TL;DR – Why did the wintering Grey Wagtail sing?
A migratory Grey Wagtail singing in winter is an oddity. So, why was this one singing?
Category: Beej
All posts authored by Beej
Pranayama with Bar-headed Geese – A Pilgrimage in Gadag
Bar-headed Geese are masters of pranayama, making use of atmospheric oxygen like few other birds can. In that sense, they are true yogis, and making a journey to see them is akin to a pilgrimage.
2024 – The Year The Green Ogre Breathed Again!
2024 was a stellar year for us at The Green Ogre. Two new travelogue series, a few spectacular photo-essays, and some brilliant one-offs. Not to forget what most people visit the site for—the quizzes and games! So here’s looking back and hearing from our contributors, and awaiting what 2025 brings…
Let Nature Guide You – Inspiration For Naturalists
Nature Guides are guardians of a deeper truth — that Nature is not something to fear, conquer, or tame but cherish, respect, and protect
Rain In The Desert – On The Frankincense Trail In Oman
Tis the season. With Christmas just behind us and as the New Year sees the Middle East plunged in crisis, our thoughts wander to the meaning of the Magi’s gifts to the holy infant — gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In August 2014, I had the opportunity to visit southern Oman to discover the fascinating origins of frankincense. Here’s the story.
Romancing a Taiga Flycatcher in a tangle of pronouns
Walking by the woods on a wintry morning, I romanced a Taiga Flycatcher. We began a relationship. Two roads diverged – which would I choose?
Are you being stalked by a stork? Play a game!
Love storks? Excellent! Here’s some entertainment for you bird nerds. We have a whole new stack of stork-themed Bird Games
Reclaiming the Nature Fix – In Pursuit of Biophilia
The human craving for a “Nature Fix” is an ancient instinct blunted by generations of abuse. Biophilia is the word for it…
TL;DR – Death Stalks Like A Marabou Stork
Meet Africa’s Marabou Stork. Its unfeathered head and neck give this scavenger a calm and patient mien of morbidity.
Dimorphic Egret – Meet this East African mystery bird
East Africa’s Dimorphic Egret closely resembles the Western Reef-Egret, until you look for the differences. Easy, huh? You wish!
Encounter: Northern Treeshrew in Arunachal Pradesh
Running into a Northern Treeshrew in Arunachal Pradesh can be exhilarating. This tiny mammal, resembling a pointy-nosed squirrel, is more closely related to primates.
Indian Nightjar, Sweet Child O’Mine
Nightjars own the dark. To spy one by daylight is a gift from the night. An Indian Nightjar with a baby by its side is a vision
TL;DR – What colour are a Black-winged Kite’s eyes?
Look closely at the eyes of a Black-winged Kite. Are they red? Or orange? Or yellow? The eyes will tell you if you are looking at an adult or a juvenile bird.
TL;DR – White-naped Woodpecker Double Bill
Seeing one White-naped Woodpecker is exciting. Seeing a pair at work in the woodland is a bonus. And here’s a fun fact about the bird’s Latin name.
TL;DR – No Ugly Ducklings
There are no ugly ducklings. And here’s proof! Just one look at these adorable young Indian Spot-billed Ducks and you’ll want to adopt them