Serendipity at Hoskote Lake

Last weekend didn’t start like my usual birding trips. I had to drop my parents off at a wedding, which meant no early morning adventure. But once they were settled, I realized Hoskote Lake was just 7 kilometers away.

It was already past the golden hour, but I decided to give it a shot. Instead of walking around, I stayed in my car, parking at different spots and watching as the birds came to me.

In just three hours, I saw some amazing bird activities. Here are the photos from this unexpected and relaxed birding session!

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Clouds dancing over Hoskote Lake, setting the perfect backdrop for a calm birding session.

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A delicate spider web glistened in the light. At its center, the spider rested patiently, waiting for its next catch.

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From afar, a peahen walked with confidence, her presence as regal as her peacock counterpart.

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I watched her join another peahen on the boundary wall, both contemplating whether to jump across. One crossed over, while the other hesitated and jumped back. In the moment of indecision, I clicked these pics.

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I moved my car to another spot and spotted a solitary Black Drongo perched nearby.

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From a nearby thorny tree, the air was alive with bird sounds. I parked nearby and decided to wait a bit longer. Soon enough, an Asian Bee-eater appeared, adding a splash of color to the scene.

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Soon, a migrant Blyth's Reed Warbler appeared on the same tree.

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Another Asian Green Bee-eater appeared soon after, this time preening itself and occasionally opening its mouth wide.

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My mind wandered back to the peahens. I decided to go check on them again and see what they were up to. On the way, I spotted a White-throated Kingfisher perched gracefully, and a male Indian Robin hopping around nearby.

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When I reached the peahens, I saw the one that had jumped across, now visible and walking around.

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Another White-throated Kingfisher flashed its striking blue feathers.

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I returned to the spot where I had seen the Bee-eaters and the Robin, hoping to catch a shot of them in flight. I decided to wait a little longer and see.

I spotted a female Indian Robin nearby. After a brief wait, I was lucky enough to catch her in flight, capturing the moment just as she took off.

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Next, I focused on catching the Asian Green Bee-eater in flight. It makes quick trips and returns to its perch, but getting the right shot is tricky!

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Here's a video I captured of the Bee-eater's swift sorties. The first part of the video shows its real-time speed. The flight was too quick to catch clearly, so in the second half, I slowed down the video to 20% speed to better appreciate its movement.

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And here's one with the reward—the Asian Green Bee-eater returning to its perch with a freshly caught bee.

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A Pied Bush Chat made a brief appearance.

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An Indian Pond Heron perched gracefully on a tree.

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A Cattle Egret stood calmly beside a cow.

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A Sykes's Warbler appeared, flitting through the branches.

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A Black Kite perched calmly, scanning the surroundings with its sharp eyes.

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And the last sighting before my parents called for pickup was this migrant Rosy Starling.

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Thus, my unconventional birding day came to an end at around 1 PM. I hope you enjoyed the pics and video. Do leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Hoskote Lake on a Misty Morning

 Last Sunday, Hoskote Lake greeted me with a thick morning fog, hiding everything in a soft, quiet veil. I waited, barely seeing a thing, but hopeful. Then, as the sun rose, the fog began to lift, revealing one surprise after another. I knew it was going to be one of those mornings that make every early wake-up call worth it. Here are the pics.

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As I hit the road, the sky began to thicken with fog, transforming the clear morning into a misty wonderland—a bit of magic I hadn’t expected. Here’s a clip from my dash cam, capturing that eerie yet beautiful drive from home to the lake.

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The fog at Hoskote Lake that morning was thick enough to feel like a scene from a mystery novel. I stood there, squinting into the mist, hoping for even a hint of wings.

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Soon, I saw the first bird - a lone silhouette in the mist—most likely a Glossy Ibis, with its slender, curved bill and graceful stance.

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The mist draped the landscape, and the spider webs sparkled like delicate jewelry, each strand catching the faint morning light. This natural art exhibit, with intricate designs glistening all around me had enough beauty to keep me fully absorbed until the light improved.

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The sun rose, cloaked in mist, a soft glow barely breaking through the haze. It felt as though the world was holding its breath, wrapped in a quiet, ethereal light.

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A Black-headed Cuckooshrike appeared through the mist—great to see this winter visitor adding charm to the quiet morning.

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A Spotted Dove puffed up its feathers, trying to beat the chill of the morning air.

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A White-throated Kingfisher sat still, focused on its fishing, and I couldn't help but wonder if the haze made it more challenging for the hunt.

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As the light improved, I spotted more delicate dew pearls glistening on the webs, each one a tiny, perfect gem in the morning glow.

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The fog was still thick, and the Black Kite sat quietly on a tree branch, as if patiently waiting for the mist to lift.

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So was this group of Jungle Mynas, perched nearby.

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Droplets clung to the Swollen Fingergrass.

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A White-browed Wagtail swooped in with a massive catch. I could make out a dragonfly, insects, and more in its catch. The nestlings are certainly in for a great variety of meals!

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Cows and Cattle Egrets grazed peacefully in the mist.

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The landscape, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun, stretched before me with a small stream weaving through it.

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I captured more droplet jewelry.

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A Booted Warbler appeared. It’s always nice to spot these early migrants as they make their way through.

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As the sun began its fog-clearing work, a Purple-rumped Sunbird grew active.

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A Bay-backed Shrike was the last of the misty birds to make an appearance.

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A Purple-rumped Sunbird appeared in the improving light.

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Scarlet morning glories bloomed brightly in the wild.

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A group of Rose-ringed Parakeets flew in, settling together for what seemed like a lively discussion.

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Next, I spotted a Black-winged Kite, typically a shy bird. As it flew from pole to pole and then down to the ground, I kept track of its movements. Eventually, I managed to capture it in flight.

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After that, two Jungle Mynas took their turn, launching off the back of a cow in a flurry of wings.

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The Cattle Egret seemed content as its domain was finally free from encroachers.

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A Barn Swallow perched gracefully on a wire.

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A Long-tailed Shrike perched nearby.

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I watched as a Black Drongo swooped down, its movements sharp and precise, returning with a fly catch.

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An Ashy Prinia sang cheerfully as the fog completely cleared.

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Another Drongo swooped down with incredible speed.

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A Paddyfield Pipit foraged quietly on the ground.

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A Grey Heron landed gracefully on a distant tree, its wings outstretched in slow motion.

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An Asian Green Bee-eater perched elegantly on the top of a distant tree.

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I waited patiently for the Pied Kingfisher to strike for fish, but it seemed too full.

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A Common Kingfisher marked its presence with a quick flash of blue.

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A fairly rare sighting of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters—one of them proudly displayed its vibrant blue tail, making sure there was no confusion about its identity. It was a striking moment.

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The last sighting of the day was a White-browed Wagtail, foraging diligently on the ground.

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I hope you enjoyed the post! Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts or any questions. I'd love to hear from you!