At 936: Pulicat Lake area gives me four
I took a call taxi starting from my home at 5:30 am and headed to Pulicat Lake, a place I've been wanting to bird for a long time. The first spot was Sulurpet-Sriharikota Road. A reedy marsh had interesting bird activity in the morning, and on driving further towards Sriharikota the place became dry with some waders here and there in a handful of water bodies. On the way back I checked ducks which were heavily back-lit earlier in the morning. I picked Eurasian Wigeons for bird 933. Apart from that, the place was a disappointment due to low water levels.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43016340
Next was Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, which I wanted to see out of curiosity. Initial section of scrubs had Ioras and Red-whiskered Bulbuls. I walked towards the lake and got to see distant Lesser Whistling-Ducks for bird 934, and got better looks further down the trail. I saw a huge number of Spot-billed Pelicans which is what the place is famous for. Other birds, a snake, and a slide on a slope that scratched a good part of my right leg had me interested during the hike. Birds were there even though it was around noon and hot. My only complaint was a group of school children who were noisy and crowded the place on my way back on the trail. A couple of birds had be interested, but the disturbance from the students made me loose them.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43027036
We had a late lunch at a local restaurant were the usual 'meals' were served. Due to hunger, the food was great! We headed to Annamalaicheri on TN side. On the way to the lake, we stopped now and then to see birds that interested me. Of note was a Swallow which I could not id with certainty. I was thinking of a Barn Swallow crossed with Wire-tailed or Streak-throated, but settled on an odd looking Barn Swallow. Maybe a juvenile in trasition to adult plumage. The next bird of note was a raptor, and I could immediately id it as an Eagle. I took photos to id it later as an Indian Spotted Eagle for bird 935. I hiked the shores of the lake finally. There was scrub on the other side. I briefly walked on dense feathers near the shoreline, possibly Flamingo feathers washed on-shore. Both scrub birds and shorebirds had me interested for the most part of the walk. I was looking at all the gliding swallows, and one such swallow was a Red-rumped Swallow for bird 936. Shorebirds were mostly Little Stints. Highlights were Blue-faced Malkohas and a couple of Indian Thick-knees or Stone-curlews in the afternoon. The hike was a little tedious on sand and scrub. Thankfully some clouds would block the sun now and then to give me shelter.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43031198
The final stop was Pazhaverkadu where I did not have any plans. I wanted to drive around and see what I can find. There are guides who take people out in the water for birds or leisure. One of them approached me when we entered Pazhaverkadu, and I took the offer. After tea, we headed into the waters in the boat and got to see some shorebirds, Gulls and Terns closer. The highlight was three Golden Jackals (subspecies: Indian Jackal). The birds were ok, and nothing spectacular. Four Ruddy Turnstones were good as I saw them for the first time in India. The sun set was good in the waters, and during sunset I walked the waters a little bit to have a closer look at shorebirds which turned out to be just the usual suspects. The walking part with Crabs on the weedy water was interesting. I was lucky that I did not disturb a crab. When we docked the boat, it was dark. After another tea, it was time to head home after an eventful trip.
Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43033574
Photos from Pulicat Lake area (AP and TN):
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