Vismaya - so named by Sanjeev - a Peregrine Falcon whom he had day-to-day eyes on; Vismaya, who came when Maya the Shaheen left, or so it seemed.
Friday, April 12, 2024
Vismaya - the Peregrine of MRC Nagar
Vismaya - so named by Sanjeev - a Peregrine Falcon whom he had day-to-day eyes on; Vismaya, who came when Maya the Shaheen left, or so it seemed.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Illalur morning
And a new discovery this time - the hillock near Vembedu Lake. A lovely scrub area which we visited a little too late - next time we need to catch dawn here. |
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
January wanderings on ECR
Jan 10th 2024
Indian Maritime University Recce visit - eBird Trip Report
50 species not counting the warblers and other scrub birds that we did not have time to focus upon. So here's a rhyme to celebrate.
There was once a trio of MNSers
Nothing in common, but all birders
To IMU we drove
And found a treasure trove
A marsh full of Warblers and Plovers.
There were Egrets and Pelicans galore
Garganeys, Pintails, Ibis and more
so much joy and delight
Spoonbills in flight
Oh wait! Godwits in 100s, furthermore!
Then the dogs, who felt ignored
Into the marsh, they crashed, quite bored
The Godwits flew off
And the Lapwings did scoff
“Did you do it”, they called, and soared.
And how can I forget those Grey Francolins, endearing
Across the road they went. to the edge of the clearing
I counted seven
Quite a procession
And all through our walk we heard them calling.
Openbills flew across along with Painted Stork
Drongo, Coucal, Treepies did disembark
A Roller flashed blue
And the Kingfisher flew
Oh that sweet call - a Jerdon’s Bush Lark!
Powder Puffs played host to many Purple Sunbirds aglow
A Solitary, stock-still Thickknee in the scrub below
We rounded the corner
And there found a charmer
An Oriole above, a flash of sunshiny yellow.
And then as a finale, on a faraway stone
A raptor for sure, that did our goodbyes postpone
A Falcon, a Peregrine
Its claws it did preen
Enjoying the sun and solitude, but no not alone.
We will be back at IMU, that is for sure
The AWC will be a joy and a sinecure
When we go birding
The uncertainty is rewarding
And the company brings laughter in good measure.
And here are the photos:
Bauhinia |
Rosy Milkweed Vine |
Monday, November 27, 2023
Peregrine hunting along OMR - eBird Trip Report
Sanjeev hurried down and took this picture - yes Peregrines get that kind of attention. |
At 605pm Vismaya (as she has been named) , took off, circled the building and flew off south.
Oct 31st - seen again by Sekar, while I was away at Bangalore. Same perch, same position. |
The peregrine is a cosmopolitan hunter — even found nesting on skyscraper ledges in New York City and other metropolises, from which vantage point it picks up pigeons. The shaheen has been observed doing the same in Mumbai. Having selected a victim, the peregrine, with its fastback wings gives swift chase, with the pigeon twisting and turning to avoid being caught. If the falcon fails to capture its prey, it will rise to its “pitch” (the highest point) and then fold its wings to its side and whistle down like a missile straight at its victim in a “stoop” or high-speed dive. The fastest stoop has been clocked at 390 kmph, faster than most Formula 1 racing cars, which peak at around 320 kmph. A special membrane protects its eyes from the rush of air, and the bird will often dive beneath its victim and then rise up and grasp it in its talons. Or it simply attacks from behind, the force of the impact often killing the bird mid-air. Watching a peregrine stoop is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. This guided missile of a bird was once in serious trouble in the West when the rampant use of DDT and other organochlorine pesticides caused their numbers to plummet. Thanks to conservation efforts, the birds seem safe for now.
MRC Nagar unknowingly plays host to both - the Shaheen and the Peregrine!
Monday, March 6, 2023
The Loten's and the Gliricidia
Illalur lake - the last time I was here, the lake was dry and we walked everywhere. |
The morning was magical, with the clouds, the sun and the water, and a light mist as well. |
This photo by Sagarika was one of several highlights of my morning. The singing Loten in the flowering Gliricidia. |
These beautiful stalks bloom between Feb and April, usually. Photo by Sagarika. |
Possibly a Bladderwort. |
Dwarf Morning Glory |
Some cute looking grasses |
Around this time, Gayathree decided that she had to pick some Prickly Pears, and at the end of that she was, well, pricked. The Cactus did not approve of her actions. |
The tree was magnificent and awesome. |
The temple, as we moved away from it. Photo by Umesh |
And at Gayathree's stomping grounds - the Nemmeli salt pans - we saw the water had receded, algae had formed, and the curlews were fewer in number. |
Saturday, December 31, 2022
2022 - the birding year that was
The birding year that was - A hat tip to my MNS Backbenchers
A trip to Perumbakkam in early Jan
Wigeons and Shovelers, was how it began.
Kentish plover in February
at the mouth of the estuary,
The sea shells were not part of the plan.
Nanmangalam was the highlight in March
When I spied the Jerdon’s Bush lark
Valparai, in April
Pitta, Thrush thrills,
And the Flameback hammering at the bark.
Thiruvanmyur in the heat, all of May
Hellos to those red vented bulbuls, everyday
The koel all through June
matched my mood with its maddening tune
A life’s journey ended that day.
The TS brought some cheer in July
I watched the beeeaters swoop and fly
Soil, earth - TTUF in August
lapwings shrieked and fussed,
As though we were there to pry.
Already it is September
and the pelicans on pylons I remember
Rain-drenched Mishmi in October
That Sultan Tit and Red-headed trogon, not at all sober,
Those colours! In my memory forever.
ECR outings and friends in late October
Terns, Whimbrels, pied kingfishers and laughter, still linger,
marshlands in November
Osprey and Marsh Harrier
My raptor watch attempts I confess were meagre
While Our fledged offspring took precedence in December
But still, those 3 score Black Kites in Andheri, soared in splendour
And so the year ended,
My heart will be mended
Wigeons and Shovelers, at the wetlands once more.
*****
The first birding year where I have seen 200+ species.
2022 list
- Rock Dove
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Common Myna
- House Crow
- Spot-billed Pelican
- Indian Peafowl
- Garganey
- Northern Shoveler
- Eurasian Wigeon
- Indian Spot-billed Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Jacobin Cuckoo
- Common Moorhen
- Eurasian Coot
- Grey-headed Swamphen
- White-breasted Waterhen
- Little Grebe
- Red-wattled Lapwing
- Pheasant-tailed Jacana
- Bronze-winged Jacana
- Common Sandpiper
- Painted Stork
- Asian Openbill
- Oriental Darter
- Little Cormorant
- Black-headed Ibis
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Indian Pond Heron
- Eastern Cattle Egret
- Grey Heron
- Purple Heron
- Great Egret
- Intermediate Egret
- Little Egret
- Eastern Marsh Harrier
- White-throated Kingfisher
- Common Kingfisher
- Blue-tailed Bee-eater
- Brown Shrike
- Barn Swallow
- Blyth's Reed Warbler
- Pied Bush Chat
- Purple Sunbird
- Paddyfield Pipit
- Shikra
- Greater Flameback
- Rufous Treepie
- Common Tailorbird
- Yellow-billed Babbler
- Red-vented Bulbul
- Spotted Dove
- Kentish Plover
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Common Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- White-browed Bulbul
- Watercock
- Spotted Redshank
- Caspian Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Black-winged Stilt
- Grey-headed Lapwing
- Little Stint
- Wood Sandpiper
- Brown-headed Gull
- Pied Kingfisher
- House Sparrow
- Fulvous Whistling Duck
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Eastern Spot-billed Duck
- Grey Francolin
- Greater Coucal
- Common Hawk-Cuckoo
- Ruddy-breasted Crake
- Greater Flamingo
- Pied Avocet
- Ruff
- Common Snipe
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Glossy Ibis
- Eurasian Spoonbill
- Black-winged Kite
- Booted Eagle
- White-eyed Buzzard
- Eurasian Hoopoe
- Peregrine Falcon
- Indian Golden Oriole
- Indian Paradise Flycatcher
- Blyth's Leaf Warbler
- Clamorous Reed Warbler
- Zitting Cisticola
- Plain Prinia
- Oriental Magpie-Robin
- Streaked Weaver
- Indian Silverbill
- Scaly-breasted Munia
- Black-throated Munia
- Tricolored Munia
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- Citrine Wagtail
- Blue-faced Malkoha
- Laughing Dove
- Ashy Woodswallow
- Jerdon's Bush Lark
- Red-whiskered Bulbul
- Common Babbler
- Indian Robin
- Forest Wagtail
- Striated Heron
- Indian Pitta
- Malabar Whistling Thrush
- Pale-billed Flowerpecker
- Indian Swiftlet
- Crested Serpent Eagle
- Black Eagle
- Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
- Streak-throated Woodpecker
- Plum-headed Parakeet
- Orange Minivet
- Long-tailed Shrike
- Indian Black-lored Tit
- Black-headed Bulbul
- Indian White-eye
- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
- Brown-breasted Flycatcher
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
- Asian Palm Swift
- Crested Honey Buzzard
- Chestnut-tailed Starling
- Eurasian Collared Dove
- Ashy-headed Green Pigeon
- Common Buzzard
- Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
- Common Iora
- Grey-chinned Minivet
- Scarlet Minivet
- White-throated Fantail
- Striated Bulbul
- Golden Babbler
- Yellow-throated Fulvetta
- Small Niltava
- Verditer Flycatcher
- Blue Rock Thrush
- Orange-bellied Leafbird
- Streaked Spiderhunter
- Russet Sparrow
- Grey Wagtail
- Olive-backed Pipit
- Maroon Oriole
- Marsh Babbler
- Grey Bush Chat
- White-rumped Munia
- Whiskered Yuhina
- White-naped Yuhina
- Stripe-throated Yuhina
- Little Forktail
- Plumbeous Water Redstart
- White-capped Redstart
- White-browed Wagtail
- Black Drongo
- Brahminy Starling
- Green-billed Malkoha
- Besra
- Red-headed Trogon
- Great Hornbill
- Blue-eared Barbet
- Rufous Woodpecker
- Pied Falconet
- Large Woodshrike
- Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
- Common Green Magpie
- Sultan Tit
- White-throated Bulbul
- Ashy Bulbul
- Black-crested Bulbul
- Jungle Myna
- Lesser Whistling Duck
- Swamp Francolin
- Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
- Temminck's Stint
- Grey-headed Fish Eagle
- Black-hooded Oriole
- Red-rumped Swallow
- Striated Grassbird
- Siberian Stonechat
- Purple-rumped Sunbird
- Eastern Yellow Wagtail
- Rosy Pipit
- Oriental Pratincole
- Little Ringed Plover
- Asian Green Bee-eater
- Pacific Golden Plover
- Indian Cormorant
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- Black Kite
- Brahminy Kite
- White-spotted Fantail
- Loten's Sunbird
- Great Cormorant
- Yellow Bittern
- Ashy Prinia
Monday, November 28, 2022
First record of Greylag in Adyar estuary
"On 15 November evening while walking along the riverside road in the Theosophical Society at about 5.15 pm I spotted a pair of big greyish coloured long-necked birds at a distance in the Adyar Estuary. There were many other large birds there that day- at least 20 pelicans and several painted storks, but these were distinctly different. It was a hazy evening and the birds were far away beyond the small islands in the river, but through binoculars, I could identify them as Greylag geese by the bulky body, shape of the neck and bill and colouration. They were standing in shallow water and swam away after a few minutes.
Sunday, October 23, 2022
One cuckoo flew out of the nest
Eudynamys scolopaceus
raucous and rapacious
uninvited eggs were deposited
she emerged brown and spotted
And the crows found her appetite quite capacious.
Through August and September
Her loud demands I remember
The crows found her rude
But kept her in the brood
Until she fledged in October.
14th August 2022 - the first time I spotted the Koel fledgling in the neighbour's teak tree. |
Most days I would see her tail and hear her insistent rattling call |
15th August - and she flew from one branch to the other, first flight, but no proud parents to watch or guide. |
25th August 2022 - and she flew to our terrace! My attention drawn by the ballyhoo of her calls and the rattling of the clothesline. |
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Nanmangalam redux
March 12th 2022
What a lovely morning today at Nanmangalam RF. Looking back at my blog, I realise its been years (12 years in fact!) since I went in there. IN 2008, I went on a nature walk with MNS and Bhanu in there, and was introduced to the many wonders of the TDEF including the GHO. I re-read with amusement trying to find my way there - (no Google Maps).
Our son (a dramatis personae in many of my visits in two Nanmangalam) has "fledged" and the years have well, fled, and to my surprise, Nanmangalam looked better - cleaner, less garbage and more forested.
Left home at 530 am, picked up Sagarika along the way and arrived at the gates by 615, and as soon as we entered the gates there was that nice woody smell, and the air was cooler. Almost immediately, the road noises died, and were replaced by the calls of the Brainfever bird and an Asian Koel, almost like a welcome.
At the Interpretation Centre, I looked around and was astonished at the growth of all the little saplings I had seen those many years ago. How nice to see a tall Red Sanders, Teak trees and scrub too. Most of us do not appreciate scrub enough - it is such a wonderful host to bird and insect life.
Companions today were the MNS Backbencher gang, with some additions - Janani whom I met for the first time and realised that she was born after I graduated, and Vidya from Stella Maris. Srinivas it was with whom we went. Janani, Umesh and Sagarika were the photographers with their serious equipment, Vidya was making a list, pen-on-paper, Srinivas was logging directly into his e-bird list, Kalpana was busy with flora too....and I was the one who had no agenda... no responsibility...very nice indeed. Just binocularing and bipedding.
Everything was still in silhouette and shadow as we started towards the quarry. |
Peacock calls filled the air - they seem to have come in to the city through the lockdown, and made it home. Janani captured this male in flight, in all its colourful glory. |
There is a joy in malingering and dawdling when in a forest. Every step brings some new delight. Munias in large flocks sped by from east to west. At least 200 or more, probably scaly-breasted. The Francolins called from the scrub.
Ashy Woodswallows swooped and dived and then went back and perched back in their characteristic huddle together, like a rugby team ready for a scrum! (Photo by Janani) |
While this one seemed to be curious about the cameraperson. (Photo by Sagarika) |
Red Whiskered Bulbuls called cheerfully as I admired the different kinds of white flowers growing in the sides of the track.
Mealy bugs, whiteflies and carpenter bees, Aavaram poo, Carissa and Mallows. Dodonea bushes reminded me of Yercaud Youreka camp.
We even had a Spoonbill flypast. Photo by Janani |
TDEFs are filled with white flowering plants, and so it was here too. I think this was an Ipomoea of some sort. |
While this was a Carissa probably. |
Lifers for me - Much excitement over a fleeting glimpse over a Forest Wagtail - which I have not seen in all these years, and that very uncommon Common Babbler.
The uncommon Common Babbler - Photo by Janani - that was spotted near one of the check dams. |
The common babbler (Argya caudata). Photo by Sagarika. The species has been moved from Laughing Thrushes (Turdoides) to Babblers. It seems to be endemic to India. |
Seed pods in black filled a shrub, |
while thorns galore protected this leafless Prosopsis cineraria, |
a Laughing Dove seemed to think the thorns of the Prosopsis were a joke, (Photo by Sagarika) |
and for these thorns, the sky was the limit. |
A Common Kingfisher of absolutely brilliant blue streaked by before settling on a branch on the opposite side. The Common Kingfisher - Photo by Janani |
Another one seemed to have just had a dip in the quarry and was shaking the water off its feathers. Photo by Janani |
The avaram bushes were like a shower of sunshine amongst the drying undergrowth. |
They were all buzzing with active Carpenter bees, some with their heads looking like they were carrying a load of gold! The (male?) bee with a load of gold, (Photo by Janani) |
..and a (female?) bee without. (Photo by Umesh) |
A Fragrant Swamp Mallow stood delicately on the side, unnoticed. |
The Green bee-eater Photo by Janani |
Common Cerulean that is actually brown - Photo by Sagarika |
Zebra Blue among the grasses - Photo by Sagarika |
(And I crossed 100 bird species seen this year.)
Vismaya - the Peregrine of MRC Nagar
Vismaya - so named by Sanjeev - a Peregrine Falcon whom he had day-to-day eyes on; Vismaya, who came when Maya the Shaheen left, or so it se...
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29th August '21 In July this year, MNS launched a project called Urban Wilderness Walks, an internship for college students, with the go...
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Vismaya - so named by Sanjeev - a Peregrine Falcon whom he had day-to-day eyes on; Vismaya, who came when Maya the Shaheen left, or so it se...