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Hoskote birding trek

 A quick birding trek at Hoskote produced some interesting sightings. Here are the pics...

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I arrived just in time to witness the sunrise...


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The low light and the shy nature of the bird resulted in these record shots of the Yellow-wattled Lapwing...
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Red-wattled Lapwing also showed up...
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Although walking in the farm area is difficult, I admired the enhanced beauty brought by the Marigold blooms. Here are two pictures shot a fortnight apart...
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Some more closeups...
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A warbler was seen. I couldn't identify the exact variant. I get confused with the Covid variants too...
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A Eurasian Hoopoe caught an ant...
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I took a couple more shots of the beauty...
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A Paddyfield Pipit...
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And a male Siberian Stonechat...
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A female Asian Koel gets tempted seeing the ripe papaya fruits. I watched her relish the sweet fruit...
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A Tree Pipit. The prominent markings on its breast makes it easy to identify...
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Another Eurasian Hoopoe foraging in the grass...
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A Great Egret  caught a fish...
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I saw around 50 Western Yellow Wagtails foraging in the grass...
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Non-breeding adult...
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A Long-tailed Shrike...
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A Zitting Cisticola...
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A juvenile Brahminy Kite...
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And the last sighting was a Grey Francolin couple. They get easily perturbed, so avoided going closer to take a better shot. I was happy with just the sighting and the record shot...











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Last weekend at Saul Kere

Last weekend was made special by some visiting birds that were seen in good numbers at Saul Kere. Here are the pics...

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The day started with the sighting of a Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker. Got just a glimpse before it vanished...
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Lesser Whistling-Ducks and Garganeys were seen in good numbers...
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I focused on the Garganey flock. In the middle you can see a breeding male with quite attractive appearance...
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Garganeys breed in Europe and are strictly migratory. Their entire population move to southern Africa, Asia and Australia during winter...
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Lesser Whistling-Ducks mingled well with the Garganey. They migrate from islands near India...
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Lesser Whistling-Ducks are nocturnal feeders and during the day, they just sit around, occasionally making the whistling call 'seasick seasick'. Perhaps they are still seasick after crossing the Laccadive Sea...
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I decided to move ahead and return when the light improves. A pair of Purple Heron were already in the Valentine's day mood. I watched them with voyeuristic pleasure...
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I returned to the Garganey area...
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A Eurasian Coot was seen. Sighting a standing coot is quite rare...
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Again I watched the Garganeys...
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Some Garganeys in flight...
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Juxtaposed with a Lesser Whistling-Duck...

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And the Lesser Whistling-Ducks still patiently wait for their nightlife to begin...
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Here's how they fly...

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A White-breasted Waterhen was foraging stealthily...
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Last sighting of the day was of a Coppersmith Barbet. I clicked a few pictures of nest excavation...
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Hope you liked the post. Looking forward to your comment as always...