Pongal at Goa - early morning at the Madhei river

7:30 am, 13th January

So much for Accuweather informing us that it was a nice balmy 25 degress in the night!  It was some 12 degrees I swear, and we Madrasis were not equipped at all!!

Wearing T-shirts one on top of the other, and with hands in pockets, we set off, shivering, for this bridge across the river.

It was too cold for the birds as well, and there were a couple of wire-tailed swallows desperately seeking some sun on the electricity wire.

Our little seven-year old birder  who definitely does not like the cold, chirped up only at about eight when it got warmer, and I loved the way he said "Brrrahminy Kite"  and Rrrrufous trrrree pie", rolling his r's in a most endearing fashion!

The Mandovi is called the Madhei in Goa.

It originates in neighbouring Karnataka, and there is another river water dispute unfolding here.

At this point, the waters were so clear we could see the stony river bed.  I wonder if this part also had been affected by illegal mining.

"Here comes the sun, tudududu.  Here comes the sun, I say"

A Magpie robin braved the cold winds

A Wire-tailed swallow.  See the clear waters.

Photo by Mr Ramanan of the wire-tailed pair.  The one on the left is the male with the wire tail.

We saw a lot of birds in the undergrowth by the riverside, a little later.  I saw a black-lored tit, and various barbets sunned themselves on the highest branches.  A Golden Oriole called sweetly and an Ashy Prinia hopped around busily without a second glance at us.

A white-bellied sea eagle glided across the bridge, and it was a magnificent sight!  The crest of the Spangled drongo glinted in the sun, and looked amazing through the spotting scope of Pankaj.

What marvellous colours in the natural world, I thought, even as a white-breasted kingfisher darted from its perch and caught a fish!