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It was one of the thickest forests still humid from the overnight rain. Even at noon it was eerily dark because of the heavily overcast sky. And we were in search of the ever elusive Malabar Trogon. A single dull tone call had alerted us and we made our way through the thick undergrowth. It was a bit of climb over uneven moss covered rocks amidst thorny branches. Faint sunlight filtered in through the tiny gaps in the arched ceiling of foliage, delicately lighting up the ambience.
And there it was.,. Once the trogon is aware that it is being watched, it will sit in a position so that the belly is not visible to us. It is its defense mechanism of exhibiting it’s duller side to the observer in order not to attract attention! Photographing the trogon is a difficult proposition altogether since it does not sit on good perches and is invariably in the shadows! It was a fleeting moment as it sensed our presence and flew away. We tried to figure out its path and kept walking, scanning the trees. It seemed a futile search as there was no indication of its presence. Just when we were about to give up the search for a bird which we had aspired to sight for many years, it revealed itself majestically amidst the thick foliage. We watched it, totally entranced by its beauty. The Malabar Trogon has a black head that is separated by a white ring from the bright crimson underside. These birds live exclusively on insects. They have a heterodactyl toe (backward toe) arrangement and like woodpeckers can be seen clinging to branches when foraging for insects. The word "trogon" is a Greek term for nibbling as these birds gnaw holes in trees to make their nests. If the avian population ever decided to hold a beauty contest, then the Malabar Trogon would be a serious contender for the title! Sighting the Malabar Trogon is as rare as spotting a tiger! I went walking In search of The elusive bird Trees and thickets Deep and dense Reached out Their arms to me A colourful fleck Flew across To perch itself With its bewitching armour My gaze embraces Its languid radiance Glimpses At: goo.gl/photos/3ACjAbvNE19ykgjd8
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Mangroves are survivors. They live their life on the edge: with one foot on the land and the other in water. Like coral reefs, mangroves are extremely important marine ecosystems.
Our first foray into the mangroves was in Pichavaram, which is the second largest mangrove forest in India. It was flooded with high decibel tourists. A helpful forest officer spotted us amidst the cacophony and arranged a small boat to take us beyond the ‘tourist’ zone. It was an amazing experience. As the boat negotiated the first turn, we entered a long and narrow rivulet completely ensconced by luxuriant green foliage. The sky was totally eclipsed by low, tangled mangrove branches. It was like entering a green tunnel! In eerie silence we negotiated one tunnel after another till we entered one of the wider channels. Mangrove forests towered on either side, dense and gleaming in the evening sun. Finally the boatman steered us into a sandbank. We walked across to one of the most isolated beaches we have ever been to. The boatman gently whispered that these stretches of beaches were often used by the cadres of LTTE in their heyday! Mangroves in India are mostly gifts of the east flowing rivers. Last week, it was yet another foray into the mangroves. There are comparatively less mangroves in the west coast. It was a wonderful opportunity, thanks to the Pankaj of Natures Nest to explore the mangroves along Zuari esturary and further into the Cumbharjua Canal. As we entered the magic realm of the mangroves the astute eyes of Pankaj spotted many a bird nestling among the branches hanging low on the water. Within a few minutes we saw a group of Greater Crested Terns perched on the bamboo poles. As we ventured further there was a solitary Western Reef Egret followed by Striated Heron in the shade. A Peregrine Falcon was safely ensconced under the Zuari Bridge. Pankaj informed us that it wasn’t spotted for a long time till a keen observer spotted bird feathers floating under the bridge, looked up and chanced upon the culprit! We had a wonderful sighting Osprey perched on a stump. And of course host of kingfishers….collared, stork billed and the most beautiful of them all…the black capped kingfisher! Marsh crocodile was sunning along the banks lazily! It was a hypnotic tryst with the mangroves of the Zuari estuary. It isn’t surprising then to find out that the word ‘mangrove’ is considered to be a combination of the Portuguese word ‘mangue’ and the English word ‘grove’! Meditating birds perched on stilts and tree branches growing out of water brought out the muse in me…. My memories Are like The tangled web Of Mangroves Rooted in the past Sharing with the wind Stories buried Deep within. . . Glmpses At: goo.gl/photos/opwcymH4Uie7rLSUA |
Dr Raguram
Someone who keeps exploring beyond the boundaries of everyday life to savor and share those unforgettable moments.... Archives
May 2024
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