Come Back!!!!

  Wow, blogging after five years!!That too at midnight.Strange.
What to do? Whenever i plan for a birding trip in the morning, i suffer from insomnia the previous night. Tonight is one.Hence this attempt to write something after odd hours when my near and dear are blissfully lost in sleep.

Life has changed much in these five years.Professionally, i became a government employee. A civil servant is what they call it. Psychologically a satisfactory job compared to the exploitative and overly stressful  private sector one. Personal side of mine has witnessed much progress. Both healthy and unhealthy. Refinement in thinking is the former and adding 14 kg body fat is the latter. I attribute these developments to Civil Services Exam preparation which resulted in  psychological gain and physical drain.

Made good friends during this time. Attempted Marriage. I was timely rescued. Had it taken place, i could've wedded myself to a medico without mind. A  disaster was prevented.

Travelled the length and breadth of the country. Still travelling. Thanks to Indian Railways. Fully paid second AC trips.Who would refuse but for a fool!! Have seen the beauty and ugliness  of the country. Both are in abundance.

Oh!! That's it for now.

Ciao.

Tomorrow never dies......

Procrastination : Simple mistakes cost us dearly. I always used to defer accomplishing even little things like paying bills and washing clothes. It is a deadly habit now. I procrastinate everything except answering to nature calls, which apply force if delayed. I do so unconsciously. I consider this bad habit as a demon. Worse than any other bad habit. To my surprise, even in the last minute i accomplish things. Of course, by paying heavy price. I only wish i get married in time.

WoW BBC Radio!!!!

It's a great feeling listening to BBC Radio. I never thought that BBC would be airing such wonderful programs covering almost every aspect of life. I started listening to music on Radio2. The first program i listened to is pick of the pops by Dale Winton. I only wish i have an FM Transistor that can tune into all the programs of BBC Radio.

The Thousandth Man

One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and nintey-nine depend
On what thw world sees in you,
But the thousandth man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for'ee.
Nine hundred and nintey-nine of 'em go
By your looks or your acts or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
The rest of the world don't matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and nintey-nine of'em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man he's worth'em all,
Be you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's is your wrong, and his right's your riight,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men's sight-
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and nintey-nine can't bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot-- and after!

~ Rudyard Kipling

Narsapur-Pocharam

Winter completely left the city of Hyderabad; so too the migrant birds. Wetlands were left dry and devoid of exciting birdlife. We, the bird folk decided to venture into the forests, the havens for plenty of birdlife. And we left for Narsapur on the evening of 7th March’09.

We reached Narsapur by 5 PM. The entire forest was dry as the trees, most of them teak, shed their leaves during the autumn season. The moment we reached the temple, the landmark for BSAP outings at Narsapur, no one wasted a second and got ready with the optics to sight, point and shoot birds. It was a perfect evening with birds on the trees everywhere. We decided to explore the temple side of the forest. There were Brahminy starlings (Sturnus pagodarum), Common Mynas (Acridotheres tristis), Red-Vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus cafer) and Indian Robins (Saxicoloides fulicata) around the temple. The first interesting sighting that caught our attention was the White-Throated Orange- Headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina). Two of them were foraging on the ground, normally what thrushes do. They moved into bushes apprehensive of our sudden appearance there. Umesh and Vijay were lucky to get some very decent pictures of the bird. As we crossed the dry stream bed disappointment was in store for us, as the habitat of the White-Browed Fantail Flycatcher (Rhipidura aureola) was completely destroyed and the bird was nowhere to be seen. This bird used to be a regular sighting for people who frequent that part of the forest for birding.

There were five local people seen carrying sand and mud for their domestic purposes. This has been going on everywhere in the forest across the stream. Habitat destruction was in full swing. The forest is losing its sheen at a rapid pace. We moved on disappointed over the authorities’ unconcern for the reserve forest.

An Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis), aggressively on the lookout for a mate was calling out continuously from the treetops. The bird has a mellifluous breeding call. A Crested Tree Swift (Hemiprocne coronata) flew past above us .Only Umesh could see its swift fly-past. Small Minivets (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) were hopping from tree to tree in pairs displaying their vibrant colours. No trip to Narsapur forest is complete without sighting Small Minivet. Sometimes they are seen in flocks upto 30 in number. It’s a delight to watch a male Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) flying past with its silk-ribbon like tail fluttering in the air. We had a near such experience when Umesh showed us a Rufous-colored male Paradise Flycatcher. If the bird was the white male our experience could have been a complete delight. Umesh tried to photograph the bird. This particular species has a tendency of giving him the slip every time he is on the lookout for them. Fortunately he sighted it and unfortunately the bird played hide-and- seek, leaving him without a cover photograph and sweating all over his face.

With sunlight receding from the sky we went birding to the Lake. On the way to the bund when everyone in the car was at peace, Vijay yelled out asking Humayun to stop. He had spotted a Rock-bush Quail (Perdicula argoondah) that hurried into the nearby bushes. We waited and searched for a while but the bird remained unseen. So we advanced to the bund, well contented with Vijay’s split second sighting. True to the season and time, migrants were few on the Lake. There were a few Spot-Billed Ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha). A Night Heron (Nycticorax nicticorax) flew over the lake and faded into the distance. The pleasant evening air was soothing and was inducing me to sleep in the serene surroundings. Then suddenly like a bolt from the blue the beast called! It was the same sound I used to hear as a child for many nights in summer when sleeping under a giant peepal tree in front of my house. The beast in the story was the Mottled Wood Owl (Strix ocellata). Believe me; if one is alone at night and hears this bird calling out, he/she would surely believe in the existence of beasts. It is not an exaggeration. If anyone wants to contradict my words, listen to the bird’s alarm call at night in the forest. Weak hearted people are advised not to take up any such adventure. Marking the trees from where the call was heard, we left for Narsapur town. We found a decent lodge to stay the night. Having had a sumptuous dinner, we went for a night walk in the forest. The jungle looked brilliant in the bright moonlight and was a fascinating sight. A Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) called repeatedly. It was positively replied to by another bird of the same species calling out from different direction. A Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) also made its presence felt by calling out.

Day two saw us driving towards Pocharam wildlife sanctuary. A Peacock (Pavo cristatus) perched on the lower branches of a tree lured us to stop for a glimpse. Then we witnessed the mind boggling, never-before-seen action of 40-50 Indian Grey Hornbills (Ocyceros birostris) perched on the trees feeding on fruits. It was a morning hungama. Then our four-wheeler advanced to pocharam with some remarkable sightings of Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) on the way.

We reached Pocharam by 8 am. Umesh and Vijay pictured a pair of Rose Ringed Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) expressing their love for each other. No moral policing in birds! We spotted a Common Iora (Aegithina tiphina) feeding on insects on a dry and dead tree. It is surprising to see a Common Iora in such a habitat with a complete absence of greenery. The bird usually keeps to the tree tops and is generally seen hopping from tree to tree. We then moved on to the flat rocky surface adjoining the lake. The lake was vast and full of water even in March with summer already set in.

A Rufous Tailed Finch Lark (Ammomanes phoenicurus) was seen with some nesting material in its beak. It’s call was a sweet cling-cling . Humayun adjusted his scope and the first sighting was Garganey’s (Anas querquedula) in different flocks of varied numbers feeding on the fringes of the lake. Two Black Tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) were identified through the scope. We were thrilled to watch a Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) flying over us, as this species is not a common sighting. One memorable sighting for the trip was the Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus). A flock was seen on the lake-bed and photographed for records. We then had instantly-made sandwiches for breakfast.

The next stop was at the old abandoned Bungalow near the dam. The place was a perfect setting with the scenic environs of the lake in front. There were big boulders where one could sit on under the trees doing birding with pleasure. A Black-Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) gave us a good start. The bird should have left for its summer vacation by this time, considering its early arrival in September. When you sit on rocks you expect to see Rock Thrush - and we did. A Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), on its morning foraging. The bird’s name is a perfect resemblance of its habitat. I always see it on rocks.

In this trip Vijay got some rare sightings to his credit. Umesh got whatever he was expecting to see. He was thinking of a Black-Bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) and one appeared from nowhere. A Wire Tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) was seen feeding its chicks. With the day getting hot we decided to push off to Narsapur. Enroute Vijay identified a juvenile White-Eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa) soaring in the air. After a nap at the lodge we moved on to the bund at Narsapur lake for the last leg of the birding trip and to see if we could spot the Mottled Wood Owl (Strix ocellata).

We circled the trees from where the call was heard yesterday. But there was no clue of the bird in the vicinity or on any of the other three trees. With Bee Hives all around we decided to have an early and safe exit from the place. With twilight setting in we got into the car and sighted a flock of Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) before taking the road to Hyderabad. The trip ensured enough fun and pleasure for everyone. Humayun got to do something he wanted to for a long time (spend a night in Narsapur). Umesh and Vijay had loads of photographs to process & Post. As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip in their company. We need to do this more often.

China's Engineering Marvel

China completed the world's first road tunnel under Yangtze river and opened it to the public on Dec 28.It is truly an engineering marvel.It speaks a lot of the communist party's commitment, dedication and vision.They deserve praise for this stupendous achievement.

The government built the tunnel to reduce the traffic congestion between Wuchang district and the district of Hankou.The tunnel is expected to cut travel time between the two places from half-an-hour to a few minutes.

Why am i reporting this on my blog as an open mouthed wonder ?I've reasons.

India has to take a leaf from china's notebook.There are so many places in India that doesn't have proper roads.There are villages marooned every time there is a cyclone.Forget about tunnels under river.We don't even have bridges on the rivers.In certain places we still see people taking small fishing boats to cross the rivers.It's saddening.

I'm not here to criticize the government for the apathy.But the same government is accountable for its deeds.We voted it to power. We have the responsibility to question it.We have to demand.As a country we are in dire need of basic amenities.Every politician and bureaucrat talks about vision 2020.This is like aiming at building a 20 storeyed tower without the ground floor.We need to build the infrastructure that supports basic livelihood. Then we can dream of super power...economic powerhouse.....vision 2020...2050.China sets an example with its continuous stride towards development.My dear country has to emulate it.

Why Blog????

There are so many thoughts and incidents that influenced me to start this blog.I don't want to put down all those here.There are high chances of this post becoming a dumping yard of my brain's output.Hence a few of them.

To start with, i like writing. And i like others reading what i write.Expressing thoughts,opinions,beliefs and ideas(very rare) makes me feel happy.It also brings down some weight from my head.A blog allows me to share moments of happiness,joy and sorrow with fellow bloggers.Happiness when shared becomes manifold.Sorrow when shared becomes less painful. I've observed many conversations,debates,arguments ending up as altercations.Some times i'm the victim.Most of the times, my friends.The root cause is we seldom think in arguments.But when we write, we think.I prefer writing to speaking.

Thus the decision to start this blog.