All these disconnected photographs followed by all the text is not a formatting issue, and I have not put them that way to create any puzzle either. Its just more or less representation of how last three.., now four weeks have been. Not much of theme or rhythm, unconnected, random sightings, but not lacking interestingness or beauty.
If not having any central theme wrt to Nature around me was a reason to not come out with a photo heavy post for good four weeks, having too many Brilliant ideas (my ideas after all!) to write about was another. I would have written at least half a dozen text heavy posts if I had not somewhere lost the threads of my all those ideas and arguments before I actually write about them. So in the end, lots of thoughts blowing through mind but no post that happened. Incidentally, I came across this Mark Twain quote a few days ago that I quite agree with. "Life does not consist mainly - or even largely - of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that are forever blowing through one's mind."
I am not trying to sell myself inaction in any way by agreeing with the quote (nor do I think quote intends to do that) and will try to capture and structure ideas I get in future to put them here when can. for now, this is how world outside had been since last post..
Start of this period was same as one reflected in last post. Hot humid and devoid of rains, only subjects were insects. Unfavourable weather meant that I didn't spend much time with camera even as those grasses, subject I never get tired of photographing started appearing everywhere. Then, with August drawing to close and Sun starting to lose some of its power save around the noon, while nothing else appeared to be changing, I found me keeping the 400mm attached to camera more than the reserve macro lens. With even first migratory trickle start more than a month away, this change in my instinctive behavior appeared somewhat strange.
Luckily, I had a visitor that (I think) I see September onward only. Some 7-8 white eyes had come to enjoy water that I keep for resident birds. Even if small group, seeing them so close, playing just outside the window definitely was highlight of the month. They spent some 10 mins and left. I waited for them next day, and though few mins late, they did come. Next day I noticed a pair of bulbuls along with them. Now, bulbuls are actually everyday birds and seeing them doesn’t mean anything but they being with white-eyes, I tried to see them as mixed-flock of small birds in making. indeed, number of bulbuls in last few days are increasing though I don’t always notice white-eyes, I have a feeling its going to be a lucky winter this time. Usually small migratory birds join similar sized mixed flocks and bulbuls provide critical mass to this flocks here where total numbers are small. so, will these small beginning result in many previously seen unseen migratory travelers stopping by my window? ok, too speculative as of now but I am excited even at the possibility.
In another sign of ‘its already Septermber’, kites are back to their aerial games. be it displaying capability to hold, shift grips etc of anything they find for the purpose or fighting mid air. Meanwhile, most neighborhood birds are doing very well – some had their second brood also successfully out. Most interesting of them is how Magpie Robin male is doing. Every year I see that female leaves at the end of breeding season and so the young one. This year however, out of two youngsters, one has stayed back. I believe it’s a male – as it mimics his father’s call perfectly. Now, Magpie Robin male, who is here year around has been most unsocial creature in and around my home – even I am better. He never socialises, never joins others to enjoy food (I know he eats roti when in mood, but never in my presence.). He spends his time as if he is indifferent to everyone else. Now, this time, he has this youngster chasing him – I suspect he is not very enthusiastic about it, but youngster doesn’t care. Youngster is not very averse to company of other birds and me either. and as if he finally managed to have some influence on his father, that day I caught the father in almost Juv like playful mood.
and then there was another Juv - that of Coucal this time. First time I saw a coucal juv here. I would have almost dismissed it as Koel behind the leaves if not for its body language not matching that of Koel. Soon he even came out and posed for me :-)
That's all for last four weeks. lets see what I find for the next post.
If not having any central theme wrt to Nature around me was a reason to not come out with a photo heavy post for good four weeks, having too many Brilliant ideas (my ideas after all!) to write about was another. I would have written at least half a dozen text heavy posts if I had not somewhere lost the threads of my all those ideas and arguments before I actually write about them. So in the end, lots of thoughts blowing through mind but no post that happened. Incidentally, I came across this Mark Twain quote a few days ago that I quite agree with. "Life does not consist mainly - or even largely - of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that are forever blowing through one's mind."
I am not trying to sell myself inaction in any way by agreeing with the quote (nor do I think quote intends to do that) and will try to capture and structure ideas I get in future to put them here when can. for now, this is how world outside had been since last post..
Start of this period was same as one reflected in last post. Hot humid and devoid of rains, only subjects were insects. Unfavourable weather meant that I didn't spend much time with camera even as those grasses, subject I never get tired of photographing started appearing everywhere. Then, with August drawing to close and Sun starting to lose some of its power save around the noon, while nothing else appeared to be changing, I found me keeping the 400mm attached to camera more than the reserve macro lens. With even first migratory trickle start more than a month away, this change in my instinctive behavior appeared somewhat strange.
Luckily, I had a visitor that (I think) I see September onward only. Some 7-8 white eyes had come to enjoy water that I keep for resident birds. Even if small group, seeing them so close, playing just outside the window definitely was highlight of the month. They spent some 10 mins and left. I waited for them next day, and though few mins late, they did come. Next day I noticed a pair of bulbuls along with them. Now, bulbuls are actually everyday birds and seeing them doesn’t mean anything but they being with white-eyes, I tried to see them as mixed-flock of small birds in making. indeed, number of bulbuls in last few days are increasing though I don’t always notice white-eyes, I have a feeling its going to be a lucky winter this time. Usually small migratory birds join similar sized mixed flocks and bulbuls provide critical mass to this flocks here where total numbers are small. so, will these small beginning result in many previously seen unseen migratory travelers stopping by my window? ok, too speculative as of now but I am excited even at the possibility.
In another sign of ‘its already Septermber’, kites are back to their aerial games. be it displaying capability to hold, shift grips etc of anything they find for the purpose or fighting mid air. Meanwhile, most neighborhood birds are doing very well – some had their second brood also successfully out. Most interesting of them is how Magpie Robin male is doing. Every year I see that female leaves at the end of breeding season and so the young one. This year however, out of two youngsters, one has stayed back. I believe it’s a male – as it mimics his father’s call perfectly. Now, Magpie Robin male, who is here year around has been most unsocial creature in and around my home – even I am better. He never socialises, never joins others to enjoy food (I know he eats roti when in mood, but never in my presence.). He spends his time as if he is indifferent to everyone else. Now, this time, he has this youngster chasing him – I suspect he is not very enthusiastic about it, but youngster doesn’t care. Youngster is not very averse to company of other birds and me either. and as if he finally managed to have some influence on his father, that day I caught the father in almost Juv like playful mood.
and then there was another Juv - that of Coucal this time. First time I saw a coucal juv here. I would have almost dismissed it as Koel behind the leaves if not for its body language not matching that of Koel. Soon he even came out and posed for me :-)
That's all for last four weeks. lets see what I find for the next post.
