Brunch with the Birds

Every birder knows the golden rule: don’t miss the golden hour. But in December, when the blanket feels extra warm and the alarm sounds like a distant suggestion, rules tend to bend. That’s exactly what happened on my Kannamangala Lake trip. I overslept, started late, and arrived just in time for… well, brunch for the birds.

The bird activity was as scarce as my discipline that morning, but, the few winged wonders I did spot still made the trip worthwhile.

Here are the pics.

~~~
A 10-minute dash cam video of the drive. Don’t miss the surprise cameo by a horse rider towards the end.

~~~
A view of Kannamangala Lake, with its still waters reflecting the surrounding greenery.

~~~
An Indian Pond Heron perched calmly, blending perfectly into its green, mossy surroundings.

~~~
This striking Ashy Drongo added a splash of elegance to the morning. 

~~~
Three Aylesbury ducks looked like they just stepped out of a fluffy cloud.

~~~
The dog looks like he's thinking, "If you two want to go for a swim, you're on your own. I'm good with my paws on dry land, thanks!".

~~~
The egrets were having a grand old time soaring and swirling above the lake.

~~~
The Indian Pond Heron perches precariously on the weathered post, its neck outstretched and its gaze fixed intently on the water below. It's a classic hunting pose, waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim within striking distance.

~~~
"Dinner is served!" The Great egret seems to be saying with a triumphant tilt of its head. 

~~~
The Shikra was the highlight of the day! Seeing this amazing raptor made the whole outing worthwhile.

~~~
The Shikra's flight was like a flash of lightning. I was lucky enough to capture that fleeting moment, making it a perfect ending to the day.

~~~
Hope you liked the post! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Wild and Wanted

Welcome to a Wild West of birding, where every bird is a 'wanted' fugitive in the skies! 

It was an overcast morning at Hoskote Lake, with soft light and cool air. The birds were active, from Drongos gliding smoothly to starlings zipping around.  

With a bit of luck, I managed to capture their flight, and here are some of my favorite shots.

~~~
Two young Grey-headed Swamphens walking confidently on the path at Hoskote Lake. It’s lovely to see them exploring without fear.

~~~
A group of egrets perched on the bare branches brought a quiet elegance to the overcast morning.

~~~
A farmer was ploughing the field with a tractor. Some Black drongos and a kingfisher sat on the surrounding fence, using the opportunity to catch insects exposed by the ploughing.

~~~
Both the birds and I took advantage of the opportunity—while they caught insects, I captured some flight shots.

~~~
I also spotted a White-browed Wagtail foraging for insects.

~~~
Moving further, I found numerous Rosy Starlings occupying every available perch.

~~~
Very often, they take off together.

~~~
A few of the Rosy Starlings gave me a close-up view.

~~~
Next, I followed a Common Cuckoo as it flew from perch to perch.

~~~

So far, every bird had given me a flight shot. I spotted a Black-winged Kite perched on a pole and wished it would take off. 

~~~
To my surprise, it did, hovering in the sky and giving me some of the most amazing wing shots.

~~~
I spotted a Red-rumped Swallow perched on the wire.

~~~
Next, I followed a Long-tailed Shrike.

~~~
Far out in the lake, numerous Painted Storks were fishing in unison.

~~~
I spotted a Common Hawk-Cuckoo and followed it as it flew from post to post along my return path.

~~~
This was the return path, and the clouds briefly parted, letting some rays through.

~~~
The final sighting of the day was a lone Asian Openbill Stork.

~~~
Thus ended one of the most dramatic mornings. I hope you enjoyed the post. Feel free to share your thoughts!