Tag: wildlife

Nature

A random harvest of delight…

Vernal hanging parrot (Loriculus vernalis), Mallandur, Karnataka, India

The narrative reflects on the profound connections between nature and personal experiences, particularly during a period of forced dormancy before an ultra-trail run. Set in the picturesque coffee plantations of Chikkamagaluru, the author contemplates the life embodied by a tree and its surrounding flora and fauna. Amidst distractions and tourist crowds, moments of serenity arise with the observation of various birds, culminating in a gratifying sighting of a Vernal hanging parrot. The day’s events highlight the beauty and unpredictability of birdwatching in the Western Ghats, showcasing a blend of introspection and appreciation for the natural world.

Nature

Going gentle into that good night: The Great Indian Bustard

Great Indian Bustard, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Musing on the Great Indian Bustard, a ground-dwelling bird species found only in the Indian subcontinent which is critically endangered today.

Nature

Pikas and their peekaboo 

Pikas of Himalaya: Large-eared pika

Pikas bring a sense of activity to the higher climes, weaving a string of momentariness around rocks brooding in geological time… perpetually restive in their disposition as they scurry, stop and shirk, manicuring the meadows with their hurried nibbles, carving abodes beneath taluses… humbled by the mountain, yet humbling it as well… musing on a long-eared pika, Markha valley, Ladakh, India

Nature

Buzzards and their humble buzz… 

Buzzards - Long-legged buzzard

It is poignant yet gratifying, watching buzzards subsist… the singleness of purpose, the precision of velocity, a panache to the glutton, epitomes of acuity… musing on a long-legged buzzard, Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan, India

Nature

Magpies and modesty 

Yellow billed blue magpie

Magpies, like most corvidae, bask in an intellectual prowess not readily endowed upon fauna in general… moving around with a professional grump, undeterred by mirrors, audacious enough to ruminate on reflections rather… putting two and two together if need be, humouring the human for easy morsels… yet all that lives must have some folly, and …

Mountains, Nature

Ghats in their monsoon lush…

Western ghats

Ghats are one of those landscapes that overwhelm the senses, the lush tropical mountains steeped in flora and fauna, many of whom have these regions as their only domicile, defying the quintessential interconnectedness of a world forever in flux, espousing exclusivity instead… whether thrashing through the forests, treading the criss-cross trails amidst tea gardens or …