Cranium Bolts: August 2017

Friday, August 18, 2017

Naturewalk at Hoskote lake

Last Sunday, on my photo walk at Hoskote lake, Bangalore, I came across a Baya Weaver bird with what looked like nesting material. I decided to search for its nest and capture the nest weaving action. Here's a picture tour of the photo walk where I found many other critters and plants...

Male Baya Weaver with nesting material...

My search for Baya Weaver's nest took me to a private farm. After seeking permission from the farmer, I ventured in...

I located a cluster of Baya Weaver bird nests but it was in an inaccessible area with thick foliage and beyond the range of my lens...

The farm was lush with fresh greens...

Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger butterfly...

I found another cluster of nests within my range but they looked abandoned. I realized after a while that the birds were not showing up due to my presence. They came back after I hid behind a bush at a distance...

The nest weaving is quite an awesome sight...

They are very acrobatic...

Sometimes they use green strands...

Slowly the nest takes shape...

They seemed to compete with each other...

The extra large nest, probably the creation of a master among them...

Dill leaves...

Loved the rain droplets on dill leaves...

Common Castor butterfly...

Cilantro...

Jewel Bug or Shield Backed Bug...

Dragonfly...

Eurasian Marsh Harrier...

Spinach...

Common Godzilla Ants...

An injured White-browed Bulbul. It was taking adequate rest to recoup...

Common Tiger butterfly...

Male Indian Robin...

Millet...

Yellow-billed Babbler...

The good farmer offered me a basket of ripe Cherimoya or Custard Apple...

I found this Coromandel marsh dart damselfly near the lake...

It was amusing to see it curling its tail...

A close-up of its head...

The Coromandel marsh dart is also known as Yellow Waxtail damselfly...

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Lalbagh Flower Show 2017

The August edition of the bi-annual flower show at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore will continue till the 15th of this month.

Here are some flora and fauna I saw on my visit...

Phalanta Phalantha butterfly...

Begonia Shimpli...

Black Eyed Susan...

Patterns on Cactus...

The highlight of the Flower Show was the floral replica of Kuvempu's House. Kuvempu was a noted Kannada Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Critic and Thinker...