Happiness is living in the moment, accepting what is. Easier said than done. Birding helps me draw parallels in life, literally practicing this life lesson on field.
On the field
Early morning I reached a bajra farm an hour from Pune. It was a farm with fully grown bajra crop. The field looked picturesque, with the bajra cobs swinging in the early morning breeze.
An experience beyond words, when you can smell the fresh air, feel the mist, hear the crops whisper in the morning breeze. And see the nature waking up with the sun.
Standing at the edge of the farm, enjoying the scene and the weather I was eagerly waiting for the vernal hanging parrots to fly down on the cobs in their feast mode. The other beautiful birds kept me engaged, till the vernal decided to show itself.
The ones adding to the beauty of the field, and as a photographer it was a playground of limitless opportunities. The challenge was to spot these wonders on the top of the cob, focus and get a good capture. Here are few on the field apart from vernal, that I managed to capture.
He looks dashing with the crest flaunting in the air while swing on the tip of the cob.
Could see them in pair. They look beautiful, hoping over the field.
This one just made me thing, if he was the same one I click in Leh. The colour it carried in Himalayas was all gone. See the Leh version here
They just came in flock, hogged on to the seeds and flew away as fast as they came.
It was a surprise to see this one here. There were multiple individuals and they did not rest too long on the fields, yet gave an decent opportunity for some clicks.
With ample of hunting opportunities, this one was always found sitting on the tree at the edge of the field.
This one was in the mood to put up a show, with all kind of stunts on the cob to hog on the seeds.
Along with vernal these came in flocks, first on the leafless tree nearby and the getting down on the fields for the grains.
The noisy and bold one. Standing tall on the top and shouting with all the metal.
The male flauting its colours on the fields with the contrast greens. They come with their complete family and have a splendid time.
One that make you speechless. These are ones found hoping on the flower fields in full blooms. Oh what a sight it was, I felt like simply sitting there in silence and keep watching.
This one was found collecting nesting material in the flower fields.
I guess it was wondering, if it will get its yellow colour someday from these flowers.
The pair was roaming in the fields, hunting for small worms and hoping on the flowers.
Frankly it seemed an outlier on the flowers. At the end thought it carried itself well.
Always the showstopper, the reason I visited the field. They are first heard making high-pitched “zi-zi-zi” calls while in flight, then they land over the tree, instantly becoming invisible and literally shoot themselves down to the fields. They place them well on the cobs and systematically gobbled them.
Guide for the uninitiated
Vernal hanging parrot: https://ebird.org/species/vehpar1?siteLanguage=en_IN
Vernal hanging parrot: It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet.
Bajra: Pearl Millet.
Date of journey Aug 2021 and Sept 2022 @ Parinche, Saswad.
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