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