Wild Bird Wednesday 11 - Indian Ringneck Parrots - September 26, 2012

I've never participated in this meme before.  I am not too familiar with birds.  Sure, I
can recognize common ones such as flamingos, cardinals, parakeets, hummingbirds,
robins, sparrows, macaws...you know, those birds.  Get me near the water, though,
and I mix up egrets, cranes, and those creatures.  My dear life long friend, Charlene
Payton, must consider me totally hopeless.  She is quite the bird person.  Here in India,
where the national bird is the peacock, I am delighted because I do recognize those.
Right in my own back yard, they fly into the trees to spend the night, making the 
loudest unpleasant cries.

When I first came to Jaipur, a friend took me some distance from the city, to the
monkey temple.  I never saw one monkey there.  Again, I have seen plenty of those
right in my own yard - and one in my room, stealing my bag of onions and tomatoes!
As I was leaving the monkey temple, though, I saw all these pretty green birds which
I think are Indian ringneck parrots or parakeets.  There must have been fifty of them,
gleaming in the sun.

 I am participating in Wild Bird Wednesday 11 -

to join in the fun, add your bird photo!

Popcorn, Pepsi and Peacocks - For Little Vishu - July 22, 2012

Popcorn, Pepsi, and Peacocks

( For my little friend, Vishu )

Vishu and me,

Out by the tree,

Wait patiently,

As still as can be.

We sip on a Pepsi,

And munch on popcorn,

And hope, by and by,

A great peacock will fly.

We are told they will come,

Each evening at five,

So I have camera ready,

But no birds arrive.

Two hours later,

A branch bears the weight,

Of  a beautiful peacock,

And soon comes his mate.

Once darkness has fallen,

In trees all around,

We hear the harsh screaming,

Not a most pleasant sound.

But I am quite sad,

I saw no feathered prance,

Of a courting peacock,

Doing his dance.

I've five months to go,

And they sleep here at night,

So I'm bound to get lucky,

Perhaps at dawn's early light.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright © July 2012 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.

.

Vishu, the sweet grandson of Madhulika, my hostess, knows I am anxious to get 

pictures of the peacocks and, when he gets home from school in the evening, he 

will join me, scanning the skies.  The peacocks should arrive about 5PM but, thus

far, it is more like 7:30 and it is too dark, then, for good photos.  I am amazed when

these huge male peacocks plop onto a tree branch, bending it almost in half, their

long plumes folded and draping gracefully behind them.  Disappointed Vishu and I

give up, with plans to return another day.  Vishu knows that I like to write poetry 

and said I should write a poem about this.  "And, what should I call the poem," I

asked him?  He immediately came up with, "Popcorn, Pepsi and Peacocks" - so,

Vishu, here it is for you.

Camera Critters #156 - Resting Peacocks - April 2, 2011

These peacocks were photographed on the grounds of Middleton Plantation in
Charleston, South Carolina on a long ago visit.  I've been going through many
photographs in preparation for downsizing and a pending move.  In the process,
I've found many photographs to use in my blog.

I am participating in Camera Critters which is celebrating its three year anniversary!

Why don't you check out the site and add your photograph!!