brown headed barbet .... got lucky to spot a nest ..

Barbet nests are the most unconventional ones . So much so that even if you spot one of those you can't be sure it is a barbet nest unless you see a live bird sitting on it ... or sitting on the threshold . At least this nest has a threshold kinda thing . I spotted a barbet during my morning walk and as i was following the bird i noticed him/her hopping over to another tree and the next hop took him to a hole in the trunk . Now i wanted a picture , the bird hastily flew away and perched himself over a telephone wire nearby .

I examined the nest while the birdie sat here...looking at me with the corner of his eyes...

Another one comes to the drumstick tree in my garden . Probably picks up worms, i don't think barbets eat flowers or pollen or nectar ....but hey now i know they eat small fruits... 

Their movements are very swift , not like pigeons . Pigeons are clumsy and make sloppy sounds when they take off or set their feet somewhere....Barbets are swift and quick....

See how this one is calling out loud to someone ...or they make this gesture to sense something ... as i see them opening the beak wide and pointing upwards ... the call is not very loud and no other bird seems to come after that.... as with bulbuls you see the other one coming as soon as one sends a call...

Calling again....or just opening up his sensors ?

I have mostly seen the barbets alone . Even around the nest i didn't notice any family though do not stay there for long...studying their behavior and knowing more about them is so intriguing . The more you get to know the more you want to know...

A family of Babblers was teaching a young chick flying in the evening today and it was pure joy watching them . The kido looked like a lazy dumb who wouldn't listen to the parents . He got himself perched on the Ashwagandha plant in my backyard and that is when i thought of clicking some pictures . Will share some pictures but i am worried about the kido now after about 6 hours of this sighting . The chick is still sitting on the same branch of the Ashwagandha plant and is not moving , looks like sleeping but i am worried about some cats or dogs coming and attacking him . I know what i am going to do first thing in the morning ... Will keep you posted...

Thursday challenge...no words this time ...just a cute picture..

                          Thursday challenge
                                                  for fun and learning

                        HAPPY (Celebrations, Parties, Gifts, Enjoyment,...)

oriental white eye ... the little one you can easily miss...

Some of the birds have superb sense of camouflage ... they choose such trees where they find similar colored leaves , if their own feathers are yellowish green they will choose a branch where some of the leaves are senescent and that's how they blend with the background ...see that if you can spot her...

A bunch of these oriental white eyes comes in the morning when i water my plants . They are tempted to take a shower and keep jumping under the fine mist ...or under the leaves where the water is still trickling down . I can't take a picture at that time as my hands are occupied , more than that i want to enjoy that time with them ...

There is time to click pictures when i keep aside the hose and they climb up the Jamun tree to 'dress up' after the bath...

Bending this side or that side , picking the beak here n there ....preening and coiffing her pretty dress...

And then checking if everything is alright...

And she is aware of someone looking at her , as she knows who gave her the shower...looking at me in between ...

Then pretending to be busy...

looking for the other one..

Coiffing her pretty dress some more...straightening out everything...

Vibrating and fanning the tail to get dry...

The checking out the woman below the tree...

What do you think eh...

Will i keep sitting here and posing for you ? let me dry my wings too...

One last shot ...happy ?

Oh yes ... i am contended seeing them having a bath only ...these pictures were a bonus . I have seen them playing on the Jamun tree in the afternoons . They make a circular hopping on the branches , twitting quickly and sharply all the while , shifting their place taking short hops. That is a very happy sounding playful game , may be a mating ritual , the sound makes me so happy and i often watch them from distance , not disturbing them . They are so small in size that the pictures are never clear whenever  they are more than 3 meters away ... this one was sitting on a lower branch for my convenience ... this was about 2 weeks ago...

Another one came closer today , hopped around the rose pot and gave me enough time to click some more pictures...can you spot her here...

 And here...

More clear...


How cute is that...

She picked up some worms i guess from the soil..

 Looked out for more..

had her fill..

 In a relaxed mood...

Any closer and she would fly away ...she is so small its hard to locate her once she makes an exit ... how cute is the bird !! I am amazed at her speed and her size she is just the size of a butterfly when you spot her like this...

soft .... and dangerous...

                                             Thursday challenge
                                     "SOFT" (Pillows, Toys, Snow, Baby, Focus,...)
Nature provides some kind of protection to all the soft creatures....I spotted one such baby today....soft and dangerous...

Take a closer look ...how her belly looks soft ... it is a very poisonous bee like insect which makes a hive looking like a mud hive .... these are very common around my place as there are many plants and trees ...i have funny experiences with these insects...

I used to be very courageous and pick them up by hands whenever they came anywhere near Mithi ..... I was terrified that they might sting her and used to shoo them off any which way possible.... i got very close to this one today too ... and was taken unaware when she just sprinted towards my face  :)

You know what i was doing ?
I tried to shoo her off by a very indigenous method... blowing by my mouth ...phoonk maar ke ...:)


Now another softy gone dangerous...potted this time....

Armed for the possible dangers....
Both of these creatures...and both of these are looking just beautiful...aren't they ?

a green pigeon visited us...

He finds the upper canopy comfortable , and is not as daring as the common rock pigeons . And he comes alone most of the times and flies off as soon as the other one comes ....probably they don't trust our locality. But the good thing is , they are coming more often and may find our place more pleasant ...

See how they choose the perfect camouflage...can you see the birdie...

I spotted this one when i noticed a movement up my head while i was showering my plants in the morning . A huge green bird was perched on a jamun branch and was fanning his/her tail . That was strange , the slow fanning movement that is... and I asked Arvind to come with the camera ...hush hush moments...

 He clicked a few pictures while the green pigeon shifted his position and had stopped fanning his tail by then ....that gesture must a mating thing as another green pigeon flew in soon . The tail side looks fluffed up here ...i am such a shameless woman ... exposing a bird's modesty :)

Look at this ...a better view...Also how they clasp the claw to perch...

Now the green pigeon shifts a bit , noticing the both of us shameless fellows...

The fanning tail is withdrawn and he is looking for someone....

The other one comes too , they look restless and fly away.... can't stand two stupid shameless people around them ... here is the other one...

Aren't they cute ... much like a dove . The face looks like a dove , and very innocent ...Look at this one ...perched on a neem branch ......

another shot...

another...i know the pictures are noisy but i am so excited to see them and show them off here too...

This one didn't get a nice camouflage , or did consciously so...

Looking around...

The green pigeon looked for another branch to hop over and flew off....

 This one i spotted while watering my plants too , such a nice good morning moment . These pictures of the green pigeon perched on the neem tree are shot today and it was really a nice good morning for the both of us...

Wishing you all a good day too...

can you see me there.....?

                                           Thursday challenge 
                                                      for fun and learning
                     "REFLECTIONS" (Mirrors, Windows, Water, Sunglasses,...)
Can you see me on the beach ...the billowing surging waves seem so far and i stand this side of it .. this side of the endless universe

Does the universe has sides ?
It does when you see across a frame...or your perspective...

And now ...can you see me beyond that concrete jungle ?

Taking pictures of paintings is not a good idea , but i believe it is like an appreciation to the artist . In this case i do not know the artist , the signature was not clear and these picture were a part of an office decor ... there is a sign of "no mobile phones" too..could you see that ?

There was no sign of "no camera "...and i took advantage of that...:)

Some people would be able to recognize my kurta too , in the reflection :)