Category: Updates from Deepthie
Flamingos in Mannar
Shared by Deepthie (and credit to owner)
Starling Murmurations
Shared by Sam
Message from Deepthie
Read with great interest the post on Starling Murmurations.
I had about a thousand of them in my garden this year in the fall, and
because of the large number of trees in the garden, I could not take a
meaningful video.
The noise they made was truly deafening.
However, I did take some photos and a few pics, when they rested on the
trees for just a little while before they took off again.
Here is a photo – of some of them, at the local Awenda Provincial Park
that is virtually a mile away from where I live.
These flocks hung around in my area for a few days – and yes- it was a dark
cloud indeed – thousands of them.
Deepthie
Osprey
Osprey. Also known as the fish hawk, ospreys are raptors that are well adapted for fishing. The birds have long legs and large feet with specialized barbs on the pads, hooked talons, and a reversible outer toe. This allows them to easily grasp fish with two toes pointing to the front and two pointing to the rear. I took this picture few days ago in our neighborhood.
Sam
More Pictures from Eagle Deepthie
These are pic I have taken over the years . The latest- taken Sunday Jan
12th- 2020- in Sedona , AZ.
Bald Eagle .– is a ‘sea eagle ‘ – and live near water, where the preferred
food source is fish . It will become an opportunistic feeder- feeding on
rodents, snakes, crabs, rabbits , carrion of road kills ( deer, ) when
fish is not available.
Like the Osprey- – it grabs the food by its claws — tallons – as they are
called . They are curved , hook like , to grab and hold on to the prey
while flying .
Eagles- and Osprey are NOT friends with each other as they compete for the
same food source , and will harass each other , and usually the eagle wins
the battle .
I have seen this play out in REAL Life, on Georgian Bay, Ontario, where I
live .
Very interesting to watch this hide and seek game between the avian top
predators .
Also- the Bald Eagle will raid nests of Blue Herons , for eggs and chicks
– when salmon gets scarce in the salmon spawning rivers of British Colombia
, due to various reasons , mostly due to increase consumption of salmon by
human , bear and salmon wolf.
Eagles- have a Feast and Famine metabolism and will go without food for a
few good days , like four days . It will gorge on food when plenty, and
regurgitate it and eat it over a few days .
Nesting — Osprey- commonly will nests on human made structures- like
platforms made by Osprey Society of Ontario , TV antenna, Telephone poles,
like I saw in Florida .
The nest that is shown in Sam’s photo is a man made platform for Osprey
nesting . They will return to this same nest year after year .
They will also nest on tall trees .
Eagles- nest high up on trees – White Pine and Cedar, that grow near
water , making large nests weighing many hundreds of pounds and will do
‘home reno’ year after year .
Both species mate for life, and if one spouse dies, the surviving one will
find mate .
Bald Eagle – considered as Sacred for ALL Indigenous Peoples of North
America and Canada . Only Indigenous tribal members are allowed to carry
Eagle Feathers across the US- Canada Border .
Bald Eagle– National Emblem of United States of America, since 1782, but
it got almost wiped out due to DDT spraying in the later 1940’s – early
1950’s .
Once DDT was banned , the population bounced back — Thanks to the efforts
of Rachel Carson — look up Google on the Life and Times of Rachel Carson .
Largest population of Bald Eagles in USA- found in Alaska.
Canada it is in British Columbia – where hundreds gather during salmon
spawning season . They gather in large numbers near fish processing plants
and garbage dumps in – BC , Delta, BC , near the Fraser River .
There are Bald Eagle Festival days for BC , Canada, and for different
States of USA, along the Pacific Coast States , during the month of November
.
Enjoy the Story Telling of Eagles and Ospreys !
Eagledeepthie .
Update from Deepthie
HI Folks in SL , and the rest of us scattered around the globe .
I am still dreaming and Re- Visiting of the Class of 64 Gathering we had
at Beruwala just a few weeks ago .
Hope these photo will trigger a good memory for all of you !
And it is time to think of the NEXT one , NEXT year- Same Time, Same Place
.
Beruwala- is now like ‘home to me ‘ – -Home of The Class of 64 so to speak
.
It seems like yesterday to me , that we all met and had such a good time .
Though the crowd was small , like what Praxy mentioned in her wonderful
tribute to the class gathering , it was a lot of fun , just being together
and shooting the breeze so to speak , with no formalities what so ever .
Anoja – hats off to you, for orgainising the boat trip and the photographer
at such short notice .
This photo -something that all of us will treasure .
For some reason, we did not have such a photo last year ( 2018 ) .
So, I am asking you all – specially the folks in SL- Ranjith , Narme,
Anoja, Laki, Indrajith , Ajith — to put your heads together and get
something going for next year .
As for my part — I will be in SL – ever year, same time, for the next 5
yrs or so- or till I kick the bucket !
I have already planned my — ”Trip to SL for 2020 ” – -Time is
Running Out and so I am Running With The Time !
Good Wishes to ALL –
Deepthie .
Winter Fun !
Winter can be fun, if one can get out and enjoy it , in the best way you
can –
Walk in the Woods, Work out in a Gym/ home , to some Baila tune , Sit by
the cozy fire place , curl up and read a book or follow The Web Class of
64, !, or eat comfort food to fill your belly and soul !
Better still- Run Away from it ALL to a Warmer place , like will be doing
in a month, to Arizona !!
Februray is THE worst month – temps at minus 20 deg C for the entire month
and it is killing cold to be alone here, out in the boonies , at this
stage in my life .
In my younger days- it was fun to walk on the frozen lake- not any more !!
I had my Winter Fun- yesterday – dec 13th, out in the woods near by .
Came across just what I was hoping for – Wolf / Coyote track , as this
always gives me a ‘good feeling ‘ that I am not alone in the woods and I am
being watched and guided by those who were here, before I came along to live
in Turtle Island as it how North America is known to the Native People who
lived here for ten thousand years .
I have seen the Wolves / Coyote a few times along this trail, and on the
road side, in the summer , and in the winter , crossing the frozen lake
behind my home , from Giants Tomb Island -gorgeous creatures they are,
specially to see them on the white frozen lake on a winter moon lit night
..
One time, in the summer , it was right in front of me- where I saw the
scat( poop ) yesterday , we made eye contact , for a split second , I
said ‘ Mayeengun ‘ the first word that came to my head , the Ojibway word
for Wolf.
Strange that I could not get the words Wolf , Vuurkaya ( Sinhala ) out
that that time .
I had completely forgotten the Sinhala word, until I wrote about it to
Narme last year January and he wrote back the Sinhala word for Wolf !
Follow the photos .
— the foot prints are very, very fresh- likely a few hours before I saw
them, about 3 inches deep in the snow , indicating it is a mature fully
grown animal, at least 50 lbs wt .
— tracks are in a straight line – — knows exactly where it is going and
this is typical of Wolf / Coyote, where as house dog tracks are hapahazard
and always there is a human foot print near by .
— my foot print to indicate size- a mature animal track .
— Stone Cairn – I made this, at this location, to indicate to me the
direction I should take to go home — I learnt this the hard way one time a
few years back – and thank god it was summer ! The tracks lead up to the
stone cairn, and the community beyond the woods .
It is easy to lose your way in the forest – specially in the winter, when
the usual land marks are all coverd in snow .
There are few human prints along this trail- so this helps .
— many tracks coming together – there were many tracks criss crossing the
woods , about a kilometer after I passed the stone cairn, and the Scat (
poop ) at this location to mark the Family Territory , indicating a family
group that went hunting , perhaps the Alpha Male marked the territory .
From here, the tracks part company again , and a few tracks followed my way
to the street , and went into the deep woods that follow the street for the
next 3 kilometers and into Awenda Provincial Park- a 6000 acre Natural park
/ Camping grounds, beaches etc .
— an earlier photo with the sunshine and blue sky- taken Jan 2nd – 2017-
when the snow was VERY deep, along the same woodland trail.And, belive me,
this particular day, it was hard slugging on the snow that was 8- 10 inches
deep !- I should have known better, not to venture into the woods, when the
snow was that deep !
Live and Learn !
For those who want to know this location – look up google maps- Awenda
Provincial Park/ Champlain R d, and I live on a side street off Champlain
Rd, just 2 km from the park entrance Awenda Park Road .
Eagle Deepthie
Passekuda Trip
Passekuda Trip .
Many thanks to Praxy and Rani for organising this real fun bus trip to
Passekuda .
We had a great drive in the rain , on Sunday morning . This did not
prevent us from having a good time in the bus .
Faisal Zavahir very kindly gave us three Cd’s + a set of song sheets to go
with it specially done for the bus trip ,of the songs he sang at the
Friday night BBQ dinner .
Praxy kept time with the little symbols – we all had a great sing along .
Then, there was a loud card game at the front of the bus ,while those
sleepyheads at the back took a nap, despite the noise in the front !
We stopped for a bit of lunch on the way and I had my very first Lion
Larger- as Damayanthie told me, ‘ drink it Deepthie – I tell you, it is good
! ” so I trusted her and had my first sip ,and the rest is history . !
Then we reached Passekuda a bit late into the evening- due to the rain
all along the drive up there .
Saturday morning – Voila !!- The sun came out and so did we , and the
sun was with us, till we left on Tuesday morning .
What did we do ?
Just R and R !!– Went for beach walks, , boat rides, talked with local
fisher men, and generally had Fun in The Island In The Sun !
I will send a video clip of the Sing Along in the Bus — – if I can get it
across to Sam .
In the meantime, just enjoy the photos .
Oh by the way- the guys convinced me to drink Pol Arrakku- ” It is good
for you Deepthie – take a sip ” so said Gaspar and Shauket . The sweet
mild taste was confirmed by Damayanthie – my trusty room mate for 4
nights- at Eden and Amaya .
Again- the Rest is History !!
Eagle in The Island in the Sun .
Bound Together – Class of 64- Deepthie
MBH Faizer !- how can anyone in The Class o f 64, ever forget that ‘baby
face’ !! !
Anyway- here he is 50 yrs later- as there is NO Recent Photo of him in the
RU 2014-Class of 64 Souvernier book .
He ” fell off the planet ” so to speak, and I tracked him down in
Cornwall, Ontario a few wks ago , and he and his lovely wife Rizvi,
decided to do the 7 hour drive ( one way ! ) to see me and we spent a
delightful happy three days !
Here you see us – in many surroundings – in my home property , and in the
town of Penetanguishene with a bit of history on the town , and at a fun
festival known as ” Steam Punk ” in the neighbouring town of Coldwater
!!
The Drum Circle I belong to , was invited to Drum and Sing at the event and
Faizer took pics for me .
The one of us near the flowing water creek, where I am playing the flute,
I set the camera on a timer, placed it on the bridge and took the photo.
This is one of my very favourite places just a 2 min walk from home, along
a nice wooded walking trail , to sit and day dream, and play flute .
We are sitting on a metal canoe- built in the design of the old traditional
Birch Bark Canoes used by the Indegenous People here and in all of North
American Great Lakes Locations .
History tells us , that this is the EXACT spot that Frenchman Samuel de
Champlain landed on the shores of Penetanguishene, home of the Huron –
Wendat people , 400 years ago , and changed the face of the Nation for
ever .
I live off on a side street, off Champlain Road , along the shores of
Georgian Bay- Lake Huron .
I hope all of you enjoy this story of ” Bound Together- The Class of 64
Spider Web” !!
Eagledeepthie .
Everyone Loves A Parade ! – Deepthie
Canada Day
Every one Loves A Parade !
Canada Day Parade July 1st — in my small town of Midland was today- –
real small town gig it was with temps at 90 ++ deg in the shade and I was
just about cooked !
I was with the Midland Hiking Club and hot as hell it was, there was
quite the turn out with most of us being – 65 and over !!
Anyway we all had a great time .
But, to walk back the 2 miles in the dreadful heat- Oh well- another story
.
Talk about Altruisim — I was dead beat and decompensating fast due to
heat exhaustion , but was not going to give up.
My companion- Janet- was with me- and we were walking back to her place
where I had parked the car.
I was praying for Help as I was again between a Rock and a Hard Place !!
Believe it or not– a young man in a bright red shirt was walking his dog
on the residential street that Jan and I were walking .
‘ Hi Mary- were you in the parade ? ”
” Yes- do you have a car, if so , can you drive us home to Jan’;s place
where I parked my car ? ”
He brought us home, to Jan’s place and soon recovered with my feet in a
tub of cold water , water on my head and lots of water + cool drinks to
hydrate– thanks to Jan’s most efficient and generous hospitality !
Who is Jan- she is the one wearing the Hawaiian multicolored flowered
garland from the Dollar Store !!
Who was this Guardian Angel– a guy who used to work at Ford Motor
Dealership some years back and he says ” how can any one forget you Mary-
I used to work at the Ford Motor Dealership some years ago ‘ !!
Made me feel like a million $$$ .
EagleD
Update:
Follow Up — The whole Canada Day event ended when Jan and her husband
came to my place and we had a nice cool dip on the cold waters of Lake
Huron- Georgian Bay .
Where we are standing – used to my beach party area, as recent as 10 yrs
ago , , but now it is mid thigh in water- thanks to climate change and
melting glaciers .
eagleD.
Mini RU- Deepthie
It was a real Fun Day- for the three of us .
I drove to Rajes’ place , a 2 hr drive from where I live, and then went to
see Lakshi at her brother’s place – not too far away .
We were treated to real first class home cooked pure vegetarian Brahmin
Meal , cooked with sooo much tender loving care !
We spent about 4 hrs with her and returned and then did some ‘indian
shopping ‘ and got some ‘ Leela Products and ‘ Niru Products ” !. – to
support the Class of 64 ,far away from SL .
Enjoy the picture story !
eagleD
It was a real Fun Day- for the three of us .
I drove to Rajes’ place , a 2 hr drive from where I live, and then went to
see Lakshi at her brother’s place – not too far away .
We were treated to real first class home cooked pure vegetarian Brahmin
Meal , cooked with sooo much tender loving care !
We spent about 4 hrs with her and returned and then did some ‘indian
shopping ‘ and got some ‘ Leela Products and ‘ Niru Products ” !. – to
support the Class of 64 ,far away from SL .
Enjoy the picture story !
eagleD
News, Views and More from Batch'64, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, SriLanka 