Having read so much about flamingo spotting in Pulicat lake, I was so eager to catch a glimpse of Flamingos this season. The flamingos visit Pulicat between Dec and March every year.
So, we planned a trip - but it was much more than flamingos, as we added Nelapattu to our itenerary. Nelapattu is said to be the largest Pelicanry in South East Asia. Both Pulicat and Nelapattu are in Andhra Pradesh on either side of Sulurpet town. (see map below
A: Chennai, B: Sulurpet, C: Nelapattu, D: Sriharikota/Pulicat)
So, we planned a trip - but it was much more than flamingos, as we added Nelapattu to our itenerary. Nelapattu is said to be the largest Pelicanry in South East Asia. Both Pulicat and Nelapattu are in Andhra Pradesh on either side of Sulurpet town. (see map below
A: Chennai, B: Sulurpet, C: Nelapattu, D: Sriharikota/Pulicat)
As early mornings or late afternoons is ideal for flamingo spotting in Pulicat, our first stop was Nelapattu, with plans to go to Pulicat in post lunch. Nelapattu is about 90 km from Chennai. The closest town is Sulurpet.
We reached Nelapattu by about 9.30 am. Though Nelapattu is famous for Pelicans and other water birds, we spotted lots of other common and uncommon birds right from near the entrance. A couple of Grey Francolins were strutting along the road, and fled into the scrub bushes, with it's unmistakable 'kaa teeeeee ta' call, on seeing our car. While purchasing tickets, I noticed a Common Hawk-cuckoo (commonly knows as Brain-fever bird). This was a first time sighting of this bird, for me. I'd heard it's calls quite often - the call sounds like "Brain Fever", hence the name Brain fever bird - but was longing to see it. We walked along the pathway which leads to the lake, sighting a lot of birds like Purple sunbirds, Purple-rumped sunbirds, Green bee eaters, Blue tailed bee eaters, Bulbuls (Red-vented, Red whiskered and White browed) and Prinias.
Even before approaching the lake, we could see hundreds of Spot-billed Pelicans flying in the sky. Once we reached the view points on the lake, we saw Open bill storks, with their chicks. I learnt later from the Forest department guide there, that the chicks were about 45 days old.
There were some Open bill storks, which were just starting to build nests. It was wonderful watching them choose twigs and creepers from bushes to build their nests.
As we walked further, we spotted several more species of water birds - Little cormorants (a couple of trees just filled with Cormorants), a large group of White ibis, Spoonbills, scores of Northern pintails, Teals, Shovelers, Lesser Whistling ducks and Grebes.
Walking further down the path took us to the point from which we could see the birds which make Nelapattu famous - Pelicans. More than thousand of them. Everywhere. While I was absorbed in clicking photos of this spectacular sight, something else caught my attention. A couple of Greater coucals flew past us with. After that, focussed my attention towards the pelicans and the chicks again. The guide there told us that the chicks were more than 90 days old - they looked almost like adults!
The guide also told us that there were no Flamingos spotted this season, and even during the Flamingo festival, there were no Flamingos. We were dejected, but we wanted to try our luck anyways, and hence kept out plan to Pulicat intact.
We reached Nelapattu by about 9.30 am. Though Nelapattu is famous for Pelicans and other water birds, we spotted lots of other common and uncommon birds right from near the entrance. A couple of Grey Francolins were strutting along the road, and fled into the scrub bushes, with it's unmistakable 'kaa teeeeee ta' call, on seeing our car. While purchasing tickets, I noticed a Common Hawk-cuckoo (commonly knows as Brain-fever bird). This was a first time sighting of this bird, for me. I'd heard it's calls quite often - the call sounds like "Brain Fever", hence the name Brain fever bird - but was longing to see it. We walked along the pathway which leads to the lake, sighting a lot of birds like Purple sunbirds, Purple-rumped sunbirds, Green bee eaters, Blue tailed bee eaters, Bulbuls (Red-vented, Red whiskered and White browed) and Prinias.
Even before approaching the lake, we could see hundreds of Spot-billed Pelicans flying in the sky. Once we reached the view points on the lake, we saw Open bill storks, with their chicks. I learnt later from the Forest department guide there, that the chicks were about 45 days old.
There were some Open bill storks, which were just starting to build nests. It was wonderful watching them choose twigs and creepers from bushes to build their nests.
As we walked further, we spotted several more species of water birds - Little cormorants (a couple of trees just filled with Cormorants), a large group of White ibis, Spoonbills, scores of Northern pintails, Teals, Shovelers, Lesser Whistling ducks and Grebes.
Walking further down the path took us to the point from which we could see the birds which make Nelapattu famous - Pelicans. More than thousand of them. Everywhere. While I was absorbed in clicking photos of this spectacular sight, something else caught my attention. A couple of Greater coucals flew past us with. After that, focussed my attention towards the pelicans and the chicks again. The guide there told us that the chicks were more than 90 days old - they looked almost like adults!
On our way back to the exit, we found a watch tower, in the middle of the scrub forest. I climbed there, but it was past noon by then, and the birds must've taken shelter inside trees. Barring a couple of sunbirds and Red-whiskered bulbuls, we couldn't spot anything else. But, I'm sure this tower would be great for birding, early in the day.
We returned to Sulurpet, and finished our dinner in the a modest restaurant near the bus stand - the only Vegetarian restaurant we could find. Then we proceeded towards Sriharikota.
The road to Sriharikota goes through Pulicat Bird sanctuary. There's water on both sides of the road, and we spotted a lot of birds here. We could get really close to the birds, as compared to other sanctuaries, as the birds sit perched very close to the road. Got very close shots of an Asian Open bill and a cormorant :)
As we drove down further towards Sriharikota, we gave up hope of spotting Flamingos. Enquiring with a few locals, a few of them confirmed that lots of Flamingos are usually spotted on either side of the road every year, but there were no Flamingos this year. The lake on both sides of the road is usually filled with water, but large parts of it was dry - we were told that this is the reason flamingos stayed away this year.
But, we spotted several other birds, which we hadn't spotted in Nelapattu - Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple herons, Median Egrets, Red-wattled Lapwings, and Lesser Ringed plovers. Watching the protective coots and moorhens, taking their tiny chicks to safety was lovely. I also spotted a super-shy Shikra (male) and a Black shouldered kites while driving along this road.
We reached Sriharikota, and clicked pics in front of the model SLV rockets there, as public is allowed into the campus without permission. The return drive along the road was also very nice, as we spotted several more birds.
For more photos, visit my album.
(Update: A few other friends who went to Pulicat in Mid march spotted a few Flamingos. But, they had to hire a boat and go further inside, close to the sea to spot them.)
We returned to Sulurpet, and finished our dinner in the a modest restaurant near the bus stand - the only Vegetarian restaurant we could find. Then we proceeded towards Sriharikota.
The road to Sriharikota goes through Pulicat Bird sanctuary. There's water on both sides of the road, and we spotted a lot of birds here. We could get really close to the birds, as compared to other sanctuaries, as the birds sit perched very close to the road. Got very close shots of an Asian Open bill and a cormorant :)
As we drove down further towards Sriharikota, we gave up hope of spotting Flamingos. Enquiring with a few locals, a few of them confirmed that lots of Flamingos are usually spotted on either side of the road every year, but there were no Flamingos this year. The lake on both sides of the road is usually filled with water, but large parts of it was dry - we were told that this is the reason flamingos stayed away this year.
But, we spotted several other birds, which we hadn't spotted in Nelapattu - Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple herons, Median Egrets, Red-wattled Lapwings, and Lesser Ringed plovers. Watching the protective coots and moorhens, taking their tiny chicks to safety was lovely. I also spotted a super-shy Shikra (male) and a Black shouldered kites while driving along this road.
We reached Sriharikota, and clicked pics in front of the model SLV rockets there, as public is allowed into the campus without permission. The return drive along the road was also very nice, as we spotted several more birds.
For more photos, visit my album.
(Update: A few other friends who went to Pulicat in Mid march spotted a few Flamingos. But, they had to hire a boat and go further inside, close to the sea to spot them.)
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