The beautiful dragon fly from Varca

When I first sighted this dragon fly, I thought it was a tiny butterfly or bird. After I shot a picture on my phone and it was only after I enlarged it that I realised it was a dragon fly

It was the first time I've seen a dragon fly flap its wings in such a wide arch. Or even move the wings way below the body when in a perched position. It was only after I was able to photograph one more closely (this time on my point and shoot) and with fully spread wings that I also noticed the unique angle of the front and rear wings. A third first is the coloured wings on a dragon fly! All of these first made this set of sightings special. Have you seen this before?

Dew-drenched blades of grass

Just dew on plain old grass. But it makes for such a breathtaking picture. makes early morning walks worth it!

Eye to Eye

Back at Pawna for the New Year and the daily morning walks there, that have lots of interesting happenings. Like this chamelon who was out to catch some sun. Hoping to get a closer shot, I placed my camera on the ledge where it was perched, barely fifteen centimetres away and got this shot. the chameleon first played it cool and then swiftly zipped back into the thicket

The blooming of a powder puff flower

We have all, in all probability seen this flower, popularly called the powder puff flower. As a kid, I've wondered how the bunch of stamens would look like in the bud form.
I recently got a chance to see this first hand and here is a look for you too.

If you notice in the right bottom of this picture you'll see a green bud, made of tiny green beads. Each of those grow and split open to reveal a single bunch of stamens, looking wonderful against the green of the beads.

This then opened up further to make more room for each of the stamens to bloom. At this stage each set of stamens is coiled into a form that loosely resembles a rose bud

In full bloom, there's room for each stamen to stand tall and here is when you see the powder puff in all its glory!

If you see minutely, each stamen too makes a pretty picture. More stamens, more chance for pollen and pollination. 

These wonderful flowers are in bloom from December till April every year. For the technically inclined, they are part of the Mimosaceae (Touch me not) family and the botanical name is Calliandra Haemacephala

Frisky stray, loved the camera.

Met this really handsome and frisky stray pup at Tungi. He was so inquisitive and interested in the camera that he actually managed to jump up and lick the lens!

The angle of the picture makes it very good for a screensaver for my mac, and that is where it has gone. Makes for a great start whenever I open my computer. If you're interested, drop me a line and I will send you the visual in the screensaver specs.

Magnificent chameleons of Tungi

I find chameleons as yucky and repulsive as the next person. But in the last couple of days I sighted quiet a few of these at Tungi while on a holiday, and even appreciated some of their unique survival kit that nature has built-in for them. Anyone recognise which specific variety this is?

Standing tall and surveying the morning activity. Notice the scales, the mane and the bellows that they can puff up to add to the menacing look, if they sense any danger. They can even change their colour for communicating with other chameleons or for camouflage

This one swung to the lower branches the moment he sensed movement around. Notice how they can change the palette of their skin tone to match the surroundings. With the sunlight and the clouds around, it would be easy to blend into the background

This is what I meant when I said they have the ability to blend into the background. We have the gap in the rock for contrast in  this image, with only rocks all around, easy to miss this one.

This one was in a tree, far from the ground and the branches above. Sensing me five feet away, resulted in this change of colour. It was followed by an inflation of the bellows below the chin, but I was not able to capture that image

Doing the dew: 2 - Early morning at Pavna

Another dew drenched bud catching the first rays of the sun at Pavna. Glorious, isn't it?

Doing the dew

I notice that dew settles differently on different plants and flowers. Here's a tiny bottlebrush, early this morning. Doing the dew.

Flowers, spiders and surprises

Early morning at Pavna, its a treat to see flowers catch the first rays of the sun. And the breakfast routine of the whole eco system. Birds are out looking for insects, bees are out looking for honey, spiders are out setting up webs for the day. 

Here are two spiders that I managed to surprise. You can see them clearly when I enlarge the picture. 

you can now start understanding how a bee feels...

around mid- morning, mid-day. a bright sun and consequently a fully bloomed flower. a mesmerising sight. even for me. when you are present in this moment, you can then start to understand how a bee feels...

siblings in sasan, gir

These are three siblings from five, that we sighted in Sasan Gir last winter. Notice how the colour of the dried grass blends with the coat of the cubs.

We were able to see them for just about a minute or two, then one after the other they got up and walked into the thicket. This picture was when they were two down and three to go. 

another beautiful fruit fly

I sighted this one on a walk in a small town called Stollen, in the Black Forest region of Germany. The early morning light and the clear air made for a very sharp and bright picture.

uphill climb

another early morning sighting at chongay tar, gangtok. another beetle (can anyone help with the name of the species) off on an uphill climb (a reminder of how we city folk have a tough time on uphill climbs in the mountains).

note the play in yellow and green across the visual in the grass, the flowers and the beetle. that's what attracted me to this frame.

beautiful flowers with a difference

Sighted these extremely beautiful flowers on the same walk. What was interesting is that, unlike almost all flowers, these are facing the earth (I've personally seen only one other) Any idea why? I'm sure there is some interesting reason.

another silhouette

i liked the way this one was naturally framed on three sides with the doorway, and the mud plaster wall making for a nice background

window study 2

the cottages in poovar had this lovely clay/mud plaster. very soothing to the eye.

obsessed

this insect seemed to be obsessed with this bud. for two days, and over half a dozen occassions it was there - and there i was, photographing it.

hanging out to dry

the water crow that you'll see everywhere in the backwaters. and this is a common form in which you will see them, perched with their wings held -like open arms, waiting to get dry

reflections in the pool

early morning. serene sky and the water in the pool was still. see the reflection of the palms in it. if you look carefully, you will see the pool tiles too.