Ramnarayan Kalyanaraman

Want to chase the light fantastic (holder bio - more details coming soon)

Last Notes

2026-07-19 21:28:27 UTC

Day 5 of Monsoon Beauty
After a few lean days, in the city, work, & life, it was a delight to see this Ocellated Shield Bug (Cantao ocellatus) generically in Family Scutelleridae - jewel bugs & or shield-backed bugs.
My big eyes were draw to the black and yellow "ocellus" on a bright orange top.
Presence of many of these bugs indicates monsoons, so 1 bug means what ? just clouds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantao_ocellatus
#MonsoonBeauty #IndiasNature #Nature #bugs #jewelbugs #entomology #insects
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/948/619/669/748/353/original/89861479b6ff0130.png
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2026-06-21 13:28:32 UTC

Some help
Some months ago someone posted about "taking a public stand"
That people would rather condone a crime or criminals (or even just bad behaviour or bad ethics) just so that they (individually ) don't seem either controversial or be seen as someone who mature and take a "balanced view".Even if taking such a stance is actually detrimental to themselves or their community.
Wonder if anyone can help me find this "post".
#fediverse #ethics #politics

2026-05-21 06:24:20 UTC

Over the past week I traveled over some side roads - day time & even later in the nights. Narrow but good road, low traffic, & very kind people.
Stopped a few times to get photos or just take a break. Almost always had friendly chats with people &. almost always they just handed me large delicious Peaches. Unbidden.
In one case a man gave me the fruit from under an almost closed shutter.
#kindness #fruits #nature #people #uttarakhand #peaches #india #indiasNature #himalayas #travel
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/611/068/372/736/313/original/e2624cec37afac5a.jpg
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2026-05-19 14:03:57 UTC

Barberry flower, locally called Kilmoda (apochryphally the origins of the name for Almora town)
Flowers are edible, along with the berries as well.
Berberis spp.
#bloomscrolling #flowers #nature #yellowflowers #himalayas #IndiasNature
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/601/474/584/690/454/original/1c7c951290ac318b.jpg

2026-05-14 10:35:25 UTC

A Cobra lily flower & plant (Arisaema propinquum | Wallach's Cobra Lily), in the dense undergrowth of a Cold Temperate Forest (altitude 2200 m asl)
#CobraLily #bloomscrolling #Flowers #Nature #forest #Himalayas #wildflowers #IndiasNature
#Uttarakhand
PS i think it is A propinquum ( cannot find my book to verify)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/572/429/475/007/372/original/b99eb6a55c4155cb.jpeg
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2026-05-02 03:54:24 UTC

1st May 2026 | New Delhi
A Full moon, seen through the tops of trees.
Buddh Poorinima in India & the first of the two Micro-Moon's in May 26. The next one is on 31st May (yaay). Could not make out the "mini-ness"
Around moon rise we could hear the call / song of an Indian Peafowl, Asian Koel, House Crows & a Brown-headed Barbet. Some dogs were barking too generally nothing to do with the moon
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/micromoon-definition-full-moon-apogee/
#FullMoon #moon #newdelhi #night #birds #dogs #nature #astronomy #minimoon
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/502/918/122/044/460/original/13c4d19d5c9610da.png

2026-04-02 16:12:15 UTC

Just laid hands on this beautiful hard cover book
*India’s Forests* : Revisiting Nature and History
A compilation of essays from some very cool researchers & writers with a foreword by an amazing historian Dr Shekhar Pathak, while the editors, Arupjyoti Saikia & Mahesh Rangarajan have a rich history of great writing as well.
Looking forward to reading this
https://www.penguin.co.in/book/indias-forests
#books #IndiasNature #Forests #Essays #history #environment #Communities #Ecology #PenguinBooks #Culture
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/335/871/890/253/247/original/0559a59d445de434.jpeg

2026-03-08 14:29:14 UTC

A Jewel Bug, aka Lychee Shield Bug
Stunning on a natural red background (bracts of a pointsettia plant )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysocoris_stollii
#bugs #truebugs #nature #indiasnature #jewelbug #entomology
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/193/711/081/857/761/original/adb8fc00cc04e77b.jpg

2026-03-03 14:36:35 UTC

Full Moon and the tail end of the Eclipse in South India.
#moon #fullmoon #astronomy #eclipse #lunareclipse #chennai #india
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/165/728/460/009/684/original/006753848bcf60e1.jpeg

2026-02-28 16:11:27 UTC

‘Who’d guess they’re the same species?’ What Italy’s wall lizards reveal about genetic diversity and why it matters | Biodiversity | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/28/conservation-biodiversity-species-genetics-wall-lizards-aeolian-italy-aoe
#nature #science #biodiversity #diversity #reptiles #lizards
Though not scientific, i, too have observed variability in the common & wide ranging Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) & to a lesser extent in the Kashmir Rock Agama (Laudakia tuberculata )
Of course the variability could also be because of gender, & age

2026-02-11 08:24:55 UTC

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they are
Many of the Cyana are just awesome

2026-02-10 15:53:51 UTC

This article exposes the negative side of nature photography along with reiterating, of course, the same jealousy & competitive elements of social media
The theory that nature photography & unfettered nature tourism is good for conservation are actually only good for profit lines & do very little for real conservation. While tourism itself is ending up displacing local communities
https://www.outlooktraveller.com/experiences/nature/viral-shots-or-wildlife-abuse-expert-breaks-down-where-wildlife-photography-crosses-the-ethical-line
#nature #ethics #naturephotography #naturetourism #wildlfephotography #indiasnature

2026-01-30 09:17:03 UTC

While we invent new words to describe human activity and mis-influence we lose species and ecosystems at an out of control and seemingly irretreivable pace. Not just a samey world but likely a wild world that is just in a few select captive places for a select audience.
https://theconversation.com/welcome-to-the-homogenocene-how-humans-are-making-the-worlds-wildlife-dangerously-samey-274092
#anthropocene #homogenocene #SpeciesExtinction #nature #conservation #ethics #wildlife #species #extinction #humanactivities

2026-01-18 14:23:47 UTC

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Fantabulous,