Riya's own space

Lets talk Tuesday ~ World tattoo day

“I have numerous pictures, but I like the ones I can flaunt my tattoo in.”

~Riya

Today is 17th july 2018 and is being celebrated as ‘World tattoo day’ to promote tattoo art and artists all over the world. A tattoo is a form of body modification where a design is made on your skin with ink,dyes and pigments either temporary or permanent. This art is known as tattooing and is very popular in today’s western culture. A permanent tattoo is a small or big mark on your skin that you are going to live with. Hence people choose the tattoo according to their personality, choice, way of living that can show/depict their character.

Me flaunting my bird tattoo, June 2018 at home

I got this tattoo in January 2017 as a part of my new year resolution 2017 as I always wanted to have one. That time, I didn’t know I am going to be a birder/ bird photographer in the recent future. All I knew was, I want something on me that I will never regret of. The one that shows my free spirit. The one that is a sign of independence. And a flying bird is all of them. I was always a bird lover and always envied (cutely ;)) them for having wings. Their power of getting far and away from everything is something my character matches with. My mom used to be always worried as she knew I can’t stick to one thing for very long. Well, she is MOM and we don’t really have to tell her anything. None-the-less to say, she knows me the best and yes, she was right. My heart is a flying bird and cannot be CAGED. My tattoo symbolizes me perfectly. And also particularly I wanted a single bird on my wrist unlike the series of 5 or 7 flying birds in a row that was/is in trend. I am a single soul,so is my bird.

“We get members to share life with, but well, life is a journey of single soul.”

I got this picture clicked at a strawberry farm in Mahabaleshwar, May 2018

My post on Mahabaleshwar ~ https://riyasownspace.com/2018/06/08/mighty-mahabaleshwar-and-birding/

HISTORY

The history of tattoo making takes you back to the 1500BC. Tattoo markings have been found in mummies preserved since ancient times. Not getting into that part,well its quite complicated to me as well. But I would like to gain some knowledge on that as well if anyone wants to say something.

Indian History

Tattoing was very common in south India way before 1980. And permanent tattoos are called ‘pachakuthu’ there while in north India ,it is known as ‘Godna‘ , that is what I had heard my grandmother’s say about it. Mostly the people who belonged to lower caste used to have godnas on many parts of their body, specially women. They sometimes have religious values ,sometimes a proof of being married with husband’s name inked and most of the times as a must-follow-tradition. They used to be permanent and ink used to be green in color or the ones I saw were green.

Got this clicked at Dehradoon Zoo with my MIL’s sweater on. I love it when unintentionally my birdie show up. I am basically like my tattoo. 🙂 October 2017

I have heard, who once had a tattoo, he/she must have another one. And I guess its 100% correct. I just wanted one for my life but as I love it so much more now, I want another one that shows power, a symbol of continuous strength and optimism. I will talk about it definitely, once I have it. Well,its a just a future plan for now. But for sure I will be marking my body once again in coming future.

My husband clicked this portrait at cabo-de-rama fort in January’2018

My post on cabo-de-rama fort ~ https://riyasownspace.com/2018/02/07/cabo-de-rama-south-goa/

In recent times, it is a popular trend to have a tattoo to be cool and stylish, but what I think is you should always do things that satisfies you and not other’s eyes. If it gives you happiness, go get a tattoo, but if it doesn’t , do what gives. Having a tattoo doesn’t make you cool but responsible towards it. Don’t change your personality too much that what you loved once, starts to crib you. Be the way you have always been and then if you want that thing on you permanently, go get one!

One of my personal favorites Two of my loves in one frame. It was in march 2017 ,the day when I first got my hands on my very first DSLR. Canon 1300D with silver body

Happy tattoo day to those who got inked ever in life. Enjoy 🙂

Untill next time,

Much love

Riya

Lets talk tuesday ~Newly married birds

Hello guys, so it is 10 past 10 now and I finally sat with my laptop to talk to you all. Why today? Why Tuesday? I think Tuesday is one of the most monotonous days in a week. Monday blues are completely not gone plus the thought of a long working week ahead. Also I feel the most talkative on a Tuesday for no particular reason. Or may be because Talk goes well with Tuesday 😀 who knows ! haha… Anyways, jokes apart. Today is Tuesday and welcome to my 2nd episode of Let’s Talk Tuesday.

Newly married birds

Today’s talk is about the newly weds. Well you can take it as an advice (or experience talk :p) . No, I wont talk just too much because if I do, it will not be digestible to many as we all know everyone has their own way of viewing and taking things. This might be awkward or old fashioned but this is mine. So if you got married recently or going to,then just read on. Trust me you will agree to me at some point of time, may be today, may be somewhere in future.

About me: I am 28 and I got married at the age of 26 with my college buddy [a punjabi-bengali love marriage] with zero family issues. Now lets begin the talk.

Since a last few years, our generation of 90s kids has suddenly grown up and started to getting settled by buying houses, cars and starting a family. Well a few years ago was way too early for that. But still a few of my friends did. Some of them are parenting their toddlers now and it is really so good to see their happy families. Most of my friends who got married in the last 3-4 years almost had a love marriage, and it all seemed to me that marriage means love first and then a happily ever after ..la la la lallaaa…[ till I became one of them 😉 ].

Since last year, in India I am seeing new trend of this arrange-cum-love marriage. No offense to my beloved people. My brother and closest friends have done the same or on their way. It would be a such a whole new experience to fall in love with the one, you know you are going to spend your life with. Such fascinating, Isn’t it? I also found it the same and felt a little jealous of the newly buds falling in love and getting engaged and also very happy to see my people so happy. So what is my take on it? This all looks so ordinary and simple as arranged marriage has been a part of our history and lives for so long. So whats the new fuss? The new thing is social media and its role. Changing of status from single -to- engaged- to- married has become the main aim of our lives and getting numerous congratulatory messages. I also did,I also got (Don’t get me wrong on this, I have a little experience out of which I am speaking). No problem in that either.! Then what is the thing I am worried about that made me write this post. It is the HURRY. What is it that makes you intolerant about meeting your significant other? What is this rush of getting into the line of being called “love-birds” ? What is it that makes you crazy about going on-line and announce to the whole world that you have got the best spouse in the whole damn world?What is the excitement that you can’t hold inside and tell your partner in ears that “you love them” ? What is this trend of showing off? What do we want to show to and to whom? Everyone is doing the same thing. Isn’t it? Just that everyone has a different story but at last following the same path.

Male Asian koel trying to woo his lady asian koel

My take: A very simple and non-alcoholic advice to all of you going through this phase.

Just take it slow.. Just take it slow my friend. Your parents have found you the most suitable partner for you. Its one of the best things you have been offered. What you need to do is that take everything slow, slow as in into its own speed. There is no rush in falling in love. Love is not a race. Love happens eventually. Love takes way more time than we think it would. The first time we meet someone, we like them. Its all infatuation. The second time we meet them its the liking (simple physics of attraction). And for love, it takes way more than that. Years and years of understanding, dozens of each others habits, loads of fights and limitless romance. Best example most of us can find in our homes, in our parents.

When you will start to love their stinking feet and not just their odor , you will know you are in love. When you stop thinking about what you wanna eat,and starting making their favorite dishes without even asking, you will know you are in love. When their stupid annoying habits have started to annoy you back, you will know you are in love. When you see them changing and won’t feel like asking for more, you will know you are in love. When their attachment with their parents/friends wont hamper you anymore at all, you will know you are in love. When you look back and find that you don’t remember anything bad and remember just the good, you will know you are in love. When the day will come, YOU WILL KNOW YOU ARE IN LOVE.

Till then, just relax and go with the flow, don’t try to run or fly because we can’t. we simply can’t. Life is not a race and so is not marriage. Marriage is a collaboration of two souls who can tolerate each other till the end. And all that you have visualized about the happily ever after,etc,etc.. you will find its just a part of the long life. We just get someone to walk along it, thats it.

MARRIAGE is a MIRAGE

of distant love. In fact, marriage has got nothing to do with love. It only works when the mirage becomes real, else love is just the endless wait… the romance of eternal hope…

I would like to write a book on love and eternal hope someday…

Till then I wish you all a brilliant week ahead and be blessed. And oh ya happy married life to all my buddies.. Love you all..

Much love,

Riya

Lets talk Tuesday ~ Anger turned pain

“A minute of thought is greater than an hour of talk.”

– John C. Maxwell

Absolutely true! hence I think , think , think and think a lot. Not just a minute but a lot more than that. A lot more than I would ever think I could. A lot more than the memories I have or going to create in coming future. A lot more than the present I have. A lot more than my mind can tolerate, a way more than my brain’s ability. But why? Why do we think this much? Why do we think at all? Yes, I said ‘We’ because I am not alone in this. There are not less than a thousand people (if not more) who are exactly like me. Not in a sense of behavior or looks , but who thinks alike. Who thinks like me. I am sure there are people with whom I can share my thoughts without having saying anything. The thoughts would be mutual. But my point is why do we think? Why people like me exist who keeps on pushing the limit of brain far too much. Well! there’s no answer. At least not one I was looking for. I think , think and think and I don’t get the answer for my WHYs. I guess no one does. But I hope someday some one does get the answer for his Why.

What forms a writer is the ability to give shape and form to their thoughts to let people understand what they are going through. To be a writer you don’t have to be an author of a book, but a writer is the one, whom people understand. So I try to write down what I feel. Sometimes they take form of a rhyme ,become a poem or mostly just a paragraph or two. Because why not! Writing down my opinions to my audience is the best thing I can do to myself as it will work as a reminder for me a few years later of “how I used to be or how my mind worked then”. Hence I am starting this blog series to talk it all to you guys. Lets blog off the boredom or clear off the mind to make space for some new ones with “Lets talk tuesday“. I will mostly post on a tuesday on whatever topic I feel like (sometimes about me as well ;)).

Anger turned pain

Todays topic is about this picture I clicked a few days ago of a hanuman langur while waiting for birds to get into my frame. Mostly, my weekends or holidays spend running after birds or waiting for them to come in sight from my balcony , well of course, after finishing off my house chores or simply letting them be for a day or two. So it was this saturday, I was in my balcony with my cam when my husband spotted these langurs jumping from our wall to another in search of god knows what. Thank God, our balcony is not an open one and we could get their clicks without getting harmed. Though I admire them more than I can really have good shots. When I zoomed into one of their faces, I got confused.. worried.. Next day I posted a picture on facebook to get reviews of what people think about it. Is the monkey really sad/ crying or just angry at us?

I got a few responses like, he is just angry, he is sad, he is hungry, they are naturally like that, they don’t like getting photographed etc etc. Nothing caught my attention really. What caught my attention was the tears in his eyes. I don’t even know whether I am right or wrong as I have never studied langurs but all I know is that they are our ancestors and whatever we are today, we were them at some point of time. So, if I take into consideration of feelings he must be having, as human behavior, it is easy to understand.If not easy, then at least an understandable trial. I saw pain in his eyes. A pain of separation may be, or the pain of not being able to feed his children or just the pain of being an animal. We humans have voices we laid out loud about our problems, unfavorable circumstances to the whole world, at least we can. But what about them? They don’t have four walls to live or raise their children. They aren’t civilized like we are but often we forget that they are not a piece of entertainment or anxiety for us, they are lives with exact same heart beats as we have. You know what I mean right!

The pain is getting bigger day by day. (In human context). The pain of not getting the desirable results, not being able to fulfill own dreams, pain of loosing our loved ones, pain of being a loser, the pain is getting larger day by day taking a form of anger. Pain turned anger. Angry of the life we have got, angry about unfulfilled desires, angry about the situations, angry for the generation, angry at the society , angry at own self, angry at the creator, God. But then, what next? Do we get an answer for our whys? Do they get answer for their pain they have to go through every day? NO they don’t, we don’t.

Here, we are shouting for our rights, for our liberation, for our independence. Our shout never ends as their is nothing called satisfaction in our dictionary. And there will never be one. Our pain will turn us angry and our anger will destroy us. We will be sad again. We will get back the courage some how , set new goals , get them and again get sad for some other reason. This process of getting hurt- angry – hurt has no end to it. The acceptance of pain has always been in our blood. We love to get hurt. Accept it, its the truth! or else this world would be a happy place to live in.

This fellow in few minutes taught me a lesson that humans failed to in years. ”Satisfaction is a myth’‘ .

See you in weekend

Much love

Riya

Wild caty

Hello people, you must be thinking the reason behind the title. I am sure, like cat is fine but why caty? So let me tell you this small story. Since childhood, I have always been a cat person rather than a dog person though have never pet any of them ever but made some street friends quite a few times. So this name came up to my mind while choosing alias for our characters in Counter Strike computer game in college.( A very very famous game among computer students in India). Within no time, I presented myself as “CATY” and voila, I have been known as caty since then among all my college friends. I guess some of them has forgotten my real name by now. 😀 Anyways jokes apart lets continue with this post.

So I am staying in this building which has a big open parking area giving enough space for animals like cats to roam around and play. A few days ago, I officially met this one who is born to be wild but could do a little friendly if you go approach him. Had spend an amazing saturday morning clicking his snaps.

Even though, these guys are wild but as you know, humans are the most dangerous creatures on this planet, they get scared by us like most of the other animals and birds. They pretend to hide in the shade or bushes at first while they judge the intention of the human coming closer. If they smell something not okay, they will ran away, really fast.As a fact cats can run as fast as 3mph (i.e. faster than Asian bolt :O)

They want to be loved by you, the more you love them, the more they will love you back. Well, of course it takes time to grow the trust as in humans too. I believe any animal is easier to understand at least than we people. A person is the most complicated animal creator has ever created with messed up over smart brains to earn money and hurt sentiments. Well, thats true. Digest it!

Cats are the sleepy heads. They love to sleep, like a lot of it (around 12-16hrs a day). I have heard somewhere that if a cat is around 9 years of age, it has been proven that he has been sleeping for 6 years or more and only been awake for 3 years in total. We can totally call them our very own “kumbhakarna” (A bad character in Indian hindu mythology who is famous for his sleep. He used to sleep for 6 months and then awake for another half year.)

Another weird fact about cats is that their taste buds don’t give the pleasure of tasting sweetness. They simply cant taste sugar or anything sweet and that is why may be the reason he left the muesly and drank just the milk. Else who will leave the sweet raisins along with the nuts. Yum 😛 though may not be yum for them. Apart from milk, fish is their favorite food which is known to the whole universe since forever. [ Though some cats are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t be fed milk]

While studying about cats in details, I came to know that neutering (removal of reproductory organ) of your cat may be quite helpful to you as well. It not only decreases the risk of testicular cancer, but it also makes your cat less aggressive and more affectionate towards you (In case of pets, only domestic animals). Plus it adds a few years to their age as well.

To know more about cats, one should know that their nose patterns are as unique as our finger prints. It may be helpful for the actual counting of the individuals else-wise they don’t need to give nose impression on cheques right?

Some other facts about our cute cats:

Scientific name : Felis catus
Life span : 2 to 16 years
Gestation period : 58-67 days
Height : 23-25cm
Length : 46cm + 30cm (tail) {approx}
They have more than 20 muscles in body that controls ears.
Female cats are typically right-pawed while male cats are typically left-pawed.
A cat’s brain is 90% equal to humans
Cat’s have longer memory than dogs but lacks in social IQ.
A cat can jump upto 6 times its height.
Also they can survive a fall from a taller height.
Cats sweat only though their foot pads.
Pet cats imitate human child and often changes their meaw to communicate with humans.

Only 11.5% of people consider them Cat-person, and I might be one of them. So now you know my love for cats that has always been. And now that I know more about them I obviously feel good about it.

The photographs in this post are of a wild cat who roams in and around my house building and not a pet to anyone. I call him my buddy though he scared the hell out of me a few days ago when I was climbing the stairs wit earphones on and Mr. cat decided to show up like a super hero , apparently from no where and ran away to no where after he was satisfied with my panic call.

So this is it for today’s lesson.:P I learned a lot about cats while making this blog up. Hope you had a nice time reading them too. I will see you all in my next post.

Until next time

Much love

Riya

Chopdem birding continues…

Hey you peeps, having a cozy saturday? Cool! Don’t even have to get up from the couch. Its raining cats and dogs here and staying in is the best thing to do on a holiday. No raincoats,umbrellas and wet legs for a single makes me enjoy the rain even more. Its not that I complain on other days as I love monsoon. Everything is so green and fresh. Earth seems much more beautiful and lively.

Beautiful. Isnt it? Let the monsoon come everywhere. Plant trees and stop cutting trees in the name of development. What will the world do with the development if there will be no air to breathe and no water to drink? Spread the word!

In my last birding post (Birding in Chopdem,Goa) I was in this beautiful spot clicking birds on a beautiful morning. Today’s post can be concluded as its continuation as I went on to this nearby spot to click some beautiful cattle egrets in full plumage colour. I see them often these days from vehicle’s window while traveling but hardly get to click them. So I wanted to give some special time to shoot them in complete silence. So it was the day.

In my last post, I promised I would start with Swallows , So this is it. While leaving Chopdem birding area, we ran into some swallows on a wire.I got so carried away clicking them , I was about to lean on a 2000 Volt electric poll. [ Thank god, I was accompanied by a responsible person to alert me soon enough, phew]. Keep exploring and clicking but with an active mind. Keeping yourself safe is the basic necessity. Isn’t?

As soon as we reached the farming space almost full of egrets and pond herons, I spotted a huge black crowned night heron.

He was huge and calm, giving me time to get closer and get a few shots of him. I already knew I was going to have a great time there though Mr. Sun came up on us really fast making it hot and uncomfortable. Oh wait! Uncomfortable for whom? Not me when I am birding 😀

While my husband was setting up the tripod on a steady flat space near this crucifix, I was already into the mud and almost sat on the ground to be away as well as close (through my lens) to these feathered creatures. So here are few of the images that I got of the very pretty Cattle egret in breeding plumage.

This is one of my favorite shots and had been my mobile wallpaper for all this time.

Different moods, different shots. First one with a little prey.

In my opinion, this made a nice frame with wings half open and the egret being walking away with pride.

And the mesmerizing portrait of this lovely egret.

while I was busy clicking the colours, my husband spotted a non breeding one in another mood variable.

Though I wasn’t satisfied with clicking them, I went on and on.

Lets introduce their acompanies.

face to face: Cattle egret and Pond heron

Stupid me, I couldn’t focus on both their eyes at the same time 😦 as the heron was a little behind. Anyways, lets have a look at some Indian Pond Heron clicks with extended flexible necks.

I found it very enchanting to click these really tall and thin ones as I usually come across the bulky and short pond herons who usually don’t stretch their necks a lot. But to my surprise these ones here did and looked really pretty I must say.

Different moods, different shots. Second one with little prey.

And finally a portrait with extended long neck.

All these shots were taken handheld with my Sigma 150-600mm contemporary OS lens and hardly been edited or post processed as they were naturally very pretty and full of colours. I really enjoyed watching their behaviors and activities in the morning time with some searching for breakfast, some flying here and there. So I got clicked myself at the end 😀

A long ago, I had posted a blog on Egret (great egrets mainly), have a look if you want. ~ Egret

That was a beautiful sunday and so tomorrow should be. Make everyday beautiful by doing at least one thing that makes you happy. Every day is a special day as we got to live that one. On this note I will take your bid to see you soon again on my new post.

My other birding activities.

Until next time, Keep birding, keep smiling, spreading love 🙂

Much love,

Riya

Smile-laugh-repeat

We have heard since forever ‘smile, because its free’. I say smile,obviously smile not because its free, but because it purifies your heart every time you do it from your heart. That beautiful curve on your face is directly connected to your heart beat. Trust me on this, Each time you stretch your lips in U shape, Mr. heart normalizes its speed and tells you ‘ everything is good buddy, keep going’. At least that is what keeps me going. So I try to smile as much as possible with as many people as possible.

We all have so many things going on in our minds simultaneously. Don’t lie to yourself on this and listen to your mind’s craziness for once. I know, I know its difficult to even to listen to yourself sometimes as our lives are so damn puzzled up,confusing,motionless at times, but all you need to do my friend is to cry. Yes I m not joking, crying helps lighten up the burden. And once its not heavy anymore, smiling would be easy, very easy. And nothing is better than a easy smile. Have you seen a child smiling ___ heart out? Of course you did, we all did and it is so soothing to eyes to see them smiling or listening to their laughter which is usually loud. Similarly, its far better to laugh your heart out than bursting out in emotions.

Have you heard the quote ‘ fight back with smile’ .You might not but now you did. I say fight back your emotions with a lovely smile. Once your happiness empowers the sadness, life will be easy. If not easy,then easy to handle. None’s life is as easy and perfect as it looks on the social media. We show people what we want to show and hide the rest inside us. We are in such time of yuga, people don’t even show their real sides to their close ones. And why would we? We are so very good in pretension. I say, stop pretending for a day and be happy from within.

We all are very sure about the fact that we don’t/wont look good while making a cringy face or crying. And hence we pose, we smile for photographs to look pretty in the pictures. But does it all that matters? To look pretty and happy to the outside world? What about the world inside? Doesn’t it needs a bit of relaxation, freshness and get rid of the tiredness? The tiredness of over thinking, controlling the emotions, molding the feelings from one to another, suppressing the child who wants to be free and smile carefree. Doesn’t your inside world needs a make-over too? Yes it does! It badly does! So for once, throw up your make-up, wear the real smile on your face and feel the difference.

Smile for yourself, smile for you have a family, smile for people loves you (at least a few really do), smile for you got a human life, smile for you get to eat, smile for you are breathing. Smile for your strength, smile for your hidden weakness, smile for your achievements, smile for the lost battles. Keep smiling and stay smiling forever. It not only nourishes your mind but also the one’s you are smiling at. Make yours and other’s days beautiful with a priceless smile every morning.

Someone said to me, my smile has a healing touch. I believe every smile ever has the power to heal.Smile is the best therapy for all the disease and sadness in the world. So, forget anything and everything. But don’t forget to smile and laugh. Lets make a routine to keep our hearts healthy. Smile-listen to yourself- laugh it out- repeat.

Most importantly smiling doesn’t harm .So keep smiling and spreading laughter.

Much love

RIYA

Birding in Chopdem,Goa

Hey beautiful people, I hope you all are having a great weekend as I am having. Well I am quite excited today about sharing my experience of birding in one of my favourite places in North Goa which doesn’t have a particular name(none that I know of). It’s just a beautiful sitting area along the smoothest road dividing a big lake into two halves, decorated with eye-catching street lights. I had first visited this place last year while being deputed in one of the banks nearby. This location can be termed as Parcem or chopdem as it occurs in between parcem and pednem in North-goa. Have a look at the location to soothe your eyes.

We have also recorded two videos for my husband’s you-tube channel in this particular place. Now you know how much I love the way it has been decorated and maintained by the Goa govt. in recent years. You may also watch the videos if you love music or interested in fingerstyle guitar or just for the location as I loved filming and editing them afterwards. Do come back 😀

While shooting for the last video called “Right here waiting” I spotted a few black-headed Ibis, the hovering kings’ Pied kingfishers (high level of excitement) and a few others like cormorants and egrets and that is when I decided I will be back here again soon for birding with my sigma 150-600mm contemporary OS and my poddy (Osaka vct 100 tripod). And finally on 30.05.2018, that beautiful day arrived. Packing my camera bag, we reached the area by 8am at earliest as it was a cloudy day with very low light (early monsoons in Goa you see). As soon as we reached, I spotted two Indian Cormorants with fish kill too nearby. I jumped from the vehicle and unloaded my bag to get my camera ready only to find them flew away with their breakfasts. Couldn’t get a single shot but my optimism didn’t leave my side for once. Cormorant was first to show up so I will start with him.

Indian cormorant perched on its favorite stone in the middle of lake. I have quite a lot of mood variation images in my memory card that I loved clicking .

Another individual drying up his wings (the most famous pose for cormorants). I have quite a few pictures of this individual in different poses,may be leave them for other time 😉 Stay put for my upcoming blogs.

Great egret.

The very pretty Little Egret in its dense habitat. Little egrets are my favorite egrets among I came across till date. This one looked amazingly pretty showing off her breeding feathers.

Black headed Ibis. I am yet to get close enough to this one to get the details of its face and neck. Their eyes are jet black and hardly noticeable to focus from a long range. Yet I adore its beauty.

Putting up another image of black headed Ibis having a breakfast snack( some snake). I intentionally didn’t clean up the messy background which I could have clearly because I want to convey this message that ‘ This is our mother land and animals are its children just as we humans are. Kindly don’t throw your garbage in your mother’s lap as you don’t do it with your biological mother.’ PS: people in Goa drinks more than they eat. Drink as much as you want, simply throw the cans and bottles into the garbage bins.

Greater sand plover (breeding).You cant miss the waders when you are near a wet land.

Lesser sand plover.

Spotted Redshanks

Crab plover

You can hardly miss out on an Indian pond heron (breeding these days)

Now some of my favorites (KINGFISHERS of Goa)

The small or Common kingfisher. Thanks to my bird spotter for spotting this cutie as she perched on one of the most flowing branch)

The very fast and loud Stork billed kingfisher. They can never go unnoticed if they are calling)

The black and white Pied Kingfisher (I call them hover kings as they come and stay in the air for quite a sometime hovering while they look for prey in water or nearby, I guess they start their engine for diving in :D)

Kites are the nature’s proof that everything is going good and well. Brahminy kite in flight.

A cattle egret in flight.

When we were about to leave this insanely favorite place of ours, we spotted some Wire tailed swallows as usual playing on a wire.

I will start with this one in my next weekend’s continuation blog on bird watching in Chopdem. Do come back for even more eye shooting images of the beautiful cattle egret and more.

My gear- Canon + sigma

Follow me on social media for updates and more clicks.

Facebook page– https://www.facebook.com/Riyasownspace/

Insta handle for more images and updates – https://www.instagram.com/riya_insideout/

More birding activities if you are new to my space.:-

Birds of Panchgani

Mighty mahabaleshwar and birding

Carambolim lake bird watching -part 2

Carambolim lake bird watching (Part 1)

Agonda backwaters- bird watching in tranquility

I will see you all in my next post.Till then happy birding. Keep clicking. keep smiling and spreading love.

Much love

Riya

Mighty mahabaleshwar and birding

So in my last blog, you have seen the birds that I have spotted in peaceful Panchgani. Yes I call it peaceful ,because peace means to find yourself, to explore your soul. And as per me, oceans and mountains have the capability to do that. You can listen to yourself along with the waves in silent nights and let the wings of your soul fly in the mighty mountains with the dawn. I found peace in Panchgani in the voice of birds. Nothing is more peaceful to me other than the chirping of the feathered creatures. Today I am going to explore the location more with beautiful landscapes,some portraits which looked automatically amazing in the environment and of course some more birds from our short trip to Mahabaleshwar.

If you missed my last post on “Birds of panchgani”, the link is here- Birds of Panchgani

So when you travel to some new place, what all things rush to your mind? Expectations about the beauty of nature, some leisure time, gateway from routine life and to have some family time. Isn’t it? For me,this trip was different. Some fresh air to breathe and no one else was my need,of course other than my other half. Where would I leave him anyways :D. I wanted to listen to my mind that needed a definite break from continuous process of regularity, learning and performing in life. Sometimes you should, you know. There is no one else on this planet who can listen to you better than yourself. I do that usually by spending some time alone in early morning or near a beach listening to the waves. Mountains ,though cant be any worse.

Those high peaks far away, what does they say to you? They ask you to keep your head high and keep moving ahead until there is no more stairs to climb. Exactly like birds, they keep on trying reaching the top till the last. I have seen birds trying hard to cross the barrier of heavy wind and fly across. Many a times, they loose but then they wont stop trying. I feel like I have wings sometimes, when I ride my scooty alone in the deserted roads and in the locations with views like this. Let me tell you, the best feeling of freedom ever is to fly.

Panchgani has peace and soul searching power where as Mahabaleshwar has enthusiasm and ecstasy, the spirit of living in the moment. Live it and love it. No reasons will ever justify your tears anyways.

I particularly find all the hills to be similar,then again I don’t stop travelling. You never know what is waiting for you. Keep exploring until you find the best version of you.

Now lets see some birds again from my 18-135mm usm lens.

#birdingwith135mm

Lets start with the cutest pair of my favorite lifer from the trip. Oriental white eyes. When you expect for least,this happens.

Loved watching these cuties through my lens. Moving on to the next lifer. Brown cheeked fulvetta , couldn’t manage a better picture though 😦

Spending a whole evening in a park leaves you with some beautiful images and memories of experiences. Indian black lored tit with grasshoper kill. Watched this beauty taking its own time to finish the lunch on a very high perch.

The very silent and beautifully perched Oriental turtle dove gave me enough time to capture him from different angles.

And yes I never miss a chance to click our very own Red whiskered bulbul no matter how common they are.

Also clicked a few eye catching flora from the gardens of maharashtra.

Let me take your bid and leave you with the most soothing view that everyone loves. The sunset from sunset/bombay point.

I will see you all in my next blog. Till then happy birding , keep smiling and spreading love.

Much love

Riya

Birds of Panchgani

So, in the last weekend of April, we went to one of the nearby hill stations from Goa to celebrate one of our anniversaries. Luckily, it falls on the international labor day and we get a holiday every year. Taking one day-leave on monday making it a long weekend we opted for Mahabaleshwar in South Maharashtra which is around 360 km from north-Goa. It was about to be a leisure trip and being very excited about clicking a lot of landscapes and portraits, I took along my favorite Canon 18-135mm lens only. Unaware of bio-diversity of the area, we had planned one-day stay in panchgani on the way to mahabaleshwar to explore the most of it in least time. Only didn’t we know that that its going to be the best decision of the whole trip. After completing our journey from mapusa by bus and then cab, we landed in panchgani early morning (5am). As soon as we deboarded the cab to step towards our hotel, I already fell in love with this place. Only thing that could fall on my ears was the bird chirp. Staring at the not-so-high trees and birds calling loud on them, we reached our hotel which has a beautiful valley view. I could say one of the bests in panchgani or even in mahabaleshwar if you want to feel the nature close-by.

It was the best possible time and I couldn’t keep my feet inside anymore. Taking my cam and lens which could max go upto 135mm,I went down the valleys near our room. So this post is going to be the birds I spotted and clicked with my landscape/video lens in panchgani and to be continued till my next blog about mahabaleshwar.

#birdingwith135mm

Some pigeons were nesting on the top of the balcony, but I hardly click them. All my attention were grabbed by bulbuls and their loud chirps. I have enough encounters with red-whishkered bulbuls at my place, but they were the red-vented ones that caught me. Turn you face any where and there is one.

Then these oriental magpie robins who looked stunning perching on wires against the beautiful mountains.

Clicking quite a few , I went down a little in hope of getting some nice and close shots. A few house-sparrows on a tree.

The most I could see and not hear were the jungle babblers. The hopping bird I call them.

They were every where, on the roads, on the trees, roofs , hopping around every here and there carrying breakfast.

Being wandering around the place, I couldn’t miss this view of the house-pigeons and the mountains.

When I returned room, I had a home visitor. Red whiskered bulbul (who I guess ,missed me being away a little while ;))

After having breakfast , we finally left for the tour which basically started and ended in the Table-land which was huge and showcases many view points from a single land. One could easily take a horse ride but we preferred walking as we wanted to explore on our own and take a lot of pictures, ofcourse :P. While walking on the table land I got my first lifer there, Oriental Skylark.

The lark family member took the best possible perch and posed for us. But I loved him more in its habitat.

Moving on, we came across another very small bird that almost camouflaged with the dirt and soil. Oriental Pipit

There are always some beautiful wings to watch in the air. Brahminy kite.

There were a few more around our hotel area that were unreachable for me. I wished for a moment, I had my zoom lens but then again there is some positivity in everything around you. Its just been 2 months , I have been using 150-600mm lens and yet not capable of holding it for a long time. So for a trip (not birding trip at least)I would prefer to carry lighter lens with me and enjoy the freshness of nature more.

Indian black bird.

The unreachable starling.

I am going to continue birding and photographing untill my next blog about the mighty mountains of Mahabaleshwar. I don’t know how much I am capable of writing about the nature’s majestic beauty, but then I am a human being and I can only try.

My other birding activities-

Carambolim lake bird watching (Part 1)

Carambolim lake bird watching -part 2

Agonda backwaters- bird watching in tranquility

Birding in Assonora, Goa

Birding from home

There is no end to one’s imagination and creativity, similarly there is no end to one’s passion and activities. I will see you all in my next blog. Untill then have a beautiful time.

Much love

Riya

SHE ~ poetry

She
who is she?

She is the cloud covering the mountains,
She is the unreachable tip of the hill
She is the elevation.

She is the sparkles of the fire,
She is the dew on the leaves you can only admire
She is the feel.

She is the silhouette of the setting sun,
She is the closeness of moonlight companion
She is the silence.

She is the cherry on your ice-cream, that looks perfect un-eaten
She is the soap bubbles you cant catch,
She is the dream.

She is the twinkle of the stars,
She is the cold breeze you feel from far,
She is the bloom.

She is the unforgettable bite,
She is the warmth of blanket in cold night,
She is comfort.

She is the unread chapter of your story,
She is the hidden glory,
She is the mystery.

She is the bird that never returned home,
She is the long awaited wish,
She is the prayer.

She is the wing you want to fly with,
She is the vision you see beauty,
She is the first touch.

She is the salt in your food,
She is the drug on your wound,
She is the need.

She is the hug you live for,
She is the kiss you long for.
She is love.

She is the mist in the foggy night,
She is the arms you want to hold tight,
She is togetherness.

She is your cake, your tea
She is the basic,
She is luxury.

She is the sound of the waves,
She is the chirp you crave,
She is happiness.

She is the sweetest voice,
She is the kindest heart,
She is the longing.

She is the mermaid of your fantasy,
She is the star in your dreams,
She is Her.

Somewhere in the clouds
in the foggy mountains
in the salty oceans
you will find her.

Still the conclusion awaits.
Who is she?

~Riya