The Perumbakkam lake, part of the Pallikaranai marsh ecosystem, is a regular part of our NIFT Nature Walks programme.
We show the students the idiocy of developing a municipal garbage dump on a wetland, and we also show them all the bird life hidden in plain sight.
Water birds are a great way to start birding isn't it, with nice big interesting birds that are easy to spot and are generally seen.
While last term we were treated with flamingoes and ducks, this time it was pelicans and ibis. The Pied Kingfishers put on a great show for us, and there was much oohing and aahing, as it hovered and then did a direct dive bomb, coming up with fish!
At the Pallikaranai end, it seems as if the water levels have fallen with the grasses and reed growing in abundance, and the little waders have moved far away from the road.
And then there were JCB excavators "clearing" the undergrowth from the roadside, under express orders to beautify the road. Chithra was trying to tell the supervisor that this was protected forest land, and the supervisor was splitting hairs as the road is Highways land.
I only hope that there is no cement and paving to follow.
The icing on the cake was the large raptor we saw. Sagarika and her camera were on hand to take these record shots, which were identified as a great Spotted Eagle!
Pictures from our November 2019 visit
Pictures from our February 2019 visit
Pictures from October 2018 visit
We show the students the idiocy of developing a municipal garbage dump on a wetland, and we also show them all the bird life hidden in plain sight.
Water birds are a great way to start birding isn't it, with nice big interesting birds that are easy to spot and are generally seen.
While last term we were treated with flamingoes and ducks, this time it was pelicans and ibis. The Pied Kingfishers put on a great show for us, and there was much oohing and aahing, as it hovered and then did a direct dive bomb, coming up with fish!
At the Pallikaranai end, it seems as if the water levels have fallen with the grasses and reed growing in abundance, and the little waders have moved far away from the road.
And then there were JCB excavators "clearing" the undergrowth from the roadside, under express orders to beautify the road. Chithra was trying to tell the supervisor that this was protected forest land, and the supervisor was splitting hairs as the road is Highways land.
I only hope that there is no cement and paving to follow.
The icing on the cake was the large raptor we saw. Sagarika and her camera were on hand to take these record shots, which were identified as a great Spotted Eagle!
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| The greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) - profusely spotted upper wings. This was the shot that helped to establish the identification. Photo By Sagarika |
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| Imagine that, it is here for the winter. How do they find their way, locate a water body, amazing! Photo By Sagarika |
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| On the hunt. Photo By Sagarika |
Pictures from our February 2019 visit
Pictures from October 2018 visit
now doing all the raptor watch session, am able to appreciate these pics better, dont think I ever got any other upper wing shot (like this one)
ReplyDeleteSo true! All the id markers!
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