Kids playing on Grass

A view from Mattupetty grass fields, Munnar

Misty Mountains at Munnar

Sunrise at ICRISAT Campus, Hyderabad.

View of Taminadu villiages from Ramakkalmedu.

Ramakkalmedu is a hill station and a hamlet in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located about 15 km from Nedumkandom on the Munnar-Thekkady route. It provides a panoramic view of Tamil Nadu villages and towns. Abundant in wind, Ramakkalmedu is the second place in Kerala where a wind energy farm is installed. Currently at about 2.5 MW, there is plan to upgrade it to 12.5 MW which will make it the largest wind farm in Kerala.

It is said that this place is one the fastest wind blowing place in Asia.

It was not easy for us to stand on the top of the hill.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

French: Balbuzard pêcheur

German: Fischadler

Spanish: Aguila Pescadora

Other common names: Fish Hawk

Sometimes included within family Accipitridae, but usually in its own subfamily, Pandioninae. Race melvillensis often applied to birds from Indonesia to N Australia, but probably not valid; similar to cristatus. Four subspecies currently recognized.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green, with blue on the rump and lower belly. Its face and throat are yellow with a black eye stripe, and the crown and nape are rich chestnut. The thin curved bill is black. Sexes are alike, but young birds are duller.

This is a bird which breeds in sub-tropical open woodland, often near water. It is most common in highland areas. As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.
These bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 6 spherical white eggs are laid. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds also feed and roost communally. The call is similar to that of the European Bee-eater.

Asian Fairy-bluebird (Female) / (Irena puella)

The Asian Fairy-bluebird, Irena puella, is a medium-sized, arboreal passerine bird.
This fairy-bluebird breeds across tropical southern Asia from the Himalayan foothills, India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. This species is found in moist hill-forest. Two or three eggs are laid in a small cup nest in a tree.
The adult Asian Fairy Bluebird is about 27 cm long. The male has glossy, iridescent blue upperparts, and black underparts and flight feathers. The female and first year male are entirely dull blue-green.
French: Irène vierge German: Türkisfeenvogel Spanish: Irena Dorsiazul
Other common names: Blue-backed/Blue-mantled Fairy-bluebird; Palawan Fairy-bluebird (tweeddalei)

Indian Pitta / (Pitta Brachyura)

The Indian Pitta, Pitta brachyura, is a medium-sized passerine bird. It breeds mainly in the sub-Himalayas and winters in southern India and Sri Lanka. These birds are found in thick undergrowth and are often more easily detected by their calls. They however often crash into houses during the migratory season and their brilliant colouration makes them an object of curiosity.

The Indian Pitta is a small stocky bird that is mostly seen on the floor of forests or under dense undergrowth, foraging on insects in leaf litter. It has long, strong legs, a very short tail and stout bill, with a buff coloured crown stripe, black coronal stripes, a thick black eye stripe and white throat and neck. The upperparts are green, with a blue tail, the underparts buff, with bright red on the lower belly and vent. The bird normally hops on the ground to forage and has been known to get trapped in ground traps meant for small mammals. They roost in trees.

This shot was taken from North Paravoor, Kerala, India.

French: Brève du Bengale
German: Bengalenpitta
Spanish: Pita India
Other common names: Bengal/Blue-winged /Green-winged Pitta

Happy New Year 2010

Wish you and your family A Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010..:-)

Mattannoor Shankarankutty with Tripple Thayambaka

Mattannoor Shankarankutty with Tripple Thayambaka at Darbarhall Ground.

Bird

Gopica Varma Performing Mohiniyattam at Darbarhall Ground

Spoted Deer

Spoted deer. From Parambikkulam WLS.

Parambikkulam lake. The reflection of sky in silent water.

Coconut trees at Theni. The yellow leaves shows that the trees are infected.