSuf_R5XcjXUc9BY2kt4etwVsW6s5Fm05owtoVRgXyVEpWElz3I/s1600/cropped+mahogany+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8WqszynULyFkV7Q6QEgOTCFWJu9tcFsKqXp8P4tWUum2epk-tCSE2dZ3oDExtNyPmWmAzWBax0YkuhZfgrSoPFybJFSuf_R5XcjXUc9BY2kt4etwVsW6s5Fm05owtoVRgXyVEpWElz3I/s1600/cropped+mahogany+flowers.jpg" /></a></div>
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As you can see the flowers are very small. But there is a carpet of them outside.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-54785254462005533112016-02-25T22:26:00.000+05:302016-02-25T22:26:02.581+05:30Peaceful easy feelingYesterday evening, the two of us(hubby & I) decided to go to Kumarakom to one of the clubs. We reached just after dusk. As it is the time of the 7 weeks Lent before Easter, which is observed by a large number of people in our town, (no alcohol and no meat or fish), there was nobody at the club and we had it to ourselves.<br />
When we reached there was a cool, brisk breeze blowing, enough to make the water hitting the walls near the water go plop, plop loudly. The lights across the backwater were just slowly becoming visible. A lone country boat went silently across, with just a little red light flashing-out to catch our famous fish--karimeen, pearl spot--I'm sure. We sat at a table near the water. The waiter there asked if we needed a light at our table and we declined the offer. <br />
The sky and the water got dark. The moon came out. There was an owl in the tree over our heads; a large fruit bat flew out from the other tree. There were fireworks visible from the temples across the water.<br />
The feeling of peace still lingersUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-82811069051987253502016-02-14T16:48:00.001+05:302016-02-14T17:15:52.600+05:30Mango bloomsThis year many of the mango trees around here were in bloom. There is a venerable giant in the grounds of the playschool I work at, and a beautiful spreading mango tree too. Then the mango trees in the grounds around my house too were in bloom, more than in the last couple of years. <br />
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For the last 15 years or so, many of the mango trees in our grounds were covered by a parasitic mistletoe kind of plant. When branches of the tree, which had got squeezed by the parasite, were cut off, the tree died out after a bit. Even repeated peeling off of the mistletoe did not seem to help. The presence of the parasite kept the trees from flowering This year, I do not see the mistletoe on the trees, hence the mango blooms. Since it has been so long since the mango trees bloomed, I had forgotten the scent.<br />
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The scent of the mango flowers is intoxicating;, sweet, slightly spicy, with the sourness of the raw mango. At first, when I caught the heady scent, I wasn't sure which tree had bloomed. Then when the hint of sourness came along too, as the flowers matured, I realised it was the scent of mango flowers. Now, most of them are no longer visible. Hopefully, there will be mangoes though, later on.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-91012990601197884872016-02-02T14:55:00.002+05:302016-02-02T14:55:20.559+05:30On a walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/tY2yyUA0JIMXjGmZSSHkA60ECcdktjYu-ogu1HiK9i5BAGuUwaUvfmd19vGNizBMbkAWpg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/tY2yyUA0JIMXjGmZSSHkA60ECcdktjYu-ogu1HiK9i5BAGuUwaUvfmd19vGNizBMbkAWpg=s400" width="241" /></a></div>
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Elsa</div>
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My Elsa and I were out for a walk on a lovely tropical evening. The sky was the colour of ripe peaches--all reds, oranges & gold and as we walked the light was fading. Past some bushes, I suddenly heard a loud, quick rustling. I hastily moved to the middle of the path--after all there are snakes around and dusk is their time to hunt! But Elsa seemed quite unperturbed. Then I saw a shape running up a nearby coconut palm--a glossy, black furry shape. In the fading light, I couldn't quite see the head. I thought it might be an Asian palm civet. But on reading up on it, they are rarely pure black, usually having some kind of marking. Anyhow, I'll go with the idea that it was a palm civet, since I haven't hear of forest squirrels coming around here yet, and the tail seemed too broad to be a cat's tail. I stood and watched as it ran to the top of the coconut palm and then jumped on to the nearby tree and disappeared.<br />
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Here is a picture of a palm civet taken a long while back<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923416327112118727.post-20524542741510495062016-01-15T18:38:00.001+05:302016-01-15T21:07:06.163+05:30Lovely sight.Today I saw a lovely sight. At the pre-school I work at, there is, at present, a male papaya (pawpaw) tree just outside a window, which is full of flowers.<br />
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">taken from the Net</span>)<br />
I saw, from the corner of my eye, two birds fly across. When I crept up to the window, I saw a beautiful 'Loten's' sunbird sipping the nectar from the flower. It was a male bird. He was a beautiful shining dark blue. Before I could tell the children and get my phone to phtotgraph him, he flew away. But I have a picture of the sunbird (credit Dr. Krishna Mohan)...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1