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Odisha Part 4: Chilika – Experiencing the lake, in and out of season

My first visit to the Chilika Lake in Jan 2017 was for content for a resort. It was peak season, and I would have loved to stay near the lake, but the brief was to stay at Puri and cover areas that could be visited from Puri. And so, I did the usual touristy thing, taking a boat for half the day. Which is why, on my next visit to Odisha, if there was one thing I was clear about, it was that I wanted to stay near the lake, at least for a day, if not more. However, unlike my first visit, the second was in end of May, and the season was long ended. There would be no birds, I was warned by anyone and everyone I spoke to, including the people at the stays I was considering. But those who know me, know how stubborn I can be, and so I persisted. I eventually decided to stay at two of the Odisha eco-tourism resorts, at Mangalajodi and Rajhans, keen on experiencing the lake, even minus the birds. I had expected it to be hot, but as it turned out, the rains turned out to be even bigger spoilspo...
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More from my garden.....


The rains are here, but it still doesn't seem the same. It rains, but in a desultory way, as if it's heart isn't in it. More of concern is the fact that there has been very little rain in the catchment areas, which means that we are looking at a major water problem. It has already been announced that the water cut is being taken further, so we shall get water just once in two days from now on!

On a personal note, Samhith is upset that the snails haven't appeared yet. We spend our few minutes waiting for his bus looking for snails and earthworms, but haven't seen one yet.

Meanwhile, as we wait for the snails and the creatures of the rain, here are the birds and other members of our extended family whom we have been noticing from our window -

Red-Vented bulbuls - there are plenty of them around, and they regularly come to eat the food we put out for the crows (a tradition which symbolises providing food for our ancestors). But I have never been able to take a photograph. I am trying for a better shot, though, and shall put it up when I manage it!








I wonder if this one is a water-hen or some other bird???


The poor Kingfisher is looking for food.... wonder if it found any....


A lone insect struggles to hold on to the swaying branch..


We have been noticing these birds for years.... but never managed to get a pic.... they are too fast for my clumsy shutter.... but perseverance finally paid off... and here are two of my pics.... the better ones... I took quite a few, but these were the best....
this one is the female....



and here is the male....


I think those are purple rumped sunbirds, but am not sure. Can someone confirm this??

And finally, here is a pic of a group of guys making the most of the rain... and the slush too..... football!!!!





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Location: Chedda Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Comments

  1. MridulaJuly 1, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    I clicked a Bulbul to recently! And there is some rain here too now. Thanks for sending it across. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. IndraniJuly 5, 2009 at 10:06 AM

    Clicking birds is a very tricky affair. You have got some good shots.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UshaJuly 20, 2009 at 7:05 PM

    I was told the last two are Asian Warblers by a birding guide at Panghot in Uttarakhand. He was working with a description, not a photograph or sighting. So, I am not sure but they are definitely not hummingbirds. Did I tell you about watching one suck nectar from a flower of one of my potted plants?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anuradha ShankarJuly 21, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    no usha, they arent warblers.... those look similar... come home sometime,and lets look at the book together... yes, and they do suck nectar...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bhavesh ChhatbarJuly 23, 2009 at 1:08 PM

    A wonderful set of photographs!

    Slow and Beautiful — Snail

    ReplyDelete
  6. AB ApanaJuly 30, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    Hi Anu,

    The last two are Purple-rumped Sunbirds. The first is the female and the second the male.

    You seem to have a very interesting garden with lots of photo ops.

    Apana

    ReplyDelete

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