The Wryneck Hunt

I think I love Hoskote a little more with every visit. There’s always something happening here.

This time, I had one bird in mind: the Eurasian Wryneck. A shy, beautifully camouflaged woodpecker that can disappear into its surroundings so completely that finding one feels like a small treasure hunt. After some searching, I was lucky enough to find this elusive bird.

And, as often happens on a good outing, the Wryneck wasn’t the only highlight. Along the way came a wonderful assortment of birds, insects and other little surprises, some of which may well steal the spotlight from the star of the day!

But for this post, the Eurasian Wryneck is the hero. 

Here are a few moments from another memorable morning at Hoskote.

~~~
With all the rain and overcast skies lately, even a brief glimpse of the sun feels special. This was one such fleeting moment.

~~~
Spotted this peafowl from the car, quietly making its way through the greenery.

~~~
I started my search around the dead trees, hoping the Wryneck would be somewhere nearby.

The dead trees had another resident too. This Indian Spotted Eagle was perched among the bare branches, keeping a watchful eye over the surroundings.

~~~
The Ashy Prinia seemed quite comfortable with a few thorns in the neighbourhood.

~~~
The Greater Coucal clearly had a thing for this rusty perch.

~~~
A Danaid Eggfly stopping for a little mud-puddling, soaking up some much-needed minerals.

~~~
And then this little jewel bug caught my eye, shining brightly against the green.

~~~
The flooded fields reflected the sky beautifully.

~~~
Finally, luck was on my side. After searching among all those dead trees, there it was, the Eurasian Wryneck at last.

~~~
A closer look at the Wryneck. Its beautifully cryptic plumage makes it incredibly easy to miss against the bark. Unlike most woodpeckers, it spends much of its time foraging on the ground, searching for ants with its long, sticky tongue. And when threatened, it can twist its neck dramatically and hiss like a snake. Quite a character for such a shy bird!

~~~
Also spotted a Eurasian Hoopoe, another ground-forager, probing the soil with its long, slender bill in search of a meal.

~~~
It got a little alarmed, and up went the magnificent crest!

~~~
A Plain Prinia looked rather plain after the Hoopoe’s flamboyant display.

~~~
A Red-whiskered Bulbul tucked away among the reeds.

~~~
A Lime Butterfly resting among the tiny white flowers.

~~~
A closer look at the Lime Butterfly reveals just how intricate those wings really are.

~~~
And the final sighting of the morning was this Greater Coucal, quietly tucked away in the greenery.

~~~
The Wryneck was the reason I came, but Hoskote had plenty more surprises in store. Hope you enjoyed the post.

Do leave a comment and let me know what you think!