Street Smart Bird Encounter: Indian Mynahs Living it Up in Dubai

As they fly, hop and walk on street pathways, parking lots and on pedestrian crossing lanes, these cheeky birds have captured my attention! I have also noticed them on road sides of major streets, moving and foraging alongside the stop and go vehicular traffic. Somewhat oblivious to the rushing vehicles and the noise! 

Looks like these birds have adapted to the hustle-and-bustle of the ultra busy Dubai lifestyle.

The Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) are invasive birds that have well established  themselves in the high streets of  Dubai.   

The Indian Mynah or Common Mynah have a brown colored body with black head. It has a yellow bill, legs and eye patch. When in flight it will reveal a large white wing portion. 

These birds are able to produce distinct bird calls which include: croaks, chirps, clicks, growls, squawks and whistles. These Mynah usually fluffs its feather and bods its head when its in singing mood. They produce a screeching sound which serves as a warning to its mate and other birds when there is danger nearby from a potential predator or when its time for them to take flight.

Being omnivores, they feed on insects, spiders, small reptiles, seeds, fruits and on human rubbish. Particularly human food wastes! They leisurely walk on the ground, hopping occasionally while foraging for insects and their other fave dainties. 

Indian mynahs are notable opportunistic feeders and nest dwellers. They are noted to bully there way into the nest and territory of other small birds, particularly sparrows.

Mating pairs of mynahs are partners for life! Now that's feathered commitment!

These birds are really nice to watch as they move and display their street smart stuff!

Awesome creatures! Awesome Creator!

 

Blanket Octopus Encounter at Jumeirah Beach

 

I was enjoying my morning swim today at the Jumeirah Open Beach, Dubai, when I overheard some kids shouting and pointing at something that scared them. The large object was slowly moving near the shore and you could see its slimy, shiny head protruding above the water surface. To my surprise it was not a large squid but an octopus. It was a rare Blanket Octopus!

Immediately, I borrowed a bucket from a beach guest, cautioned the kids and other beach goers to stay clear of the tentacles and the ink squirting. I carefully guided the octopus inside the bucket, allowed the curious ones to take a closer glimpse (and also give me some time to grab and return my phone to take a photo). I swam and floated the bucket to a deeper portion of the beach to allow the octopus to swim back to the open sea on its own. It was upon release from the bucket that I was able to see its large. deep red-colored skin blanket. It swam back to deeper water waving to me its wide skin cape! 

Blanket octopuses, Tremoctopus sp. are free swimming cephalopods that do not spend time at the sea floor like other octopus species. They conduct hunting and feeding on the open sea surface, mainly attacking smaller fish.  

They got the name from the long skin cape attached to its dorsal and dorsolateral tentacles. The blanket extension can only be observed on the females. It serves as a defense mechanism to allow it to look larger and sacrifice portions of it when attacked by large predators. Yes, these octopuses can also squirt ink when threatened! The female blanket octopus can grow up to 2 meters in length, while the males are quite miniscule, only reaching a mere 2.4cm. Another unique adaptation, is the ability of male octopus and juvenile females to grab a poisonous tentacle of a "Portuguese man-of-war" and use it as a defensive whip!

Octopuses are known for their intelligence, blanket octopuses can learn and recall, as well as mimic behaviors (for protection and hunting) exhibited by other octopuses. They can also show varying temperaments and preferences towards different behaviors and creatures. Simply Amazing!

Truly glad to have encountered this cephalopod and was able to safely release it back to the open sea.

Awesome creature! Awesome Creator!

    

    

Let's All Be Bee Friendly! My Arabian Dwarf Honey Bees Encounter

Early this week, I was contacted to offer technical advise regarding a "bee incursion" on the balcony of a residential building. Their question: "What should we do to kill and remove these bees swarming in our balcony?" They were quite surprised with my answer: I told them that "these bees are the Arabian Dwarf Honey Bees. Please do not kill them. They are not aggressive and are harmless to humans! The bees will stay only for a short while in your balcony. They will leave the area voluntarily. Please do not spray pesticides on the bee hive." 

The Arabian Dwarf Honey Bees, Apis florea, are tiny red brown bees, 7-10mm in size. They are smaller than the Domestic Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. These small bees are commonly found in South and South East Asia and also in the Middle East Region. They are considered the main natural pollinators here in the United Arab Emirates.

As mentioned above, these dwarf bees are harmless to humans. They do not sting in the same manner as the Domestic Honey Bee. Their main defense mechanism against invaders is by producing a loud ensemble of a hissing and wing beating sound called as "piping." The hissing sound of thousands of bee wings beating is audible to humans! Against ants, the worker bees produce and form a sticky zone barrier to deter raiding ants from looting their nest.

Let's all Bee Friendly! Let these bees do their pollination work and produce their tasty honey! 

(Confession: Like Winnie The Pooh - I like sweet, sweet honey! Yum, yum, yum!) 

My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul, if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 24: 13-14, ESV)

Awesome creatures! Awesome Creator!

 

Pitted Beetles - Adesmia cancellata encounter

Paint It Black (sounds like a classic Rolling Stones hit)!

It was during a weekend mountain expedition earlier this March at the Mt. Maleiha trail in Sharjah that I got multiple natural habitat encounters with these fast moving, shiny black beetles!

These awesome beetles are called Pitted Beetles, Adesmia cancellata. These darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) have found their own niche in the desert and have adapted as scavengers/omnivores. 

These fast walking beetles were out "en masse" as I was traversing the trail.  The changing season (Spring to Summer) might have activated a mating frenzy for these darklings! I observed numerous beetles in pairs and in some cases chasing each other in the ordeals of courtship.

Their "painted black" color and the numerous pits on their elytra put against a light colored desert sand and dry rocks background makes them easy to spot.

I was doubly amazed to observed  how fast they walk on the desert sand and rock surfaces. 

Awesome creature! Awesome Creator!

   

 

 

My Sinai Agama Encounter

 

On my recent hiking expedition of the Al Hajjar Mountains,  along the Shawkha trail, I had an encounter with an amazing creature! 

I saw for the first time on its natural habitat a Sinai Agama, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus! 

I was marching back along the trail, rehydrating and then I felt a sudden movement from the boulder on my left side. Something skinny, with a long tail and a bluish head popped up. It did not immediately  darted away to hide inside the crevices, as like me it was trying to observe and assess the situation. Which was favorable for me as I was able to take some quick photos of the lizard. 

Most probably it was basking on its boulder hide out and this explorer disrupted its "sun bathing time.". 

Agamas are very agile climbers and they can easily move across the cracks and crevices of the rocky mountain surfaces. Thankfully I was able to catch a good glimpse of it even as it was trying to conceal itself from the shaded portion of the boulder.

Male Sinai Agamas exudes a very vivid blue hue during the mating season (Spring to Summer). Females are generally dull brown in color with reddish spots on the body. 

I think the Sinai Agama I encountered is preparing for the season! All the Best to you Lizard!

Amazing creature! Amazing encounter! Amazing Creator! Thanks be to the Lord!

    

On the Shawkha Hiking Trail, Ras Al Khaimah

 When facing an arduous mountain trail, there are a few questions you have to answer:

1. How much time do you have available for this expedition?

2. How far do you want to go in this seemingly endless paths and trails across the mountain range?

3. Do you have the needed physical and logistical resources to undertake the expedition?

Answer the above questions, decide, and then proceed. 

The amazing thing about hiking is the realization that, as you continue to walk, march, climb or even crawl, you are able to cover far distances. Each step takes you farther. Each step takes you higher. Each step leads to another place, another angle, another view. You can take breaks to catch your breath, rehydrate or grab a bite, but continue to move forward and take those steps. 

As you are taking those steps, give thanks to the Lord God for His amazing grace and guidance. 

As you are covering more ground, look around, listen, feel and appreciate the creative handiwork the Almighty God is allowing you to experience. 

The mountain trail is truly amazing!  

Life is a journey! Move forward! 

    

The Samurai Bug is back

 This is mega awesome!

I was able to get access back to my blog after a long hiatus!

Now I can get back to writing, expressing my thoughts and setting those words free flowing on a written canvass! Thanks be to God!

Expect regular write ups! Now that I can access my blogger back!

The Samurai Bug is back!