Some Sights From Diyungmukh

Sunrise as seen across the river at Diyungmukh

Floss flowers bloom in the foreground

 I haven't been able to blog as regularly as before but i'd like to share some of the pictures taken on a recent trip to a place called Diyungmukh. It's a four-hour-drive from where I live and where the river Kopili has some of the most beautiful stretches. During this season, one of the most invasive weeds of our region blooms prolifically. There are endless stretches of pale blue floss flowers on both sides of the road, on the edges of fields, and of course on  the river bank as well.

The blooms are attractive to butterflies. I found a female Leopard Lacewing butterfly feeding on a cluster of these blooms. 

And here's a male Leopard Lacewing butterfly resting on a lantana leaf-- another weed commonly found in our area. 

A green snake. Not a common sight and certainly a first-time photo-op for me.

I found a flock of chestnut-tailed starlings perched high up on this tall tree. My camera isn't good enough to get really clear shots but I'm happy I got these blue-beaked darlings huddled together.

A flock of chestnut-tailed starlings

Thank you for stopping by today. May this New Year bring you peace and happiness!

I'm linking up to Michelle's Nature Notes.

Nature Walk

                                                                     

Yesterday we spent an afternoon on the banks of Deepor Beel, the largest water body in our vicinity. It is home to several varieties of aquatic life, local and migratory birds, reptiles and insects.

Guess who was the first to greet me? Not something that I expected as soon as I reached the place! A snake got out of its hole, looked around and disappeared. I just managed this shot and I made sure I wouldn't go near its den even if the prettiest butterflies led me there!

The Grey Pansy butterfly in its natural habitat. So far I have shot this one only in my garden so it was a delight to be able to photograph it in the wild.

To swim or not to swim seems to be the question for these pretty ducks.

Another Grey Pansy on a dry leaf. And now for some colour!

A damselfly, the Coromandel marsh dart on a lantana leaf. There were several damselflies but I couldn't get a good shot of the more colourful ones.

The lantana blooms attract several butterflies. These skippers look pretty happy!

There were clouds of dragonflies flying in the air. If you click on the picture below, you'll see several of these beautiful black and gold dragonflies known as Picture Wings. Below is a picture I had taken of this kind of dragonfly a few years ago  .

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

I hope you liked joining me on my walk today!

Look Who's Snaked Its Way Up My Mango Tree!

The other day my neighbour called out to me saying that there was a snake on my mango tree. Although I looked hard, I couldn't really make out against the light of the afternoon sun (first picture). I ran to get my camera and got a few shots. I didn't dare get closer shots. It's the longest snake that I've seen in my garden/vicinity. It could well be a rat snake but I'm not too sure. Rat snakes are supposed to be one of the most common snakes in India. Their diet consists of rats and frogs. They are active during the day. And I was glad to find out that they are non-venomous.


As I clicked away, it started to move towards the next tree which was a guava tree. And then it disappeared amidst the thick foliage of another neighbour's mango tree. Thank goodness that my neighbour told me about the snake. I'd have merrily gone out to check the guavas as I usually do in the afternoons. It still gives me the shivers to think about coming so close to a snake!! It's not without taking a good hard look at the trees that I go and pick the fruits now!