LALBAGH DIARIES: JAN 2014 - III

LITTLE CORMORANT & INDIAN DARTER

After shooting the avians in the Lotus Pond (Link), I headed towards the Lalbagh lake. I was a tad disappointed as the raft of ducks that are a big hit with the visitors were not to be seen. On a closer inspection, I found that they had gathered in the vegetation at the centre of the lake, far away from view. Nonetheless, the other feathered creatures like the Cormorants were present in sizable numbers.

Little Cormorant

The Little Cormorant is a pocket sized power house. If you observe them for long, you will you will notice that these guys just do two things during most of the day. Fist, they will dive into the water, remaining submerged for short intervals in which they hunt for small fish. Once a fish is caught, they come out of water and swallow it. This is repeated about five times. Next, they will fly to a nearby branch, spread their wings and remain motionless. This is the best time to get good snaps. Watching them is a visual treat.

Indian Darter

Belonging to the family Suliformidae, the Indian Darter or the Oriental Darter is commonly known as the Snake Bird because of the peculiar shape of its long and slender neck. A resident of the South and South East Asia, it is a Near Threatened species. As such, I was very excited at getting a chance to see them. There was just one darter on that morning, elegantly perched on the leafless branch, watching the still waters for prey.

Spot Billed Pelican

The Spot Billed Pelican is one of the iconic birds of the city. A Near Threatened species, there was just one pelican in the lake. Generally, one can see them congregate in large numbers, sometimes in association with painted Storks too. Far away from other avians, it was fishing with its huge, characteristic beak.

Links to all posts in the series:
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - I (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - II (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - III(Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - IV (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - V (Link)
(1) Lalbagh Diaries: Jan 2014 - VI (Link)