I mean BIRDS – bird visitors.
NOIDA is blessed by a myriad of kinds of feathered friends. Last summer, some of us birdwatchers gathered on my rooftop to do a bird count, and this is how it went on that single morning:
Time: 5:30 am.
Physical Support: Tea and biscuits!
Equipment: a pair of Nikon binoculars, three cameras, a tripod and our very own trusty eyes.
First Visitors: Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and three more of the same feathers for company. Second Visitors: a few Cock Sparrows and a few hens. Third Visitors: A flock of Red-vented Bulbuls. Fourth Visitors: The usual flights of Blue Rock Pigeons. Fifth Visitors: ‘Seven Sisters’ the Jungle Babblers. And then there were Brown-headed Barbets, a Coppersmith, four Doves, a screechy lot of Alexandrine Parakeets in random flight, a Purple Sunbird and mate, Brown Rock-chats and finally, to top the list, Tailorbirds to remind us of Rudyard Kipling's Darzee.
Wow! So many feathers fluttering in frenzy around my own dwelling in the cool early hours of a summer morning!
Well, NOIDA boasts of its own Okhla Bird Park where I often spot Mr Anand Arya an avid birder on his regular birding walks. Commander K. B. Singh also a keen enthusiast haunts the Yamuna wetlands regularly.
A few years ago, the Delhi government in desperation to save the House Sparrow, declared this mighty miniature as its State Bird. I have happened to attract six pairs last year and they enjoy the bajra seeds I put out for them. They are now permanent visitors at my place. Watering my garden every morning I find delighted little Sunbirds hovering around to catch the droplets from the giant leaves of the creeper which has caught the spray from the garden hose.
Mind you, the list already mentioned is only of the birds we spotted on that single morning. On other days Hoopoes, Shikras, Egrets, Pariah Kites, House Crows, Rock-chats, Koels and many more species drop by.
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| She nested above my fan in the balcony -- stayed all summer...and didn't allow me to use the ceiling fan ! |
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| Yellow-footed Green Pigeon caught in flight. |
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| She was planning something in the Ashoka tree. |
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| The Red-vented Bulbul shared this perch with other birds. |
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| She almost ate out of my hand. |
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| He owns the place! |
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| Purple Sunbird shares a common perch. |
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| ...takes off after his territorial song... |
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| Lovey, Dovey Laughing Doves -- Permanent Residents. |
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| Noisy Jungle Babblers. |
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| A gathering of crows. |
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| Crow guarding its nest, just across the road. |
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| Brown-headed Barbet |
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| Another Barbet. |
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| The Coppersmith Barbet makes his announcements. |
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| Asian Koel-in-waiting. |
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| Precariously perched Brown Rock-chat. |
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| Another Brown Rock-chat |
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| "Polly put the kettle on, we'll all have tea..." |
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| Shikra with prey. |
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| My Gulmohar in full bloom. |
