Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Point Calimere 2

I finally got to get a trip around the sanctuary this morning. I had to hire a taxi and a guide. But it was worth it I reckon. I saw a few new birds and heaps of Black Buck.

Black Buck (Antilope cervicapra)

This is a male. They have really curvy horns. I do not know what that thing on his cheek is. It might be a tumour or his third nostril.

Black Buck (Antilope cervicapra) female

This one is a female, jumping for joy. They do not have horns.

male Spotted Deer

I usually do not bother photographing Spotted Deer because they are so common everywhere. But this male had a great set of antlers.

Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula)

Edit: Oriental skylark (Alauda gulgula), also known as the small skylark, is a species of skylark found in the southern, central and eastern Palearctic . (I am tending with Jerdon’s Bushlark. Mainly because of range and the shape of the marks on the chest.Edit, nope)..

Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)

This is the first francolin I have ever seen. The guide called it a partridge.

Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark (Eremopterix grisea)

They do look a lot like a sparrow.

White-throated Kingfisher

This is a great shot showing the white markings on the wing of the White-throated Kingfisher that can be seen in flight.

Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

Green Bee-eaters are common in sandy coastal country. And I can remember their scientific name. doh!

Greater Flamingo(Phoenicopterus ruber)

Greater Flamingos in similar country to where I saw them in Sri Lanka. They even had the salt mine.

Point Calimere bird list

Oriental Skylark
Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark (Eremopterix grisea)
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Brahminy Kite
Greater Flamingo(Phoenicopterus ruber)
Painted Stork
Gull-billed Tern
Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
House Crow
White-throated Kingfisher
Indian Pond Heron
Red-wattled Lapwing

Mammals

Black Buck (Antilope cervicapra)
Spotted Deer
Bonnet Monkey (Macaca radiata)
Wild Horse

Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary

This morning I hopped on the bus at Muthupettai and headed off into the hillbilly lands of Tamil Nadu. The bus took a detour and went through all these little villages, picking up farmers going to town.

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquatus)

When I got to Kodikarai, I found the forest rest house and got a room for two nights. It is a small fishing village here. They have fishing and salt.

Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala)

There were massive numbers of Painted Stork in the estuary. Their knees bend forward. Or is it their ankles?

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

There were a few waders closer to the beach, but not all that many. It is the wrong time of year.

Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)

Quite a few Little Tern darting up and down in the strong wind.

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaulti)

Point Calimere bird list

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquatus)
Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucordia)
Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaulti)
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Muthupettai Lagoon.

It has been one of those days! I shall start from the beginning. I caught a bus from Tanjore to Mannargudi and changed there for one to Muthupettai. On the last stage we went through all these villages hither and thither.

Brahminy Starling

When I got to Muthupettai, I walked along the main street looking for a hotel. I finally found one. After a refreshing hard water shower, I went up the road looking for the fabled lagoon boat ride. I found a fisherman who would take me for 1200 rupees. So we hopped on his bike and got my stuff.

Dog swimming across river.

We set off and chugged away along the river. A few times we had to stop and cut off all the plastic wrapped around the propeller.

Fisherman

There were lots of camps along the river with people fishing, herding goats and cows. There are so many goats around here. I suppose they thrive on country with no water.

Pied Kingfisher

There were not many new birds anyway, so I just relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

A murder of crows.

These crows were having a circle. I like their democratic process. Which one has the talking stick?

Pigs in shit

Politicians with their noses in the trough.

Muthupettai bird list

Red-wattled Lapwing
Brahminy Kite
Black Kite
Grey Heron
House Crow
Pied Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Little Cormorant
Black Drongo
Brahminy Starling
Red-vented Bulbul
Common Myna

Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary.

I was up at 5:15 am this morning to catch the 6am bus to Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary. It was crowded and I had to stand up all the way! I found the bird sanctuary and went along the path bordering the dry lake. No water.

Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)

First thing I run into is a Spotted Owlet. Just sitting up in the tree. They are so tiny – about the size of a little puppy. But I was so happy to see it.

Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum)

Next thing you know I have another new bird, a Brahminy Starling. Things were looking up.

Indian Robin

The Indian Robin was nothing new but first for India. I had already seen them in Sri Lanka.

Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)

I had a good idea of what this bird was, having seen photos on Bird Identification sites.

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)

I have seen the Coppersmith Barbet in South-East Asia. I was hoping it was a white-cheeked variety. doh!

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Not sure if I have seen a Eurasian Collared Dove before. I have a feeling I have.

White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)

I nearly ignored this bird. This is the second time I have mistaked it for Oriental Magpie-robin. I did the same at Periyar.

Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)

I think this one is a Jungle Prinia because of the eyebrow stopping at the eye.

Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata)

This might be the same bird but I do not think so. Notice how the eyebrow goes well beyond the eye. There are other differences – the bill and the tail, but I cannot see them.

Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) female ?

Not sure about this at all because all the females look the same to me. doh!

Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Edit: Id confirmed by Nathan Rusli. The Oriental Garden Lizard, eastern garden lizard or changeable lizard (Calotes versicolor) is an agamid lizard found widely distributed in Asia. (This might be some kind of dragon with all the spikes on his back.)

Vaduvoor bird list

Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum)
Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata)
White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)
Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica)
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)
Indian Roller(Coracius benghalensis)
Ashy Woodswallow (Artemus fuscus)
Indian Robin
Common Hoopoe
Brahminy Kite
Black Kite
Yellow-billed Babbler yes ?/ Jungle Babbler ??
Common Tailorbird
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
White-throated Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Common Myna
Red-vented Bulbul
Black Drongo
Rufous Treepie
Large-billed Crow
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Spotted Dove
Red-wattled Lapwing
Indian Pea-fowl
Ashy Prinia

Towards the Lighthouse.

I got to Rameshwaram after a very confusing drop off at the bus station, which is miles out of town. It is a very convoluted town, with streets going everywhere. It is like a rabbit warren.

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

There were hordes of Black Kites wheeling over the water-front. I think that was because they dumped all their rubbish there. And of course the ever-present Brahminy Kites. A lot of the Black Kites were very immature birds. This following Black Kite is very much an immature bird.

immature Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

I went for a walk further along the water-front and on the way back found some birds in an empty paddock.

Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica)

I think this is a new bird for me. I will check when I get wifi. It is a breeding male.

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) , female

I was very excited to find a parakeet but I have seen heaps of these in Sri Lanka, so no kewpie doll for me.

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Check out the tongue on this Rose-ringed Parakeet.

Rameshwaram bird list

Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) breeding male
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) female
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) immature
Brahminy Kite
House Sparrow
Common Myna
House Crow
Little Egret
Spotted Dove