It would be better to think philosophically , that I am destined to see them . Not others . Bad luck fellas .
Today i saw a pair of brown headed barbets making a nest high up in the eucalyptus . It is a huge tree which hosts lots of these exotic birds , making it an exciting place . My kids are not very inclined to bird watching , but they do display occasional enthusiasm and are kind enough to tip toe quietly to see a flameback woodpecker look for grubs in the hollow of the eucalyptus , its red beret a red blur .
Yesterday was a lucky day. I saw two new species of birds . A group of three yellow footed green pigeons sailed across from a bottle brush tree across the street to settle on a dying mango tree. I could spot just one and see its head and characteristic yellow feet .the green of the body merged with the foliage .
In the afternoon , when I went for some errand to the terrace I heard the lapwing (teetahari ) go ballistic on a small diminutive grey coloured bird . Even the mynahs were kicking up a ruckus , flying and screaming at and around the intruder. The carriage of the bird was majestic and undettered , upright , unfazed by all the scandal its appearance had caused . I had to look up the google to identify it as one of the smallest predator birds , namely Shikra.
A stunted neem tree houses several deep craters in its trunk , each hole housed by a pair of spotted owlets who stare deeply into our souls , unblinkingly , whenever we choose to look their way . I met one of them at close quarters and it put on quite a display . Alternately , bowing and staring erect, all the while keeping on its unnervingly fixed gaze frozen on me . I later read that this was how they reacted when they feel threatened .
Threatened , by me ? Whereas , here I am in awe of owls , googling my data away , my goosebumps rising at avian stares .
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