Winter musings

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Misty winter morning


 Yes it's winters in Mumbai. You may ask what's so special, but for us mumbaites it's so much so! 

For people up North this winter may seem like pleasantly cool. But in Mumbai the scene may be different. You will find that people now have a reason to feel the wintery vibes : all the hoodies and mufflers are out, and so are the shawls. This may be the only week that this winter clothings can be displayed, flaunted and used. 

For me its so special too. I now have the pink hoodie on in the evenings when I go to meet my friends. I would have loved the long walks with the sun on my skin but unfortunately for my toe. I do not want to delve into that topic again, rather let me say that my toe is now on the healing phase and move on.

Walking on winter mornings is so much fun. Now that we have the cycle track built behind our home, it's an absolute delight. Always there is some surprise on store as we see nature in it's full glory. I can now spot some winter birds like the golden oriole, it's bright yellow colour cannot be missed as it flutters around  rampaging for some food. We can also see the drongos sitting on the barbed wires. Their tails forked, they are bold birds. Sometimes I also spot the scaly breasted munias. They are usually spotted and scaly,  feeding on the tall grasses on the cycle track and seen in small flocks. The other day I could hear a cacophony of calls from around the bushes, and going closer I discovered that they were the seven sisters!! They make loud and raucous calls, and cannot be missed. They are actually the jungle babblers and are called the seven sisters because of their nature to always stay in a flock of more than six. They are also eager in grooming and preening one another and indulge in mock fights. Then we cannot miss the loud metallic calls of the coppersmith barbets. Occasionally a discerning eye will spot them busy carving their holes in hollow tree trunks for their nests. I also once spotted a busy mother making multiple trips to feed its young ones inside the tree trunk.Bird life is abundant but dwindling very fast in the urban jungle. But the cycle track behind my home offers a wee bit of hope for nature to still thrive and survive.

Winter mornings are also spectacle to some beautiful blooms. We can see the morning glories in full bloom. They add a special touch of purple hue basking in the bright morning sunlight. Along with them we can also see some white flowers in bloom which are delicate and papery, don't know its name though. They seem to be a variety of morning glory itself. Then we have the wild flowers in bloom from the shrubs growing in any direction, untamed and boisterous as it may feel.  The bougainvillaea which have been thoughtfully planted renders splashes of myriad colours against the green landscape, breaking the monotony! The yellow elders are big beautiful fast growing shrubs which also adorn the landscape. Their bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers add a contrast against the plants bright green foliage, to create a very showy appearance. 

For now I have to stay contented to watch all the nature from my window sill. Soon the palm cherries will ripen and provide for abundant food for the cuckoos. They will then feed on them and so will the squirrels. 

Adieu for now. Time for my hot cuppa soup.

Golden Oriole
Coppersmith Barbet


Ashy Drongo



Scaly breasted Munia
Morning Glory


Morning Glory

Jungle Babblers

Fantail





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