Saturday, November 29, 2008

The Indian Coral Tree or Tiger's Claw or Sunshine Tree


The Indian Coral Tree or Tiger's Claw or Sunshine Tree (Erythrina variegata or Erythrina indica, as it was earlier known) is a beautiful native tree that has some remarkable flowers. The flowers are long and brightly colored, the reason for some Erythrina sp. to be planted as decorative trees in gardens. The tree is visited by a host of birds including Mynas, Parakeets, Bulbuls and Sunbirds. One of those trees that is worth having in any garden!
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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Scarce Shot Silverline




A rare one, the Scarce Shot Silverline (Aphnaeus elima Moore or Spindasis elima Moore, as it was earlier called) is an uncommon butterfly preferring the drier regions. This one was photographed while mud-puddling at B. R. Hills near a roadside water hole towards VGKK. A lifer for me.
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Tailed Jay



The Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon) is a common swallowtail butterfly in Bangalore. It is a restless flier and can be more often seen hovering around the False Ashoka Tree (Polyalthia sp.) and the Champaka/Sampige tree (Michelia champaca) that happens to be this butterfly's food plant. I have reared this butterfly in a bottle many times, when I was in school. It is very active in flight and has a fast and rapid wing beat. It is mud-puddling here and this was shot in B. R. Hills near one of the roadside water bodies towards VGKK.
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