A number of birds, mostly, sparrows, pigeons, crows and occasionally a couple of parrots visit us in the morning as we feed them. A few days ago, I observed a new guest. It was a small bird, kept quivering its tail in a strange manner almost all the time. A passerine it is, (passerines are those birds with a particular arrangement of their toes, three pointing forward and one back, which facilitates perching) and is quite shy.
I was clueless about its name and so, posted a picture on Facebook. It needed a lot of patience to capture a decent picture of the bird. However, after posting the picture, I came to know, as one of my friends enlightened me, that it’s called Black Redstart. In India, they are not common to be seen in urban areas. It’s mainly a winter migrant to the Indian subcontinent. For the continuous quivering of its tail, it’s called Thirthira Kampa or Phirphira in Hindi and Laal-girdi in Bengali. They reside in rocky terrains and hilly areas and are known to breed in the Himalayas.
beautiful birds.. They have arrived here too.. Beautiful ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Birds We See Around: Black Redstart | Scattered Thoughts·
This is such a beautiful poem, dear Mani… the other day I was thinking exactly the same (or thinking similarly that you do in your poem) … The distance birds fly… the hard work they put to build the nests, considering how smalll they are… Also my mom is a bird fan… And she always leave bread to the birds as she once read that birds spend more than half of their lives searching for food! … sigh… lovely share! … sending much love & wishing you happy holidays my friend ⭐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to know that our wavelengths resonate here, Aquileana 🙂 Birds are beautiful, watching them is a great time-pass. And, just think about the tenacity and strength of these small creatures as they fly thousands of miles in search of food or a better climate.
Thanks for stopping by…. wishing you wonderful holidays ahead… ❤ ❤
LikeLike
It’s a good trade — a song for a bit of food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But it doesn’t sing… 😀 I love to see the quivering tail of the little birdie… 🙂
LikeLike
I wish I had a tail!
~PR
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m laughing hard… 😀 😀
LikeLike
Beautiful bird.. you are lucky 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed… 🙂
LikeLike
You are lucky to witness the Black Redstart! That poem sums up the rest.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Yes, quite a rare bird in a city… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a beautiful bird capture, Mani! All the birds here are now gone to Mexico…
LikeLiked by 1 person
…and here they are coming from the northern mountains as winter is less severe here in the plains… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another piece of excellent work. This time, it is your poem which showcases your thoughts that emanated the moment you saw this little bird. Maniparna, there used to be a time when I also used to write poems. I wrote a poem on the life of a train. I would like to narrate two lines from it – “Never before have I been such a jocund company,
Wheeling by, I whistle to the tune of nature’s symphony”. I hope you liked it.
LikeLike
Oh..sure. I DID like it. Why have you stopped writing poems? Please start again…I’ll be really glad to read a few poems on your blog… 🙂
Thank you so much, Barnali, for the beautiful comment…
LikeLike
I used to write when I was taking competition examinations long time back. But I had to give more time to my career endeavours and hence had to inevitably give up my writing habits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand. A very few here are full-time bloggers. We, the part-timers, often find it difficult to maintain the balance…. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful capture ad really enjoyed the read!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sumith… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊:)
LikeLike
Your poem was lovely and this bird is so pretty! It seems to be sweet and glad it sings for you, Maniparna! ❤ Hope you have a great rest of the week! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Robin. I have fallen in love with this pretty birdie. It comes every morning… 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend… ❤
LikeLike
What a pretty little bird. I’m glad you were able to find out what it was.
LikeLike
I was happier after finding out its origin… a seasonal guest as it is… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely. The bird does look really sweet! and fluffy too! LOL. Do you live far from the Himalayas? For them to migrate down from there…that’s a really cool thing.
LikeLike
Yes, I live f-a-r from the Himalayas. It really was a pleasant surprise for me that it showed up in my garden… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely and truly “Their flight is a treat to the eyes”!
BTW, what did you use to click this beauty?
LikeLike
Mobile 😀 Lenovo Vibe…
Ekhon koyekoTa bulbuli aar ghughu-o aschhe…seguloke kayda korte paarchhina..uRe jacche…:-(
LikeLike
It’s a beautiful bird I’m so happy you found out what it was
LikeLike
Yes, Sara…a sweet surprise it was… 🙂
LikeLike
OMG such beauty !! Your words are such a beautiful ode to this gem of a nature. Wonderful !💟
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Zee… 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Dear aficionado : great post . You perhaps already know I am collecting notices all around the world in order the disappearing of sparrows. Here in Venice and mainland it is almost three years that they are disappeared. I am very happy that in your country still are presents so beautiful animals. Are you perhaps noticed if the number of them is increased or diminished or not. Thanks if reply. Hugs from Italy.
Ciao.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rinaldo, Sparrows do come to my house in the morning. In many Indian cities, they have disappeared, but here, in Kolkata, (Calcutta) they still manage to thrive. Fortunately, their numbers are increasing as well…about 15/18 sparrows make the morning happier with their chirpings… 🙂
LikeLike
Nice composition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful bird and beautiful lines that accompany this picture. Good for you the patience! Nice! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Amy ❤ truly, it needed a pretty good amount of patience 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
beautiful lines for this little red fairy…
LikeLike
Thank you… 🙂
LikeLike
What a pretty guest!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed… 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful little birdie. Beautiful ode to the little birdie. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you… 🙂
LikeLike
So beautiful Mani!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh…it really is… 🙂 Thanks, Lynn… ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky you 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh…really I am.. 😀
LikeLike
It’s a long journey for them indeed! Beautifully said, Mani!
Love this capture. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you..:-)
LikeLike
This is so beautiful and so delightful!
LikeLike
Thank you so much… 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely bird, and a beautiful poem 🙂
We used to have many birds visiting too. Sadly, now a days, only crows are left.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s really sad… 😦
LikeLike
What a beautiful bird! I don’t blame him to venture away from rural areas to be close to a lovely soul such as you. He’ll probably be visiting again since you’ve written such a sweet ode to your new, winged friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha…I really really wish your words to be true. ❤ By the way, as we are feeding him ( don't know whether it's him or her, though) it has become a regular visitor in the morning… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! I envy your new friend’s visits with you. He or she is very fortunate to have you feeding it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 I’m equally fortunate …
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have educated your readers with these lovely migratory birds and the verses seem to get wings like that of those birds taking us far and wide:) Beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww…thanks so much for the kind words, Sunita… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice pic and lucky to have such a rare visitor – love the accompanying poem also Maniparna 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, truly lucky to have such an unusual and beautiful guest… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are indeed – i do love birds and I think if I could change into any animal, it would be an Albatross 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The large sea-birds… they look beautiful…
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, so graceful in flight 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
very creative post, mani… nice pics too! cheers to the guests
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure, ma’am
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the names Phirphira and Thirthira Kampa. The picture is a treat to the eyes and the poem is a treat to the ears. Thank you for enlightening us about this sweet migratory winged friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Somali. The bird visits us regularly now. I think it will keep visiting during the season… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice. You’ll have a lovely guest at home for the season. 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yess…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Maniparna
Yet again you enthral us with your wonderfully creative writing. The bird is undubitably adorable and your words beautiful! I love the description of its feathers… ” soft feathers painted by sun’s lazy rays”
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Divya. Your words are always full of warmth and inspiration… 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely shot of a rarely seen bird…Thank you Mani for sharing it and writing wonderful words for it…as if you could read its mind! Well, that’s why poet’s are called fantastic dreamers.
LikeLike
Thanks, Balroop. Truly, poets can imagine things in a greater manner… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very beautiful bird indeed, Mani, though with differing colourings to that which we call a Black Redstart here in Britain, and which is quite rarely sighted: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/b/blackredstart/
LikeLiked by 1 person
The link shows the picture of a bird with less red. I don’t have much idea about birds, honestly. I think the colour and the size may vary depending on the envronment…maybe… 🙂
Thanks for the link, Hariod. I love to see pictures of birds but, forget their names eventually… 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s got quite the black coat, kind of like a Cape huh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha…yes… 😀
LikeLike
Only nature can make such beautiful creatures and colour them in such gorgeous hues. I bet those lines wrote themselves? 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. Mother Nature always inspires me and the words flow effortlessly… 🙂 Thank you so much for the beautiful comment… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow ! Such a good bird.. loved this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Congratulations on the photo – and nice ditty
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Derrick… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
happy to see the beautiful visitor and happy to know that the visitor made sure to make the hostess write beautiful poetry about it 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha…yes…the visitor became the muse this time 😀 Thank you…:-)
LikeLike
What a beautiful bird. Nature is the best inspiration. Your poetry is lovely, so lyrical and such a perfect tribute to your winged muse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, truly the bridie played my muse. 😀 Mother Nature has so many treasures to inspire us…. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pleasing bird… It’s not a easy thing to capture a picture of a bird Indeed… Entirely, loved your post and your unusual Guest!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Yes, it took me a lot of time and patience to get a decent picture… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have also experienced that… but i didn’t get a decent pic of that::)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe… someday… 🙂 keep patience…
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pleasant and welcome guest inspired you to pen this perfect ode to it. Lovely M, your pic and your verses!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, Radhika…:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t describe the feeling of satisfaction in words that I got reading it
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine. It makes me feel so elated when I see the bird every morning… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh that’s so nice 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person