Following our boat trip around the mangroves of Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,
we next headed for the Maina-Raia wetlands. This was without doubt my
favourite birding area of the whole trip, with the possible exception of
Eravikulam near Munnar.
It is a magnificent area of wetlands, which reminded me in many ways of the
rice paddies of Doñana in Spain. There were large numbers of many species, all
of the egrets of course, but also hundreds of lesser whistling ducks, painted
storks, black-headed ibis and grey-headed swamphens. Also at least 60 river
terns, several lesser adjutants, woolly-necked stork, bronze-winged and
pheasant-tailed jacanas, black-tailed godwits plus many other species.
There were also spot-billed ducks with the whistling ducks, but more about these
in a separate post.
Also a few garganey.
Lesser adjutant. Imagine what greater adjutant must look like!
Distant painted storks.
Pheasant-tailed jacanas.
River tern.
River terns and black-tailed godwits.
Spotted owlet.
In drier areas we came across this Malabar lark.
Also this paddyfield pipit, plus a few western yellow wagtails and zitting
cisticolas.
Shed loads of egrets!
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