The Wryneck Hunt

I think I love Hoskote a little more with every visit. There’s always something happening here.

This time, I had one bird in mind: the Eurasian Wryneck. A shy, beautifully camouflaged woodpecker that can disappear into its surroundings so completely that finding one feels like a small treasure hunt. After some searching, I was lucky enough to find this elusive bird.

And, as often happens on a good outing, the Wryneck wasn’t the only highlight. Along the way came a wonderful assortment of birds, insects and other little surprises, some of which may well steal the spotlight from the star of the day!

But for this post, the Eurasian Wryneck is the hero. 

Here are a few moments from another memorable morning at Hoskote.

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With all the rain and overcast skies lately, even a brief glimpse of the sun feels special. This was one such fleeting moment.

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Spotted this peafowl from the car, quietly making its way through the greenery.

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I started my search around the dead trees, hoping the Wryneck would be somewhere nearby.

The dead trees had another resident too. This Indian Spotted Eagle was perched among the bare branches, keeping a watchful eye over the surroundings.

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The Ashy Prinia seemed quite comfortable with a few thorns in the neighbourhood.

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The Greater Coucal clearly had a thing for this rusty perch.

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A Danaid Eggfly stopping for a little mud-puddling, soaking up some much-needed minerals.

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And then this little jewel bug caught my eye, shining brightly against the green.

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The flooded fields reflected the sky beautifully.

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Finally, luck was on my side. After searching among all those dead trees, there it was, the Eurasian Wryneck at last.

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A closer look at the Wryneck. Its beautifully cryptic plumage makes it incredibly easy to miss against the bark. Unlike most woodpeckers, it spends much of its time foraging on the ground, searching for ants with its long, sticky tongue. And when threatened, it can twist its neck dramatically and hiss like a snake. Quite a character for such a shy bird!

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Also spotted a Eurasian Hoopoe, another ground-forager, probing the soil with its long, slender bill in search of a meal.

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It got a little alarmed, and up went the magnificent crest!

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A Plain Prinia looked rather plain after the Hoopoe’s flamboyant display.

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A Red-whiskered Bulbul tucked away among the reeds.

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A Lime Butterfly resting among the tiny white flowers.

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A closer look at the Lime Butterfly reveals just how intricate those wings really are.

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And the final sighting of the morning was this Greater Coucal, quietly tucked away in the greenery.

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The Wryneck was the reason I came, but Hoskote had plenty more surprises in store. Hope you enjoyed the post.

Do leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Birds, Rain and Mud at Saul Kere

Last weekend, I ventured out to Saul Kere in the rain. Thankfully, the drizzle stayed kind enough not to ruin the outing or my camera. The lake was buzzing with activity, and I came back with a whole lot of photos and plenty of mud stuck to my shoes.

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I walked into Saul Kere to find a calm lake, grey skies, a light drizzle, and an unreasonable amount of green.

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Barely into the walk, the first bird showed up. A Cinereous Tit perched quietly among the thorny branches.

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A Purple Sunbird showed up at a pomegranate flower.

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A little further along, I found a Black Drongo and a White-throated Kingfisher sharing the same set of wires.

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The kingfisher suddenly spotted prey in the water and dashed off.

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And there it was. The kingfisher returned with its catch and settled back on the wire, looking rather pleased with itself.

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Egrets, herons, ibises, pelicans and cormorants were packed into the shallows, feeding and moving around like they all had places to be.

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The Spot-billed Pelicans worked the shallows with their big bills, while the Grey Herons took the slow and patient approach, standing perfectly still and waiting for an opportunity.

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Brahminy and Black Kites started swooping low over the lake. No patient waiting or careful stalking here.

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The Brahminy Kite dropped low, hit the water and came up with a fish while the Little Egret could only watch from the sidelines.

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The bougainvillea was putting on quite a show while the waterbirds carried on below.

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A small group of Indian Spot-billed Ducks came gliding through the shallows.

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A lone Glossy Ibis quietly worked the edge of the lake.

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Another Spot-billed Pelican, this time cruising through the shallows.

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Away from the open water, I found a Greenish Warbler tucked into the vegetation.

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Black Drongos, a shrike, barbets and bulbuls all shared the same perch, each seemingly waiting for the others to leave first.

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A White-throated Kingfisher and a Black-rumped Flameback shared the same bare tree, turning an otherwise quiet perch into a colourful little lookout.

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The Greater Coucal looked like it had found the coldest perch in the neighbourhood.

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An Oriental Honey Buzzard rested in the shadows, almost disappearing into the dark canopy.

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A Blue-faced Malkoha waited out the rain on a dripping branch, as if the downpour was all part of the plan.

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The final sighting of the morning was another Black-rumped Flameback, quietly working its way up a tree.

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Thus ended a wet, muddy morning, but one well worth it. How are the September rains in your part of the world? Do comment and tell me how they’ve been treating you.