Nature Notes/Chandubi Lake

Last week we took the long (but not winding) road to Chandubi lake. The meaning of the word 'Chandubi" is- where the sun sets.The lake was formed by a devastating earthquake in 1897. The lake is spread over se I had always wanted to visit the area having heard much about the beauty of its surroundings. It's about 65 kms away from Guwahati. The weather was pleasant as it's getting warmer now and the trip was worth it. After crossing small towns, we drove through a beautiful tea garden. What made it more beautiful was the winter haze and the pale blue hills in the backdrop.

The tea garden as seen from a speeding car

A large flock of birds descend to feed on the grass seeds.

A pair of Purple Swamphen

Swamphens have a dazzling plumage. They are known to be excellent swimmers and are commonly seen on the edges of water bodies.

A Common Stonechat

Besides these birds, I saw several egrets, cormorants, the white-breasted water hens, and a blue jay.

The delicate bloom of a Bush Morning Glory

 Bush morning glories are shrubs that grow to 1.5m in height. They are mostly seen on the edge of rice fields and wetlands. Like other blooms from the same family, the flowers close by mid-day.

By the time the boat returned to the bank, the sun was warmer and I caught the gold reflected on the calm waters. As we headed back home I was glad we visited the place but sad that visitors to the spot do not care about wildlife at all. Loud music played by picnickers are driving away most birds. The litter that's left by revellers is another sad tale. The Bombay Natural History Society and the International Bird Conservation Network had declared this site as an Important Birds Area some time ago.

To see more posts on nature, visit Michelle's Rambling Woods.

Tortoise Beetles

Golden Tortoise Beetle on a sad-looking leaf

 The other day I saw this beautiful insect on a chilli leaf. I've only seen the Golden Tortoise beetle twice in as many years. So you can imagine my excitement at the sight of this beautiful creature again. Please click on the pictures!


Tortoise beetles have bodies that are somewhat shell-like in appearance. Body margins extend in a roof-like manner over much of the head and legs. Most species are 5-8mm long.

Leaf damage on the Bush Morning Glory

 I had noticed this leaf a few days earlier and had seen some spiny instars of what I presumed to be of the Tussock moth. All that googling did not help as I didn't come across a match.

Strange-looking pupa

 But after I saw the newly-emerged beetle, it was easy to find more details. When the larvae shed their skin, it remains attached to a prong-like process at the end of the abdomen. Moults are stacked on moults and are carried around held over the insect's back like a parasol. When disturbed, the larva waves the attachment...good enough to detract its predators!

More of them, and a newly emerged beetle

Motionless on the underside of the leaf

Here's another. Tiny and with a different coloration.

Here's another!

This one has become active...flying from leaf to leaf!

Host plants are the sweet potato and closely related plants such as the morning glory and bindweed. 

It pooped!

Leave me alone!!

Looks like this one didn't make it.

I had helped myself to a small branch of this plant from the edge of a rice field about three years ago. Little did I know then that apart from the pretty blooms there would be a much more fascinating revelation in store for me.