Category: Nature

World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated twice a year to admire the avians who travel miles over seasons, spreading happiness and giving us spectacular sightings all year-round! The day also intends to spread awareness on Bird Migration and call for conservation of habitats of the migrants.

Here’s a poem composed to glimpse into some of the Migratory birds and their seasons from the Central India perspective. Hope you enjoy the migration journey!

When the weather turns orange and purple🧡,
‘Spring’s here’, herald the Rosy Starlings,
Summer arrives with the Pitta’s two-note signal🎵,
And the Paradise Flycatcher’s ribonning🎗!

The Plum headed flock flits all through the heat,
And the Coppersmith ‘tuk-tuk’s in zeal,
Who heralds the monsoon right in summer?
He’s the over-vocal Brainfever indeed!

As monsoon advances and the sky’s gloomy,
The Cuckoos craft a long musical tale,🎵🎶🎼
They come with a whistle and announce the rains,
And so does the Francolin and Rain Quail!

Weavers gear up to build their homes,
And Silverbills-Munias fly about in glee,
As the Cuckoos retract their conspicuous song,
There’s the mellifluous song of the Oriole up tree!

The air turns cooler and the acrobat arrives,
The Bee eater showing off his dives,
Then there’s the Redstart vibrating his little tail,
And with a cute little song, the Flycatchers arrive!

Winter’s here to stay and it brings much fun,
With the Wagtails wagging on the riverside🏞,
The Bluethroat skulks in the green marshland,
And the Bunting strolls by the hillside🏔,

The Minivets come and stay all season,
So does the audacious cackling Treepie,
The Ultramarine and Verditer display their blues💙,
The Taiga Flycatcher jumps bushes low and high,

The Siberian Stonechat adorns the grasslands,
And comes the Bushchat with chatty vibes,
The Olivaceous Warbler makes a pretty camouflage,
And a plethora of Warblers bring bushes to life🌾🌿!

The Pochards and Geese float about the waters,
And the Ducks dive down for a dip💧,
In the chilly waters of the serene lakes,
Plovers wade around and take a sip!

Winter passes and leaves in style,
When it blossoms into flamboyant spring🌸🌼🌻🌺,
Thats when the Sunbirds jewel the bloom,
And back are the flappy bunch of Starlings!

‘Tis the great story of seasons,
And of spectacular avian migration,
Who with each passing summer and fall,
Inspirit their path and destination,

It’s the day to admire and celebrate,
The journeys of the feathered wonders!
For they give us the gift of optimism,
Of pleasure, dedication and splendor!

The year-round journey with birds is just mesmerizing. Today, let’s cherish the winged wonders and vow to strive for conserving their habitats!

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

(I’ve added a gallery with clicks of some of the migrants. Do have a look!)

Nature has countless shades, and we experience a new one each day…

It’s really enchanting to wake up to a different mood of nature each morning…

This is a small attempt to sketch some of nature’s moods… 😊

 

To admire the tints of pink and blue,

As the sun climbs up the steep sky,⛅🌞

And to watch the eager birds fly off,

With the snow-white clouds nearby…

 

To behold the lilies🌸🌸 as they bloom,

And the weaving of the weaver’s nest,

To squint at the tiny snail in her shell,

These little pleasures of life are best!!

 

To cherish the blue of the sky & and the brook,

The red of cherries,roses🌹🌹 and apples,

The white of cotton, bunnies and milk,

And the sweetness of the syrup of maple..

 

To hear the wind as it rushes and howls,🌬🌬🌀

Over hills, huts and trees,⛺

As it sometimes soothes & sometimes stings,🌫

These moments don’t cease to please..

 

To witness the planet’s pretty seasons,🌍🌏

The ‘Flame of the Forest’ in bloom,

And the lean of the daisy to the Sun,🌼🌼

An emblem of Spring after gloom,🌻🌻🌳

 

And the eyestriking shapes of snowflakes,❄

That carpet the winters in white,

And the orange hues of the autumn shed,🍂🍂

They compose a picturesque sight…

 

To look up at the twinkly brilliant stars,

And the smiling moon on his beach-throne,

Amongst the shells, palms🏝 and the sand,

Each in it’s perfect splendour-zone…

 

And to wake up to the sweet call of the Mozart,🎶🎶

The Magpie-Robin in morning glee,

And to eye the pearl-like dew on leaves,💧

It’s mesmerizing, do you agree?

 

And the birds who come &  go great miles,🕊🕊

With accurate routes on mind,

To perceive the challenges of the tiny wonders,

With dreams and struggles undefined…

 

Up in the hills, where the whole world freezes,🏔🗻

Hot springs spray an optimistic ray,🌄

And a sudden rivulet comes tripping over pebbles,

The grandeur of nature they display…

 

To look up at the seven colored bow🌈

Amidst dark clouds and rain showers,

It’s a near miracle, so rare and blissful,

Like the enduring bloom of Wallflowers,

 

The auroras of the north & the snow in the south,

The leaves🍃 that rustle & the flowers that sway,🥀

The tides on the coast, the hills and the plains,

Adorn the magnificence of each day..

 

Many a small & many a massive,

They spread joy, pleasure, awe and fright,

With their versatile patterns and outlines,🌾🌿

Nature delivers pure delight,

 

There are many to gape at, many to glimpse,

And many to treasure in mind’s nest,

With our eyes wide open let’s cherish the beauty,🍀

Of the wonders of nature at their best!!!

 

 

Once one gets into birding , there can’t be a better joy than a Himalayan Trip..

The youngest mountain range in the world is full of variety in almost everything, and avian fauna probably tops the list!!

I had my first Himalayan tour in 2014, though I was still developing the ‘Birder Spirit’ then… This trip did give me a few chances to make more bird friends, but the best part of it was the eternal happiness of being one with nature..

The misty mountains bring nothing beyond sheer pleasure… The mornings full of chirping of the birds, and the glow of the hillside in the midday sun, the peaceful afternoons and the breath-taking views of the sunset… The calm flow of rivers and the leaping brooks, the howl of the ferocious wind, the beautiful rain that hazes out all that’s before you and surprises you with an intermittent hailstorm; the crystal clear waters of the ‘taals'(lakes are called taals in Hindi) and the snow white clouds that seem to bridge the gap between the hills and the skies; its all so enthralling!!! Its an experience that leaves me spellbound each time I think of it!!

Nature is all around us, but I could realize her glory the best while in the Himalayas…

It was my next wish to once again drive up those blue mountains and learn much more from nature, and of course, to go birding!!

I had been to Pangot in 2017 and my stay in Pangot was the best time ever spent within the foliage… The 4 day stay was amazing!!

Want to know whom I met during the stay and what all nature had to showcase? Read on…

A HIMALAYAN DAY….

As the sun rises through the blue hills,⛰🗻

‘Good morning!’ , squeaks the Magpie,

With their elegant tails blueing in the wind,

The joyous cluster flies to the sky..

 

The Blue Whistling Thrush comes hopping next,

He brings his melody whistle too,

And freshens the morning with his own song,

With each note to say something new..🎵🎶

 

As the hills turn golden part by part,

The laughingthrushes come jumping in delight,

The ‘Streaked’ with a whisper, ‘Chestnut Crowned’ with a scrumble,

And the White Throated ones make a noisy sight…

 

The sun and clouds now play hide and seek,⛅

The game goes on quite long,

The Blue Capped Rock Thrush seated on a high twig,

Sings a sweet hazy roadside song..

 

The Grey Winged Blackbird, though he looks so black,

Yet so very well dressed so,

He gives a truly mesmerizing call,

Like a tune in Mozart’s Maestro..🎼🎹

 

Perched on a high rock in golden light,

The Upland Pipit whistles ‘tit-tit-tit!!’ ,

The Long Tailed Minivet on the tree top,

Accompanies him in his dives and flits,

 

Deep in the foliage and tiny in size,

Making a group of fun loving pals,

The little ‘Tit’ friends quarrel and chuckle,

The ‘Green- Backed’ , ‘Black-Throated’ and birdies all!!

 

The Sun’s now seated in his high throne,🌄

Showering his rays far and wide,

But in the shade, by the splashing river,

The waggy Forktails play seek and hide,

 

In the joyful cool afternoon breeze,🍃

Many jolly songsters come to sing,

The Rufous Sibia, Maroon Oriole,

And Blue Throated Barbet with ‘clownish’ wings,

 

With the swiftness of the playful wind,

Scurries the Treecreeper up the tree,

Within the bushes and near the jheel,

The Red Billed Leothrix bounces in glee…

 

The ‘Helmeted’ Broadbill dives down for dip,

With his blue ‘long’ tail in the air,

The Blue Winged Minla joins him too,

Giving a friendly little stare!!

 

As dawn comes near and the Sun climbs down,

The mountains look a true heaven,

The Verditer squeaks, the Ultramarine flits,

And Turtle Doves hum in gangs of seven,

 

The Grey Bushchat couple chats for a while,

While the Scimitar Babbler has a drink,

Beside the river the Niltava rests,

And the Jays lower their chatter as the sun sinks…

 

Then quiet as a creepy doormouse come,

The Kaleej Pheasant and Black Francolin,

They take their sunset site survey,

And vanish into the bushes for the evening…

 

And finally the Sun hides into the valley,

Ending a grand Himalayan day,

The cicadas and crickets keep the night alive,⛺

Awaiting the dusk of a new ray…

 

Nestled within the mighty blue hills,

Being close to Mother Nature’s a pleasure,🏕

With the warmth of a home and the softness of a feather,

She spreads a message for the living to treasure…

 

(I hope I could describe all those beauties fairly, because all of them are too wonderful for words!!

I would specifically mention the Grey Winged Blackbird for his enchanting call.. It seems as if you are in wonderland when his music echoes the forests!! A true wonder of nature!!)

I am adding a gallery of some of my clicks of the Himalayan Beauties to complement the poem!