A Morning at Hoskote Lake

I went to Hoskote Lake two weeks ago to see birds. I couldn't share the photos last week because I was busy, but here they are now!

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The sun had just risen when I reached the lake.

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As the sun came up, I waited for birds to fly by. Soon, a group of ibises flew across the sky.

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Breaking the dawn's silence, the first bird to grace my sight was the Common Kingfisher.

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I saw some egrets and herons gathered in the distance. I walked over to take a closer look.

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As I walked deeper into the marshy expanse, I inadvertently startled a trio of Grey-headed Swamphens.

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Unfazed by my presence, a Paddyfield Pipit continued its rhythmic foraging.

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Barn Swallows and wires seem to have an innate connection. I watched them as they flitted and perched on the wires.

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I saw a Brahminy Kite perched in the distance.

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Here's the nearest my lens could take me.

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A Black Drongo.

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As I cautiously approached the flock of egrets, I noticed a few individuals breaking formation and taking flight.

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On a withered palm frond, a pair of Jerdon's Bushlarks perched.

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Advancing with hushed steps, I walked through the marshy terrain, intent on gaining a closer view of the egret flock. However, my mission was complicated by the ever-vigilant Red-wattled Lapwings, who patrolled the marsh like feathered sentinels. The slightest provocation would send them into a frenzy, their shrill cries echoing through the air, "Pity you do it... Pity you do it..."

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After dodging the Lapwings, I finally reached the egret flock, a mix of Little, Great, and Intermediate Egrets, along with Pond and Grey Herons.

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A magnificent Great Egret stood tall, flanked by two Pond Herons.

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A Grey Heron, alongside a Pond Heron, skulked together.

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The Little Egret, however, preferred to hunt alone, catching small fry with remarkable frequency.

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Success came for a Great Egret, and I observed its ritual of securing a safe spot to devour its fish, away from potential snatchers.

 

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The grey heron was relentless in its skulking.

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A spotted dove appeared.

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Then I caught a glimpse of a migrant Rosy Starling.

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A Red-vented Bulbul.

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Then a flock of Rosy Starlings foraging on the ground.

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Long-tailed shrike.

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Then I spotted a black kite striking this interesting pose.

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Three varieties of kingfishers graced the scene, the first being a pied kingfisher proudly clutching a freshly caught fish.

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The second kingfisher to appear was a white-throated kingfisher.

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Rounding out the trio was a common kingfisher.

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An Indian Silverbill emerged next.

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A Pied Bushchat couple. Male.

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Female.

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A white-browed wagtail, a symphony of black and white, flitted past.

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A fleeting glimpse of a migrant warbler. The bill makes me guess it might be a Sykes's Warbler.

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A Purple Heron in flight.

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And a Black kite in flight was the last sighting.

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I called it a day at 9:30 a.m. The sky looked awesome.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Avian Encounters at Saul Kere

Saul Kere Lake is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Bangalore city. Here are some photos of the birds I was fortunate enough to witness during my recent visit.

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I was in time to witness a spectacular sunrise.

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A Spot-billed Pelican swam towards the sun, as if drawn to its brilliance.  

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A Juvenile Brahminy Kite, with its distinctive plumage, soared in the sky, its keen eyes scanning the landscape below.

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An adult Brahminy Kite perched on a sturdy eucalyptus branch, its piercing gaze was on me.

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Usually wary, the migrant green sandpiper, standing at a distance, was unaware of my presence.

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Then I saw a Great Cormorant diving into the water to catch a fish. The cormorant is successful in its catch, but its flock members immediately surround it and try to snatch the fish away.

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This is a common behavior among cormorants, as they are known to be kleptoparasitic.

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The cormorant's determination to hold onto its catch is evident in its body language, while the desperation of the flock members is palpable in their outstretched wings.

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Victorious, the cormorant devoured the fish, its persistence rewarded.

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A white-throated kingfisher was perched in an awkwardly lit place. The harsh sunlight casts a shadow over the bird's face, obscuring some of its features. 

I tried to take advantage of the awkward lighting to create an artistic shot.

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The Oriental Darter however gave an interesting pose. It has spread its wings wide, revealing the beautiful white and black markings on its underside. 

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Next, I saw two egrets, an intermediate egret and a little egret, fishing in tandem. 

The two egrets are standing in shallow water, their eyes fixed on the water below them. 

They are both using a technique called "foot stirring" to flush out fish and other prey. They do this by stamping their feet in the water, which creates vibrations that disturb the mud and drive out any prey that is hiding.

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A tranquil gathering of birds, including a painted stork, an Indian cormorant, and some spot-billed ducks, had found a peaceful haven in the lake.

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A common kingfisher perched on a branch quickly darted away as I approached.

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An Asian green bee-eater swoops through the air, its slender beak expertly snatching unsuspecting bees from their flight paths, and I seize the photo opportunity.

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Black drongos, too, swooped gracefully, though their success rate in catching prey was lower.

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Here's a juvenile black drongo with an intriguing pattern of white markings on its breast.

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Next, a juvenile scaly-breasted munia graces the frame.

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A pair of Coppersmith Barbet birds perch together.

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I also took some individual portraits of them.

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A scaly-breasted munia caught my eye.

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A nimble plain prinia.

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As I walked back to my car, I was struck by the beauty of the 9 am sky.

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I also captured some record shots of a Western Marsh Harrier, which has just begun its migratory stay here.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post. Share your feedback in the comments below.

Linked with Mosaic Monday