Christmas in Sultanpur & the Black Shouldered Kite

When we reached Sultanpur on Christmas day morning it was covered with thick fog, in almost complete whiteout conditions, for the first one hour ( & it was really chill) we began by walking along the wooded area and birding more with ears than the eyes.

Though this pair of Grey Horn Bills kept us entertained.

As the light improved it was the Black-shouldered Kite which made an appearance. We were infact very close to it, but it was hardly bothered about our presence, it was busy preening itself once in a while gave us the looks but mostly ignored our presence.

Then we saw a flock of Small Minivets & a flock of Scarlet Minivets

Then came this Roller Bird which was flashing its brilliant feathers against the sun

Then the visibility slowly improved, there were many small birds which i could not identify. Then we reached the lake for viewing the waterbirds. There were atleast 2-3 thousand water birds with Common Teals, Pintails, Gadwalls, Shovelers, Greylag Geese, Water Hens & many which i could not identify.

The Painted Storks colony was like a market area. We did see three Aquila Eagles, but were too far away to identify. One may have been a Booted Eagle.

Though i was disappointed not been able to identify many birds, i was happy on one count............. i handled a camera, a Canon SX 10 Digital on my own !!

We also had to quickly come back home 'cos i had invited some of my friends over to my place to celebrate Christmas. We had got a small Christmas tree (actually a pine tree), made a few decorations, got some lights et al, my maasi baked an awesome cake with strawberries on it, my mother also baked a cake, generally we had a blast.

Tomorrow night i go for my school trip, we travel to Himachal Pradesh to Shoja for our expedition in the snow................

Aikido Kyu test

I passed my first tests in Aikido

I managed to do all the techniques Sensei asked me to execute as well as to do against my partner & friend Jyotirmoy. The only technique which i (we) messed up was Morete dori Kokyu ho. After the tests Sensei told me, there is much more scope for improvement especially on my Kamae (stance) & my Mai Ukemi (front rolls).

My father told me he was very impressed that i was very relaxed during the test.

Yippee !!!

I am thrilled with myself.

New Delhi Aikido Dojo

Let it be.............

I will be playing the chords & singing along this song by The Beatles when we sing Christmas carols in school


Let It Be (Beatles)



When I find myself in times of trouble,
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom,
let it be

And in my hour of darkness,
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom,
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom,
Let it be
And when the broken hearted people,
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer,
let it be
But though they may be parted,
There is still a chance that they may see
There will be an answer,
let it be

CHORUS: Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer,
let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom,
let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom,
let it be

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on till tomorrow,
let it be
I wake up to the sound of music,
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom,
let it be

CHORUS

Pradip Krishen visits Mirambika...........

Our project on trees got a major fillip when the author of Trees of Delhi, Mr Pradip Krishen visited our school.

He was really nice & patient. We went for a walk with him on our campus, he was able to identify all the trees. Infact with one of the trees he had his doubts & all of us appreciated his honesty, when he said he will get back to us with all the details.

Now we are trying to work on making the database we have created of all the trees/ flora in the campus into a compilation. That will be done after the holidays.

As of now i would like to thank Pradip Krishen to have come to our school & spend time with us. It was really wonderful & useful. Also i got him to autograph on my copy of the book Trees of Delhi !!

Thank you...... sir !!

A very interesting three part interview with Pradip Krishen can be read here, here & here

The quest for Clues

I went to see this play with my friends called The quest for Clues.

The story was something like this ..................

Kim & Maya hates the idea of going to India for holidays it s the same boring routine. But when they reaches their grandparents sleepy farm, strange things happen. Kim discovers that somebody is out to kill her grandfather. In an attempt to rescue her grandfather they get caught in a trap that transports them back into time. Maya, her pesky sister refuses to be left behind. Will they come back? Will they find clues to help them solve the mystery? Or will they helplessly watch their grandfather die? Go back into time with Kim and Maya and find out.