Hoskote Lake: A Comeback Story

A week of heavy rain in November 2021 transformed Hoskote Lake's familiar birdwatching path into a watery expanse. For nearly three years, I had to walk through farms and deal with guard dogs to see birds on the other side of the lake. But last weekend, the water was finally gone! I could finally use the old path again and saw lots of great birds. Here are some pictures.

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Returning to the old path was exciting. I spotted a juvenile grey-headed swamphen with its mother first thing this morning.

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A regal Purple Heron stood tall atop a tree.

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A male Pied bush chat hunted for insects, darting between branches and the ground.

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I saw a black drongo in flight.

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A Brahminy kite was perched majestically on a high branch.

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A female Pied bush chat was also spotted in the area.

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The birding path brought me closer to the lake, where I spotted a group of painted storks probing for fish amidst a stunning foreground of water lilies.

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I never cease to be amazed by the beauty of the painted storks' pink plumes.

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One stork caught a fish, while others watched, including a Eurasian Spoonbill.

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The lucky stork slowly waddled away with its hard-earned meal.

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A Black-winged Stilt also managed to snag a fish.

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My attention shifted to the Black-winged Stilts as they danced through the water, expertly searching for fish.

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A tiny Zitting Cisticola landed, triumphantly carrying a captured spider.

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The Zitting Cisticola is a perpetual motion machine, often teasing me with its constant movement. This time, after devouring the spider, it offered a cheeky glimpse of its backside.

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My attention remained fixed on the painted storks.

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A grey heron and a painted stork formed an interesting pair.

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A trio of painted storks stood together.

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Two Black-winged Stilts engaged in a balancing act, standing on single legs until one unexpectedly broke the pose with a comical stretch.

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A grey heron stood in serene pose among the water lilies.

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A Eurasian Spoonbill shared the water with an unexpected company: a pair of Spot-billed Ducks and a Eurasian Coot.

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The sky and the landscape.

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Eurasian Spoonbills have a unique style of probing for fish.

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A male Asian koel sat alone, surveying the surroundings.

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Despite being a weed, the common water hyacinth flower displays remarkable artistic beauty.

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The Bronze-winged Jacana was the final bird sighting of the morning.

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Returning to this part of the lake after three years was pure joy. The birdlife was amazing! I can't wait to come back. Your comments are welcome!