How many of us look around -and I mean really look around – our own neighbourhood for birds and other creatures?? We do love visiting parks, reserves and lakes – I do too! – but there are so many can be seen at our own doorsteps, even when living in a urban environment.

Looking around properly started for me with the advent of a new camera in to my life about 2 years ago. The cam helped not only to capture, but also to later identify what I observed which made it even more exciting. Over the last two years I have observed so much life at my door step – every day bringing some thing new ……..

The most frequent animals to roam all over our garden are the palm squirrels

But there are many others too!

There are only a few trees in and around my garden for the birds to perch.

A white browed bulbul on my neighbour’s murunga tree

A juvenile red vented bulbul on my araliya tree (note the beak which still hasn’t become totally black)

But then, who needs trees???

A drongo on electricity wires

…… and a shikra on the TV antenna

Errrrr…. But this is too hard 🙁

To attract more birds we started a bird feeder – a simple clay pot, filled with bread/ rice/ fruits – what ever we can give and gradually we found so many little creatures visiting us to break their fast each morning and for a bite through out the day.

Bulbuls usually come in pairs and one keep watch

Babblers come in flocks

Sharing is a must, whether you like it or not!

“Thank you, Lord, for my daily bread!”

“But we like variety too!!!”

More in this facebook album

Come sun, come rain they are there. And it is important to have that feeder filled irrespective of the weather. The animals would wates their precious energy if they have to turn away empty handed –or rather stomach!

When the skies opened up on 11-11-10………

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….. they still came, when there was a moment’s respite, secure in the knowledge that there will be food.

Food is there for THEM to find too!

What is he looking at?

Survival of the fittest

A female purple sunbird

Image sequences of the Squirrel and Kingfisher

Life continues for all animals…..

Bulbuls – bringing materials for a nest

….. and nesting

But this is much safer 🙂 And after one safe nesting episode, they keep coming back……

Love is in the air!!!!

Butterflies…………………

Sailors

Jezbels

Unfortunately, we have no special nectar plants in our garden, which would have helped to attract more butterflies. We did try planting ‘gandapaana’ and ‘balu naguta’ but it id not work out 🙁

Bugs…….

….. and more bugs!!!

And lizards too………

So many things and much more, waiting to be discovered…… and all it takes is to step out and look around

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