The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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..
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..
Great Captures, Anu.
ReplyDeletehttp://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/2012/10/gokarna-ten-things-to-dosee.html
Thanks Niranjan!
DeleteLove those sunbirds. I get to see only the purple sunbird here!
ReplyDeleteI see those rarely, Mridula... these are abundant here..
DeleteWonderful shots of the birds.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carver!
DeleteAnd you get to see them all in the concrete jungle of Mumbai? Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYes, 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
DeleteFabulous shots of that adorable face.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ladyfi!!
DeleteWow! What wonderful captures of those cute little birdies! Love the shots of bulbuls and the kingfisher. Awesome
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!!
DeleteNice clicks
ReplyDeleteThanks Jaleela!
DeleteNice clicks.. and I appreciate your patience .
ReplyDeleteMany of those birds I never saw..
Please can u tell from which camera you took photos .. Dr.A