A refreshing birdwalk

Another visit to Hoskote lake. The weather was quite pleasant and I had a good refreshing birdwalk for 45 minutes. Here are the pictures...

I began by exploring the major part of the lake where the water birds are usually active. 

A phalanx of Eurasian Spoonbill were out fishing with their spoon shaped bills...

I picked one and watched its activity...

Soon it caught something...

A breeding adult Little grebe was seen diving in quest of a meal...

A nonbreeding adult Little grebe was also seen...

I continued my walk admiring the clouds in the freshly washed blue sky...

I saw some movement in a tree far away. A Green Bee-eater was well camouflaged in the foliage and on bee-hunting sorties. It caught a bee...

I was wishing it catches something bigger than a bee, so that I can get clearer pics. Wish was granted, another sailed in and sat on a wire. It had caught a dragonfly... 

Then another flew in with a bee...

The puffy clouds were looking nice. I clicked a large hearted one...

I took a timelapse video to capture the alternating light and shadow caused by the moving clouds...

On my way back, I saw a Purple heron focused on fishing. Look at the change in posture in the next three pictures, when he sights a potential prey...

The fish gave a slip...

A Painted stork was lucky, though. He was struggling to swallow this big Tilapia fish he caught...

That's what I explored in 45 minutes. Hope you liked the post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Also, please join me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/shijuvenate

A show of feathers

I am resuming birding and blogging after a Covid break. Yes, I got infected in the second wave. May was a nasty month that started with wife getting infected and then all of us, including my two kids and parents.

All have recovered well with timely medical interventions at home.

This week, I visited Hoskote lake after I got better. Here are the pics...

Monsoon is round the corner, and the sky will be dramatic for the next month or two...

Saw a couple of Asian Openbill stork fishing in tandem...

An Indian Pond heron was also watchful for any approaching fish...

A bird flew as I approached for a closer look. It was probably a babbler. I was happy to capture the beautiful feathers. As you will see in the post, this was a prelude to many more show of feathers...

A Plain Prinia appeared next to give me a closer view...

Next I saw a bee-eater. Its look confused me. Probably it's a juvenile Chestnut-headed Bee-eater with a hint of chestnut head or it can be a Little bee eater...

But there is no confusion of it being a bee-eater...

There is an active Baya Weaver nesting colony on a tree...

The male Baya weavers were racing against time to complete building nests before the onset of monsoon rains...

I observed the frenzied nest building from a respectful distance...

Notice the feather show...

Female Baya weaver was also out there to inspect the completed nests...

A completed nest...

A female Baya weaver works on building the interiors of the selected nest. Here she comes with a feather to make, perhaps a comfortable bed for the chicks. Notice the feather show...

An Indian Roller was seen sitting on a wire...

As I was thinking about its blue plumes, it decided to do a show of feathers... 

A Cinereous Tit  was the next participant in the show of feathers...

As if taking a cue from the birds, the Plain tiger butterfly also gave a lovely view of its wings... 

It was nice to return to the bird/nature outing after a crazy gap. Hope you liked the post. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...