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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Skywatch Friday - Birds From My Window

If it's Friday, it's time for Skywatch! Wondering what I was going to post today, going through my photos, I realised that when I looked out of my window, at the sky, more often than not, I saw birds! So, here are some birds that I see quite often. These are just common birds, but each of them is a joy to watch...

The Red Vented Bulbuls are the most frequent visitors, and I have loads and loads of photos I have clicked of them. This one happens to be my favourite, because of the odd expression he seems to have on!





The Red Whiskered Bulbul is also a regular visitor, but this one is a little more shy of my camera, since he flies off before I can focus!



And then there are the sunbirds - We dont get to see the Purple sunbird often, but the Purple Rumped Sunbirds are regulars.



Capturing them is a challenge, since they flit so quickly between flowers, and hide amidst the leaves.



But there are those rare times when they stay still on a branch long enough for me to click...



or I manage to capture one mid-flight...



Monsoons bring the Egrets in dozens....



and the White Throated Kingfishers....



The Water Hen is also a frequent Monsoon visitor...



And then we have the Tailor birds....



I first mistook them for the sunbirds.. they are just as small... and look quite similar to the females, but now, I see them often enough differentiate between the two.. but not often enough to get some really good photos..



The Coppersmith Barbet is a bird I hear more often than I see! Their distinctive call is heard from quite a distance, and I don't often figure out which tree they are on. No surprise then, that this is one bird I have photographed rarely... Just last week, I managed to see one sitting for quite a while on a branch, but it flew just as I clicked....


And then there are of course, the Parakeets, which I have written many posts about!!


With so many birds around, don't you think the sky seems a wonderful sight?

So, what do you think of my version of the Skywatch this week? To see photos of beautiful skies from around the world, go to the Skywatch Page..


Comments

  1. Great Captures, Anu.

    http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/2012/10/gokarna-ten-things-to-dosee.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love those sunbirds. I get to see only the purple sunbird here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I see those rarely, Mridula... these are abundant here..

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  3. And you get to see them all in the concrete jungle of Mumbai? Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Zephyr! we are lucky to live in an area which is sort of like an oasis in the concrete jungle and we get to see all these birds...and many more, actually.... just that i havent been able to capture those :D

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  4. Fabulous shots of that adorable face.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! What wonderful captures of those cute little birdies! Love the shots of bulbuls and the kingfisher. Awesome

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice clicks.. and I appreciate your patience .
    Many of those birds I never saw..
    Please can u tell from which camera you took photos .. Dr.A

    ReplyDelete

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