Orchid tree

Bauhinia variegata

This beautiful tree has been in flowering since September. It is found in several places on campus, and currently the tree on the way to Jersey is the one flowering most profusely. There are other trees of the same kind on the road near the canteen. It is also called Orchid tree because the flowers are said to resemble orchids. A closely related species is the official flower of Hong Kong. The Hindi name for this tree is Kachnar.

If you notice, there is another interesting tree in flowering on campus. This is the Indian Cork Tree (Millingtonia hortensis). It has white, very sweet smelling flowers. This tree is also at the turning for Jersey. Next time you go for a cup of tea, have a look at the flowering trees as well!

Botanical information from:
Flowers of India
Wikipedia

Tussar Silk Moth

The monsoon is the best time to watch insects, and sometimes you don't even have to leave the hostel room! This moth is a Tussar Silk Moth that was found in the hostel. As the name suggests, the moth's larvae are used to produce a type of silk.

I have found a number of interesting moths in the buildings on campus. Check out this one (Family: Noctuidae) and this fellow (known variously as Carpenter Moth, Goat Moth).

Russell's Kukri

Variegated/Russell's Kukri

This snake was found dead on the road in campus one evening, probably run over by a passing vehicle. It's a non-venomous snake with the scientific name Oligodon taeniolatus. If anybody knows the Telugu name for this snake, let me know! It's called a Kukri snake because of its teeth, which resemble the Kukri, a curved Nepalese knife. The teeth are specially adapted for breaking open eggs of birds and other reptiles which are its main diet. You can check the Wikipedia article for more information. Incidentally, Dr. Patrick Russell was the author of a book on Indian snakes in 1796.

I have found a number of frogs killed in the same manner by speeding vehicles on campus. It would be nice if something could be done about this. Suggestions anyone?

Checklist of the birds of IIIT

This is an ongoing project to document the avifauna of the campus. The current checklist stands at 58 species. Click on the bird's name to see its picture. [WM = winter migrant] I have made this checklist after a year of observing the birds on campus. Many observations are seasonal, like the Common Hawk Cuckoo, heard during summer and early rains, the Golden Oriole, observed in summer and the warblers during the winter months. Some water birds that often fly past the campus like the Black headed Ibis and Great Cormorant are also recorded. Most of the rest are resident birds here, seen throughout the year.

1. Yellow billed Babbler
2. Large Grey Babbler
3. Coppersmith Barbet
4. Green Bee eater
5. Redvented Bulbul
6. Pied Bushchat
7. Zittting Cisticola
8. Great Cormorant
9. Greater Coucal
10. Large billed Crow
11. Spotted Dove
12. Laughing Dove
13. Black Drongo
14. Cattle Egret
15. Little Egret
16. Pale billed Flowerpecker
17. Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
18. Grey Francolin
19. Indian Pond Heron
20. Black crowned Night Heron
21. Common Hoopoe
22. Black headed Ibis
23. Common Iora
24. Indian Roller
25. White throated Kingfisher
26. Black Kite
27. Brahminy Kite
28. Asian Koel
29. Red Wattled Lapwing
30. Magpie Robin
31. Small Minivet
32. Scaly Bellied Munia
33. Common Myna
34. Brahminy Starling
    
35. Golden Oriole
36. Barn Owl
37. Spotted Owlet
38. Rose ringed Parakeet
39. Blue Rock Pigeon
40. Ashy Prinia
41. Plain Prinia
42. Grey breasted Prinia
43. Indian Robin
44. Shikra
45. Long tailed Shrike
46. House Sparrow
47. Purple rumped Sunbird
48. Purple Sunbird
49. Barn Swallow (WM)
    
50. House Swift
51. Common Tailorbird
52. Rufous Treepie
53. White browed Wagtail
54. Booted Warbler (WM)
    
55. Blyth's Reed Warbler (WM)
    
56. Black shouldered Kite
57. Common Hawk Cuckoo
58. Indian Silverbill
59. Grey bellied Cuckoo
60. White browed Bulbul
61. Oriental Honey Buzzard
62. Common Grey Hornbill