While we were away

When we were not at home, these birds decided to make a nest in our garden. This is not the first time the Scaly Breasted Munia has nested here. 

I had seen earlier (about nine years ago) how feverishly they gather the green long blades to weave a nest which has an opening on the side. Usually the opening is facing the wind direction. By the time the eggs are laid the leaves dry up and the nest has a messy look from outside , probably acting as a camouflage. 

During the course of a week, I managed to capture a few shots of the parents and their young ones. 

Here you can see the young one having a look at the outside world 

Here you can see the three young ones, probably frolicking outside the nest when the parents are away. 

I am assuming these are the young ones as there is a prominent white moustache on all three, which is missing in the adult Munia.

The adults usually takes a halt outside and make sure the coast is clear before slipping into the nest.  Here you can see her perched on the tapioca stem 

The sound you hear in the video is the ambient sound.

Padmam

Every time when I go to Padmam aunty’s house, she is busy with one of her creations. Nowadays its mostly painting sarees. She says that most of these are sold even before she finishes painting them. 

So it is not surprising to see that her posture and concentration is the same in practically all the pictures but the saree and the designs keeps changing. 

Her admirers are from different quarters of the world and some of them have even made me promise to arrange an audience with her when they visit Pune.   

She loves the sambhar that wifey makes. So it is a mutual admiration society. 

Some of her work that was recently framed and which has found a place in the drawing room. 

These two pictures shows how steady her hand is and how she looks at the finer details while painting 

It is not only painting, she loves to dabble with any form of art, like this cross stitch which is in one of her grandson’s room 

I had written about her previous work eight years ago.

One of the things that she misses now a days is the yearly visit by the flock of Munia that used to visit her balcony. (you can read it here)  Blame it on climatic changes and the unpredictable monsoon. 

Whatever the changes, I never miss having the yearly Onam Sdhya with her. In fact I have observed her directing the family members how and where each item has to be placed on the banana leaf, the proper traditional way.

Update: A saree she painted in December 2017

Update: March 2018 - using the self design of the saree to paint in the colours.

A picture of her on her 97^th birthday which was in July 2017.  

Update : 23rd Nov 2018

Yesterday I saw her painting on a black saree.

These birds

The point of attraction in the above picture is surely not the rose. There are three of our avian friends over there (if you look closely there are four) but then if you look at the picture below you may have trouble counting them.

These are the Scaly breasted Finch (Munia)

Every year during monsoon they flock to this balcony for the bird feed that they get. In fact this housing complex has got about 110 flats, but these birds like to visit only this balcony (probably they know where the bird feed is available in plenty) 

Its amazing how nature works. This year the rains were late but the Munias were here (at the dot on the onset of the monsoon as per the calendar)

They are extremely shy. So they don’t come directly to the balcony. Their first stop is this tree close to the balcony 

Once they know that the coast is clear, they move on to the next stop – the balcony.   

Then they take turns hoping on to the floor where the bird feed is spread.   

The slightest sound or movement from inside the house makes them scamper back to the first base. (as can be seen in the video)

I remember a pair had made a nest at my place exactly four years ago on which I had written a blog.

Incidentally this is the balcony of the house where our 93 year old friend keeps herself busy by painting and knitting.  While I was there clicking the Munia, I saw her painting a bird on a fabric. 

The video  below is the result of clicking and shooting for three consecutive days by hiding, stalking, peeping and sometimes even using camouflage.

Enjoy . . . . . (if you are watching it on YouTube, keep the setting to 720pHD for clarity)