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Sunday, December 15, 2019

More winter visitors arrive

Birding at Hoskote lake these days is rewarding me with special sightings of new winter visitors each time. Here are some native and foreign birds I saw in my Sunday visit... 

I was happy to see a White-throated Kingfisher adding a burst of blue in the gray overcast morning...



A male Asian Koel was also spotted on the same tree...


A Wood Sandpiper was looking around for food along the edge of the lake. Seeing this winter migrant for the first time this season was a welcome sight...


A Clamorous Reed Warbler, another winter visitor was flitting around in the bush clutter... 


The Eurasian Marsh-Harrier flew in with its typical "gliding over water and frightening off other birds" behavior...


I watched its antics in awe...


Eurasian Marsh-Harrier is a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa...


I liked the attitude of this bird...


Even its droppings look pretty 😝😃




Cattle egret accompanying cattle to catch insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by the animal...


Screeching noise diverted me towards this Rose-ringed Parakeet...


Due to the very mild sunshine and misty, wintry weather,  very few butterflies were seen. Here's a Plain tiger butterfly...





A Black Drongo was guarding its territory as usual...





I watched Indian Silverbills hopping on and off the wire...











Then saw a Brahminy Kite and a Gray heron perched close together...





One more sighting of  Eurasian Marsh-Harrier... 






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Sunday, December 01, 2019

Say hello to winter migrants

I visited Hoskote lake last Sunday morning to check out the resident birds and winter visitors. Here are the birds I saw...

The first birds I saw were a few cormorants flying overhead as the sun was playing peekaboo behind the clouds...


Painted storks were fishing together...


A Common Sandpiper was walking around. This winter visitor was fearless and seemed quite at home... 











Liked the reflection of the Painted stork...


A Gray heron joined the painted storks...


Clouds and the sun...


Paddyfield Pipit...


Liked the reflection of this Gray-headed Swamphen...







Another Paddyfield Pipit...





Pied bush chat...


Jerdons Bushlark...


Western Yellow Wagtail is a winter migrant...





















Silhouette of a Black drongo...



Red-vented Bulbul...






Indian Roller...



It felt nice to capture the Indian roller in flight...



Argiope anasuja is a species of harmless orb-weaver spider. It is known as a "signature spider". It builds a web with a zig-zag stabilimentum somewhat resembling letters...



I liked the patterns on it. Almost resembled a clown face...



Berries...


Silver orb spider spinning its web...


A female Red Avadavat was seen collecting burnt twigs for nest building. Probably it found the burnt twigs to be lighter and convenient to carry...





Then came the male Red Avadavat. I clicked it in various poses...












Hope you liked the post. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments section below...