Plumes of Pulicat

 

Painted Storks       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Pulicat lake (பழவேற்காடு ஏரி Pazhaverkadu Aeri in Tamil) is a waterbody approx. 760sqkm in area situated in Thiruvallur dt. Tamilnadu – Tirupati dt. Andhra Pradesh. It is the second largest brackish water ecosystem in India after Chilka lake, Orissa. It is separated from the Bay of Bengal by the island of Sriharikota that houses the Satish Dawan Space Center. The lake is mainly fed by the Kalangi, Arani and Kosasthalaiyar rivers. Due to the large presence of resident and migratory birds this huge ecosystem was declared a wildlife sanctuary between 1976-80 by both AP and TN governments.

The lake is accessible on road from both TN and AP. We started from Bangalore by midnight and took the Chittoor-Tirupati-Kalahasti route. Our birding plan was a self-drive through SHAR road and a boat ride on the lake with a local guide. Boatman Yuvaraj 9710518040 was a popular suggestion we got from the net. He is resourceful, patient and we found the trip with him quite fruitful. The drive takes around 7hrs from BLR including stops. Ideal would be to start a day prior, stay either in Chennai outskirts or Kalahasti and drive down at dawn to Pulicat for the boat ride. Any decent accomodation is only about 35Kms away from Pulicat. So it is recommended for travelers with family to make prior bookings. The boat ride takes 3hours starting at around 6-6:30am. The drive through SHAR road can be done in the evening. This also will take around 2-3 hours depending on bird sightings. There are couple of watch towers along the road and you can also stop by and walk through the side roads along the lagoon for some scenic landscape clicks.

One of the numerous scenic landscape views of the lake along the SHAR road PC: Priya Rajan

Art by the elements   PC: Priya Rajan

Two separate flock of birds seen as thin dark patches on water   PC: Priya Rajan

The Satish Dawan Space Center at the end of SHAR road (mobile click)     PC: Priya Rajan 

Fishermen and the fabulous scene around   PC: Priya Rajan

Sunlight weaving some magic    PC: Priya Rajan

Another flock of birds seen behind the nets    PC: Priya Rajan

Boats lined up at the shore    PC: Priya Rajan

Our boatman-guide Yuvaraj leading the way

Fellow boatmen who came along with us

We visited in the first weekend of December. Luckily escaped the rains and the weather was pleasant. It was not the start of the breeding season, but we were lucky to sight quite some species (both migratory and resident) though in their non-breeding plumage, some of them lifers for us. We were told during March-May all of them can be seen in their breeding plumages. Nevertheless, we were lucky to have sighted what we went in search of!

The Birds

Gulls and Terns taking off from a small mound    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian 

Pallas's Gull and an immature Lesser crested tern     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Brown headed gull    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

We could sight Painted storks, Spot billed pelican, Common Greenshanks, Redshanks, Greater and Lesser sand plovers, Common sandpiper, Kentish plover, Sanderlings, Ruddy turnstones, Greater flamingos, Black tailed godwits, Grey heron, Pacific golden plover, Pallas' gull, Brown headed gull, Lesser and Greater crested terns, Caspian terns, Eurasian curlew, Black-winged stilts, Asian openbills along with Bee eaters, Sunbirds, Barn swallows, Kingfishers and Red wattled lapwings.

A slow and calculated movement of the Painted Stork    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Each watching the other's six      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

I see you   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

This one with a leg up was casually wading. The moment our camera lense was raised it sensed our presence from quite far off and immediately froze like a statue     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wader with a heavy yellow beak, orange-ish head. The bright pink painted on their tail feathers gives them their name.  They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. As they wade along, they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds they produce are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. They are a “Near Threatened (NT)” species as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as that may be vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.

Distribution: The painted stork is a resident and widely distributed over the plains of Asia. They are found south of the Himalayan ranges and are bounded on the west by the Indus River system where they are rare and extend eastwards into Southeast Asia. They are absent from very dry or desert regions, dense forests and the higher hill regions. They are rare in most of Kerala and the species appears to have expanded into that region only in the 1990s. They prefer freshwater wetlands in all seasons, but also use irrigation canals and crop fields, particularly flooded rice fields during the monsoon. They are resident in most regions but make seasonal movements. Young birds may disperse far from their breeding sites as demonstrated by a juvenile ringed at a nest in Keoladeo National Park that was recovered 800 kilometers away at Chilka in eastern India. Breeding is always on large trees, usually in areas where nesting trees are secured over long periods of time, including in wetland reserves, along community-managed village ponds and lakes, inside villages when protection is also afforded to nesting birds like in Kokrebellur, protected tree patches in urban locations such as zoos and on islands in urban wetlands. 

Spot billed Pelican    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is a large inland and coastal waters bird that can be seen in large lakes. Also known as Gray pelican they usually lack bright colours but during breeding sport a dash of pink in the lower part of the body and mandible. At closer range the spots on their upper mandible is visible. They are also a “Near Threatened(NT)” species as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) as that may be vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.

    Distribution: The species is not migratory but can make local movements during non-breeding season. They are found to breed only in peninsular India, Sri Lanka and in Cambodia. A few birds from India are known to winter in the Gangetic plains but reports of its presence in many other parts of the region such as the Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh has been questioned.

Common greenshank    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Common greenshank    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian 

The Common greenshanks (Tringa nebularia) are brown in breeding plumage, and grey -brown in winter. When in water, they can appear very similar to marsh sandpipers but are distinguished by the shape of the lower bill which gives it an upturned appearance to the bill. They have long greenish legs and a long bill with a grey base. They are larger in size compared to redshanks. Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates, but will also take small fish and amphibians. 

Distribution: This is a subarctic bird, breeding from northern Scotland eastwards across northern Europe and east across the Palearctic. It is a migratory species, wintering in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Australasia, usually on fresh water. It breeds on dry ground near marshy areas, laying about four eggs in a ground scrape.

Common redshank     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian 

Common redshank     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The Common redshank or simply redshank (Tringa totanus) is a Eurasian wader. They wear a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below during breeding. In the non-breeding season, they are somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill and show white up the back and on the wings in flight. The common redshank is a widespread breeding bird across temperate Eurasia.

Common redshank (note the color on the bill and legs)      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Distribution: It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Ireland and Great Britain southwards, and in South Asia. They are uncommon vagrants outside these areas; on Palau in Micronesia for example, the species was recorded in the mid-1970s and in 2000. A tagged redshank was spotted at Manakudi Bird Sanctuary, Kanniyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India in the month of April 2021.

Greater and Lesser sand plovers 

Greater sand plover (with a Golden plover in the background)   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Greater sand plover (with a Golden plover at the far-right background)   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Greater sand plover   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The paler legs of the greater sand plover   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The greater (Charadrius leschenaultii) is a medium-sized plover with a long, hefty bill. Non-breeding birds and immatures are sandy brown above and white below, with a white throat and “eyebrows.” Often confused with Lesser Sand-Plover, and best distinguished when both are present - look for larger size, heavier and longer bill, paler legs, and larger-headed appearance. Additionally, unlike some Lesser Sand-Plovers, Greater never has a black boundary around the throat. It breeds in the semi-deserts of Turkey and eastwards through Central Asia. It nests in a bare ground scrape.

   Distribution: This species is strongly migratory, wintering on sandy beaches in East Africa, South Asia and Australasia. It is a rare vagrant in western Europe, where it has been recorded as far west as Iceland.

Lesser Sand plover    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Lesser Sand plover    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Lesser Sand plover    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Byte sized beauty      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian 

Boy! Those legs can run      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian 

The lesser sand plover (Charadrius mongolus)  is long-legged and long billed. Breeding males have grey backs and white underparts. The breast, forehead and nape are chestnut, and there is a black eye mask. The female is duller, and winter and juvenile birds lack the chestnut, apart from a hint of rufous on the head. Legs are dark and the bill black.

A lesser sand plover enjoying a dip     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: It breeds above the tree line in the Himalayas and discontinuously across to bare coastal plains in north-eastern Siberia, with the Mongolian plover in the eastern part of the range; it has also bred in Alaska. It nests in a bare ground scrape, laying three eggs. This species is strongly migratory, wintering on sandy beaches in east Africa, south Asia and Australasia. It is a very rare vagrant in western Europe. 

Kentish Plovers with a sandpiper         PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Kentish Plover facing a Painted Stork       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) Small, pale plover with broken black collar, sandy upperparts, grayish legs, and rather fine black bill. Breeding plumage has black mask and black tabs at sides of breast (not a complete band). Nonbreeding plumages have black replaced by brown. Mainly coastal, on sandy beaches, dry mudflats, and at salt ponds, usually near water; also, locally inland. Migrants will join with flocks of other shorebirds. Its common English name comes from the county of Kent, where it was once found, but it has not bred in Britain since 1979.

    Distribution: Kentish plovers have an extremely wide geographical distribution and their habitats vary not just spatially but environmentally too. They are known to reside and breed in multiple types of habitat, from desert with ground temperatures reaching 50 °C to tundra. The distribution of this species’ breeding areas covers Europe, Asia and Africa.

Pacific golden plover (What eyes and patterns!) One of our best lifers    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Pacific golden plover     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva) Slender plover spangled with gold. Breeding plumage shows black belly and face with mottled white sides and undertail coverts and a white stripe down the side of the neck that continues onto the sides of the chest and flanks. Nonbreeding plumage is duller grayish-brown overall with a variable golden wash, often quite bright. At all seasons, note more slender shape, slightly smaller bill, and brighter golden tones than Black-bellied Plover, along with grayish underwing in flight. Extremely similar to American Golden-Plover; Pacific is slightly shorter-winged, longer-legged and larger-billed, but these features are difficult to judge.

    Distribution: The Pacific golden plover is migratory, and breeds during May, June, and July in Alaska and Siberia. It migrates south to Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands in August and September, and stays until April or May. A rare vagrant to western Europe.

Common sandpipers      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Small bicolored sandpiper which often bobs its tail in a distinctively wagtail-like manner. Plain brown with white underparts; distinguished from bulkier and rounder-headed Green Sandpiper by a prominent white spur at the shoulder.

    Distribution: Found in a variety of wetland habitats; breeds on stony ground along rivers and lakeshores, with migrants occurring on muddy and rocky substrates from concrete canal banks to channels in tidal mudflats.The common sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. The eastern edge of its migration route passes by Palau in Micronesia, where hundreds of birds may gather for a stop-over. 

Sanderling with a thick dark medium long bill   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Close-up of a Sanderling   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A foraging Sanderling. Both sanderlings and plovers can be quite fast with their legs   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Sanderlings (Calidris alba) are small, plump sandpipers with a stout bill about the same length as the head. These and other sandpipers in the genus Calidris are often called “peeps”; Sanderlings are medium-sized members of this group.

    Distribution: It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia. It is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches. In the northern winter, it has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution across the world's marine coasts. It is a complete migrant, travelling between 3,000 to 10,000 km from its breeding grounds to its wintering sites. During the winter and its migration, it is most commonly found on coastal sandy beaches, but also occurs on tidal sand flats, mud flats and the shores of lakes and rivers. More infrequently, it may occur on rocky shores. 

Ruddy turnstone       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A pair of Sanderlings and Ruddy turnstones   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

 Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres)  Fairly small, stocky shorebird with short, chisel-like bill. Breeding plumage is particular striking with bright rusty upperparts and bold black-and-white pattern on head and neck. Nonbreeding and juvenile are duller brown but still boldly patterned; note orange legs. Interesting behavior of flipping over rocks, shells, and other debris to nab invertebrates.Usually in small flocks, often mixed with other shorebirds. Listen for low, hard rattle call.

    Distribution: Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters on coastlines nearly worldwide. Prefers rocky habitats, but also seen on beaches and mudflats. In Asia, it is widespread in the south with birds wintering as far north as southern China and Japan. It occurs south to Tasmania and New Zealand and is present on many Pacific islands. Some non-breeding birds remain year-round in many parts of the wintering range, with some of those birds still taking on breeding plumage in the spring and summer. 

A sizeable flock of Greater flamingos seen from a long-distance     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) This species was the reason behind our visit to Pulicat. It was December, two months already into the annual Oct-March migration season. So, when Chennai came calling, we decided to club Pulicat into the agenda, luck favoring we could catch a glimpse of these long-legged, long-necked beauties! Thanks to forums like Chennai Bird watchers , we got timely information from genuine birders. It was during our self-drive through SHAR road. We both were stressing our eyes and lenses scanning through the length of the road and the breadth of the water on both its sides, ID-ing every single or congregation of birds we could see. At one point, the landscape got so scenic with fishing nets, boats, the sun & clouds painting stunning visuals we got immersed in the scenes than in birding. It was then that the binoculars showed a significant vertical patch of dull greyish-pinkish-white blurry figures at a significant distance behind the fishermen. Honestly, it took our breath away that moment! We trained our eyes and the focal lengths again and with all the concentration we could summon we observed in astute silence. The hazy, blurry vision was a significant congregation of greater flamingos! Oh, those slender necks, kinked beaks and endless legs moving on the shallow waters far away, much beyond clear-view were more than good enough to make our visit. They were still in their non-breeding plumage, nevertheless sassy.

Silhouette of the Greater flamingo flock      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The greater flamingo resides in mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with salt water. Using its feet, the bird stirs up the mud, then sucks water through its bill and filters out small shrimp, seeds, blue-green algae, microscopic organisms, and mollusks. The greater flamingo feeds with its head down, and its upper jaw is movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull. Like all flamingos, this type of species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound.

    Distribution: They are found in parts of Africa, southern Asia (Bangladesh and coastal regions of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka), the Middle East and southern Europe. The most northern breeding spot is the Zwillbrocker Venn in western Germany, close to the border with the Netherlands. They have been recorded breeding in the United Arab Emirates at three different locations in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. In Gujarat, flamingos can be observed at the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Flamingo City, and in the Thol Bird Sanctuary. They remain there during the entire winter season. We also came to know that during the peak breeding months they can be seen in large numbers all around the Pulicat lake and in other places also like Sholinganallur marsh land

 

Black-tailed Godwits      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Flock of Black-tailed Godwits landing on water       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Black tailed godwits (Limosa limosa) Gregarious medium-sized wader with a long, slightly uptilted bill. Note the very long, pink-based bill. Breeding plumage has bright rusty head and breast, dark barring on belly; nonbreeding plumage has rather plain grayish head, breast, and upperparts. They are also a “Near Threatened(NT)” species as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) as that may be vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.

Distribution: Its breeding range stretches from Iceland through Europe and areas of central Asia. Black-tailed godwits spend (the northern hemisphere) winter in areas as diverse as the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe and west Africa. The species breeds in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs and uses estuaries, swamps and floods in (the northern hemisphere) winter; it is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the similar bar-tailed godwit. The black-tailed godwit is the national bird of the Netherlands. 

A dash of grey above the blue     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A flock of four grey herons     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)  Generally quite common and conspicuous in wetland habitats from marshes and tidal flats to small ponds, ditches, and wet fields; nests colonially in tall trees. Mainly seen as singles or in small groups, standing quietly in or at the edge of water, less often hunting in fields. Plumage mostly gray overall, with paler neck; adult has white crown, black eyebrows, and black shoulder patch. Like other herons and egrets, flies with neck pulled in to form a bulge.

    Distribution: Has an extensive range of presence but mostly a resident species in its range 

Gulls and Terns

A congregation of L-R brown headed gulls, lesser crested terns, greater crested terns, caspian terns and brown headed gulls again     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A first-year Pallas's gull    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A non-breeding Pallas's gull   PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A pensive first-year Pallas's gull against the golden sun     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Pallas's gull posing like a model          PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Pallas' gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) - Large powerful gull of saline, brackish, and freshwater bodies. Breeding adult has a black head with a thin incomplete crescent around the eye and a red-and-black-tipped bill. Nonbreeding adults retain a partial “hood” of patchy black on the back of the head. Young birds also have this dark patch, though it is much smaller in size. Can be readily separated by size in any plumage from the smaller dark-headed gulls. This gull nests on the ground, laying between two and four eggs.

Another non-breeding adult from the Pallas's gull flock       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: This species breeds in colonies in marshes and islands from southern Russia to Mongolia. It is migratory, wintering in the eastern Mediterranean, Arabia and India. The species also occurs as a vagrant in differing parts of the Indian Ocean, south of its normal range, and along the northern and eastern coasts of Africa, where it visits annually on an irregular basis. 

Three non-breeding adult Brown headed gulls    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Brown headed gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) The pale button eyes of this gull give it a somewhat fearsome appearance. Breeding adult’s head is the color of milk chocolate, lightening towards the bill. Non-breeding and first-winter birds have a dark ear patch and faint traces of the dark hood. All plumages may be confused with smaller Black-headed Gull but note pale eyes and more extensive black on the primaries in all plumages. This is a bold and opportunist feeder, which will scavenge in towns or take invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish.This is a noisy species, especially at colonies.

Last three birds on the left with orange-red legs are brown headed gulls. The other 3 bigger birds with orange bills with black tip are Caspian terns. The smaller one in the right-front with yellow beak and a black crest behind the head is the lesser crested tern      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: This is a small gull which breeds in the high plateaus of central Asia from Tajikistan to Ordos in Inner Mongolia. It is migratory, wintering on the coasts and large inland lakes of the Indian Subcontinent. 

A lesser crested tern in flight     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The smaller flying bird with yellow beak is lesser crested tern. The other one is a caspian tern    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Lesser crested terns (Thalasseus bengalensis) Elegant medium-sized tern with a slender yellow-orange bill and black crown. Can be confused with Great Crested Tern; note proportionally longer, more orangey bill on Lesser Crested. Also note gray upperwing, which separates it from Sandwich Tern. Gray rump and tail are diagnostic if seen well. Call a noisy “kerrrick.” The genus name is from Ancient Greek Thalasseus, "fisherman" from thalassa, "sea". The specific bengalensis means "of Bengal", the type locality, historically referring to much of northern India and Bangladesh.

Closeup of a lesser crested tern     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

A lesser crested tern with a non-breeding Caspian tern. A brown headed gull in the background    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: Lesser crested tern breeds in subtropical coastal parts of the world mainly from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and Australia, with a significant population on the southern coast of the Mediterranean on two islands off the Libyan coast. The Australian birds are probably sedentary, but other populations are migratory, wintering south to South Africa

A Caspian tern juvenile(left) with a non-breeding adult Caspian tern    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) Largest tern in the world; widespread but typically uncommon. Thick, bright-red bill is distinctive; most have small dark marking near the tip. Note solid black cap in summer which turns to black streaks in winter. Juveniles have V-shaped markings on the upperparts. Feeds by cruising over lakes, rivers, estuaries, and reservoirs looking for fish, then plunging to catch them. Smooth wingbeats, more gull-like than choppy flight of small-bodied terns. Very vocal, giving loud raucous screams.The Caspian tern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies

Caspian terns in flight      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The bright orange-red streak of Caspian tern in flight     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: Their breeding habitat is large lakes and ocean coasts in North America and locally in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. European and Asian birds spend the non-breeding season in the Old World (Afro-Eurasian) tropics. African and Australasian birds are resident or disperse over short distances.

Eurasian Curlew      PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Eurasian Curlew with a Common greenshank below its beak and a lesser sand plover behind it in the left       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) Scimitar-billed large shorebird of varied open habitats. Note large size, overall brown plumage, and long, decurved bill (appreciably shorter on juvenile). In flight shows white back patch, mostly white underwings. Common call an onomatopoeic "coor-lee." Breeds mainly in grasslands, from coastal marshes to upland moors; winters mainly in coastal lowlands, especially mudflats and adjacent marshes.

Eurasian Curlew taking off    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: The curlew exists as a migratory species over most of its range, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and south Asia. It is present all year in the milder climates of Ireland and the United Kingdom and its adjacent European coasts. 

United they stand...stand ...and stand! Black winged stilts        PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Single leg statues     Black winged stilts on one leg (often waders stand on one leg to conserve energy)    PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Black-winged stilts (Himantopus himantopus) Striking large black-and-white wader with a thin, straight bill and bright pink legs, found in wetlands with open shallow water throughout much of Africa and Eurasia, often in brackish habitats.  Often forms noisy colonies on bare ground near water. Feeds by wading in water, picking from the water surface with its needle-like bill. In flight, long pink legs stick out far beyond the tail. Calls loudly and stridently, especially when alarmed during the breeding season.

Black winged stilt closeup wing open     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

    Distribution: The breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. 

A congregation of Asian openbills in a field outside the lake     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Asian openbills (Anastomus oscitans) A relatively small stork species with a grayish to white body and black wings and tail with a hint of gloss. The Asian Openbill gets its name from a distinctive gap in the dull grayish yellow bill. Note the pinkish legs. Asian Openbills inhabit wetland habitats including shallow marshes, flooded agricultural fields, and lakes. From a distance they could be confused with herons, but they can be clearly distinguished from herons by their feeding habits—wading slowly through shallow water. Soars frequently, often in large dense flocks; note extended neck, unlike retracted neck of herons and egrets.

    Distribution: They may move widely in response to habitat conditions. Individuals ringed at Bharatpur in India have been recovered 800 km east and a bird ringed in Thailand has been recovered 1500 km west in Bangladesh. Storks are regularly disoriented by lighthouses along the southeast coast of India on overcast nights between August and September. The species is very rare in the Sind and Punjab regions of Pakistan, but widespread and common in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. It has recently expanded its range into southwestern China.

Threats to Pulicat lake ecosystem

This beautiful brackish water ecosystem encounters multiple threats due to anthropogenic influence. Climate change, lack of dredging, mixing of sewage, chemical waste, pesticides from the surrounding industrial and agricultural areas are huge threats to the flora and fauna inhabiting the lake. This in turn heavily impacts fishing and the livelihood of the locals.

The Pulicat Lake ecosystem is degraded by siltation, bar mouth dynamics, shell mining and processing, worm poaching and population pressure due to the resettlement of villagers from Sriharikota Island. It has been determined that the extent of the lake, including its water spread area, is decreasing. Many waterlogged muddy areas of mangrove habitat are now transformed to vast arid areas which are dominated by invasive plant species. 

Ye dosti! Two Bos Bubalis dudes claiming their stake to the water body     PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

The degradation of the lake will have serious impact on the flora, fauna and humans who depend on the lake's natural bounty for their livelihood       PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

Another mesmerizing moment with the natural elements. The lake is a treasure trove for landscape photography too        PC: Kalirajan Subramanian

“Binoculars, and a hawk-like vigilance, reduce the disadvantage of myopic human vision.”

― J. A. Baker, The Peregrine

References: Wikipedia, ebird, All about birds (Cornell Lab), Researchgate, Mongobay