RETURN OF TIKTOK

 

TikToks are back again. That is the nickname given to the Chameleons who visit our garden. They are in mating season. Thus, there is a lot of activity happening on most of the trees.

 

They go looking for insects and Kingfishers and Shikras have an eye on TikToks. The cycle of life gets completed and the balance of nature is maintained.

 

Last evening I had a little conversation with this rustic fellow. As I was feeding the fish on the roof, I heard a ‘rustle’ and then saw something moving from the corner of my eye. The sun being in my eyes I could not make out what it was. I took it for a lizard but its tail was a definite giveaway.

 

This guy was very shy. As I must have approached a pot where he was sitting, he would have sensed danger and scooted behind one of the wooden army boxes. With the body well covered, two inches of his tail was still jutting out beyond the box. I was quite surprised to find a TikTok on the roof. This got me thinking, why was this gentleman here and what could he be looking for.

 

Hi! I said as I bent over the rear side of the box. For a moment he turned into a statue and froze. He was completely still and I lost him. His tail was still showing but the body was so well silhouetted on the box that I couldn’t even make out his contours. But then I saw his rough skin and spines on his back.

 

Hello, you dirty fellow, go have a wash I said. He replied curtly, you better repaint your boxes, they have greyed and dulled. Aye-Aye sir, I said and broke into laughter.

 

This guy true to his nature had changed his colours from skin colour to dark grey within seconds. That is what they are known for.

 

I told him not to be afraid. But he did not trust me. Are you from our part of the garden? I asked. To which he chuckled. I understood that he must have climbed the roof from the house behind ours using the ‘Giloy’ creeper. A lot of insects loiter in those vines, good killing ground for TikTok.

 

With no intention to scare him, I got on with my camera to click some bulbuls who wanted to have a drink. In between I tried to focus on Mr TikTok but the space behind the box was so congested and dark that taking a photo was not possible. I left him to himself.

 

As birds come for a drink in the evening, one has to stand very still. Any jerky movement scares the birds away. Even if you lift the camera a little quicker than usual, it is good enough for them to get alerted.

 

As I waited for the birds, Mr TikTok thought that the coast was clear and moved out of his hide. He crossed the whole floor at ‘full clip’ to the other end where another row of boxes is used as a stand for my Adenium plants. TikTok didn’t have to change colours as the same camouflage continued.

 

Slowly and steadily, he started walking through the pots, halting, rolling his eyes in all directions and then moving ahead. I didn’t know why but was curious. One by one he scanned, waited and repeated the process till he reached the middle row of pots. Then the action began. His tongue shot out and caught hold of juicy grasshopper.

 

I had no words to thank Mr TikTok. I also solved the mystery of the ‘half-eaten’ adenium leaves. These grasshoppers are masters of camouflage too. They stick to the caudex and vanish, blending with the plant. TikTok continued on his treasure hunt. Then he changed course.

 

I was standing very close to a bucket in which ‘water hyacinth’ plants are growing. This place is a bee paradise. You can hear a constant buzz all day. They land and walk on the leaves and get into the foliage, pick up the water and move out the same way. A short halt on the surface and off they go.

 

Mr TikTok did a ‘confirmatory recce’ and chose a vantage point which is the tap. He clutched hard on the attached hose and kept picking the bees one by one till his belly bulged. I could make out as his tummy looked like a ‘dhol’ after having eaten a grasshopper and quite a few bees.

 

I did not want to startle him and left him to enjoy his shikar. I am sure soon he would get his lady and maybe children to enjoy this space on our rooftop garden.

 

Will Mr TikTok return with his family? I wonder!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS