Laughing Dove by the Birdfeeder

Finally the bird feeder is blessed and so are we, with a guest frequenting it everyday..

A Laughing Dove

A Peahen in the back yard

Peahen in the backyard

A Red Vented BUlbul

यूँ ही नहीं मिलती राही को मंजिल,
एक जुनून सा दिल में जगाना होता है
पूंछा चिड़िया से… कैसे बना आश्यिाना?
बोली-
भरनी पड़ती है उड़ान बार-बार
तिनका-तिनका उठाना होता है!

A Red Vented Bulbul, is picking up straws from a coconut birdhouse in my garden.

 —

A Brown Headed Barbet

"If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down"

Earnings of the day. A Brown-headed Barbet at Residency Greens, Gurgaon

When I passed by Siliguri ( W.B)....Feb 2016

JOI MAA...Saraswati Pooja is around the corner and the street are busy and vendors selling Maa Saraswati idols are up for display everywhere.

Driving through the tall Saals with dried leaves littered carelessly..

Alone with myself the Trees bend to caress me The shade hugs my heart..

 Wooden Houses..without the chaotic citylife, amidst freshness of air, chirping sound of birds, what seems to be less is actually a life of abundance.



Few miles from city, we have arrived at the Mahananda river bed..
 
The gentle sounds of flowing water, chirps of birds returning home, the smell of tress, the hues in sky and all that is in site assure me that nature is fully conscious and alive.
Life is one single unit..and I do not make the mistake of separating living and non living beings.

Camouflaged in the rocks is a family of River Lapwings. 

I have known you, but we are meeting for the first time and you have been generous to allow me a good view.

As I watch this little bird ( which I hve yet to recognise), feeding in the water stream, jumping from one stone to another, I wonder what great trust she has in life. The whole of existence seems to be providing for her. Bird later identified as Plumbeous water redstart female

We have actually come deep into Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary to stop by a Forest Post cum watch tower. And Sahil from Nepal is happy to offer us a refreshing cup of Darjeeling Tea..and this is his Kitchen. I am quite amused to hear few stories of his experience with Elephants and Leaopards, before turning back..!

There will always be birds and more birds...and here is a White Browed Wagtail

Believe me this is the real LIGHT & SOUND show.

Is there anything better to do...? Till next time...from Mahananda Widllife Sanctuary..W.B

BIRDING ON ROYAL ENFIELD...!

Its taken me roughly a month to modify my Royal Enfield CDI and the theme is Military Classic. Right from choosing a fabricator to make new Fuel Tank, Front and Rear Mud Guards, selection of paint color and finish, Buffing and Chrome plating a good mechanic to de assemble and assemble, it was a lot of work and patience. Several trips to Mayapuri, Karol Bagh and Jhandewala, eventually paid off and I was quite pleased with the outcome. And now we ( me and my RE Military Classic- named lovingly AZAD) are ready to Rock n Ride. My first trip, I have decided to be around Gurgaon to Basai Wetlands. Lets see what unfolds.

Just as I arrive searching for the spot I had heard quite often amongst debris of constructions and diminishing water bodies, somewhere on the way to Sultanpur from Gurgaon..I am greeted by Indian Pond Heron with flutter of wings..Welcome Bullet Baba

Bar Headed Geese-Migrating south from Mangolia, Khazakistan, Tibet and Russia they arrive in Indian sub continent in winters, and have been reported to be one of the highest flying birds.Ancient Sanskrit literature refers it as Kadamb...How fancy to find them so near, in Gurgaon..I liked the reflected light from coming-up buildings in the background...which will eventually destroy there breeding grounds.

BLUETHROAT..I had only seen pictures of this small passerine insectivorous bird migrating for winters in India...and this day, when I never expected, the beauty was here to greet me with all kind of poses, very friendly. She was all around me. Nature's treat for those seeking..smile emoticon I am really delighted

PIED AVOCET & BLACK WINGED STILTS...In deep meditative mode these four friends are immersed in song of the soul, oblivious to the surroundings and nearby humming of the traffic. Who knows who we are....
Bulle Shah is singing...
Na main momin vich maseetaan
Na main vich kufar diyan reetaan...
Na main paakaan vich paleetaan
Na main moosa na firown
Na main moosa na firown
Ki jaana main Kaun Bulleya
Ki jaana main Kaun
Ki jaana main Kaun Bulleya
Ki jaana main Kaun
Ki jaana main Kaun ?

Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Nor a pagan (infidel) disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the Pharaoh
Bulleya! To me, I am not known

TREASURES..from nature need not be hunted, they are revealing themselves and you just have to be present.

Just when I had hit the highway all packed ( as it always happens), I thought of motoring towards newly build highway going to Dwaraka. Looking at the open fields I recalled it to be natural habitat of Sarus Cranes. The beauties I had missed to watch closely in my last trip to Bharatpur. And to my utter surprise, I saw two tall figures in the field on my left, bringing my bike to a streaking halt..I jumped, loaded my lens again, with my Helmet on ( no time to loose)..and here they are, a beautiful pair, The Tallest of Birds ( 6 Ft) of India, known to court for life and pine the loss of their mates to starving death-The Sarus Cranes...Wowing.!!

 Let today be a good day, until next time