Off-season visit to Hoskote

Couple more months for the start of the migratory season. For now we have to contend with the local birds. My visit this week had many other interesting sightings. Have a look at the pictures...

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A Pomegranate flower was the first sighting...

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A Red-whiskered Bulbul was seen sitting on a stash of beans...

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A helicopter was flying around in great speed...

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The last sortie was so low that it made a Common Myna fly in panic...

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A squirrel wasn't bothered though...

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Meanwhile a Eurasian Coot enjoyed its swim...

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A White-throated Kingfisher seemed happy after a meal...

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A Purple Heron sat in its skulking pose...

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A Plain tiger butterfly fluttered around taking nectar...

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A bee also was busy buzzing around carrying pollen load...

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Also seen was a Pioneer butterfly...

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And a Common Castor butterfly...

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Saw a Jungle Myna couple sporting their distinctive hairdo...

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A Rufous-backed Marsh Hawk dragonfly was seen next...

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A Green Marsh Hawk dragonfly flew in...

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A Jungle Myna was seen sitting on a cow displaying their symbiotic relationship...

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The sky was looking good...

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A female Rock Agama lizard showed up...

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And then I saw a male Rock Agama lizard up close. You can see my reflection in his eye...

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I was delighted to see this Indian wave striped ladybug ...

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A Common Mormon butterfly  fluttered around a Curry tree...

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With that we come to the end of the post. Hope you liked the pictures.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Do join me on Instagram at @shijuvenate

Yet another birding trip to Saul Kere

The astoundingly good sightings from last week made me revisit Saul Kere lake this week. I was treated with some exceptional scenes. Here are the pics...

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As I began the walk, I saw several Pied Bushchats. Here's a female...

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I saw a pair of Spotted Dove having a moment of intimacy...

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I watched their courtship display flight, involving taking off at a steep angle with a loud clapping of wings and then slowly gliding down with the tail spread out...

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An Oriental Garden lizard happily occupied a White-cheek Barbet's nest hole on a coconut tree...

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A Black Drongo flew in with its insect breakfast...

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A Green Bee-eater swooped around for insects...

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I caught just one glimpse of a White-breasted Waterhen...

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A squirrel was busy branch hopping...

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A male Purple-rumped Sunbird flew in...

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A young boy (Vedant) was able to follow the Sunbird's flight to its nest. The nest was cleverly hidden in the foliage...

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Once again a Green Bee-eater caught my attention...

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A Red-vented Bulbul was seen sitting on a barbed-wire fence...

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A cat made an abortive bid to hunt the bulbul...

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A Grey-headed Swamphen was trying to untangle its feet stuck in the reed...

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I watched till it got out of the mess...

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A Juvenile Red-whiskered Bulbul was seen. It lacks the red patch behind the eye...

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I found a Scaly-breasted Munia next...

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And a Purple Heron was doing its usual skulking act...

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Another Black drongo was seen...

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A White-cheeked Barbet was using its bill to excavate nest cavity in a dry tree, probably necessitated by the squatter lizard...

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I saw the Brahminy Kite I had seen last week at the same location...

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The last bird of the day was an Ashy Prinia...

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A Painted Snipe refused to show up from behind a bush despite waiting for close to 20 minutes. That was probably my only disappointment of the morning. Hope you liked the post. I look forward to your thoughts.

Do join me on Instagram at @shijuvenate