Swaraj Dweep

It looked like the Dollarbird was posing for me with the tilt of his head.

Went bird watching at Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island of Andaman Nicobar) and was lucky to have spotted quite a few  birds.

The Dollar bird is a first for me and is found in Australia to Korea, Japan and in the Andaman Nicobar islands.

The other first for me was the White bellied sea eagle.

In the video you can see how majestically he flies over the beach.

While clicking some pictures of the sunset, I sensed some activity behind me and saw some red breasted parakeets busy chatting away before sunset.

The common Kingfisher and the White throated Kingfisher took turns to share the same pole to perch itself for fishing.

Found these Eurasian Moorhen at the same waterbody where the Kingfisher was.

A pair of Black naped Oriole were right on top of the tree and they looked good against the rising sun.

Greater Racket tailed Drongo, is capable of mimicking other bird calls.

The Andaman Coucal is slightly different from what we see in mainland India.

There were many more birds that we spotted but I could not photograph.There was an opening in the forest and I liked the way the sunlight was falling on these tall Padauk trees.

This picture will give you an idea of how tall and huge this tree is

This tree stump must have witnessed many activities over here especially during WW-II when the Japanese used this as a surveillance point.

After sunset, it is worth venturing out to have a peep at the nocturnal birds and insects (with proper guidance) Mr Prathamesh is a good guide who can show you around. Here you see the Signature spider. The spider gets its name by the individual signature you see on the web.

The highlight of the stay was the coral walk. I got to learn many things about marine life, especially around the corals.

By the way if you stay at "Barefoot" you get to experience many things including  the coral walk.

The sunset as seen from Barefoot.

The night stalker

This happened about 3 years ago.
One night (or rather early in the morning around 4.30 am) I heard some movement at our bed room window. First I thought that it must be some pigeon trying to settle down on the window ledge. But the commotion did not die down and I had to get up and put on the light. Imagine my surprise when I drew the curtain aside. There was fully grown Barn Owl staring at me, or rather we both were staring at each other sizing up the situation. Or so I thought.
It flew inside and landed on where ever it could find a perch. My wife scrambled up and ran out of the bedroom. Now it was only me and the owl in the bedroom. I kept the windows open and tried to shoo it away. But that did not work. Then it dawned upon me “why not some photographs before I send him out” So I opened the cupboard slowly and took out the camera and clicked some frames without the flash. (in case our little friend did not like the celebrity status)

Meanwhile he kept hoping from one thing to another (was it posing in different angles?) And finally he settled on my music speaker (the tweeter) which I had kept temporarily on my World Space box. Now this was not acceptable to me. I could imagine the harm those claws could do to my speakers. So I quickly took some more shots (this time with the flash) When I went a little close he spread his wings (maybe that’s the best it could do as a threatening stance) I said good, and took a picture of that too.



Then I continued the task of shooing it away. Slowly I realized that the poor thing could not see well with the bedroom light on. I found that he was going and banging himself straight into the wall. I inferred that the white wall must be appearing as some blank space for him to escape. (the things you learn in the middle of the night) The poor thing was going to hurt itself. How to prevent him from banging against the wall ? I took the bed sheet and threw it over him (remember the Gladiators in Spartacus ?) I was surprised that he did not struggle when I bundled him up and picked him.
Meanwhile the bedroom door opens a crack and my wife pops her head inside “is it gone? Eeeks you are holding it in your hand?”

I carried him out on to our terrace and set him free. Now he was on familiar terrain as it was dark out side. He sat on the ledge of the terrace, turned back, gave me one last look and flew away. That last look could be deciphered in many ways, but for me I think he was saying “thank you”
Now coming back to grandma tales, I don’t believe in them but this one came visiting one day before we were shifting house. That may be a coincidence, but here comes the funny part. Two years prior to this incident, when we shifted house there was a visitor who was silently sitting on the window grill. (see picture below)


Was it the same guy coming back after 2 years to wish us good luck ?