4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - RED VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus cafer)

The Red-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer, is a passerine bird from the bulbul family. It is characterized by a short crest that gives its head a distinctive squarish profile. The plumage is primarily dark brown with a scaly appearance, and the head is often darker or black. A notable feature is the white rump contrasting sharply with the red vent, from which it derives its name. The bird measures approximately 20 cm in length and sports a long black tail with a white tip.

Adult Red-vented Bulbuls have a black head, a prominent crest, and a dark brown body with a scaly pattern. The rump is white, and the vent is a vivid red. The Himalayan subspecies exhibit a more pronounced crest and streaking on the underside. The sexes are similar in plumage, but juveniles are generally duller.

This species is typically found in dry scrub, open forest, plains, and cultivated lands. It is not commonly seen in mature forests within its native range.

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - INDIAN GREY HORNBILL (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

The Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) presents itself as a medium-sized bird, approximately 61 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly greyish brown, with a lighter grey or dull white underbelly. A distinctive feature is its black or dark grey horn, adorned with a casque that extends to the horn's curvature. This species is one of the few hornbills that have adapted to urban environments, utilizing large avenue trees for sustenance.

Males are identified by a larger casque atop a dark bill, with a yellowish culmen and lower mandible. The skin around their eyes is typically dark. Females, on the other hand, display a more yellowish bill with black on the basal half and casque. Juveniles are casque-less, with dull orange skin surrounding the eye.

The Indian grey hornbill is an arboreal creature, favoring the plains up to elevations of about 610 meters. It thrives in cities with old avenue trees, as well as in various natural habitats.

This species is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, ranging from the Himalayan foothills to the Ganges Delta, westward to the Indus system, and in urban areas with suitable tree cover.

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

The ashy drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus ) is a species of bird in the drongo family Dicruridae. It is found widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia with several populations that vary in the shade of grey, migration patterns and in the size or presence of white patches around the eye.

The adult ashy drongo is mainly dark grey, and the tail is long and deeply forked, There are a number of subspecies varying in the shade of the grey plumage. Some subspecies have white markings on the head. Young birds are dull brownish grey.

Subspecies longicaudatus of India (which includes beavani of the Himalayas that winters on the peninsula, with one breeding population in central India that Vaurie separates as longicaudatus in the restricted sense) is very dark and almost like the black drongo although this bird is slimmer and has a somewhat longer and less-splayed tail. It is found in more tall forest habitat, has dark grey underside lacking the sheen of black drongo. The iris is crimson and there is no white rictal spot. Subspecies leucogenis and salangensis have a white eye-patch as do several of the island forms that breed further south. The calls are a little more nasal and twangy than that of the black drongo.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - TAWNY COSTER BUTTERFLY (Acraea terpsicore)

Acraea terpsicore, the tawny coster, is a small, 53–64 millimetres (2.1–2.5 in), leathery-winged butterfly common in grassland and scrub habitats. It belongs to the Nymphalidae or brush-footed butterfly family. It has a weak fluttery flight. It is avoided by most insect predators. This species and the yellow coster (Acraea issoria) are the only two Indian representatives of the predominantly African tribe Acraeini. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Maldives to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and recently Australia.

There has been long standing debate among taxonomists on whether the correct name for this species is Acraea terpsicore Linnaeus, 1758 or Acraea violae Fabricius, 1775. Pierre and Bernaud, in 1997, stated that they verified the type in the Linnean Society of London and considered A. violae the same species as A. terpsicore. Honey and Scoble, in 2001, argued that both specimens in the Linnean Society are later additions by James Edward Smith (botanist) who, in 1784, purchased Linnaeus specimens, bringing them to London. In the absence of authentic syntypes, the identity of terpsicore remains uncertain although there are chances that they may be synonyms.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - SCARLET DARTER DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.

The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.

A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.

Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - PLAIN TIGER BUTTERFLY (Danaus chrysippus)

Danaus chrysippus, also known as the plain tiger, African queen, or African monarch, is a medium-sized butterfly widespread in Asia, Australia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus Asclepias, more commonly called milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds, cardenolides, which are often consumed and stored by many butterflies. Because of their emetic properties, the plain tiger is unpalatable to most predators. As a result, its colouration is widely mimicked by other species of butterflies. The plain tiger inhabits a wide variety of habitats, although it is less likely to thrive in jungle-like conditions and is most often found in drier, wide-open areas.

D. chrysippus encompasses three main subspecies: D. c. alcippus, D. c. chrysippus, and D. c. orientis. These subspecies are found concentrated in specific regions within the larger range of the entire species.

The plain tiger is believed to be one of the first butterflies depicted in art. A 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian fresco in Luxor features the oldest known illustration of this species.

D. chrysippus is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in). The body is black with white spots. The wings are a brownish orange, the upper side brighter and richer than the underside. The apical half of the forewing is black with a white band. The hindwing has three black spots in the centre. The wings are bordered in black and outlined with semicircular white spots. This species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism, as the male has large scent glands on his hindwings, which the female lacks. They appear as a large black spot with a white centre if viewed from the underside.

D. chrysippus is a polymorphic species, so the exact colouring and patterning vary within and between populations.

It is similar in appearance to the Indian fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius), which may coexist with it.

The plain tiger is found across the entirety of Africa, where the predominant subspecies is D. c. alcippus. Its range extends across the majority of Asia throughout Indian subcontinent, as well as many south Pacific islands. The plain tiger is even present in parts of Australia. D. c. chrysippus is most common throughout Asia and in some select regions in Africa, while D. c. orientis is present in more tropical African regions as well as some African islands, including Madagascar and the Seychelles.It is also found in Southern Europe and Kuwait. These insects are considered bioinvaders in North America.he plain tiger prefers arid, open areas, and is found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, mountains, deciduous forests, and human-tended gardens in cities and parks. It is comfortable at altitudes ranging from sea level to around 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - DHOLE (INDIAN WILD DOG) (Cuon alpinus)

The dhole Cuon alpinus) is a canid native to South, East and Southeast Asia. It is anatomically distinguished from members of the genus Canis in several aspects: its skull is convex rather than concave in profile, it lacks a third lower molar, and the upper molars possess only a single cusp as opposed to between two and four. During the Pleistocene, the dhole ranged throughout Asia, with its range also extending into Europe (with a single putative, controversial record also reported from North America) but became restricted to its historical range 12,000–18,000 years ago. It is now extinct in Central Asia, parts of Southeast Asia, and possibly the Korean peninsula and Russia.

The dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans without rigid dominance hierarchies and containing multiple breeding females. Such clans usually consist of about 12 individuals, but groups of over 40 are known. It is a diurnal pack hunter which preferentially targets large and medium-sized ungulates. In tropical forests, the dhole competes with the tiger (Panthera tigris) and the leopard (Panthera pardus), targeting somewhat different prey species, but still with substantial dietary overlap.

It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as populations are decreasing and estimated to comprise fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Factors contributing to this decline include habitat loss, loss of prey, competition with other species, persecution due to livestock predation, and disease transfer from domestic dogs.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)

The Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea, is a slender bird of the wagtail family, Motacillidae, with an overall length of approximately 18–19 cm. It bears a resemblance to the Yellow Wagtail but is distinguished by the yellow on its underside being confined to the throat and vent. The male, during the breeding season, is characterized by a striking black throat.

This species can be identified by its narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are a soft grey, while the underparts are predominantly whitish, with a contrasting yellow vent. Breeding males are notable for their black throats bordered by whitish moustachial stripes.

The Grey Wagtail is invariably found in association with running water during the breeding season. It may nest in natural settings or utilize man-made structures close to streams. Outside of breeding times, it can also be observed around lakes, coasts, and other watery environments.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - COMMON SAILOR BUTTERFLY (Neptis hylas)

Neptis hylas, the common sailor, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. It has a characteristic stiff gliding flight achieved by short and shallow wingbeats just above the horizontal. Bengali name: চরবাতাসি. Distributed Throughout continental India; Sri Lanka; Assam; Nepal; Myanmar (Tenasserim), extending to China and Indomalaya.

Dry-season form - Upperside black, with pure white markings. Forewing discoidal streak clavate (club shaped), apically truncate, subapically either notched or sometimes indistinctly divided; triangular spot beyond broad, well defined, acute at apex, but not elongate; discal series of spots separate, not connate (united), each about twice as long as broad; postdiscal transverse series of small spots incomplete, but some are always present. Hindwing: subbasal band of even or nearly oven width; discal and subterminal pale lines obscure; postdiscal series of spots well separated, quadrate or subquadrate, very seldom narrow.

Underside from pale golden ochraceous to dark ochraceous almost chocolate; white markings as on the upperside, but broader and defined in black. Forewing: interspaces 1a and 1 from base to near the apex shaded with black, some narrow transverse white markings on either side of the transverse postdiscal series of small spots. Hindwing a streak of white on costal margin at base, a more slender white streak below it; the discal and subterminal pale lines of the upperside replaced by narrow white lines with still narrower margins of black. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black; the palpi, thorax and abdomen beneath dusky white.

Wet-season form - Differs only in the narrowness of the white markings and in the slightly darker ground colour and broader black margins to the spots and bands on the underside.

More than 20 subspecies have been described.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - CHOCOLATE PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia hedonia ssp. ida)

Junonia iphita, the chocolate pansy or chocolate soldier, is a butterfly found in Asia.

The wingspan is about 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) and the female can be told apart from the male by white markings on the oblique line on the underside of the hindwing. The wavy lines on the underside of the wings vary from wet- to dry-season forms.

Individuals maintain a territory and are usually found close to the ground level and often bask in the sun.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - RED & BLUE WATER LILY (Nymphaea nouchali)

The red and blue water lily (Nymphaea nouchali), also known as the star lotus or blue star water lily, is a day-blooming, aquatic perennial plant celebrated globally for its vibrant star-like blossoms, cultural importance, and ecological utility.

Appearance and Growth Habit

Flower Structure: Features star-shaped blooms ranging from 5 to 20 cm in diameter with 10 to 24 angular petals.

Vibrant Colors: Most commonly pale to deep violet-blue, but varieties stretch across fuchsia, purple, pink, red, and crisp white.

Golden Centers: The center holds a striking contrast of bright, golden-yellow stamens often tipped with blue or purple.

Floating Pads: Large, round-to-oval green leaves measuring up to 23 cm wide display a deep central notch, undulating edges, and distinct purple or red undersides.

Growth Spread: Rooted in underwater mud via thick rhizomes, its floating canopies can spread up to 1.5 meters across the water's surface.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - RUSSET PERCHER DRAGONFLY (Neurothemis fulvia)

Neurothemis fulvia, the fulvous forest skimmer, is a species of dragonfly found in Asia.

It is a medium-sized rusty dragonfly with transparent wing tips. Male has a reddish-brown face with eyes which are dark reddish brown above, golden brown below. Thorax, abdomen and legs are reddish brown. Wings are dark reddish brown with an irregular triangular transparent area at the tip of the wing. The wing spots are dark reddish brown. Many forms of females are found. Color of head, thorax and abdomen paler than males or rusty brown. Wings are clear amber yellow with a dark ray extending to the tip in fore wing. Many of them have an irregular triangular transparent area at the tip of the wing. The wings vary in size, shape, width and coloration. The clear uncoloured apices of wings will help to distinguish it from other red Asian dragonflies.

23-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TRIBE CICHORIEAE (Genus Reichardia)

Reichardia is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. In Crete, Greece the leaves and tender shoots of a variety of Reichardia picroides called galatsida (γαλατσίδα) are eaten raw, boiled, cooked in steam or browned with olive oil by the locals. Brighteyes is a common name for plants in this genus.

23-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - STRIPED TREASUREFLOWER (Gazania linearis)

The Striped Treasure Flower (Gazania linearis) is a resilient, sun-loving perennial native to South Africa. Famous for its vibrant daisy-like blooms, it thrives in dry, heat-baked climates. Its petals—often yellow, orange, or bronze with a reddish central stripe—are highly sensitive to light, opening in the sun and closing at night.

Key Characteristics & Care

Plant Profile: Grows in low clumps or mats, reaching a height of 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm). The leaves are dark green on top with woolly white undersides that help the plant retain moisture.

Sun Requirements: Requires full sun to bloom; the flowers will remain closed on cloudy days.

Soil & Water: Thrives in poor, sandy, and well-draining soil. Highly drought-tolerant once established, preferring to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.

Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 9–11. In cooler regions, it is often grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.

Maintenance: Removing spent flowers (deadheading) encourages continuous blooming from late spring into early autumn.

23-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

23-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline.

The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

The average wingspan of both males and females is 5.1 cm (2 in), although males tend to be slightly smaller than females. Furthermore, males possess a row of grayish-brown scent scales on their forewings that is absent in the females. Females have brighter and more distinct markings than males. The subspecies P. a. tircis is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing eyespots. The subspecies P. a. aegeria has a more orange background and the hindwing underside eyespots are reddish brown rather than black or dark gray. 

The two forms gradually intergrade into each other. Subspecies P. a. oblita is a darker brown, often approaching black with white rather than cream spots. The underside of its hindwings has a marginal pale purple band and a row of conspicuous white spots. The spots of subspecies P. a. insula are a tawny orange rather than a cream color. The underside of the forewings has patches of pale orange, and the underside of the hindwing has a purple-tinged band. Although there is considerable variation with each subspecies, identification of the different subspecies is manageable.

23-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CRETAN TREE MALLOW (Malva multiflora)

This distinctive mallow with pale pink or whitish flowers is one of the few wildflowers of the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean region to survive the heat past May, which may be due to its ability to form deep roots that gain access to what little water remains in the soil once the summer temperatures soar.

This annual or biennial plant usually grows to between 0.3 and 1.5m in height but can sometimes reach 2m. Small Tree Mallow is also known as Cretan Mallow. Lavatera cretica is a synonym of Malva multiflora.

Small Tree Mallow, or Cretan Mallow, can be found throughout the Mediterranean region. This wildflower is also native to Britain, where is a rare find.

This member of the Mallow family of plants occurs mainly on cultivated and disturbed ground, along waysides and in waste ground.

6-3-2020 RAIPUR AIRPORT, INDIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

6-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - JUNGLE BABBLER (Turdoides striata)

Jungle babblers (Argya striata) are gregarious birds, members of the laughingthrushes family. Jungle babblers often forage in small groups of 6 to 10 individuals, and this habit has given them the popular name of "Seven Sisters" in urban Northern India, and Saath bhai (seven brothers) in Bengali, with cognates in other regional languages which also mean "seven brothers".

Jungle babblers are drably coloured in brownish grey with a yellow bill. The upper parts are usually slightly darker in shade and there is some mottling on the throat and breast. The race T. s. somervillei of Maharashtra has a very rufous tail and dark primary flight feathers.

7-3-2020 PERIYAR, INDIA - WHITE BROWED WAGTAIL (Motacilla maderaspatensis)

The white-browed wagtail or large pied wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) is a medium-sized bird and is the largest member of the wagtail family. They are conspicuously patterned with black above and white below, a prominent white brow, shoulder stripe and outer tail feathers. White-browed wagtails are native to South Asia, common near small water bodies and have adapted to urban environments where they often nest on roof tops. The specific name is derived from the Indian city of Madras (now Chennai).

The white-browed wagtail is the largest species of wagtail at 21 cm (8.3 in) length. It is a slender bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. It has black upperparts, head and breast, with a white supercilium and large white wingbar. Unlike white wagtails it never has white on the forehead. The rest of the underparts are white. The female has the black less intense than in the male. Juveniles are like the females brown-grey where the adult is black.

The white-browed wagtail is a resident breeder in India and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found south of the Himalayas, east of the Indus system and to the west of Bangladesh. It is rare in the higher altitude regions but has been seen in Ladakh on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. In most of India it is found below 1000 m but in southern India it goes up into the hills up to 2200 m. It is very rare in the Indus valley area. It is absent from the Sind region of Pakistan. It is found in open freshwater wetland habitats. It is one of the few Motacilla wagtails that has adapted well to urban habitats and is often found perched on overhead water storages in residential buildings.

It is a rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka and have possibly extended their range in recent times.

Usually seen in pairs or small groups near open water. They call often especially in the mornings and are active like most other wagtails. They will perch on the ground as well as on wires or on buildings. The song is long and loud with many different notes. The usual call is a wheezy "wheech". They can fly fairly rapidly for long distances and they fly with a bounding (dipping and rising) flight pattern and have been recorded to travel at the speed of about 40 km/h.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - GARDEN ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Genus Argiope)

The genus Argiope includes rather large orb weaver spiders that often have a strikingly coloured abdomen. These spiders are distributed throughout the world. Most countries in tropical or temperate climates host one or more Argiope species.

As with most orb weavers, they have a third claw which is used to weave their complex webs. There is significant sexual dimorphism among the various species, with females measuring 19mm-28mm (0.75”-1.1”) and males coming in at 5mm-9mm (0.20”-0.35”). Their webs can be quite large, usually containing a signature zig-zag pattern, called a stabilimentum. They sport black and yellow patterning on their abdomen, and occasionally on their legs, although most species have black legs with red or yellow patterning closer to the body. Their cephalothorax is covered with short silver hairs, and they have an egg-shaped abdomen.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - RED WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus)

The Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus, is a striking bird with a robust build, approximately 35 cm in length. Its upperparts are a light brown with a sheen that can appear purple or green, while the head and neck boast a contrasting black. A white patch extends from the underbelly and tail, along the neck, and up to the sides of the crown. The tail is short with a black tip. Notably, it sports a red fleshy wattle before each eye, a red bill with a black tip, and long yellow legs. In flight, one can observe the distinctive white wing bars.

When identifying the Red-wattled Lapwing, look for the characteristic red wattles in front of the eyes, the black-tipped red bill, and the yellow legs. The white wing bars are particularly visible in flight. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males may have slightly longer wings.

This lapwing favors well-watered open landscapes, such as ploughed fields, grazing lands, and the peripheries of tanks and puddles. It is also known to inhabit forest clearings near rain-filled depressions.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - BARONET BUTTERFLY (Euthalia nais)

Symphaedra nais, also known as the baronet, is a species of Nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia. It was formerly included in the genus Euthalia but it is a sister to members of the genus Bassarona.

It is widely found in India and Sri Lanka. In India its distribution ranges from lower Himalayas to southern India.

The male and the female both have tawny-yellow uppersides. The forewing has a traverse black line below apex cell and an oval spot beyond encircling a small yellow spot, a broad short oblique discal bar and an angulated postdiscal lunular band the costa narrowly and the termen shaded with black. Hindwing: a comparatively large triangular patch below the middle of the costa, a postdiscal evenly curved series of spots and a broad band along the termen black. Underside dark ochraceous red. Forewing: the base shaded with fuscous black, two spots at base of cell and a transverse line beyond crimson pink, edged with black: a very broad oblique discal band, angulated downwards below vein 4, bordered posteriorly by a large black spot on the inner side and outwardly and anteriorly by an oblique broad black band, followed by four anterior obliquely placed ochraceous-white spots, and beyond by a very narrow lunular black band bent downwards below vein 6. 

Hindwing: a crimson short line at extreme base, two crimson black-bordered spots in cell: a comparatively broad transverse discal white band often broken up into a large spot below middle of costa, with two or three spots in line below it; finally, a postdiscal series of small black spots. Antennae are black, bright ochraceous at apex; head, thorax and abdomen tawny red above, brown shaded with crimson-pink below.

It is widely found in India and Sri Lanka. In India its distribution ranges from lower Himalayas to southern India[5] In Sri Lanka, it is restricted to savannah environments in Nilgala and Rathugala areas of Gal Oya National park of Uva province.

Life cycle

Larva

The larva is light green with the purple spots on the dorsal. The sides of the larva contain row of ten horizontal spines covered with fine green hair.

Pupa

The pupa is short broad and triangular. It is green and has gold spots and lines.

Larval host plants

The larvae are known to breed on Shorea robusta and Diospyros melanoxylon.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - RED WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus)

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves. It has a loud three or four note call, feeds on fruits and small insects and perches conspicuously on trees. It is common in hill forests and urban gardens.

The red-whiskered bulbul is about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red. Juveniles lack the red patch behind the eye, and the vent area is rufous-orange.[citation needed]

An albino red-whiskered bulbul has also been recorded.

The loud and evocative call is a sharp kink-a-joo (also transcribed as pettigrew or kick-pettigrew or pleased to meet you) and the song is a scolding chatter. They are more often heard than seen, but will often perch conspicuously especially in the mornings when they call from the tops of trees. The life span is about 11 years.

This is a bird of lightly wooded areas, more open country with bushes and shrubs, and farmland. Irruptions have been noted from early times with Thomas C. Jerdon noting that they were "periodically visiting Madras and other wooded towns in large flocks."

It has established itself in Australia and in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Florida in the United States, as well as in Mauritius, on Assumption Island and Mascarene Islands. In Florida, it is only found in a small area, and its population could be extirpated easily. It was eradicated from Assumption Island in 2013–2015 to prevent colonisation of nearby Aldabra, the largest introduced bird-free tropical island.

The red-whiskered bulbul was introduced by the Zoological and Acclimatization Society in 1880 to Sydney, became well established across the suburbs by 1920, and continued to spread slowly to around 100 km away. It is now also found in suburban Melbourne and Adelaide, although it is unclear how they got there.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - WHITE BELLIED TREEPIE (Dendrocitta leucogastra)

The white-bellied treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra) is a bird of the crow family endemic to the forests of southern India. They overlap in distribution in some areas with the rufous treepie but are easy to tell apart both from appearance and call.

The white of the head and body makes it easy to distinguish from the sympatric rufous treepie. This tends to be found in more dense forest and is less associated with human habitation than the rufous treepie. The white-bellied treepie is 48 cm (19 in) long. The back of the neck is white, and the throat and breast are black. The thighs are black, and the undertail coverts are chestnut. The rest of the underparts is white. The back is chestnut-brown. The wings are black and have a white patch. The rump is white. Two-thirds of the two central tail feathers are silver-grey, and the terminal third is black. The other tail feathers are black. The beak is black, and the legs are greyish-black.

It is found in the forests of the Western Ghats mainly south of Goa. A record from Erimalai near Dharmapuri and reports from the Surat Dangs and the southeastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh stand outside its main distribution range. A record from central India (Chikalda, Gawilgarh) has been questioned.

The white-bellied treepie eats fruits, seeds, nectar, invertebrates, reptiles, rodents, nestlings and eggs. When calling, the bird bows and droops its wings. Several birds may arrive at one tree and call repeatedly during the pre-monsoon breeding season (mainly April–May but some nests from February). The nest is a platform of twigs on a medium-sized tree. Three eggs are laid, ashy grey with green and grey blotches.

It is associated with mixed-species foraging flocks and is often found along with greater racket-tailed drongos.