Wednesday, December 25, 2013

My new discovery


Thanks to the bird race last Sunday, we visited the Karikili tank for the first time. Next to Vedanthangal, its more popular cousin ensures that there are no crowds here. 

It appears that the pintails also preferred the peace and quiet of this lake, and were sunning and snoozing in large numbers, far away from the noisy pelicans of Vedanthangal. 

We sat for a while on the bund and watched them now and then going bottoms-up as something in the water grabbed their attention.

A pied kingfisher did its helicopter act before divebombing in, only to come up empty-beaked.

As I sauntered along the walkway, a long wispy brown tail fluttered in the trees, attached to a rufous paradise flycatcher busy chomping on some hapless insect.  He stared at me indignantly before taking off to the next tree.

A flock of Red-wattled Lapwings announced our presence with some frantic did-you-do-it calling, but the Cormorant which was preening and sunning couldn't care less.

A lonely Lttle Grebe and a Common Coot looking most uncommon swum around as if in search of friends.

A Coppersmith Barbet and a Brainfever bird called from the trees, well hidden from our view.

We soon moved on to Pallikaranai, but the lake was the highlight of a day well spent, as we enjoyed the oh-so-short Madras  winter, with good company to boot.  Thank you Sekar, Raji and Sheila!

PS - our tally of 70 odd (72 I think) was the highest we've achieved on a bird race, so not bad for a birding day that finished at 2pm!  Of course GK's idying and Sheila's camera added a good handful to our tally at the end of the day.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

The trees we planted



Our Punnai tree planted on the road is now two years old.  My husband and son have assiduously watered it these last two years, and finally it has branched! 

And the laburnum planted a year ago is also doing well.  Continues to be chomped on by caterpillars, but none the worse for it.  I look forward to some flowers the coming summer!

Guduvancheri surprises


Glassy blue tigers
A joy to come up on them when least expected.  The sun was blazing, and I was out on work.
And this leaf was a beauty

Assam Day 8 and 9 - Pobitora, adjutant storks and the civet cat

Pobitora - has been in the news lately.  Denotified as a sanctuary by the Assam govt, a decision then thankfully stayed by the Supreme Court...