Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Bird Photography at Mangalajodi Chilka Lake



The definition of Birding might have to get altered if Mangalajodi has to fit in. An experience worth a lifetime, this place in a small village of Orissa covering the marsh land of Chilka Lake. The birds here are in lakhs, not in thousands or hundreds. You can take a boat ride within the marsh land and can really get up close & personal with the birds here.



Place of stay: Godwit Eco Cottage
Expense: Rs. 2300 per night for cottage (includes all meals)
Boat Ride: Rs. 750 for 3 hours
Jetty to-and-fro: Rs. 300

They say there are close to 90 different species of birds and there is no doubt in that. Even after having a life list of 260, I was still able to spot around 20 more new species. Any birder can easily spot more than 50 without putting much effort.

The best season to visit here is January. Although November, December and February are almost equally good. Other months you might miss out on the migratory birds but there are residential birds aplenty. And not to mention the experience of Birding in Mangalajodi per-se is so unique.

Here are some of the pics I clicked

Pied Kingfisher

Northern Pintail female

Ruff

Northern Shoveler male

Garganey female

Oriental Pratincole

Whiskered Tern

Black-tailed Godwit

Comb Duck female

Grey-headed Lapwing

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Black Bittern

Bluethroat

Spot-billed Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Ruddy Shelduck Male

Ruddy Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck Female

Spot Billed Duck

Northern Pintail Female

Northern Pintail Male


Northern Pintail Male

Whiskered Tern

Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose

Pheasant Tailed Jacana (Non breeding plumage)

Bronze Winged Jacana

Oriental Pratincole

Oriental Pratincole

Yellow Bittern

Yellow Bittern

Indian Pond Heron

Golden Plover

Citrine Wagtail

Oriental Skylark 

Wood Sandpiper

Common Snipe

Glossy Ibis

Purple Moorhen

Little Cormorant

Asian Openbill Stork

Asian Openbill Stork

Grey Heron

Grey Heron with the fish catch

Grey Heron with the fish catch

Pied Starling

Hoopoe

Marsh Harrier (Juvenile)

Marsh Harrier

Pied Harrier

The Boat Ride

13 comments:

  1. Truly inspiring pictures !!!!

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  2. Superb clicks man! Some of them are just so stunning!!!

    Vikram (Cathedral School)

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    1. Hey Vikram, thanks a lot!, I know this was one of the most satisfying birding trips I had in the recent times.

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  3. Great shots. Just log in to check different migratory duck.

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    1. Nice, you can also watch the Nawabganj post, that also has a good number of migratory collection. Other than that click on Wildlife/ Birding page and then click on any duck name and you will be taken to a page of all ducks i clicked till date. Hope it helps and thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Very good pics. I would like to have some photography tips in this wetland area from you. We are planned our trip hear on coming February.

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