Discovering the Adyar riverfront trail

4th April 5pm

It is April and summer is here, but not yet unbearable according to me.  The sea breeze blows and the day temps are below 35, what's to complain?

Off I went to Gandhinagar, in search of the river trail on the banks of the Adyar, more than two years old, and not visited because it is there, so close, can always be visited etc.  

Entry point near St Patrick's School main gate - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TDykuUoP5cYPbdWn8

Eastern end of trail - https://maps.app.goo.gl/y1wJ5JbzVo4FhHJ28

Western end of trail - https://maps.app.goo.gl/aJiecUxdcGxuZPqx8

I entered the gate to this sight, right in front of me!  The day was clear, the tide was high, and the Adyar river looked misleadingly blue and clean!  I could see the Thiruvika bridge in the far background.  This was the view looking east.

A pelican glided above nearer the bridge and then landed in the water.  Crow and myna calls were everywhere, and I had to listen in-between to hear the parakeets and Koel calls.

This was the view looking west - with the MRTS bridge in the background.

I walked east first, and was delighted at the loose canopy of shrubs overhead, keeping the sun out, and allowing the sea breeze through.  It was very pleasant, and I was mightily pleased at the mud track. No cement, no fountain, no over beautification. And no Exotics either!

Through a gap in the shrubbery, I spied this gang of Cormorants taking in the evening sun.  I did not see any other water birds, but I saw a lot of sunbirds and babblers.

Tecoma was flowering profusely everywhere, there was mangrove species down on the slopes towards the river.  Henna, Pongamia, Nocchi, Guazuma ulmifolia, junglee badam and Bauhinia.

People were having their evening walk, they all seemed familiar to each other, I was the outsider.  I reached the eastern end - there is a gate that goes into Malligaipoo nagar.  That gate is shut, kind of.  You have to be slim, hold your breath and squeeze your way in between the two gates.  Better for people like me to enter via St Patrick's!

I headed back and then went further west of the gate, towards the MRTS bridge.  I crossed a couple of rest rooms - wow - and then a gate to another park with benches and paved walking areas.  This trail has no benches, but is clean which is quite a change from the usual.

A train went by as I went under the bridge admiring the Bauhinias against the blue sky.

The water hyacinths were doing well this side of the bridge - the tides were not reaching here I guess - a km inland from thiruvika.

The pathway is not so crowded and you can enjoy moments of solitude which I found nice.  But there is no getting away from the sounds of the Indian city - over the waters, a loudspeaker carried some songs from a nearby temple. Silence is the biggest luxury in Indian cities.

And then I was at the Buckingham Canal "sangam". I disturbed a White throated Kingfisher as I peered between the bamboo leaves, and he/she sped away with a loud rattly call.  A Blyth's reed warbler called from the bushes as also Tailor Birds.  In the Canal hyacinth, a Swamp Hen, foraged.

Looking down the river, I could see huge numbers of Cattle Egrets in the hyacinth, many in breeding plumage.  I could see the Boat Club on the opposite side, and a sculler was making his way.

The setting sun streamed through, as I watched the children play in the adjacent playgrounds.  Women were plucking some mardani leaves for their use.

My complete bird list here:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S222832754

I am sure the scrub on the sides, near the canal will have flycatchers and maybe even Pittas in the winter.  But the waters are too high for waders.

I  headed back to Gandhinagar club - where friends and food awaited!

This rather zingy jhalmurhi, cleared our sinuses and reminded us of a missing Sunbird, as we celebrated retirements, sailing voyages and new homes.