Happy New Year 2010

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2010.

Happy New Year 2010

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
(Edgar Guest)

Pioneer White Butterfly

The Pioneer White (Belenois aurota) is a medium sized butterfly in the Family Pieridae (Yellows and Whites), which is found in South Asia and Africa. In Africa, it is known as the Brown-veined White. It is also known as African Caper White.

Pioneer White (Belenois aurota) Butterfly

Dead Pioneer White Butterfly

Cute Pakistani Babies

Cute Pakistani Babies

Blue Banded Bee

Here are two pictures of Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata), I got last Summer. Because of their restlessness, Blue banded bee is a very difficult object for an amateur photographer like me. Moreover this specie is very rear in our area. Blue Banded Bee is an Australian native bee that belongs to the Anthophoridae family of insects. It's called Blue Banded Bee because of blue stripes on its abdomen . The male has five blue bands, while the female has four bands. Their head and thorax are covered with golden brown hair. They generally visit blue flowers and collect most of their nectar from blue flowers. They are also known as "Buzz pollinator" and have great significance for Agriculture.

Blue Banded Bee

Indian Myna Bird

Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) also called Common Myna or Mynah, is a member of the starling family. It is a species of bird native to Asia. It is also known as talking Myna for its ability of learning human speech and is kept as a pet. It has dark brown body with shiny black head and wing plumage, with white wing patches. The beak, bare skin around the eyes and legs are of yellow color. Both sexes are similar, however male has a smaller and more shiny head as compared to female. They generally build their nest in a tree cavity or hole in a wall, however they also build nest in trees. Their nest looks like very similar to house sparrow nest i.e. a jumble of straw, twigs, leaves and grasses. The female lays 4 to 6 bluish-green eggs and raise two broods in one year. The brooding season is from May to August.They feed on a variety of insects, grains and fruits. Some time they also feed on the young ones of other birds. These pictures are of our pet myna.

Indian Myna Bird

Indian Myna Bird

Indian Myna Bird

Indian Myna Bird Nest

Indian Myna Bird Eggs

Indian Mayna Birds for Sale

Neelab Fish Point

Neelab Fish Point is situated on the right bank of downstream of Tarbela Dam (largest dam of Pakistan), near Neelab township (Wapda township) Tarbela. It is on a distance of about 2km from Topi. It is a recreation place, particularly for the residence of District Swabi. A large number of people visit the spot daily to enjoy the river view and eat delicious fish of river Indus (Abassen).

Neelab Fish Point Tarbela

My two years old son Abdullah is enjoying has stay at the huts.

Southern Green Stink Bug

Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula) is a shield shaped bug, belong to family Pentatomidae in the Order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs). Adult have an average body length of about 12-13mm. They are considered as pest which damage different crops include cotton, tomato, pecans, pepper, beans and soybeans etc. Their nymphs have very striking colors, as shown in the last picture.

Southern Green Stink Bug

Southern Green Stink Bug Nymph