Of the many things I love doing, solving the crossword is one of them. Ever since we've resumed the newspaper service at home, I can't wait to get my hands on the "Leisure" section and get cracking with the "Suduko" and Crossword puzzles. The other day one the clues stumped me, though I eventually guessed it - Like crossword lovers, say, was the clue. The answer was - Nerdy. So, there it is, I'm a nerd :D.
It's not quite spring yet, but one can catch a fleeting glimpse of it in the wind that's been blowing over the last week. If youth were a season, this would be it. I have written often about the strange sensation this season brings with it. The beautiful basanti hawa, waiting to work its magic, and no matter how old I become this season makes me feel young and carefree. My years in Bombay deprived me of this one thing. Of all things Delhi (or north India) nothing beats spring.
Met a friend over the weekend while walking around Sunder Nursery. This fleeting, short lived season affords one the luxury to walk in gardens in the afternoons. We went to Habitat post that and ended up bumping into an undergrad college professor. It brought back so many memories, reminded me of a time and age which was so different from the here and now. So many hopes and aspiration which spring always renews. Mathematics is a good subject, and so I remarked to her, she agreed happily.
I'm in love with this season of flowers, wind and a carefree, reckless abandon.
Also came across an app which helps identify birds through their calls, I'm looking forward to testing it tomorrow morning in our park. The app has something called hotspots where people can register which bird they spotted and as per the app at least 132 different bird species had been spotted in our park and 39 of these in the last 7 days. Went through the list and it helped to confirm some that I suspected maybe it, including the rather petite and pretty tailorbird, this one seems to be a regular in the park.
Well, dear spring work your magic, bring on your new life!
Yesterday while walking amongst the trees I saw a shy green thing peeping out of under a branch. It twitched it's tail and then started to fly from twig to twig and then lost itself within the leaves. With a flaming cap and it's small pert tail, it seemed to bow before disappearing. Cute little birdie you're a joy to behold!
So it's true the dinosaurs did end up inheriting the world. With over 50 million in population birds are highly widespread and diverse. My morning walks have brought them closer to me than ever before. I'm trying now to learn bird calls, not that I've been very successful, but it is a most fulfilling occupation. There are some that I can now distinctly make out, and some which I could always, the crow and koel as a case in point. Thought I'd start listing down birds I can now identify or have spotted, hope this list keeps growing. Not including crows, pigeons, peacocks, sparrows, kites, koels and doves :D.
So here goes:
Neelkanth or the Indian Roller - this is a beautiful blue bird with a very distinct call. It visited our park for a very brief period and I suspected was driven away by the very aggressive black drongos and babblers. It did look there was at least a pair, and every morning for a few weeks could hear it's guttural "chak chak" sound. To me it appeared almost like a bluish crow.
Bharadwaj bird or the Greater coucal - I first spotted this bird in the SEEPZ complex in Mumbai, may have seen it before but never paid attention. A Maharashtrian friend pointed it out to me saying it's considered lucky to spot it (as is also the case with the Neelkanth it seems). It has this mournful, soulful sound. I often hear it during our morning walks, but it's a bit shy, so spotting it takes some time.
Robins - there are two kinds I've seen in the park, small brown ones and black ones with a white streak across the wing. It's a very commonly spotted bird, not sure if I'd be able to identify it based on it's call. It seems to be a bit generic the usual twitter, but I maybe mistaken. It'll take me time to learn this talk. Edit: So these are two different kinds - the oriental magpie robin and the Indian robin.
Pipits- took me a while to find the name of these birds, these look like female sparrows on stilts, foraging food in the grass. They are usually in a big group scattered around the grass, again a sound which can be classified as twitter, won't know it's them if I hear them.
Sunbirds - I used to think these are humming birds as a kid and even larks, due to the black color of some of these. Again not one that I can identify from their sound, but they are easy to identify and spot.
Green bee-eater - These I used to think are mini parrots as a kid. They seem to be a bit seasonal, lots of them in the park these days. I think I know their call, but can't be very sure.
Red-naped Ibis - This one again warrants another post. This was another satisfying experience, seeing a couple check out the place, build a nest, grow their brood, fly away and then come back with grown up babies for morning snacks.
Pied wagtails - Spotted these for the first time this winter
Parrots and Myanas - again the most common birds, but very easy to identify from their call.
Bulbuls
Lapwings
Partridges - these are actually Gray Francolins or Teetar for us Indians - teetar ke do aage teetar ... I actually spotted three walking in a row one fine morning :)
Black Drongos
Babbles
Hoopoe
Golden Oriole
Ashy prinia
Woodpeckers
Hornbills
Rufus Treepie
Whoopies
Egrets
Owls
Shikra
Indian white eye
Hume's warbler
