The greater coucal, Centropus sinensis, at the scene of action.

As usual, we took our camera and though the birds were in a distance, captured some photographs. These photographs were taken on 15 Feb 2008, from our home at Kerala. As usual, the photographs were processed and closely checked very late, more than a year later. We were taken in for a surprise. All of a sudden there is a snake in the picture! That too, a long snake with its long tail entwined all over the all-spices tree in our backyard…

The male purple sunbird, cinnyris asiaticus (~ nectarinia asiatica), as you see, is in the breeding plumage. They are glossy purple during breeding time and have brownish upper and greyish-white under sides during non-breeding time. You can see the predating snake sneaking through the all-spices tree on the right.

Birds, especially the smaller ones, have an effective (well, sometimes) defense system against snakes. If one of them finds a snake, they make sure that the whole world knows about it, by flapping and chirping out loud. This brings the rest of the community to the scene of action. Altogether, they make an aggressive attempt to mob and drive the snake away.

Red whiskered bulbuls, pycnonotus jocosus, at the scene of action. We had earlier discovered that the red whiskered bulbuls are nesting nearby. Some of these >> red whiskered bulbul nests were photographed around the same time. So it is of ultimate interest to both these birds to get rid of the enemy off their domain.

Yellow browed bulbul, lole indica, at the scene of action.

You need to know the detached wheatear stitch. I will be following three parallel stitch lines to demonstrate this stitch.

Fig 1: Start the base by doing a detached wheatear stitch as shown above. Note that A and C lie on the left and right stitch lines. B and D lie on the centre stitch line.		Fig 2: We now proceed to make more detached wheatear stitches one after the other. After putting in the needle through D, bring it out through E, then in through D and out through F.
Fig 3: Put the needle in through D again. This completes the second pair of ‘ears’. Bring the needle out through G.		Fig 4: Take the needle beneath the second pair of ‘ears’ and the previous loop to form the second loop of the sequence.
Fig 5: Put the needle in through G to complete the second loop.		Fig 6: Keep up with this procedure to finish the entire stitch line.
		Fig 7: A finished line of wheatear stitch would look like this. I have ended the sequence with the ‘ears’ or a ‘V’ to give it a more wheat sheaf look. Try this stitch on curves as well.

Orange tips (anthocharis cardamines) are common across Europe and found in some regions of Asia with temperate climates. The male has the characteristic orange tip on its forewings while the tips are greyish for the female.

and… for a better view of the tranquil mating…

Well, somebody else is not quite happy with their tranquil mating. Another male orange tip flies on to interrupt the pair.

All these happened in this beautiful valley of the Alps, at Valsavarence, Vale d’Aosta in Italy.

The Alps host a wide range of endemic species of the animal kingdom, including the alpine marmots (marmota marmota). Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. You can see the main burrow of a marmot family here. This burrow is just a part of their larger underground networking system. The whole terrain would be full of holes and burrows interconnected. We found this while following an ibex, an alpine antelope, and my foot got into many of those numerous marmot holes.

Interestingly, close relatives to the alpine marmots are found at Ladakh in India too.

More pictures from Aosta Valley are at our Nature Italia Gallery   <<<  

Aosta Valley is 2 hours from Turin, and near the French border. We were stationed at Valsavarenche, in the Gran Paradiso National Park, which is the oldest national park of Italy.

 Knowledge of bull’s head stitch will help you understand the difference and logc behind both stitches. Knowledge of the reverse chain stitch will be an advantage.

Fig 1: We start by making the ‘ears’ of the wheat seed. For that, we pull the needle out through A and put it in through B, as shown. Then, the needle is pulled out through C. Note that B lies at about 90 degrees angle between A and C.		Fig 2: We now make the other ‘ear’ of the wheat seed. For that, put in the needle through B and bring it out through D. D lies straight below the point B.
Fig 3: Now, we follow a reverse chain stitch procedure to make the wheat seed. For that bring the needle out from D and take it underneath the previously made stitches without plucking the fabric beneath.		Fig 4: Put the needle in through D again to finish up the stitch.
		Fig 5: A finished detached wheatear stitch would look like this. It is a lot in resemblance to the bull’s head stitch. If you note, here, the loop of the chain lies under the ‘ears’ or ‘horns’ , unlike that in the bull’s head stitch.

You need to know the lazy daisy stitch to be able to do this stitch.

Fig 1: We start by making the horns of the bull. So, bring out the needle through A and put it in through B. Continue to bring the needle out through C, which lies at a 90 degrees angle from A and B. Note that the thread lies below the needle causing it to bend to a ‘V’ shape.		Fig 2: We now proceed to make the face of the bull using a lazy daisy stitch. So, pull out the thread from C. Put the needle again through C and bring it out from D, which lies straight below C. Now, loop the thread around the needle as shown to make the lazy daisy stitch.
		Fig 3: Anchor up the lazy daisy as shown and finish the bulls head. Note that the lazy daisy stitch is done over the bent thread. Keep this in mind while you go through the detached wheatear stitch. It will help you to understand the difference between both.

This is among the few detached stitches in the chain stitch family. The name of the stitch is derived from its resemblance to the tulip flower. So, this stitch can be used to make tulip flower patterns or it can become a small part fo a bigger flower…of course, the imagination is yours! It can also be used as a filling in stitch to fill up patterns.

To be able to do this stitch, you need to know the lazy daisy stitch.

Fig 1: Start by doing a lazy daisy stitch as shown above. Consider that A is the base of the lazy daisy and B is the tail.		Fig 2: After putting in the needle thru B, bring it out thru C. C lies at about a 90 degrees angle from B and is about 2/3rd the distance from A. Note that this is just an approximate measurement I am using for a typical tulip stitch. You need not be strict about it. Now, take the needle beneath the ‘tail’ of lazy daisy without plucking the fabric.
Fig 3: Now put it in through D which lies symmetrical to C.		Fig 4: A finished tulip stitch would look like this.

This stitch follows a pattern where each chain stitch loop is followed by an alternating twisted chain stitch loop. I will be demonstrating the stitch on a curved stitch line.

Fig 1: Begin by doing a chain stitch loop followed by a twisted chain stitch loop.		Fig 2: Follow it up with another chain stitch.
Fig 3: Now, follow this chain stitch loop with an alternate twisted chain stitch loop. For that, put in the needle on the right side of the chain stitch and loop the thread around the needle as shown.		Fig 4: When you pull out the needle, you will get a pattern of this sort. Continue with this sequence of stitching.
Fig 5: The pattern, once finished, would look like this. Just remember to alternate the twisted chain after each chain stitch. So, you would put in the needle on the left once and on the right the other time.

I would be following a curved stitch line for the illustration.

Fig 1: Begin the stitch by making a simple chain stitch loop.		Fig 2: Now put in the needle at the left of the chain to begin a twisted chain loop.
Fig 3: Loop the thread around and pull out the needle for a twisted chain.		Fig 4: The pattern would look like this. Continue it with a chain stitch and twisted chain stitches in an alternate pattern.
Fig 5: Your finished pattern would look like this.