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| …and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough? -Vincent Van Gogh PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
December end
- early January. One of the times when mercury hits new lows in the erstwhile
"pleasant-always-Bengaluru". Those who have lived considerably long in the city know the
seasons getting extreme year on year. One chore that makes winters truly
testing is - bathing (let alone waking).
To-bathe or not lingers like an axe above the head every day, even if it is
with hot water. Cut the scene and we are in front of the bird-baths at the Old
Magazine House Ganeshgudi, on a cold Jan evening.
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| The Flying lizard or Draco- the first denizen that we met at the Old
Magazine House PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
The hide was
lined with curious cameras of serious birders. All eyes on the opera that can
start any moment. All along in my mind, the one noise that wouldn't die - will
they come just to sip or dare to take a dip?! It was plain cold water, after all. To each, her own concerns! I couldn't help teleporting myself into their tiny heads, wondering what would go on
in there, if they were me.
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| A busy Velvet fronted Nuthatch(Sitta frontalis) PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
The White
bellied blue flycatcher was one of the "early birds" that evening. The
me in the bird contemplating the bath:
"Hey, it's still late afternoon and quite warm. Let me finish it
before the rush-hour when it gets cold and crowded"
Meanwhile,
White-bellied blue flycatcher female: "Unbelievable!! My dirt-bag getting
close to the bath! I thought he would get himself the title of rusty bellied
blue flycatcher"
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| White Bellied Blue Flycatcher(Cyornis pallidipes) Male and Female - Take
bath while the sun shines PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
A Tickell's
blue flycatcher that was reading the thoughts of this couple went straight into
action. Me to myself: Naah..the way he
systematically took to dipping...he just wasn't my type. My teleport attempt
into his mind failed due to mismatching wavelength.
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| The Tickell's Blue(Cyornis tickelliae) Trilogy- On your mark, get set,
wet PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
Meanwhile there was a sudden frenzy on the right end. A
striking Orange headed thrush(white throated) landed on the ground level bath.
He hopped along the stones and quickly retreated into the thicket. The me in
the thrush: "What a brilliant idea! I shall arrive, pose and scoot.
Gushing about my sartorial novelty, they wouldn't even notice me skipping the
arduous ritual(quips)"
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Orange Headed Thrush White-Throated (Geokichla citrina - G. c. cyanota) -
Land pose scoot PC: Kalirajan Subramanian
|
In
contrast, successive fashionistas from the same runway- a Puff throated babbler
and an Indian blue robin female posed, sipped and showered.
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| Indian Blue Robin(Larvivora brunnea) Female - Lined up right after the
Thrush PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Indian Blue Robin(Larvivora brunnea) Female - Photo-op on the exact same spot PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Puff Throated Babbler(Pellorneum ruficeps) - A bath buff PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
Oblivious to all of this, a pair of Malabar giant
squirrels were peacefully dozing on a branch. A Monitor lizard was stone-still
on a tree trunk and a Common flameback pecked along high and dry. Needless to
say, I connected with them instantly.
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| The resting Malabar Giant Squirrels(Ratufa indica) - A match made in
canopy PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Monitor Lizard - Sun bath is the best bath PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Common Flameback Woodpecker(Dinopium javanense) - Pecking spree PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
On the other hand, love seemed to be in the air at the
bath-perches, though it was early for Valentine's. A female Black naped monarch
was checking out a mate and the poor male was under pressure to show his diving
and dipping skills. A pair of Indian white-eyes decided to take the plunge(pun
intended) together. A cocky Flame throated bulbul was visibly irritated by the
spatter of a Brown cheeked fulvetta.
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| Black Naped Monarch(Hypothymis azurea) Female - Hmm..he seems handsome
but will he brave it PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Black Naped Monarch(Hypothymis azurea) Male – I need to live up to my
name and impress her PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Indian White Eyes(Zosterops palpebrosus) - No feat is big, when we are
together PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Flame throated Bulbul(Rubigula gularis) at the receiving end of a wet
Brown Cheeked Fulvetta(Alcippe poioicephala) PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Brown Cheeked Fulvetta(Alcippe poioicephala) -There is a certain
contentment after a good wet shake PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| The Flame throated bulbul at peace by itself after the Fulvetta flew away PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
A dazzling Emerald dove went about flashing its
iridescent hues. I just couldn't imagine its glossy feathers wet. Thankfully,
he just took a sip. Probably he was self-aware!
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| Emerald dove(Chalcophaps indica) - Silky sheen PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
Around the same time a Hill myna made a fleeting
appearance up a tree trunk. On the ground, there was mighty action by a Wasp
that dragged a Giant crab spider along. The spider was motionless, probably
stung to paralysis by the wasp. The wasp looked like a Mud dauber - one that
builds a mud house and lays egg in it. It ensures to pack some food( a prey
that is stung but not yet dead) in the house so that its offspring gets a fresh
meal whenever the egg hatches. Now that's a super mom!
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| Hill Myna(Gracula indica) PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| A wasp with a Giant crab spider. A mighty sting is all it takes to
bring down a giant PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
The Indian yellow tit, as if it was me, looked terrified
at first. Later it mustered courage to come up to the rim of the bath. May be,
my inner voice prompted him, last minute he decided to not follow the beaten
p(b)ath and flew away.
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| Indian yellow Tit(Machlolophus aplonotus) – a look, a sip and a retreat PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
But all this dilly dallying was only at the initial round
of their appearance. Later on, invariably all of them splish-splashed and got
wet merrily. May be, my teleporting influence could work only so much. May be, it
was my turn to get influenced. The next morning after the walk around the campus, I did
take a good bath.
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher(Muscicapa dauurica) the winter visitor from the
Himalayas PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| A Malabar Pied Hornbill sunning. Wings wide open facing the sun, birds
sunbathe for warmth, routine grooming and to kill parasites PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| A resplendent Crimson backed Sunbird(Leptocoma minima) PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| A bright Yellow browed bulbul(Acritillas indica) PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
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| Rare sighting of a Speckled Piculet(Picumnus innominatus). Pecking sound
of these tiny woodpeckers competes with their much larger cousins PC: Kalirajan Subramanian |
PS: A special note of thanks to the exemplary hospitality and responsiveness of the resort manager Mr. Nadaf, birding guide Mr. Vinayak and all the staff at Old Magazine House. The tribal eco shop about 10mins drive from OMH(just after the Supa bridge) is a must-visit too. Their honey, tender mango chutney and the herbal oils are absolute must-tries.
Reference:
https://www.wildwanderer.com/parental-care-in-wasps/
Click here to read about our visit to Kali Adventure Camp
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