CELEBRATING SINGLES!

Parrots are a common sight here. However, you see them always in  groups and in extreme  rush as if they are on an emergent mission. When i chance to hear  their shrill squeaking sound, I look up and find a group flying, so to say, at  breakneck speed.

Yesterday, I's surprised to see this one alone and moodily relaxing on the electric wire in front of our house. I clicked it before it'd decided to sprint away.

Here is a cuckoo perched on a stone,busy in  planning the next move. Shot taken in hills during this summer.

The myna in our front yard looking down for grubs.

This bird is sighted off and on around here.While it's head, tail and lower part is black the feathers on its flanks are rust colored. Here, perched on the wall with ruffled feathers,it seems to be in a thoughtful mood. An early morning shot, when the atmosphere is hazy.

Friends,welcome here as always!

This post is part of: ,Saturday Critters, id-rather-b-birding, camera-critters

NOTHING TO EAT HERE!

This was my last ditch effort to click some critters for this week's participation and that resulted in these two captures!

Today morning I stepped out for a walk with the express purpose of finding some birds to click and captured this loner and the group trying their luck in the rough and uncut grass of the vacant plot of land!

 Friends welcome here as always!

Sharing with: Camera Critters,Saturday Critters
id-rather-b-birding 

BIRDS: CAN WE IGNORE THEM?

I didn't had a freshly taken image of birds/critters for this week. So I thought, why not say something in a few verses as a simple tribute to their  gorgeous individuality and priceless entitlements, which nature has bestowed upon them!

Here is my offering, hope you like it.

BIRDS

You angels of the skies,

Fluttering and chirping you gracefully fly.

Innocent and guileless bereft of lies,

Spread joy and beauty, being great guys.

Purity of your intentions reflect in your eyes,

Repositories of kindness you hate fake ties.

Melodies you sing, the first thing when you rise,

Shunning falsehood is the credo you prize.

Soften the jolts of our sobs and cries,

Freedom chaperons your endless drives.

Human greed you abhor in every guise, 

Vouch for bonds that never tend to die

We long for your freedom of choice,

Unbridled chance for our opinions to voice.

 .............

Friends,welcome here as always!

This post is part of:
Saturday Critters, Camera Critters, id-rather-b-birding,Nature Notes

CRITTERS OF THE WEEK- PIGEONS

We are at the top:

In front of our house,  perched on the electric pole!

At Kumarhatti, silhouetted  on the roof gutter on a grey evening.

At Patiala, perched on the electric wire and seriously surveying the world down under!

Friends,welcome here as always!

linking to: Camera Critters, Saturday Critters, id-rather-b-birding

PARROT PARTY

Parrot power captured in an early morning shot at Patiala. It is a surprise to me that this group is in a musing mood. In  fact I always see them flying in a  mad rush.

Early morning grey sky backdrop for this interesting chance to imprison the ensemble through my camera lens.

The picture brings together many facets of urban living: the tube light, electric wires, dried twigs and  tower. In fact, the radio tower is quite far away. But the angle of the click embedded it in the image.

 Friends, welcome here as always!

 

This post is part of : Saturday Crittersl,Camera Critters, id-rather-b-birding

CRITTERS OF THE WEEK: WINGED BEAUTIES

Linked to:
Camera Critters,  Saturday Critters

I skipped posting critter shots for a couple of weeks as i didn't have any new pictures. I refused to take recourse to the ones in my archives. Luckily, I could manage to capture these delicate creatures and am sharing them with you.

The grey one in the company of a honeybee i captured in the lawn of our community at Kumarhatti, Solan.

 This butterfly was spotted resting on a blade of grass as i went up for a stroll in the lawn at Kumarhatti.

This black beauty had a rather sad story associated  with it. Yesterday, at about 7 in the morning, i stepped out to unlock the gate and pick up the morning paper, when suddenly I sighted this one sticking to the wall. I immediately brought the camera not to miss out the opportunity. However, in the evening when I came out to have a walk in the driveway, i saw that it had fallen on the ground dead. Probably the afternoon loo must have been too much for it to bear.

Friends,welcome here as always!

BIRDS AND THEIR WAYS

 A couple of days back, I happened  to wake up  early about 6 o' clock  in the morning. I opened the door and was greeted by  some crisp chirping. Stepping ahead, I sighted a few birds flying around. Looks like birds are early risers. I's drawn to the freshness of the ambiance and stood by the balcony railing. Luckily this pair settled on this branch and guess, what did they do?

They started their morning cleaning process so earnestly that it was  amusing to see how rigorously they pecked their bodies from all sides. Their beak reached the farthest spot under the tail and above it. They fluffed their feathers shaking them as not to leave even a speck of dust. Their tiny bodies displayed enviable pliability. All yogic 'asanas' got performed in the process. They seemed so concentrated on the job that nothing mattered to them. And that is how, I's able to click their private  moments comprising early morning ablutions.

 After the ritual, they looked thoroughly refreshed and enjoyed the cooling period after the strenuous activity.

 On another day mild sunshine energized these birds and they had a jolly good time and flew around in a hyperactive speed.

 These two and three above it, are the birds with a tuft of hair on their heads and are hyper agile.

 This one has a funny tail as if parted from the middle. At the moment it is relaxing after 'its pecking the body clean' job.

The cuckoo at mid morning, perhaps aiming her next move at something on the ground.

Friends,welcome here as always!

Linking to:
Camera Critters,Saturday Critters,

CRITTERS AFTER THE RAIN

Pigeon   holed!!!

The threesome is all agog with the bounty of tiny grubs, which mostly appear after the rains.

 Seem to be wondering, how to start!

  This loner is silently enjoying the rain cooled surroundings!


I'm back at my home at Patiala, for a short visit. Hence this belated posting. I took these pictures around our the area.

Friends welcome here as always!


Linking to:camera-critters, Saturday Critters, id-rather-b-birding

A CRESTED BIRD

 






Enjoying a cool evening in the hills.

 This one dons a tuft of hair on its head. It is too nimble to be clicked easily. Some catch after a long time.

Moreover, i find few birds here. There is one with a long lovely tail, but it disappears in no time.Yes, pigeons are sighted more often. 

Friends,welcome here as always!

Linked to: Saturday Critters, Camera Critters, id-rather-b-birding

THE WEEK'S BUTTERFLY CHASE

PLEASANT SURPRISES OF THE WEEK

 In the lawn, with its shadow on the yellow bloom

 The small spotted brown one was more at ease.

Friends,welcome here as always!

 Linking to:     Saturday Critters,     Camera Critters, id-rather-b-birding

BLACK BUTTERFLY

 My catch of the week:

The butterfly had a small, white and purple design underneath, on one side of each wing.

Yesterday, I's leaning against the railing of the balcony, when all of a sudden, I caught sight of this black beauty hovering  around bushes about twenty feet down on the slopes. What amazed me was its extraordinary  nimble speed.  It kept flapping its wings and hardly settled on any flower for a second. So i didn't even think of capturing it. Soon it flew away out of sight.

Since the day was sunny yet cool, I felt like going up to the lawn  with the camera in hand. 'Lo and behold,' I saw it there with the same elusive mesmerizing acts. This time I's not to miss the chance. I chased her and took many clicks with  only the above three worth presenting.

Friends,welcome here as always!

Linked to:Saturday Critters,   Camera Critters,   id-rather-b-birding

   

CUCKOO'S DESSERT

A part of my hill series.


 In the hills clicking birds is tricky. They hop and fly away so fast that you fail to match their speed. Last week, I couldn't  manage to find any chance to take a picture of some bird and missed the weekly post.
However, a couple of days back, this cuckoo, with an earthworm in its beak was excitedly flying about in our complex, perhaps to find the safest place to enjoy the delicacy .  Luckily, I'd frame it.

The pigeon perched on the edge of gutter in one of the flats in our complex. Its pensive mood helped me to click it easily.

Friends,welcome here and thanks for the support!

 Linking to:  Camera Critters ,Saturday Critters  ,id-rather-b-birding

CRITTERS FOR THE WEEK

 
SOME SUNDRY SHOTS at Kumarhatti,Solan.

Cuckoo seems to be planning a calculated move!

On a grey evening the pigeon  perched smugly on the gutter of the balcony's corrugated roof at our apt.

The cuckoo unsure but all flushed up.

The pair of  mynas on daily errands at Patiala.



Friends,welcome here as always!

Linking to: Camera Critters,  Saturday Critters,   id-rather-b-birding

CUCKOO IN THE HILLS

 Friends, this one, happens to be my 400th post as a blogger!


Cuckoo's sonorous notes inspire one and all. This black beauty and its melodious songs touch mind's softer recesses with a silent recognition: " Life is good." A modest looking cuckoo's musical voice evaporates all the worries and anxieties and fills you with hope and feeling of resilience.  The unique and distinct quality of its rhythmic renderings rise above the cacophony of the world and transports the initiated into a magical and receptive attitude.

 I'd been conscious of the presence of this cuckoo since I've come here. Its notes were stirring my soul and a couple of times I'd a fleeting glimpse of it. Fortunately, yesterday as I's busy in the kitchen, suddenly I saw it through the window pane, descend on the large stone on the mound in front of our apt. It seemed to be in a pensive mood. I knew that if I'd go out it will fly away forthwith. I took a chance and stood behind the net door and took these pictures of her in different moods. This is the first time in a couple of years that I'd imprison her in my camera.

 Its singing is a constant feature in hills as well as in plains in the coolness of early summer and during monsoons.

  Friends welcome here as always!


Linking to:     Saturday Critters, Camera Critters,
id-rather-b-birding

CRITTERS FOR THE WEEK

 Black hill cow grazing on the upper slopes about thirty ft. below our flat. Our dwelling unit is on the top of the hill. I tried to capture her  with her whole body visible but she didn't look up. Busy as she was in the act. Her body glistened in the morning sun light.

The hop-pee intent on pecking at something, which seems to be playing hide and seek. Our front lawn at Patiala.

Something interesting down there! Is it so Mr. Parrot? 
 Transmission wires near our house.

Friends welcome here as always.

Linking to: Camera Critters,Saturday Critters ,