Birds in India

When I flew to India, I borrowed Kabuka's small binocular because I thought I wouldn't have chance to see many birds there as I was going to a literature festival.

Bookarooが開かれたサンダー・ナーサリーは、フマユーン廟の隣にある遺跡公園で、すばらしい自然公園でもあった。フェスティバルの会場自体が池や小川もあるその林の中に点在していたので、思いのほかたくさんの鳥が見られた。

Red-naped Ibis（アカアシトキ）
But I was very wrong with that! Sunder Nursery, where the Bookaroo was held, is an amazing garden and wildlife area.

The minute I went into the speaker's launge area, I was greeted by a grey bird with a big strange bill, Indian Grey Hornbill! And from where my first drawing session was held, I could see the Red-wattled Lapwing and the Little Cormorant.

Red-naped Ibis

Rose-ringed Parakeet

My favorite bird in the world, White-breasted Waterhens were there, too, as well as Moorhen. 

And I found a very cute Hindi picture book about the White-breasted Waterhen in the Bookaroo bookshop and I had to buy it.

White-throated Kingfisher（アオショウビン） 

Ruchi took me to Lodhi Garden on my last day and we watched some more birds including this kinfisher and the Grey Hornbill at close!

Indian Grey Hornbill （インドコサイチョウ）

And since I carried my pair of binoculars all the time, even while we were waiting for the car at the hotel, or at the book signing desk, I made birder friends!
Marc, an illustrator from Portugal and I were always comparing the bird list we saw at the nursery and Peeyush, an author from Delhi, kindly told me bird ID.  

I always think that birders share the same "race" and speak the same "language."  

 
Bookarooの最中、ずっと双眼鏡を首からかけていたら、バードウォッチャーの作家やイラストレーターが話しかけてくれて、とっても仲良くなれた。お互いにバーダーとなると、一気に仲良くなれるのがうれしい。

And that was my Indian trip! Last sketch I did in India was from the gate at the airport. 
Thank you so much Bookaroo for inviting me, Japan Foundation for supporting me and all the speakers and volunteers and drivers who helped me!  

行きの飛行機は中央線沿線かから甲府盆地や南アルプスの上を飛び、右の窓側に座っていたわたしは、富士山を見損ねた。帰りこそはと右側の窓に座ったら、今度は渥美半島、伊豆大島の上と海側を飛んだので、やっぱり富士山は見えなかった。でも利島、新島、式根島、神津島、三宅島までがよく見えた。