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ROBIN’S VISIT

  LT COL NOEL ELLIS   09/VI/2025   The breeze was very cool this morning, very like the desert breeze. The sand would have cooled in the night and now was transferring that cool to the winds. A gust while you walk reacts with the sweat and makes you shiver at times.   The same breeze slowly starts to heat up as the sand and rocks are scorched by the sun. The buildings are made of stone (Bhaata), which is the mainstay of and an alternative for bricks in our city since ages also tends to heat up adding to the rise in the temperature. By midday it turns into ‘Loo’ or very hot air. This warm air blows till eight in the evening after which the mercury dips slowly. It is a daily cycle.   The birds too are feeling the heat. Like dogs pant with their tongues hanging, you can see these dainty creatures sitting with their mouths open and breathing through their beaks. For their temporary relief, we sprinkle the trees with water. These girls shake a fea...
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MR & MRS TIKTOK

  LT COL NOEL ELLIS   08/VI/2025   It is that time of the year when pest control has to be done at home. Not for any other reason but for the cockroaches which had been hiding in the dark dungeons of the underground pipes decide to air their differences by slipping out of the drainage covers to explore the world above.   I was mentioning to my wife that this year their size is quite small. Generally they are two inches plus, but this year they were not even half the size. Later that I realised these could be baby roaches, who followed their moms and could not trace their way back when danger lurked.   They just roam around, twiddle their whiskers, walk around like ‘Dons’, open their wings and try to fly sometimes. Yes, sometimes they do get into bins and storage spaces, that is when things start getting disgusting. The “kitanoo” or germs they carry is a big concern.   One solid ‘whack’ and it turns turtle, trying to swim upside down ...

BIRD BABIES GALORE

  LT COL NOEL ELLIS   06/VI/2025   It is ‘baby time’ in and around the Ellis’ Garden. You name a bird and it is caring and feeding its chicks. Most babies have grown and reached ‘semi flying stage, that is, flying in short bursts. From a tree, to the ground and back to a bush.   The chicks are testing their endurance and honing their flying skills. The watchful parents remain in the close vicinity. Not only are they guarding them, raising alarms in case of emergencies but also feeding them at regular intervals. In their tweets, they tell them various techniques to fly, like using their wings for lift, twisting their rudder aka tail to turn and many more.   ‘Shikar’ is another skill in which they impart practical and thorough training. Till the baby catches an insect on its own, they keep getting it to a spot where they spotted an insect. In unison the ‘parent pair’ flap their wings vigorously, to disturb that insect while the baby sits observing on a branch clos...

GROWING MANGO TREES

    LT COL NOEL ELLIS   05/VI/2025   Greetings to all my friends on “World Environment Day”. Since 2011, my family and I have planted at least one tree to give back to what the environment gives to us. Since the last four years in particular, our score has been about 100 plants which I grew from seeds and planted besides gifting plants to friends to grow.   This campaign is on. I shall do my bit year on year.   There could be no better time to get into action once again. So, we as a family got down to planting seeds of trees. Some we will distribute amongst environmental enthusiasts who go and plant these saplings in their homes or their place of work.   We encourage them and their children to do small projects at home. You need minimal items to start planting. A seed, a container, and some garden soil, that’s it. People think that growing plants is too complicated, which actually is otherwise.   For a container, it cou...

VISIT BY THE COUCALS

    LT COL NOEL ELLIS   04/VI/2025   A drumstick tree in our neighbourhood has been such a blessing. Not only in terms of its leaves that we chew, the flowers used in Raita (curd) as a souring agent, as also the Drumsticks, making a good vegetable and an excellent accompaniment for ‘Sambhar’ fresh as fresh can be. From the tree to the pot.   Besides, the number of birds and insects it has attracted has given me such lovely photos. Let me list them out.   In the small bird category are the Bulbuls, Sparrows, Finches, Hummingbirds, Bob tails, Dhoban Chiriya, Tailor birds, Weaver birds, Robins, Bee eaters, Seven sisters, Barbet, etc.   In the medium ones are Kingfishers, Owlets, Drongos, Shikras, Coucals, Koels, Doves, Crows, Mynahs, Rollers, Parrots, Partridges, Lapwings, Kootris (Rufous Treepie), Wire tailed swallows, Hoopoes, Yellow footed Green Pigeons, and common Pigeons.   In the larger variety the visitors have been...

RAIN LILY @ Ellis' Garden

 First bloom of our rain lilies @Ellis' Garden

Birds @Ellis' Garden

  When you need a drink