Of Intruders and guests

Early morning , red vented bulbuls are known to warble sweet nothings to the early morning air and universe in general . Much like humans , they are not known to converse kindly with each other . Fly together , yes . Talk , not too much . Birds of few notes , you could say . Pairs have discreet nests ,and discourage neighbours , even of identical plumage . Again , one is tempted to lapse into human similes .

A few days ago , the morning was unduly quiet . No warblings , no sweet nothings. The earth seemed to be frightfully silent . Almost holding its breath . After what seemed an eon , a large shape fluttered out in the open from the shadows . A massive eurasian eagle -owl( nomenclature courtesy Salim ali's handibook)swooped down , and perched precariously teetering , on a dark , unlit balcony . The owls sure hate light. It could tell it was under scrutiny . After chafing for a few awkward moments , like a  celebrity hounded by paparazzi , it took off silently , and left the enclave , having beaten its massive wings just thrice , languidly . With nary a backward glance .

Almost promptly , you could hear the sigh of relief in the world . The warblings resumed . Full throated. 

             

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The munias are gregarious birds . Recently , I saw an entire group of them , some twenty odd tiny , black throated munias crowding a small monsoon herb . The plant had bent double under the weight of these chirping tiny birds , and seemed to enjoy their presence (It kept shaking with silent laughter , for a long time ) . They pecked on seeds and conversed some more . Chirping , chattering , flying in a cloud at the first human footstep. To watch them carefully is difficult . Thereby , one needs to really respect and thank birdwatchers who have patiently photographed , documented and watched these small, pretty , fickle birds .


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The bottlebrush tree is a favourite haunt of all species of sunbirds . They sleep in the mornings elsewhere . A sunbird hungry for nectar wont waste its energies in futile utterances . It will emit a contented and sleepy-soft "cheep", once every few minutes ,that too , if you are blessed with an acute hearing . If not , you may never hear it .They too bend the drooping branches further , but being lighter than munia birds , and fewer in numbers , they appear as flitting shadows (fleeting enough to be confused with figments of one's imagination)and never , ever  shake the branches .

One day , the branches shook heavily , almost groaning . The shadows were large and feline. Two kittens were foraging for the small morsels of sunshine . The soft "cheep" was silenced .

For a long time , thereafter , no sunbirds (purple or otherwise ) , came to the tree. I , accompanied the tree in laying the blame squarely on the blasted kittens . Only recently , have the cheeps resumed . The tree appears happy , nodding its tufty drooping old head , in sage approval.


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Today morning , the parrots had the courage to argue with pigeons over prime perches. Usually they are silent , and glide through the morning air , without much argument .

But today was different . They are usually , a flock of rose ringed parrots . Today , they were being visited by a dignitary . The Alexandrine parakeet. A large parrot with a huge maroon splash on its wings , a tricoloured gash , blue pink and black , on its neck , and an enormously long tail ending sky blue . It has bigger beak and a harsher cry . It commandeers the forces like a general wearing pips . Hence the courage of the common parakeet and hence the early morning commotion.

The general departed , with his entourage , a little later . Leaving the colony to its peace and pigeons.

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