El Nino has seriously messed up the Southwest Monsoon this year. Instead of the thundery skies and rainy days that should have arrived by now, we have this strange stillness in the air as the monsoon stalls. Not a leaf moves on the trees outside the windows.
All we have is a series of muggy days with occasional sprinkles of rain, which just makes it more humid.
My cat Biscuitus enjoys the thunder and rain and he hates this weather as much as I do. The other day, we were hanging out on the balcony where I like to take my coffee breaks and he enjoys his daily bird and neighborhood watch.
Even though it’s an apartment near a busy highway, the green paddy fields are only a few hundred meters away on the other side and contain all kinds of wildlife. These are the cultivated floodplains along the sides of the river delta and it’s common to see white egrets flying over them. But today, there was a new visitor.
Despite the weather, Biscuitus was completely mesmerized as he saw a large bird take off from the fields and climb up into the skies. A snake was dangling from its talons, limply waving in the air with the momentum of the eagle’s flight.
It was a rare sight but I’ve sometimes seen snakes thrashing as they try to get away from the eagle’s crushing grip. But this one was probably past the point of resistance.
This bird had swooped down on it and crushed it instantly. And now it was carrying it away for breakfast.
This bird who had mesmerized Biscuitus was bigger than the usual crows, parrots, mynahs and egrets, so it was likely a raptor of some kind. It was most probably a Short Toed Snake Eagle based on its wingspan and prey.
When I was kid growing up on my grandparents’ farm house in the forested foothills of the Eastern Ghats, one could occasionally see raptors like the Crested Serpent Eagle soaring in the sky. It had a large wingspan so it was easy to see the distinct markings under its wings. My grandparents were enthusiastic naturalists and could identify most species that were endemic to that area.
Snake eagles are medium-sized raptors and they have legs with scales that partially protect them from snake bites. They are nature's ultimate daredevils who use their power to break a snake's head or spine almost instantly to protect them from being killed with venom before taking off.
Short-toed snake eagle in flight (AI image since I couldn't take a picture of the actual scene)
It was breathtaking to watch this eagle doing just that. The sheer precision of the hunt was thrilling to watch. The strategic and flawless aerodynamics with no chaos. Just that perfectly timed swoop, grab, crush and lift off. It was pure elegance. The heat created the thermals it needed to rise higher as it stopped flapping and began to soar.
Biscuitus watched this eagle with utter fascination. I wondered what was going on in his little head as he crouched there absolutely captivated. Was he scared of the raptor or the snake?
Was he perhaps stalking the eagle which might have looked manageable to him from the distance? Or was he just intrigued by the strange sight?
I could almost hear him hyping himself up like a tennis pro before hitting an ace, and thinking, “I can get that bird. Yes, I can handle it”. He had that same psyching myself up look about him that a footballer has just before a penalty kick 😂
He was definitely eyeing a big raptor and wondering about the possibility of lunch.
Not that he has ever successfully hunted a bird but he has that natural stalking instinct that felines have.
He crouched there absolutely still. His eyes were on the eagle, following its flight. Not a muscle moved. Not a whisker twitched. He might as well have been a frozen statue.
But when he was ready to pounce, it would happen in a flash. A sudden explosion.
But considering the fact that he’s a house cat, his “prey” has been mostly toys or an occasional lizard that brings out his inner wolverine. But the lizards would drop their tails and run away leaving him mesmerized by the twitching little piece.
Although he does eye pigeons or squirrels outside the screened windows, it must be frustrating that he cannot reach them. If he had been out on the streets, he would have probably been up to a whole lot more…
He’s even willing to take on a snake hunting raptor. As the eagle flew away, probably to a high tree where it would finish off the snake, Biscuitus relaxed and stood up. Was he wishing for wings as he watched the bird soar away?
He’s got a heart full of impossible dreams with a definite streak of audacity.
My little Ginger Biscuit is bursting with both heroic and comedic main character energy 😂
Wondering what goes on in his head is definitely creative inspiration for free writing to unlock the flow before I get into the heavier focus of writing out structured scenes for my historical fiction.
That’s probably why so many creative types love cats. It’s that whole little wannabe warrior wrapped up in a cuddly and funny package. Plus the quiet, undemanding company that lets you focus on your work. They’re the ultimate muse for a creative person.
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