Breaking free from the alarming levels of CO2 and several other gases free for ones consumption and appetite, I took the road towards Sultanpur last Sunday, the day after the much celebrated and exploited Festival of Lights, Deepavali. The morning contrary to the weatherman’s predictions was much clear and fresh, excellent for birding.
As ever Doc Saahib was more than helpful and was the lead field guide. The journey started from his place, joined by Sir Ranjit and later by Bansalji, we all headed towards the NH-8 Delhi-Jaipur highway. This provided an excellent opportunity for Bird Whois and to get my doubts clear on lots of birdies, which I have not be able to identify. So loaded with around 44 snaps on the cam, one by one the snaps were presented for every1's viewing pleasure. I am suggested that most are best suited for the Mystery Bird section of Delhibird, and hopefully someday they will appear in those pages given Bill gives a green signal.

The day trip had few surprises added… like holding the REAL LIVE turtle and the noisy flypast of two Sarus Cranes. As yet the 12 in long and 9 in wide yellowish turtle remains under the unidentified category, it had a pointed pig like nose, a dark olive green shell and had some kindda yellow slime like fluid coming from body where its attached to the shell.
But the declared star of the day was Dusty Eagle Owl making calls perched on the top of the top of the tree just as every1 turned back for ‘ome after a loooooong wait on the end of the narrow trail somewhere in the center of the lake.

Main sightings (Bill's list) were:-

1. Painted Storks - A thriving colony along with their youngs
2. Great, Indian and Little Cormorants - In large numbers and with their flying youngs
3. Darters
4. Little and Intermediate Egrets
5. Black-headed Ibis
6. Dusky Eagle Owl - just one before the nightfall
7. Sarus Crane - just two how landed for roosting in late evening
8. Grey, Purple and Night Herons
9. Comb Duck
10. Others - Spotbills, Lesser Whistling Duck, Comb Duck, Shoveler, Common Teal, Pintail, Garganey, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Greenshank, Green and Wood Sandpipers, Eurasian Thick-knees, Greater Spotted Eagle, Shikra, Common Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, White-eyed Buzzard, Rufous-tailed Shrike, Bluethroat, Hume's and Paddyfield Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, Siberian Stonechats, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Olive-backed, Tree, Long-billed and Tawny Pipits, Red-throated Flycatchers, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Few snaps from the sunday birding trip at Sultanpur are also online for every1’s pleasure in nHgallery.

And now to concise the month of October… went in for this years SBKK’s dance drama presentation Ram, twice. During the second show the whole situation got hilarious and funny, just cos some monkey had entered the stage and every actor was just too scared of the animal to go near that part of the stage, specifically the guy playing Laxman, he was too much distracted and kept looking towards the monkey even while making his moves.

Later that week, had the honour of witnessing an act by Guru Alyque Padamsee from this famous play Death of a Salesman part of Rang Swarn, the Golden Jubilee Theater Fest organized by Sangeet Natak Akadmi. BTW this happens to be my second time in the छत्र छाया of the great man. Previously it was in year 2000 on the occasion of some online media seminar organized by the IndiaTimes, where the guruji presented his istylish ज्ञान and फंडा on online media and marketing.
Also during the theater fest saw best scenes from two well known Bengali plays Sajano by Manoj Mitra and Gallileo by Kumar Roy. The first being max लोट पोट comedy and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and the second had intense seriousness about it and most went past my head, but the stage design and presentation was excellent, way different that I have ever seen. Though I don’t understand the language a bit it was fun in all (I was for long was under the impression dat I had the ability to at least make out wat the other party is trying to convey... given my Bong connectionz)
And fo records sake the सरकारी दूरसंचार company ka telephone went dead duck TWICE!!! Both times for a weeks holiday. First week was without ne prior notice, maybe it had overworked itself and second time for a well self-justified occasion of Diwali. ;)

Oh yes, incase you didn’t gave much attention to the unnecessary बक्कवास above, there was something TWOish about the month of October!

Related on nHlog: RAM, Krishna
Related on nHphlog: Sultanpur 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Ram, Ravana
Related on nHgallery: Diwali 2003, Diwali 2002, Birding