Loten Sunbird

Rani is a local woman who with her Swiss husband has a 3 acre compound off the Perumbakkam Road south of Arunachala. When the couple bought their land some years back it was just empty fields. Now it is well populated with indigenous trees and shrubs. Through intelligent tree selection, the garden is thriving in spite of often a severe water shortage during the hottest Summer months.

In the above photograph Rani poses in the outdoor tea shop she recently opened on her land. Below is one of her prized turkeys - a creature I have never previously seen here at Tiruvannamalai.

The next photographs are of Rani's garden, which are alive with the bird calls of many indigenous bird species.

But today am writing about this pretty Loten Sunbird who has built its nest hanging from the Cafe's bamboo roof.

In clearer detail a photograph of another Loten Sunbird.