Nature Log - 5 June 2024
- Vimal Raj K
- Mar 20, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 8, 2024
Cicadas, Emigrants and Monsoon | Visakhapatnam
8:30 AM - Reaching the staff room and putting my bag by the window, my eyes immediately spotted the AAA battery sized, yellow striped flying insect outside the window. I knew who this was. The Potter Wasp. As I was watching from the window inside the staffroom into the garden behind the school, she was meticulously putting together a pea sized ball of mud. I rushed to get my camera out but there she was already flying away. I knew she would be back. In a couple minutes she was back again. I ran jumping through a ledge to get a closer sight and a photo but she was already in flight. To my surprise she had a huge nest right on a wall inside a window which was a little inaccessible and perfect. The day started with amazement. School hustle and bustle went on with preparing for the reopening while my ears constantly listen to staff conversations and the loud shrieks of the palm squirrel and the occasional long loud buzz(we will talk about it later in the post).
2:30 PM - Driving through the highway between Kambalakonda and the Zoo, I did notice the same sight again. Emigrant butterflies flying in huge numbers almost like the metaphorically bear news of the winning party. Apparently, the zoo having a lot of Senna siamea trees which happen to be the host plant for this specific butterfly, right on the on-set of monsoons, after a heavy rain, they emerge in mass numbers. I still have to do some research on the specific behavior.
Anyway, this just peeked my curiosity anyway and I decided to explore the Kambalakonda park for an hour or so. Here are a few observations from the walk:
Pongam, Gulmohar and Jamun are all blooming!
Pongam(Pongamia pinnata) somehow always reminds of Bhoomi College and Prakriya Green Wisdom school and my days spent there as part of fellowship in holistic education. Thousands of little flowers with white, baby pink and lavender colors fallen on the ground and termite mounds.
Bright fiery red Gulmohar(Delonix regia) flowers blooming. The woody seed pods are an amazing musical instrument which I have collected and played with my Grade 1 kids at school. Also, what a fascinating flower that can accommodate a lesson on flower anatomy.
Jamun(Syzygium cumini) had it's milky white flowers as well. I am just waiting for them to fruit, period.
Cicadas are buzzzzing!
Right as I entered, I could feel the loud buzzing in my ears. The same one I heard back in school. I had a pretty good guess what it was. The Cicadas have emerged. I also heard and spotted them back at Gambheeram a few days back as well during a walk. Wow! That amazing visual camouflage on the tree barks with almost transparent wings. Louder than your average bluetooth speaker by many degrees. My ears were almost numb after a point. It's an amazing auditory exercise and game to purely spot them using your hearing. A great example of games in nature and how it fosters sensorial health.
By the pond
Spotted Dragonflies perched on dead broken branches by the lake, the two Carpenter bees flying in beautiful circular patterns, striped butterflies flying and mud puddling, a shy freshwater fish. Clear water with vibrant green algae growing. I sat there by the pond feeling the gentle breeze and soon the breeze turned into a strong wind and the sky was soon overcast with dark clouds. Monsoons are here. The heart was full.
While there are a plenty more small and big observations, these are kind of the news headlines for today. Also, A Happy Environment Day to you all!
Nature Logs are going to a daily thing now. Documenting everyday nature observations by our team.
About the Author
Hi, I am Vimal - the founder of WildEd and a part-time teacher at Swechha Waldorf inspired school. I design and curate outdoor experiences for children and adults that foster connection with nature and self. I am forever in awe and wonder of the natural world. This blog is an initiative to share the wonder with you all in a way.
Wonderful observations.