A Date with Birds: Hoskote Lake

In the recent past, how many of you have experienced walking barefoot on green grass laden with morning mist ? Not many I bet (not talking about old school days) & I don't blame anyone, it is difficult to get these in concrete world we live. My passion for photography takes me to remote places where I get these small & beautiful opportunities to connect with nature. Take out some time & give it a try, it feels good.

This time I choose Hoskote Lake for my bird photography which is in the outskirts of Bangalore & around 22 KMs from my place (HAL, Bangalore). Its not a typical Bangalore lake which is bounded by gates, fences or footpaths but an open waterbed big enough to call lake with a vast grassland adjacent to it. I heard some good reviews about the place & it turns out to be an memorable trip.

DATE-4th June

TIME - 5:30 AM

PARTICIPANTS- 2 (ME & MY WIFE)

LET THE TRIP BEGIN !!

Once we reach there, we saw only two kinds of people in those vast lands- photographers & people grazing cattle.With cattle you will get Cattle Egrets roaming around it & that is where I got my first click of the morning, a Cattle Egret was in-fact riding on a buffallo.

Due to overnight's heavy rain, the place was as green as Virat's form but it also made the land a bit soggy. Never mind, I took out my shoes to go a bit deeper towards the lake to get a better view. It was worth I would say, so many birds that you will be spoilt for choices.We witnessed different kinds of 'Cormorants', three 'Painted Storks', a 'Spot Billed Pelican', different kinds of Gooses, 'Red‑wattled lapwings', 'Pond Herons', 'Purple Swamp Hen'........ & a family of Black Winged Stilts.

I knelled down, positioned myself & click some beautiful images of Black Winged Stilt family without disturbing or crossing their territory.

It was so nice to see the parents keeping an eye to the little one, they never left the child alone, at least one of the parents was always there by its side.

After witnessing & experiencing the lovely family bonding, I moved towards the other side of the lake, saw a beautiful Red‑Wattled Lapwing & Bronze-winged Jakana in search of food. Geez, birds never disappoints me !!!

Other birds were quite far to get a decent picture. I just watched their morning activities & absorbed the moments which brought a smile on my face. I decided to move out from the lake side & explore the vast grassland, so I put on my shoes & moved towards it with my wife.

There were not many trees but lot of bushes each as mysterious as Mustafizur's slower ones........yes I love cricket too !!

I was looking for Jacobin Cuckoo which I heard has been sighted quite regularly of late but couldn't find them. But nothing to bother, as there were ample opportunities to click other ones. I saw an 'Ashy Prinia' standing on a wall trying to do a Moon Walk, I think..well not sure, anyway enjoy the pictures.

After practicing the dance steps it flew away before I can click some more. Its human nature, if you get something then you strive to get more of it. It was around 9 AM but the weather was so pleasant that the time didn't bothered us.

We moved towards a tree where I saw some movements happening but not sure whether its a bird or a squirrel. As I moved closer I could sense its a bird but can't say which one. I didn't expected but saw a beautiful 'Long Tailed Shrike', not shying away from camera. I heard about that bird but never witnessed it personally. I was happy that the images came out crisp & clear.

We planned to call it a day & started walking towards the exit when we saw a bird which I never seen before. It has stripes of black & yellow all over, its a sunbird (looking at its beak) but didn't knew which one. After doing some analysis & asking some experts, it was confirmed that its a Purple Sunbird (eclipse male). Have a look at the image below (not a great angle though)

Lot of sighting & man I was one happy guy as we left the place but excitement doesn't end here. We were destined to be treated with a bunch of cute 'Little Green Bee Eaters' & 'Green Bee Eaters'. They were so cute & adorable that I cannot explain in words, let the image speak for itself. It was like cherry on a cake.

Our sendoff does not end here, the Red‑Wattled Lapwing just flew across us to say good bye or was it shouting not to come back again?? Anyway have a look at the image.

With that we concluded our trip to Hoskote Lake, we got more than what we bargained for. It was a very fruitful day & will cherish the trip for days to come. I hope you enjoyed reading the blog.

To view all the images clicked at Hoskote Lake, please refer the Albums section.

I read this somewhere & would like to share "Die with Memories, Not Dreams".

Till next time, Adios !!