Mastodawn

Found a female firefly, in a typical larval looking form.

The pictures don't capture the glow we saw , originating from the bottom. Dull flourescent green

On reading, it seems the females are the more influential half of the night twinkling that happens, controlling reproduction, mistresses of chemistry, & even being femmes fatales.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly

#firefly #glowworm #beetles #beetlemania #IndiasNature #entomology #nature #bioluminescence

Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman 5d ago

There are benches and then there are benches.

Never seen one like this, at charming roadside tea shop, with (shockingly) parking for a dozen vehicles

Among the more interesting furniture was this absolutely delight of a bench made from straight wooden branches, not sure the species , initially thought Chir Pine (Pinux roxburghii) but maybe not.

#art #craft #furniture #himalayas #india #IndiasNature #teashop #wood #bench

Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman Jun 6

Contemplative weather, and a comtemplative Spotted Dove. Clouds are at play with the mountains.

#SpottedDove #Birds #himalayas #IndiasNature #Clouds #mountains #SpilopeliaChinensis

Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman May 22

Just a bit over 24 hours ago was on a mixed forest mountain trail.

The opposite of modern dystopia - no jostling, quiet, can't say cool but not boiling hot either. Plenty of - flowers & some fruting plants; arthropods (butterflies, bees, beetles, cockroaches, spiders etc) ; & birds singing, calling, foraging silently, some harassed by baby duties. & Even the call of a less seen / heard Grey-bellied Tesia.

#NotDystopia #Forests #Nature #Birding #bloomscrolling #IndiasNature #Himalayas #ferns

Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman May 21

Birding, & eating what the birds eat

A very nice bird walk in a village near Mukteshwar.

Highlights many - the special one was the song of a Grey-bellied Tesia.

End of main walk break consisted of peaches (cultivated) and the round fruit of wild Myrica esculenta, locally Kaaphal.

The Indian Cuckoo sings Kaaphal Paako..., Kaaphal Pakiyo. (& not surprisingly the local name is simply "Kaphaal Paako")

#Wildberries #fruits #birding #nature #naturewalks #IndiasNature #Himalayas #Uttarakhand

Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman May 21

Over the past week I traveled over some side roads - day time & even later in the nights. Narrow but good road, low traffic, & very kind people.

Stopped a few times to get photos or just take a break. Almost always had friendly chats with people &. almost always they just handed me large delicious Peaches. Unbidden.

In one case a man gave me the fruit from under an almost closed shutter.

#kindness #fruits #nature #people #uttarakhand #peaches #india #indiasNature #himalayas #travel