Superb bird!!

Went to the American University of Sharjah campus today and saw a Superb bird.... infact a few Superb birds!!

The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) is a member of the starling family and is commonly be found in East Africa.
Surely one glimpse and you know why its called a Superb Starling..

Some internet research and I was sure that my first thought as I saw them was true - 'What are these guys doing here?'

There seems to be a breeding population of atleast 20 birds that have escaped from somewhere and have established a small colony here in the lawns of this campus in the middle of nowhere.

Macros

Here's some macros I took over the last week in my garden - in Dubai - using a new Nikkor Macro lens - 60 mm - F/2.8.

Above is a dragonfly of the Trithemis family. Most likely a female of Trithemis annulata - Purple-blushed Darter (Violet Dropwing).

Above an insect in the Order Diptera, family Calliphoridae, commonly called bluebottle flies, carrion flies or greenbottle flies.

Above a honey bee - which may be the Asian Dwarf Honey Bee (Apis florea).

Above the Common Lime or the Lemon Butterfly (Papilio demoleus) is which is a common and widespread Swallowtail butterfly here in Dubai, taking off after laying eggs on its larval foodplants - a Cultivated Lime plant

Above an unided wasp

The next two snaps are of the caterpillar of a Hawk-moth. Most likely an Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii)

Chiffchaff

Saw this Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) in my garden - in Dubai - on the clothes line a few hours back!

Happy 2009!

May this New Year be full of simple pleasures – like watching a bird glide across a clear blue sky! – Wishing you all a happy 2009!

(Above a gliding Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto))