sighting the black hooded oriole at NBRI botanical garden, Lucknow...

We always head towards the lotus pond first whenever visiting the botanical garden in NBRI campus, Lucknow. It's more of a narrow lake that is surrounded by wild grass and we could never go closer to take pictures. This time I had a new 55-300 mm lens so I zoomed in to capture those lotus fruits and flowers in it's full glory.

They make such a serene picture together.

As we moved towards the ancient banyan tree in the garden, we were welcomed by a sweet bird song. I speculated it to be oriole as it sounded familiar. We had spotted a pair of Eurasian golden oriole in Goa this January but this was the first sighting of black hooded oriole for us.

Singing and hopping around gleefully...

There were two of them this time too. But both of them males. Couldn't see a female oriole in the vicinity. She was certainly somewhere around as the incessant singing was to lure her only.

The botanical garden is rich with flora and fauna both...

This is a Nirgundi plant, flowering beautifully. Vitex nigundo.

Here is a Bauhinia flower happily soaked in rain.. Bauhinia acuminata or dwarf white bauhinia, white orchid tree.

Here is one female of the Purple sunbird sucking nectar from  Kaner (Nerium) flower.

Many more bird pictures to be shared here, hoping I will be able to post them one by one very soon.

Verditer Flycatcher : a miniature bird but hard to miss even in the most verdant backgrounds...

We were in Simla for a short duration last week and it was a pleasant break from work pressure and scorching heat of Delhi. We had great company, great places to visit and a camera in hand as always. We trekked a lot, rested, had our food and trekked some more. I was in Simla after 3 decades and felt the same warmth in the hills though a few things have changed. Most tourist attractions change over the years catering to the demands of changing needs of tourists of the contemporary times I guess. The places untouched by tourists are the same as ever, much to my relief. More about those issues later, I am more excited about the birds we spotted there.

This is the view of Glen valley from out window around 7 AM. Can you see something amidst all the greenery?

That tiny spot of bright copper sulfate blue can you see?

Have a closer look...

This is how my 105 mm lens can capture when the bird is this far. But it shows alright how pretty this little bird is. A female of Verditer flycatcher I think.

Later in the day while trekking down to reach Chadwick falls, Arvind spotted this male which was closer as the canopy of the pine trees was at our level while climbing down.

Beautiful bird....

And then he turned a little bit ...

We had spotted this bird on McLeodgunj last year though it is found in Delhi as well.

Will be back with more birds we spotted in Simla. Trying to process the pictures slowly and post them one by one here. Hope you all like the birds as much as I did.

being blessed....

Her poems are like blessing and it never fails to bring a smile on my face. Suranga Date is one lovely person who connects with people and nature so well, her poetry is transparent and imaginative, sometimes funny and sometimes just like a pure blessing. She wrote a few lines to me today, in a poetic way as always. She writes a wonderful poetry blog inspired by the beautiful pictures she comes across on the internet and social media almost everyday. But let me tell you a little more about the context.

Today is Mithi's birthday and the sun was not that harsh in the morning hours. I went out and worked in the garden for a while and plucked these fruits of labour, today's harvest. There are a few more things growing right now, there is some okra, cherry tomatoes and drumsticks but this kakdi (extreme left, Armenian cucumber) was a fist time harvest. The garden has been my heaven and you all know it by now if you have been on this blog a few times.

And see what Suranga wrote...

Mithi's older

and has amazing tastes.

Her love of greens,

makes them bloom

like a carpet 

across your garden,

as she sometimes

grins at a zuchchini,

and tangles with a brinjal

cribbing about 

having to share things

with a tomato.

Bok Choy

the latest 

outdoor craze,

peppers and 

dhaniya,

making way 

for the lemongrass perfume,

as it wafts across your kitchen.

Tea for two
,
with Foccacia bread

studded with sundried stuff

and maybe olives

and a sliver of capsicum, 

as her mother gets up

to source

her latest 

homemade jam.

The birds,

the squirrels,

the parrots

all hot foot it

on to the verandah

to inhale the flavors 

of love.

Mithi has come to spend Mother's Day

with her Mumma and Papa.


Isn't this unadulterated love?

I am blessed.

Sounds of silence in our summer garden...

Yes, the colors of spring are slowly fading now, the chill is history. Welcome to the Delhi summer. Dry, hot and seemingly lifeless.

Summer is the time when even the leaves refuse to flutter in our garden. The absence of any unwanted noise or presence of a much revered silence. The absence of voices doesn't mean no living activity. Silence has its own energy and vibrations.   

Silence in the summer noon is not lifeless though. Last weekend I decided to check by myself sitting in the garden. Not in the usual morning or evening when I water the plants but during the early afternoon when we usually remain indoors enjoying all around avian sounds . Yes it feels like we are in a jungle cottage when Barbets call each other from different trees and we hear them from inside. Blessed feeling.

It was early noon and there was unusual movement of two adult babblers. On close scrutiny two set of tiny eyes caught my attention. See by yourself.. 

They were sitting on the mango tree which is not in very good shape due to some extra active anti-environment 'human' neighbor, but able to give some homely atmosphere to the avian neighbors nevertheless.

These tiny chicks seem to be waiting for someone...

Ahh.. here the mother cames with mouthful of lunch... 

Another one...

Yes both the parents at the same time with food, what enjoyment.

Imagine yourself in this situation, you would know the real feeling.

Near absolute silence, the voices are very low pitched and very calming ...

Very homely too, in a strange way...

They all huddle together, knowing my presence and still comfortable ...

The parents wait till the first serving of the food is swallowed. And then the next is offered to a fluttering baby..

Yes the babies keep fluttering the wings when they demand food...

They take small bites of the insect I notice...

Some conversation is also going on along with munching... dining table conversations you know...

But these conversations are all almost silent for human ears....

This is not the end of enjoyment. Another variation of silence is about to come. Another set of tiny eyes catch the attention of a camera lens.

Some little creatures...

Beautiful little eyes waiting for someone inside the lemon tree... Safe cocoon of a place.

What bliss...

No we are not grumpy... we are cute as bunnies..

I know you are watching, who cares?

My mom is watching too... Do you know that?

The watch guards are sitting very nearby...

Here she came with the food . Sorry for the poor picture quality but sometimes real eyes are better record keepers than the mechanical one..

After meal time may be we should do some stretching...

Walks are also a healthy option...

Meanwhile Mr. G who is all the time snacking on the Moringa flowers is also found lazing around .

Seems like he is also enjoying silence irrespective of neighbors.. like us...

zzz...

But it's so hot we need water too...

We have our own watering hole ....

But there is a tough competition at the watering hole..

Some visitors come angry...

Some are quite shy to take risk..

Some come for water quietly and do the job as if spying on someone...

Witnessing the constant watch on the watering hole, Mr. G decided to challenge me with his own style of sumo pose...

On the other side there was another story unfolding... A new beginning happening...

A couple searching for a place to build their new home and why not, who stops you from starting a new life this summer.

While one of them keeping a watchful eye on the rest of creatures around....

The other one is busy building a new home, home to her new summer life... deep inside the mehendi bush.

Many visits to the ground to pick up thin sticks and some silk cotton flying around... and returning to the same spot...

 In the meantime the young babblers decided to take a walk in company of their parents. In safely camouflaged grounds...

The Bulbul chick also decided to show her antics...  and anger...

Of course in presence of her parents...

The stern look... as if saving the smaller chick by hiding her behind...

And then telling her someone is watching, be careful...

Stretching wings to show I am no small kid...

Did you see that?

I am a grown up bird now...

This much in one single day, who says summer is lifeless and silent? They have their own sounds and communications, it's the human mind that is clouded by the maddening turbulence.

How is summer at your end?

PS : The post is jointly written by both of us, myself and Arvind, and the pictures are also taken by both of us. There are days when we don't want to miss whatever is happening outside in the garden and weekends are the best days to record such things. we took turns in sitting outside for a couple of hours that day and all this was recorded. All pictures are processed by Arvind.