The Indian Silverbill

It was quite sunny, bright in the morning, but the sun set in a wide, red glow. Late at night, the sky turns a muddy red and unexpected drops of rain fall on the screen of my phone. Looking up, the deodar trees stand motionless, rigid while a single sagwan tree across the road swishes drunkenly from a singularly wayward gust of wind. And even as I take it in, streaks of lightning singe the brooding sky.

Another morning, another day visits us. Today has been worthwhile for I have been able to identify one bird that has been visiting us lately :

At first I thought it was a sparrow. Sparrows, those house friendly birds that were once so abundant, have drastically reduced in numbers and that is a telling commentary on the degraded environment in which we abide these days. Thankfully, there are still a few sparrows around, such as this proud male -

Sparrow in the pomegranate bush, Faridabad  

This bird is smaller than the sparrow, the beak is quite different, and the black throat patch, eye liner is absent 

Finally, I thought that since the bill resembles that of a finch, I should look for finches and in course of that search, I came upon the Indian Silverbill, also known as the white throated munia, aila!

Indian Silverbill, Faridabad

Actually, these birds move in flocks but this bird,as you can see, allowed me the indulgence to capture it at rest. Notice the steel grey bill and the patch on the tail. The white patch. And these birds sure appreciate the water!

That is the lemon tree, of the fragrant variety. The whole tree has sprouted white flowers, which attracts not only the sparrows and the silverbill, but also the red vented bulbul, the robins, wrens and the common babblers.

The Red vented Bulbul under the lemon tree

Meanwhile, my favorite rosebush has also burst into an abundance of glory 

Got myself another budding rosebush, should hope this one keeps up to the standards!

Finally, the sky opens up and lets down in torrents. A time to listen to some music again, this time Chris Botti performing the Steps of Positano on his trumpet - 

Again

In these silent waves, drenched 

in the unworldly glow of midnight

(the dust and grime of the streets, settled

the stately avenue trees resting

even the cicadas have no complaint)

Awake, a delirious me, awash

in a sea of unresolved nothingness

Breathe me a whisper again

breathe me into life

Again.

Sting, and Stevie Wonder. Two musical geniuses. In "Fragile," one of the most popular numbers of  Sting. 

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are ....

Amrita, gloriously white

With the first footsteps of spring, the glorious white rose has again started blooming. Never imagined however, that it would be so difficult to capture it on camera, never imagined its subtle changes in mood and I am actually reduced to silent admiration 

Most roses are sadly bereft of scent. This one however, has an indescribably heady fragrance and that is what makes it truly special

Elsewhere, some honeybees have started visiting, busily lapping up the pollen ..

The colors and wonders of Nature are truly astonishing and traditionally, Indian weavers and craftsmen have also drawn profusely from Nature in their motifs and designs. If you have noticed, the translucent orange glow in the white rose seems almost heavenly although its purpose appears to be nothing more mundane than attracting pollinating agents. 

I wish it could actually talk back to me, tell me its secrets, listen to me for I am completely, madly, head over heels in love with the gloriously white, Amrita!


The Roses

A rose by itself is every rose.
And this one is irreplaceable,
perfect, one sufficient word
in the context of all things.

.......

(Rilke)