Spotted Owlet: Athene brama

Spotted Owlet
Athene brama

I am partial to owls and owlets. The twenty-something downwards reading this might imagine this is due to Harry Potter. No. I go back at least 30 years before Harry was written to life.

 

Back in the '70s, growing up at the edge of Central Ridge area of a vastly different Delhi; peacocks, owls and so many other birds, animals and snakes were part of my life. Owls frequently roosted in our densely potted balcony which also had a fragrant "Night Queen" creeper going up to the terrace on one side. Or in the nooks and crannies and garrets of our colony. Often a peacock would perch on our balcony, fancy tail and all, and let rip ear-splittingly. Then, we kids spent most of our evenings and holidays in the forests of Central Ridge area. Brown Hares scampered out of our way. Jackals stalked us. But we never bothered. Just remained alert and in groups.

 

The owls never hurt anybody. I liked it when they roosted in our balcony. Even proud as I showed them off to my friends. And they appeared attentive to me. Made faces as if they were off to sleep. I liked them there.

 

But there were a group of boys in the colony where I was growing up who held a different view. They lived in the row of houses beyond the one behind ours...closer to the forest than I. But for them, owls were sport. Especially the Spotted Owlet.

 

They were meant to be captured, their legs tied and flown like paper kites. If they got tired, they'd swing the owl at the end of the string and bash it on the ground...

 

Those boys were bigger than I and rowdier, but something made me take a stand against them. Of course there was jousting, pirouetting, scuffling, plenty of glaring and threats. But the stodginess of my stand prevailed. I didn't see them do it again when I was around even if they did in secret. So I'm attached to owls.

 

One doesn't see all these birds and animals in the teeming numbers they used to be in. Delhi has changed and killed them all off...all the birds, bees, butterflies, fireflies, animals and reptiles. If one is lucky, one may spot the odd one hidden somewhere in the forest...or in some bird sanctuary on the skirts of Delhi.

 

It's sad, very sad how Delhi has evolved. The Airport Express Metro is the final nail in the coffin of Central Ridge. We could not find space for these small creatures.

 

I have many pictures of this owl, taken in April of this year, but childhood memories and depressing changes since, stopped me from processing the folder containing photographs of owls. There are so many birds I have to sort through and put up. From all my traipsing around. Time and eyesight...peering through camera lenses for long periods and staring into computer screen to sort them out has strained my eyesight over time. Maybe eventually...but right now they lie stored in external drives of memory.

 

Photographed at Buddha Jayanti Garden, Central Ridge Area, New Delhi India on 28th April, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Great Cormorant: Phalacrocorax carbo

Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo

 

That catfish's story ended in this photograph - speared; but the story of the meal it turned out to be didn't end in this snap. Let me clue you in, look at the chap in the background to the right looking askance....perhaps one of a flock...I mean a family flock for these two were indeed part of a larger flock not within the frame, and members of which were swimming casually at a pretentious distance. I have captured part of the action in subsequent stills and the snooty airs of those cormorants who couldn't quite compel the initial hunter to part with or share.

 

Maybe I'll upload them later as part of a photo story.

 

 

Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Wild Boar: Sus scrofa

 

Wild Boar
Sus scrofa

 

 

They began to circle beady-eyed, a couple of skittish scuffles broke out among the jostling them; they began to shorten the circle. The tall grass behind me rustled, I quickly looked behind and spotted a young boar lurking there...I split. These blokes take down Chitals and devour them if required! Commonly scavenge those Chital carcasses the hyenas leave behind...I wasn't going to stay and find out. Allowed myself to be nudged away to higher ground. They may only be pigs, but they ARE wild pigs. And wear ivory studs.

 

Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Golden Jackal: Canis aureus

Golden Jackal
Canis aureus

 

Tad shy, this pack...

 

Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Chital (Spotted Deer): Axis axis

 

Chital (Spotted Deer)
Axis axis

 

 

The mist lifted with sunrise and revealed us in proximity...both of us were startled and we ran in the same direction - one, away, and the other, after. Only, one was swifter than the other.

 

Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Nilgai: Boselaphus tragocamelus

 

Nilgai Antelope
Boselaphus tragocamelus
 

Chap was as inquisitive in me as I was in him as we crossed each other going in opposite directions.

 

Photographed at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India on 24th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Pallas's Gull: Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Great Black-headed Gull (Pallas's Gull)
Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

 

 

 

 

 

Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Brown-headed Gull: Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

 

Brown-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus



 

Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Asian Openbill Stork: Anastomus oscitans

 

Asian Openbill Stork
Anastomus oscitans

 

Photographed at Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India on 9th November, 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Oriental White-eye on a Rangoon Creeper



Oriental White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus on
Rangoon Creeper - Combretum indicum 
 

 

A Rangoon Creeper - Combretum indicum  or  Quisqualis indica, Radha Manoharam in Telugu and Madhumalati in Hindi reaches up on one side of my home. On the other side is a highly fertile pomegranate tree that grows out of my neighbour's garden and overhangs bountifully on my side. The two combined are magnets - the Randoon Creeper a cellar of inverted amphoras filled with nectar and pollen  while the lush pomegranate tree a year-round larder for birds, bees, butterflies and such. The Rangoon creeper, in addition, is dense, with plenty of foliage and safe branches. Therefore, birds nest at various levels of its reach. Each with a flat space of its own. Tailorbirds, Oriental White Eyes, Hummingbirds, Purple Sunbirds, Sparrows and Bulbuls are permanent residents. The odd migrant or homeless sometimes hires a spot.

 

These birds and bees and butterflies find it easy to flit across my balcony to-and-fro to the pomegranate tree across when hungry or back. It's almost like ordering food at home. If the birds are tired of nectar, they stop by the rudimentary bird bath I've set up and sip at water while pecking at seeds in between. They even toss a musical performance at me. Perhaps the birds are aware of this weakness of mine, and given the beggar I am for such nuggets, they keep me enthused with a spot of charity.

 

 The flowers exude an intoxicating fragrance at night . This Oriental White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus - decided to get to the root of 'nectarization' early morning itself and goes for the amphora's secret jug hidden just above its pedicle.

 

 

 

 

Photographed at South Extention Part - II, New Delhi, India

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Funambulus palmarum sporting Albizia moustache



Three striped palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)
using an Albizia julibrissin flower

This is rough work. Given the ferocity with which this Three-striped Palm Squirrel was mooching into this Albizia julibrissin 'Red Silk' flower at the tip of a slender branch, the motion blur is unwanted. But hey, it brings action to the snap doesn't it?

 

 

Photographed somewhere near my home in South Extension Part-II, New Delhi.

 



Indian Purple Swamphen: Porphyrio porphyrio

Indian Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio



Indian Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio

There are times when I become lazy with the shot. This is one such occasion. A combination of sleeplessness, travel weariness and impression of commonness of the bird concerned dulled my faculties. No excuse of course if it is a hobby, but happens sometimes. Penalty is an opportunity wasted. Now I regret it. Just couldn't be bothered then to climb down the wall and rocks and wade through slush to get closer to them at that point of time. Such was the hard ride into Jodhpur that evening in the summer of '13. If only I had. But then they might have scattered, or flown away! Ah well...



Those legs look like hyacinth stalks. (In the first picture)

 

Photographed near Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Painted Grasshopper: Poekilocerus pictus

Painted Grasshopper
Poekilocerus pictus

Painted Grasshopper
Poekilocerus pictus

While checking out a really large sand dune where the Thar desert begins to mingle with thorny scrubland, Sharang spotted this colourful character prancing about on the sun-dried skeleton of an acacia.

 

This set has been clicked by Sharang, my son.

 This one is a mature grasshopper with canary yellow and turquoise stripes on its body, green leathery front wings with yellow spots, and pale red hind wings.

 

Photographed somewhere in Thar Desert abutting into Jodhpur District, Rajasthan, India, in July 2013.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR Lens

Bengal Monitor Lizard : Varanus bengalensis

 

Bengal Monitor Lizard
Varanus bengalensis



Bengal Monitor Lizard
Varanus bengalensis

 

This reptile, Indian Monitor Lizard or Bengal Monitor Lizard...rather largish sort of chaps, and at least three of them scurrying around in the undergrowth in different parts of the sanctuary, kept one alert about our ankles. Thought I might espy a Desert Monitor too but didn't.



 

The fields were simply too lush for that. Yeah, fields in Rajasthan that are taking over the desert sands.

 

 

Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Bay-backed Shrike: Lanius vittatus

Bay-backed Shrike
Lanius vittatus

 

The sun was high by now and in the third week of July. Had been out since dawn, and busted. Shows in the photo. Water supplies had been left far behind and there was so much to see all around. Next time I know how to manage this area.

 

 

Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Large Grey Babbler: Turdoides malcolmi

 

Large Grey Babbler
Turdoides malcolmi



Large Grey Babbler
Turdoides malcolmi

Largest of the babblers and whitish outer feathers. A scrubland denizen and looked right at home at Dhawa-Doli on NH 112which connects Barh and Barmer in Rajasthan, India. I joined NH 112 from Jodhpur. Best season, according to the locals, is after the harvesting of summer crop from the lush fields of the area when wildlife and birds are clearly visible.

 

 

Photographed somewhere in Dhawa-Doli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens

Red Wattled Lapwings Courtship: Vanellus indicus

Red Wattled Lapwings in courtship
Vanellus indicus
 

02 November, 2013:

This Saturday morning began with their hysterical ki-kki-kkiiii-ing around my house. Was quite a frenzy. The heart thumped and pulse was galloping. The stage belonged to them. Now they are quiet but we aren't back to normal yet.


Photographed somewhere over South Extention Part-11, New Delhi, India.

 

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR Lens