Start of Migration season

Long gap again. most of time of this last month or so was spent with everyday friends with center spot occupied by Babbler young of second brood this year. He appeared to have suffered some serious setback very early in life and looks more like a mini vulture with his part of head hairless. His apparent ugliness however makes him even more endearing I think.

During this time, I also found that what I considered occasional visitor might as well be always around someone. its only because he is always well hidden that I don’t see him often. On one of the days however he climbed newly grwon Papaya tree where there was no scope of hiding and then found me in front of him. somewhat confused, he stayed there for quite some time and didn't attempt to go to safely of hiding.

Anyways, things started to change finally. After completely rain deprived July, probably one of the hottest August and not far behind September, earlier this month HudHud brought both the things absent in last few months. One good day of rain and onset of cooler days. So there I was, having left with no excuse, out in the morning to see if migratory visitors have come already. Did hear an occasional flycatcher, looked like some warblers in a far off tree and also managed a Black Redstart in the frame, shot of which however reminded me of my some of the early days shots that didn't survive even then. Does not picking up camera for a few months really does that to you?

Somewhat disappointed, next day I leave 400 mm at home and walk out with HX300. See greenish warbler, hear more flycatchers and.. something much more interesting but not sure what it is. there was no use of regretting leaving behind 400mm now. by the time I zoom on it with lots of struggle to locate it in quite non-photo friendly clutter of small trees, it flies off. After few more minutes and walking few meters back and forth, there it was again. a blue capped rock thrush. Had seen it only once before on its return trip to its summer area three seasons back. Here is the shot of current sighting, whatever I managed.

Another day. More activity. Saw an ultramarine flycatcher hopping just above my head few feet above inside bamboo leaves. Now, I had seen it once for sure in previous years and at few other times suspected what I saw was it but had never managed a shot. (too bad given that goggling for it gives an impression that it loves to sit on open perches in full light in front of camera). Fortunately, it came out in clear sight after a while. I again did poorly still did get a shot. Makes it first new species this winter season.

Next day. Started off with hope of seeing yet another exotic passing migrant but wasn't too disappointed when encountered no new or old any kind of bird as my hope was not reasonable in first place. All I found was this dragonfly that almost invited me to take its shot.

and, how many hours I had spend without any result to catch it mid air finally concluding it wasn't worth trying.

Finally, yet another by-invitation shot. This unreasonably big fly was sucking something from a brick and hovering occasionally above it.

While I wait for change of season..

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.

(Insects) Once more

I like reading stories and also like to read them again and again. In fact, my liking for stories started before I could read them myself and also enjoyed telling those I just heard if I find an audience - that I used to find in a friend sometime. I however remember once going mad when he insisted I tell him same Akabar-Birbal story 22nd time. Well, in all these years since then, my own track record is not a lot different or probably its even worse. So, now I see need to justify.. I mean, understand the behaviour. I had once googled and found some study saying that children who are exposed to same story repeatedly learn language better than those who listen to different stories. (clarification: I was exposed to English very late in the day so quality of my English has no link with me reading same stories again and again.) - but then, I still read same stories again and again. So, why does repetition sounds useful and enjoyable irrespective of age? I dont know about others, but with me, I guess, its simply because I forget things happily and reading them again gives same first time Aha feeling. and, that's not at all limited to stories. Also, I think in general repetition brings familiarity, which in turn feels like beauty, security etc and also taxes brain less and less wrt to things already understood leaving more resources/building better context to understand things missed out at earlier iteration - so all kinds of minds- those seeking security, seeking beauty, seeking depth or simply lazy or slow ones all are likely to love repetition? of course, of things you enjoy and which support at least one of the benefits that repetition gives.

Its good three or so years that I have been taking lots and lots of pictures but I never enjoyed or tried to learn photography. probably have spent some time learning about equipment but 'photography', never. Which means that I usually learn things that helps me bettering my photographs by random experiments or by chance. Now, one such learning was that high ISO is big problem only if you have underexposed too. I don't remember when I forgot that learning. and then, I had fallen to habit of stopping at ISO 1600. Recently however, when a friend mentioned same thing again, I remembered my old knowledge. and before I forget it again, I was faced with subjects I was looking for, and light conditions I wasn't looking for.

Second and fourth shots above are at ISO 12500, first at 6400. for shots I would not have taken at all, they I think have come out quite well - at least for web size. Noise at this ISOs is pretty bad for out-of-focus areas and even after wasting good amount of time on above, they do appear quite poorly post processed, but then for those who know how to do it, it may not be a big issue. Need to post process makes the high ISO again non useful for me (and probably that was the reason I forgot the earlier learning too), but still, it was good to once again learn something that I had learned previously also.
I had seen that insect last time, again always in low light. I somehow quite like its transparent like dotted appearance and was very happy to see three of them at different age in matter of two days. All ages look equally beautiful to me. Sorry for skipping the ID - I had found it last year but have forgotten now. may be will update later.
ok, between me taking above shots and uploading them here, I saw some other insects. Interestingly, red and black combination with green seems hit this days. Nature too loves repeating whenever she can :-)

Continuing with Monsoon macro

This is more or less continuation of the previous post. I did not manage to spend much time with camera in hand since last post, and even when I did, it was mostly again looking at same subjects as previous post. I have a feeling I am going to repeat same subjects in this post too, but let me resist that temptation while I can.

Saw this spider and watching it for a while, I guess it was either still immature or in a young like playful mood anyway.

Saw this spider few times now - appropriate size to move in and out of Algae world.

If something similar sized looks at it from behind, this is how it appeared - looks like a snake head. isnt it?

Few feet from above spider and what I saw looked like little lumps of gold on a leave just above my eye level. Yes, beautiful sunlight had its contribution to that appearance but these eggs were also quite nice. It was somewhat high for taking shot comfortably still, did manage a shot.

It seemed to me that insects from remaining two eggs might come out soon but when I saw these eggs again after few days, they were still intact.

On another sunny day, saw something was clinging to a grass stem. it appeared like a seed to me but for the seed it was at unlikely place. I look at it and find this. I guess its a leafhopper - though it was bigger than leafhoppers I have seen previously.

and lastly, one more shot of those Springtails I had covered in last post too. I think this is the best possible shot I can manage of them. - below frame is 1/3 crop of a shot taken at max magnification my set-up gives. which is approx 3.65 so the frame below is some 2mm at longer side. and I can see these creatures eyes too!

That's what I have for this mini update. lets see what I find for the next one.

Mitey start of Monsoon

Monsoon start in north India comes in two varieties. Much celebrated variety is grand opening with refreshing downpour that brings temperatures down by 10 – 20 degrees and ends the Summer in an instant. Other one is, mild showers for few minutes and clouds overhead causes humidity jump that more than offsets some reduction in temperature and cause feel-like temperature to worsen. This year happens to be of the second variety. Life other than the humans however doesn't seem to be making much distinction between the two varieties and surroundings has started turning green at usual rapid pace.

First monsoon creature I noticed was this. Saw them for the first time since my school days and was happy to see them - even though not many of them and only for a day or two. Didn’t know their name and was surprised to find that they are not only named Giant red velvet mite, they actually are Mites. Now, aren’t mites supposed to be very very small? anyhow, their size was source of disappointment also for the reason that they were too big for my reverse lens macro set up – the one I was carrying then.

I saw one of them trying to dig into ground. Could not understand what it was trying to do and wondered if it was to lay eggs there? Googling however tells me that they actually live mostly under the ground and come up on surface only for few days. I fail to imagine how such a big creature can live inside what looks like solid earth.. but probably its ok as I don’t see myself as very imaginative being. It however reminded me of yet another story. ‘Fires within’ by A C Clarke this time.

When I was taking the first picture above, I didn't think much about some parts of the brick on which the mite was walking being blue. but that small insect on mite’s head was more difficult to miss. I soon found that blue was not just colour of brick but lots and lots of insects. I was taking a shot of green algae just starting to appear and saw these blue things. I thought they were even smaller than Mites I had seen previously (less than 1mm) and certainly not bigger then them.

As if to give me sense of size, a mite actually appeared in frame. While shooting, the mite appeared much bigger than the blue insects – but probably it was optical illusion because of its speed and legs as in the photo it appears smaller – that is, if you can spot the mite in the photo in first place (its already a cropped shot).

Green algae is my current attraction - I had seen it through macro set up only towards end of last monsoon and had got a feeling it could be interesting to watch that world. I was therefore waiting for them to start growing. As I was walking to pick the patch of algae, saw this another subject I didn't photograph last year - not because I didn't notice them. it wasn't an option as there were thousands and thousands of them. I didn't take a shot thinking it could be done any day and then they disappeared. As I was watching some millipedes walking by, one of them stopped, spiraled itself and moved around its own center for a moment, straightened again and continued in same direction it was originally going. That appeared a very strange thing to me and once it was gone, I regretted not being fast enough and shooting the behaviour. just then, another millipede comes, stops at same point, does similar spiraling act, uncoils, starts walking - all I managed was to say 'wow, I missed it again'. before the third one came however, pattern recognition part of my brain started functioning and I had my camera pointed at that place even though no millipede was in frame. and surely, nature is unimaginative at times. a third one walks-in in a moment, spirals, uncoils, walks away.

As I upload above shot here, I google to see if such spiraling is normal or not. It says its their defense mechanism - but that leaves me more confused. what i saw didn't look like one. they appeared under no threat. the spot where they came to get spiraled was more sunlit than area around - but they walked up to there themselves and appeared in no distress while walking under the Sun elsewhere. probably some other problem with the spot that wasn't visible to me..

Coming back to algae, while watching a patch of it, I saw this something feeding happily on it. it was incredible to look at that tiny something through macro lens. I guess, in nature amount of details is not scale independent but as things become smaller, more detailed they become. I know it can be shot in much better way but being first of such a creature for me, I find this also fascinating.

Not all details are so well done however. some do look ugly even with lots of details. plus these below things are not being kind to my Tulsi plants either. (as usual: better shot next time)

and lastly, main sighting of this post. These black-red mites (unless they are something else and not Mites), whatever their name may be. Incredible to watch them running around. and happy with these shots for now. btw, I find that algae also are different at different places. - not unexpected, just an observation.

once in a while two of them would come face to face and in one such encounter, they did what appeared a wonderfully done sword fight. lasted only a second and then I think winner was decided or whatever, but they went in different directions.

as if getting Mites, even if only partially in focus wasn't good enough, I got to see and capture this young one too. for sure it becomes the smallest thing I managed to capture so far.

That's what I have for this update. If temperature/humidity goes down a bit and my computer allows me to work for longer, should be back to my usual posting frequency soon.