Sultanpur Birding- December 2009

Sultanpur National Park

Spent a morning with old friends at Sultanpur. Excellent Birding. The Painted Storks were feeding their chicks on the tree tops in the middle of the lake. The moustached warbler, the Blue throat and the Large Grey Babblers were also present in  large quantites. In the Basai Treatment Pond were over a thousand Bar headed geese having flown from Tibet and China right over Mount Everest.

Bird List:

Shrikes (2 types),

Long Tailed Shrike

Coucals, Hornbills, Parakeets(2 types), Owls(2 types), Sparrow Hawks,Black Ibis,  Drongos(2 types), Cormorants(3 types), Herons(4 types), Moorhens(2 types), Lapwings(2 types), Grebes(2 types), Waterhens, Egrets (3 types), Sandpipers(3 types), Redstarts, Stonechats, Pigeons(2 types), Doves (3 types), Mynahs(4 types), Ducks (5 types),

Black Ibis at Sultanpur

Redwinged Stilts, Kites (2 types), Peacocks, Partridges (Francolins), Quail, Robins, Treepies, Magpie Robins, Bushchat, Brown Rockchat, Bulbul(3 types), Hoopoe, Woodpecker(2 types), Spoonbills, Munias, Sparrows, Wagtails(3 types), Larks (2 types), Common Kestrel, etc etc etc

A lot of these photographs are available at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049590&id=1209762187

Even though the sighting was great there were two mystery birds that I could not identify. Perhaps someone can help…

Plain Prinia.... OR Moustached Warbler

Mystery Bird

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Mastering the Rubik’s Cube

Scrambled Cube

The Rubik’s Cube had always fascinated me ever since I first saw it in college (early eighties). With some effort I could solve one face of the cube, the remainder being shrouded in mystery.The situation continued for many years. I would see, from time to time, “prodigies” solve the Rubik’s cube with relative ease.

Solved Cube

This time I decided to get over this “inferiority complex” completely. Took the bull by the horns. I gifted myself a pair of Rubik’s Cubes from Funskool (the best quality available in Indian toyshops for Rs 249/= each). A good three hours spent on a wet November evening had me solving the Rubik’s cube in around ten minutes. It was all about rotations. Clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Improving the time took practice. I took the Rubik’s cube with me to work on a few days. The time reduced to under four minutes for a complete solve. But I was not satisfied. On the internet I found that if one was to take the Rubik’s cube apart and lubricate it, then the time would decrease considerably. So I started dismantling the cube and reassembling it again and again. In two days even this had been mastered. The silicone spray shall be obtained in the coming week. Let us hope the time improves further.. I might be able to do it in under one minute….

just look up !!!

Just look up!

THE BUZZARD (a bird/raptor)

 

Common in India

 

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet 20 by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Like a jumbo on a runway, it looks majestic. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

 

Buzzard in flight

 

Buzzard at rest

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The Bat:

BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.   If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

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THE BUMBLEBEE:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.

Bumblebee

It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.  It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

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PEOPLE:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!  That’s the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem!

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Just look up!

Leaf Butterfly

Let me introduce the Indian Leaf Butterfly to you. This amazing creature looks just like a dry leaf. It often nestles amongst the dry leaves in autumn or perches on a drying twig. Master of Camouflage…eh..

Dead leaf butterfly

Can you spot the Butterfly??

Almost like a real leaf

An excellent painting

Notice the Blue on the innerwings

This amazing butterfly looks just like a dead leaf from outside. From inside, if one is lucky enough to spot it, it is a beautiful shade of blue with a yellowish orange band.

I intend to look for this butterfly in Dudhwa and Corbett this winter. Wish me luck folks. Meanwhile enjoy this amazingly vivid photo I found on the net.

The Oleander Hawk Moth

My Facebook friend Vikram Nanjappa posted this  lovely photo on Facebook.

Oleander Hawk Moth

The Oleander Hawk Moth is scientifically known as Daphnis Nerii. It  is common all over India. It is a lovely moth and is a delight to photograph. Some other photos are

oleander

The moth is  large enough and  looks good sitting on ones finger or palm.

The Oleander gliding past reminds one of those little WW-II flying machines.

mini-plane???

On the grass in the lawn, soon after it has stopped raining.

notice the pattern

Somehow, the Oleander Hawk Moth reminds me (and a lot of other people) of the Atlas Moth. Maybe there is some  family connection.

Fighting Fibrosis- all guns firing

I AM DETERMINED TO FIGHT THIS DISEASE. It plays havoc with my mind and body through the side effects of the steroids the doctors keep pumping into me. My blood sugar goes through crazy variations, it is 545 one day and drops to 55 a week later. Blood Pressure also varies erratically leading to bouts of temper which I am powerless to control. I am losing hair rapidly. My Kidney, Liver, Platelet, Hb etc are tested every month. Every alternate month I have to go through a gruelling Pulmonary Function Test which leaves me exhausted. But all thanks to Dr Jaiswal of LRS TB Hospital, Mehrauli, Delhi who has patiently monitored my disease and is moderating the treatment on a monthly basis.

Ramdev Ashram in Hardwar and Vaidya Rajendra ji have helped me in starting on a regimen of morning walks and Pranayam. An office colleague, Mittal Saab and Sharad (close as a son/younger brother) organised the Ram Dev scene. This Pranayam thing is good. I can feel power in my lungs. Rajesh from Jaipur has been asking me to try “Art of Living- Sudarshan Kriya” for a long time now. I have decided to complete this course in August.

Good friends Seema and Shaila have organised the Buddhist Chanting / Praanic Healing for my benefit.

Anurag Sharma and Poonam Sharma organised the Datia Trip where top class astrologers have provided the Tantric remedies.They also organised the meeting with the Vaidyaji in Jhansi who recommended the Shwas tablets.

Pathak ji, my friend in Varanasi organised the trip to that city. Maha Mrityunjaya in Varanasi, Abhishek at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and visits/archana to other temples were all handled by him.My sister organised the Maha Mrityunjaya in Indore. The local priests are helping with the Hanuman Pooja on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Yogic exercises are being done every morning. Balloon inflation every day gives a visual indicator of the lung capacity. Spirometer test is also on at least twice a week. A 4-6 km walk routine daily helps conserve the stamina.

Roy Fallon in UK has a similar problem. He shall be here in October. His mails also cheer me up considerably. 

But most importantly, it is my wife who deserves the thanks. Not only does she take care of the complex medication/tests/pranayam routine but also has to bear the tantrums, temper, other associated negative effects that I continue to inflict on her. I am sure that in her position I would not have been able to endure even ten percent of this. And hence, periodic outings,movies, icecreams & chocolates etc.are small attempts to compensate.

My collection of INSECTS- Part I

I just love my insects. Gazing at my collection gives me the same kind of soothing relief that some people derive from live fish in an aquarium. Today permit me to introduce them to you.

1. Tarantula– The giant Tarantula spider is the pride of my collection. This species is also known as the Asian Bird Eating Spider. It is one of the “evil” tarantula varieties considered venomous.

Tarantula Spider

Tarantula

2. Beechhoo– Grand Scorpion

This variety of black scorpion is found in South/SouthEast Asia.

Grand Scorpion

Beechhoo

3.  The five horned rhinoceros beetle is scientifically known as Eupatorus Gracilicornis.

Eupatorus Gracilicornis

rhino beetle

rhino beetle

Eupatorus Gracilicornis

rhino beetle

4. Jewel Beetles : These lovely green beauties have an iridescent lustre and add glitter to any collection.

metallic green

jewel beetle

Green Jewel Beetle

NOIDA riverbank

5. Stag Beetle

I have a lovely pair of the most awesome stag beetles.These battle ready fighting machines are capable of scaring away any feeble hearted predator/ threat/ nuisance.

Stag Beetle

Stag Beetle

Stag Beetle

Stag Beetle

Bharatpur with DickySingh

White Ibis

Grey Heron

Pond Heron (Paddy Bird) & White Ibis

Darter-The Snake Bird

Sarus Crane

Pelicans

Lesser Spotted Eagles

Last Wednesday & Thursday were devoted to glorious birding in Bharatpur. We  left Gurgaon at 5.45 a.m. , took a 45 min break at Mathura Mcdonalds, took two 10 min Birding breaks and finally reached Bharatpur by 10 a m. On the way there were some good sightings of storks, herons, cranes, egrets, ducks, grebes and a host of other birds.

Grey Heron

Success at Last…

For many months now, I have been trying to figure out the natal chart (planetary position at birth) of a person on the basis of his facial features or palm readings. Basically one should be able to clearly locate these effects on the person himself. There should be no need of any Pothi/Patra/ Panchang or any computer program to in order to cast the Horoscope.  During my visits to numerous Temples, Astrology Centres, Mutths, Taantrik Sadhna Kendras etc, I met some persons who had mastered these techniques. With their blessings and directions, I hope to be able to do the same.

 

Already, a beginning has been made. I am able to clearly figure out, the astrologically significant aspects from a persons face or palm. For example, for individual A, I might be able to get the astronomical position of the Surya(Sun),  Shani (saturn), Rahu (N1 Node of the moon), Ketu (N2 Node of the moon), Guru (jupiter) at the time of his birth by study of physical features in a space of a few minutes. Given more time, the position of Mangal(mars) and Chandrama(Moon) can also be ascertained.

 

Also, in case the Ascendant is established (either through face reading or through birth data, the current planetary position w r t that individual can always be established with cent percent accuracy.

Chamatkaar!!!!  No, it is just Mathematics coupled with Bhakti/ Siddhi or whatever you may call it.