Enjoy Eagleton memories! A compilation of my old blogs!
I had blogged about Eagleton during 2018's. Putting it all together. Golfers love to get birdies! Especially on their score sheets. These birdies are special because golfers took precious time off from golf for these pictures.
I start with a comment from Mr. Moorthy…
A very welcome initiative by 'Nidhis ,excellent introductory piece by H. Guru ji sets it off on a roll. Look forward to enjoying enriching contributions and interactions.Thanks and congratulations to all involved.
The blog is yet to develop. Initially it is contributions from individual residents beginning with Mr. Guru Chahal, a long term resident. He loves to walk and write poetry. His contribution should encourage us to go out and walk. Keep our eyes, ears and our hearts open to what nature provides.
"Thank you, Nidhi!
My wife, Ivy, and I moved to Eagleton on the 1st of December 2010, bag and baggage. Since I'm not a golfer, I cannot go lyrical about the ecstasy of hitting a hole in one but I have had my share of simple joys staying in this eco-friendly haven. There's not a nook or corner of this vast estate that I haven't yet touched during my morning walks at least five days a week. To say that Eagleton is a nature-lover's delight would be an understatement.
Where we live in The County, the gateway to Nature's glories is a mere minute away. The extensive flora all over Eagleton is varied, variegated and wonderfully colourful in all seasons. The trees and flowering bushes, as well as the grasses (when they are not cut) are home to a stunning variety of bird life, butterflies, insects of all kind, rodents and reptiles. I have seen eagles galore, soaring in the open sky or chasing hapless crows and other weaker birds; I have heard the melodious nightingale sing in full-throated ease; the squirrels' irritatingly-shrill squeaking; the crickets' non-stop stridulating, and the frightening hiss of the cobra. I have had a hare cross my path to my utter delight, and a red-wattled lapwing repeatedly chirp 'did you do it'! Beautifully decked-up butterflies have obliged me by opening and shutting their wings repeatedly and letting me take their close-ups. I have sat on a bench facing my favourite banyan tree countless number of times, reflecting on life, writing poetry or simply being.
No wonder then that while posting my pictures on the Eagleton Community's Facebook page, I have so often quoted William Wordsworth's famous words - 'Nature never did betray a heart that loved her'."
"Thank you, Nidhi!
My wife, Ivy, and I moved to Eagleton on the 1st of December 2010, bag and baggage. Since I'm not a golfer, I cannot go lyrical about the ecstasy of hitting a hole in one but I have had my share of simple joys staying in this eco-friendly haven. There's not a nook or corner of this vast estate that I haven't yet touched during my morning walks at least five days a week. To say that Eagleton is a nature-lover's delight would be an understatement.
Where we live in The County, the gateway to Nature's glories is a mere minute away. The extensive flora all over Eagleton is varied, variegated and wonderfully colourful in all seasons. The trees and flowering bushes, as well as the grasses (when they are not cut) are home to a stunning variety of bird life, butterflies, insects of all kind, rodents and reptiles. I have seen eagles galore, soaring in the open sky or chasing hapless crows and other weaker birds; I have heard the melodious nightingale sing in full-throated ease; the squirrels' irritatingly-shrill squeaking; the crickets' non-stop stridulating, and the frightening hiss of the cobra. I have had a hare cross my path to my utter delight, and a red-wattled lapwing repeatedly chirp 'did you do it'! Beautifully decked-up butterflies have obliged me by opening and shutting their wings repeatedly and letting me take their close-ups. I have sat on a bench facing my favourite banyan tree countless number of times, reflecting on life, writing poetry or simply being.
No wonder then that while posting my pictures on the Eagleton Community's Facebook page, I have so often quoted William Wordsworth's famous words - 'Nature never did betray a heart that loved her'."
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| A single soaring bird is surely a symbol of a free spirit (My caption!) |
I like that the next set of pictures were sent by Mr. Chandrashekar. He is a keen gofer, plays five days a week! It is nice that he also has a keen eye to capture the panorama a golf course offers. Its variety is mind boggling. It is great he is also is able to spot birds.
Happily he has promised to keep sharing the pictures he takes. 😊
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October 08, 2018
Happily he has promised to keep sharing the pictures he takes. 😊
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| It is a special feeling if you tee off early in the morning. |
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| Some days it is just magical as the sun rises over the trees |
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| caddies advise us to aim towards Sun God! |
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| It is a long walk which adds up to 7 Kms |
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| The pretty lakes do challenge you! |
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| Some birds do not care for golf |
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| While some birds watch us Putt! |
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| It is also a good idea to swim after a game of golf. Lovely settings for a swim |
I saw and wrote excitedly about a bird which flew into our garden. Common around here in Eagleton, it is known as Bhradwaj in Marathi or crow pheasant or coucal. Keen to learn more, I requested Pervez, a resident, a keen bird watcher and photographer to share his gyan about birds in and around Eagleton which he kindly did. He shared pictures on birds and loaned me the book, "The Book of Indian Birds" by Salim Ali. I have added brief notes he wrote on the birds and have also borrowed from the book.
Our foliage; the shrubs, tall grass and fruit trees, is the main reason these birds made Eagleton their home or to migrate here during winters. The birds were here before us, and are a treasure. It is my fervent hope that Eagleton, as more houses come up, will ensure that its rare beauty is retained, and it will continue to be eco-friendly. I am inspired by Singapore which after unbridled growth has now realised that birds must come back to the city and are working to make it happen.
Returning to Bangalore after many years, it was sad to see that the greenery which surrounded Bangalore is missing and is now a concrete jungle. Eagleton about an hour away from the city is unique and needs to be preserved for posterity and it is doable. We are lucky to have open spaces, small gardens at different blocks, the Founders Memorial Park, as well as many villas with large gardens.
Hope you enjoy the first lot of pictures taken by Pervez around his home, some even through his window! He has more to share and has an idea on how these birds could be introduced. "Maybe another blog you could do on wintering birds, male and female of species, predator bird etc etc. Some kind of theme could be useful" and indeed it would be fun! He rightly begins the sharing with the "State Bird of Karnataka!" The Indian Roller.
Returning to Bangalore after many years, it was sad to see that the greenery which surrounded Bangalore is missing and is now a concrete jungle. Eagleton about an hour away from the city is unique and needs to be preserved for posterity and it is doable. We are lucky to have open spaces, small gardens at different blocks, the Founders Memorial Park, as well as many villas with large gardens.
Hope you enjoy the first lot of pictures taken by Pervez around his home, some even through his window! He has more to share and has an idea on how these birds could be introduced. "Maybe another blog you could do on wintering birds, male and female of species, predator bird etc etc. Some kind of theme could be useful" and indeed it would be fun! He rightly begins the sharing with the "State Bird of Karnataka!" The Indian Roller.
Indian Roller
is seen around this time of the year, at onset of winter.
Another view of the Indian Roller
Local name Neelkanth. Both sexes look alike. Mostly found in cultivation, thin forest and grassland, rather than deep forest. They are also spotted in urban and suburban areas. Indian Roller prefers open ground, cultivated fields, local parks and cities at lower elevation. Food: Insects, nuts and seeds, small reptiles. Female chooses a mate among the males that try to show off while courting her. Male provides food for the female, helps in building a nest, later shares duty during the incubation with the female. Young ones leave parents when they are two months old.
Garuda. Brahminy Kite. The most majestic bird seen in Eagleton and on the golf course. Pervez says you can always see them behind the 8th Hole Green as they nest there. Food: Fish, frogs, small snakes etc.,Both sexes look alike and share domestic duties. Nest: a loose platform of twigs, lined with green leaves built up in a large peepul, banyan or similar tree. |
Red Headed Black Ibis
Seen on the Golf course. Once Pervez had counted 18 of them on the course.Both sexes look alike. Seen on open country side. Keeps to favoured localities. Food:Insects, grain and small reptiles. Nest high on the trees.
Red Wattled Lapwig
Titwi in Marathi. The noisiest bird that you can hear even during the nights. Open country, fields. Ceaselessly vigilant. Lays its egg on the ground along with some pebbles placed around it as a camouflage and has a loud penetrating “ Did-he-do-it” call when a rodent or snake approaches the eggs to scare them away. Food: Insects, grub.
Green Bee Eaters
Chinna Passeriki in Telugu. Inhabits open country, golf links. We can see scores of them behind H-block. Food: Insects, launches aerial sallies after bees. Much noise before retiring for the night. Both sexes share duties. Nest: a horizontal oblique tunnel ending in a wide egg chamber in a borrow-pit or uneven sandy ground.
Black Drongo
Kotwal in Marathi. Kari Karuman in Tamil. A small black bird that is seen to chase Brahminy Kites and it imitates the call of other birds. Seen in open country, perched on telegraph wires or attending on grazing cattle.Food:Insects, flower nectar and occasional small birds. Both sexes are alike and share all domestic duties and are bold in defense.Nest: a flimsy bottomed cup of fine twigs and fibers. In fork at the extremity of a branch of a tall tree.
Bay Backed Shrike
A small bird. Sexes alike. Singly in dry, thinly-wooded country and cultivation. Food: Locusts and other large insects, lizards. Normally utters harsh churring notes. In breeding season the male has a pleasant warbling song including imitation of other birds' calls. Nest: a neat compact cup of grass,rags,wool and feathers.
Brown Shrike Juvenile.
Kerkheta in Hindi.The brown shrike is a migratory species. Winter visitor. Seen in forest edges, secondary scrub jungle. Food: Large insects, small birds, mammals, lizards. Keeps a larder! Nesting: extralimital (Not found in the area)
Ashy Prinia
Size of a Sparrow. Ashy slate above, fulvous white below. Hops around bushes with tail constantly shaken up and down. Sexes look alike. Pairs in gardens and in well-watered scrub country. Share all domestic duties. Food: Insects. Its song is repetitive. Nests two types, a funnel of stitched leaves and an oblong purse of woven fibers tacked and bound with cobweb to the supporting leaves.
Golden Oriole Medium-sized like Myna. Arboreal. Bright golden yellow and a broad black mask. It feeds on, banyan and peepul figs, berries and insects, also flower nectar. Dweller of open but well wooded country with large trees, around villages and cultivation, and in gardens along the roadside, even in noisy towns. Beautiful nests hung hammock-wise. Both sexes share all domestic duties. |
Coucal or Kalli Kaka in Tamil
The bird which took a visit to our garden. Is called clumsy! Sexes alike. Stalks along the undergrowth in open forests, and in groves about human habitations. Food: Caterpillars, large insects, lizards, young mice, birds' eggs. Nest- an untidy mass of twigs, leaves. Both sexes share all domestic duties.
Inspired by these pictures I took a walk towards H block one evening and was lucky to see a pretty sunset! I met Pervez on a walk who said I was a bit late for bird watching. More about it later.
Wonder whether males of our species will like birds as much after learning that most male birds share domestic duties! We of course have found our own solutions!
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| Chandra captured it on the golf course |
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| Amazing catch |
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| This is in fact an Eagle by Chandra :-) |
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| Bala shared this and one below |
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| Krishnan got this snake head birdie on Hole no 13! |
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| Dr. Raman shared this |
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| Bharat got this one on hole no. 7 |
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| Anu saw this composition from hole no 5 |
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Ravi Raj got this as the bird set to fly!
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Please tell me if I missed a few postings.
I still have to figure posting a few videos of birds.
Residents also shared a few dramatic sunrise and sunsets.
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| From Chandra who as a keen golfer is up before sunrise! |
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| This is from Sureka. A stunning sunset |
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| Another dramatic sunset from Sureka |
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| Also from Sureka |
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| Paddy captured it |
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| I was lucky to catch the sun as it almost set |
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| Blazing Colors |
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| Somber Pastoral scene from Asha Rajan ( To see this picture hurts badly!) |
I am sharing pictures shared by Dr. Raman
Wonderful colors and dramatic views
This one is from Paddy !
These pictures shared urges us to look downwards .A closer look at the small things around us. Cheryl Balfour took these pictures. Yes they too count! Wonder whether they have names
Asha Rajan shared this lovely picture of a Dragon Fly.
We see many around us and perhaps the reason we have less mosquitoes this season.
This is from Paddy,
I think he was looking for his lost golf ball and found this pretty one!
My picture of a Dragon Fly. The shadows caught my eye.
While we wait for pictures of 'birds' spotted by our residents,
Mr. Chandrasekhar posted a few in our social WhatsApp group.
These are special as not many walk the golf courses early to catch the mist at dawn.
I urge residents to share the picures they took. We can gradually compile them.
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| It is magical as you walk into the golf course early in the morning |
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| It is a special feeling to be out there all by yourself. |
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| They say it is the best time for photography |
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| The birds have started to arrive |
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| This is one of the best with simmering water reflection |
I have added a few of my own of the golf course!
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| Still waters early in the morning |
A few pictures of the residents colony
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| A view from the top |
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| As we climb the Surya Hill |
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| Near D block |
From outside our home!
Eagletonians do have winter visitors, our golfing friends and we look forward to them! The ones I am blogging about are not the golfing kind. They do come, flying on their own wing power!
Pervez shared a few pictures he took of these visitors for my blog. It is amazing that these little birds have flown so many miles to spend the winter with us. ( There are more to share!)
I asked him if we could go bird watching and spot them. I thought our grandchildren who will be here in December would have fun and learn as well. Sadly not so easy. These birds, with the exception of Black Napped Oriole, which perch on trees, prefer shrubs and swampy areas which have become smaller in Eagleton and a little unsafe, especially for kids, as dogs have chosen these areas to lay their puppies.
Many varieties of Birds do come to Bangalore and its outskirts during winter. Some all the way from Siberia, over 5000 kms away! If we like them to come to Eagleton, we need to create a more suitable environment. We have the space, trees and water tanks and hopefully with a few changes the birds will be encouraged to land here. I am told it is doable. We need some fruit trees, water bodies with a bit of marshy area around it.
We could try a small project, with the help of experts, in and around the Memorial Park and gradually extend to as many common areas as possible. Some residents have already planted fruit trees which I hope has brought in the birds. I urge the residents to take pictures of the birds that visit them for us to see and also to encourage others to do likewise.
I asked him if we could go bird watching and spot them. I thought our grandchildren who will be here in December would have fun and learn as well. Sadly not so easy. These birds, with the exception of Black Napped Oriole, which perch on trees, prefer shrubs and swampy areas which have become smaller in Eagleton and a little unsafe, especially for kids, as dogs have chosen these areas to lay their puppies.
Many varieties of Birds do come to Bangalore and its outskirts during winter. Some all the way from Siberia, over 5000 kms away! If we like them to come to Eagleton, we need to create a more suitable environment. We have the space, trees and water tanks and hopefully with a few changes the birds will be encouraged to land here. I am told it is doable. We need some fruit trees, water bodies with a bit of marshy area around it.
We could try a small project, with the help of experts, in and around the Memorial Park and gradually extend to as many common areas as possible. Some residents have already planted fruit trees which I hope has brought in the birds. I urge the residents to take pictures of the birds that visit them for us to see and also to encourage others to do likewise.
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| Black Napped Oriole. Breeds in Eastern Himalayas Prefers large trees and fruit bearing trees. Size of a Myna. Eats fruits, insects and nectar. |
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| Blyth's Reed Warbler Size of a sparrow. Breeds in Siberia Prefer bushes and like to be a little away from water. |
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| Indian Silverbill Size of Sparrow. Breeds in Himalayas, NE or Myanmar Inhabits dry, open country, scrub and bush country. |
Red Avadavaat
Size of a Sparrow. Himalayas
Prefers damp localities. Shares domestic duties
Size of a Sparrow. Himalayas
Prefers damp localities. Shares domestic duties
Red Avadavaat Female
Scaly Breasted Munia
Lower Himalaya, Assam
Flocks in open cultivation. Shares domestic duties
Tri color Munia
Size of a Sparrow. Nalla Jinuwayi in Telugu.
Eastern ghats and near Belgaum
Partial to swampy areas with reeds and grass
Size of a Sparrow. Nalla Jinuwayi in Telugu.
Eastern ghats and near Belgaum
Partial to swampy areas with reeds and grass
White Browed Wagtail
Size of a Bulbul. Himalayan foot hills.
Likes clear smooth running streams, also village tanks and reservoirs
Size of a Bulbul. Himalayan foot hills.
Likes clear smooth running streams, also village tanks and reservoirs
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| White Rumped Munia. Size of sparrow. Sub-Himalayan belt. Open country feeds on grass seeds etc.,in and around cultivation |
Bhuvana we miss Pervez a lot. Here is hoping that his special dream of making Eagleton a habitat for birds does come true!
The residential area, consisting of various blocks with villas, the county, the streets lined with trees and the open spaces is beautiful and a relief for the sore eyes. Many nice bungalows and villas both in colonial and modern styles have come up.
While I plan to continue my blogs posting pictures of birds and beautiful trees and plants, contributed by the residents, I pause to wonder how it would be in the future. It is sure that gradually the open spaces will be filled up.
There are guidelines for the buildings. More than that Mr. Ashok Meda, the visionary founder, initiated the pattern for us to follow. Imposing tall trees and flowering plants are already seen lined along the roads. Each individual site have at least two trees in the front and a few more within. It is true a few trees have not grown or have fallen down due to some reason. I hope the owners, whatever style they build in the future, will make place for trees and plants. Even add to the ones provided by the founders. It applies even to the existing villas!
It is clear that we residents, should ensure that the public places like parks, small gardens and so on are made as pretty as possible and maintained. While it is being done, we can also make it bird friendly, especially for the visitors which have started arriving.
Here are a few pictures, contributed by Gopalratnam and Nanjundaswamy which capture just the surroundings of our residential area as it is today. There are more spaces which add to the beauty of our residential area; the Sun God statue and the temple, the founder memorial park and the Golf Course itself to name a few!
These pictures were shared in our WhatsApp Social group. The moments are precious as it acknowledges the effort that has gone into creating a garden and nurturing a flowering plant. There is pride and love of beauty as we try to capture the moment. There are a few pictures of birds perching on trees. Often we hear them chirping, to see them is indeed pleasure.
My thanks to all who shared their moments and look forward to more pictures. I have to find names of the flowers or plants. May be I will ask you to name them to enable me to add it to the blog later.
I have used the WhatsApp names for the contributors. I have credited each picture or group of pictures with their names. There may be some errors and as while transferring them the sequence was a bit lost. Please correct me.
These pictures are from Paddy. (Padmanabhan)
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| Laxmhan Phal |
These are from Cheryl Balfour
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| The white carpet is amazing! |
The next two are from Sridhar
These two are from Sureka
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| Papayas are very good and sweet |
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| I like this one! |
Rajkumari shared these two.
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| Amita Shetty posted this |
Anu Luktukke: Madagascar Jasmine
These pictures of Birds were posted by Chandra
Not easy to take pictures of birds!
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| Always nice to see birds perched together. |
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| We are all constantly aware that this is snake territory |
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| Asha Rajan shared this. There are so many of them. Wonder why? |
I will include it once I figure how to add the Video
This happened yesterday. As we were crossing the tiny stream across the fourth hole, we saw an young snake swimming along and trying to get into the pond on the right of the fairway. It looked harmless and even innocent as a babe as it swam. I tried to take a few pictures, and the phone battery went to sleep. Luckily Prasanna who plays with us, not a resident, took a video.
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| It was a thin wiry snake. |
That evening I met Pervez, a resident, a bird watcher, lover and photographer, seeking information about the birds he had seen in Eagleton. ( More about it in a blog later on). I mentioned to him about how upset I felt seeing a snake killed on the golf course.
He felt it could be a bird which had killed. Birds do pick up small snakes to feed on. In fact, the carcass was under a tree. Perhaps a bird had picked it up with its talons and had settled on the tree to feed and the snake had fallen down. I recalled seeing two impressive Garuda Pakshi (Brahmini kite) flying around the hole no.7 fairway. While I still felt sad, it did not feel that bad, as nature had taken its course! Harsh but that is how it is!
There was a lot of excitement the last few days. I posted a few pictures in our Eagleton WhatsApp group and learnt a bit about the bird who came visiting, but more importantly discovered that we have residents who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the life around us in Eagleton. (Not limited to h!omo sapiens.) They have promised to share the pictures and their knowledge about these valuable neighbors and visitors. It is my job to post them in this blog and also on the Eagleton Community page on FaceBook. I would like to cover the fauna as well as flora which is happily all around us. Thanks again for the interest shown in educating people like us.
A bit about Ourselves. Perhaps the story is typical. I bought a small plot at Eagleton some years ago so that I could play golf. After a while the commute became tiring. It made sense to come the previous evening, play in the morning and getaway. A few friends who had built or bought a Villa at the county encouraged us to build. We built a small villa a few years ago and began to stay overnight. We are part-timers! We do try to stay longer as my wife, Tara Srinidhi, is now retired.
Intent on golf, I didn't think of the 'fauna' that existed here. We did notice a molted snake skin as we started the building. I remember being told "this is snake territory, make sure they don't make a 'villa' in your compound". We did encounter snakes in the small garden we have. They do come and go as it is their territory. We need to get used to the idea and be cautious.
More irritating and frustrating are the frogs, who manage to get in somehow. We have discovered lizards are hard to avoid. The babies are paper thin and squeeze through. We did get gypped by the guy who put in the mesh doors. I guess we need to work on it again. So far we have been lucky to largely avoid other insects. Mosquitoes are of course a worry, they do find ways of getting in. But the meshed doors do help.
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| Happily quite a few of the residents identified it as Coucal or Crow Pheasant. Limited flyer as Bala recalls. I did see one flying LOW across as I drove in Eagleton. |
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| They are seen in the undergrowth of wooded areas |
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| This moth was stuck on the glass door for a long time! |
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| This was sometime ago. It looks bigger as it was too close to the camera as it inspected our place. It was actually thumb sized bird |
A bit about Ourselves. Perhaps the story is typical. I bought a small plot at Eagleton some years ago so that I could play golf. After a while the commute became tiring. It made sense to come the previous evening, play in the morning and getaway. A few friends who had built or bought a Villa at the county encouraged us to build. We built a small villa a few years ago and began to stay overnight. We are part-timers! We do try to stay longer as my wife, Tara Srinidhi, is now retired.
Intent on golf, I didn't think of the 'fauna' that existed here. We did notice a molted snake skin as we started the building. I remember being told "this is snake territory, make sure they don't make a 'villa' in your compound". We did encounter snakes in the small garden we have. They do come and go as it is their territory. We need to get used to the idea and be cautious.
More irritating and frustrating are the frogs, who manage to get in somehow. We have discovered lizards are hard to avoid. The babies are paper thin and squeeze through. We did get gypped by the guy who put in the mesh doors. I guess we need to work on it again. So far we have been lucky to largely avoid other insects. Mosquitoes are of course a worry, they do find ways of getting in. But the meshed doors do help.
