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Paradise Flycatcher of Thommankuthu

// March 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Eco Watch

Riperian Forest along Kaliyar at Thommankuthu

Thommankuthu is a natural river side garden.  It is an exciting landscape of endemic flora

Flying Lizard (Draco Draco)

and fauna rendered ethereal by water, wet pebbles, rocks and riperian vegetation.  It is a mystic and dream like zen garden designed and sustained by mother nature.   There are plenty of plants and trees with winged fairies on them too, that add to the charm and drama, as I found out today!

Nature's Own Garden: Trees and Rocks in Thommankuthu

Today 15 March 2010, I visited the banks of Kaliyar at Thommankuthu (literally means the cataract of Thomman), some 22 km  north east of Thodupuzha.  I was returning from a public exam duty at Vannapuram.  I entered the unique riparian forest at 2.30 pm after taking the entrance ticket from the gate counter run by Kerala Forest Dept. This rare low-lying riverside forest patch (at an elevation of just 50 to 300 m) comes under the Kaliyar range in Thodupuzha division. We could trek up to 10 km along the zigzag riverside path and watch the more than 10 falls, rock caves and enjoy the view points high above beyond 400 m.  Up above the rocky cliffs there are tribal settlements by the Mannans, Uralis and Malayarayas.  Even in this harsh winter there is water to maintain flow in the river and it is drinkable.

A Grey Wagtail at Thommankuthu

The first chorus sound I heard was from the rare endemic crickets that voice their eagerness for rain whenever a heavy cloud hides the sun.  Temperature was soaring above 36 degree Celsius and it was quite exhaustive to walk among the bare trees that had shed leaves in the hot summer sun. I could see a pair of flying lizards landing on a nearby tree.  The Forest Dept. has given labels to the rare plants and trees here.  I heard the mimicking calls of a few Hill Mynas from above.  Then came the whistling of some green pigeons.  I sat down near the running water for a while and watched a lone Grey wagtail feeding around the pebbles and a few Chestnut-tailed Starlings coming to drink and bath in the water.  There are also little frogs and fish in the running water.

Paradise Flycatcher (Male, Rufous phase)

As I climbed up I saw a flock of Yellow-browed Bulbuls on a shady grove.  Normally they are found in high ranges, but here the altitude is just below 100m.  In the same cozy grove I also noticed the movement of a Paradise Flycatcher.   Further upstream I heard the ingenious call of a bird and identified it as an Orange-headed Thrush. I also managed to get some snaps.

Yellow-browed Bulbul below 100m altitude!

I reached the first fall after walking up for about one mile.  As I was cooling myself in the clean flowing water I heard the long metallic whistles of Malabar Whistling Thrush from some shady abode near the stream.  A Malabar Grey Hornbill crossed the river above my head.  It was a really refreshing and soothing bath in the natural spring and plenty of fish came to me and tickled my body.  Tiger Barbs, Giant Danios, Cat fishes and other unknown species are common in this waters.

Orange-headed Thrush: So vocal up there!

After an hour or so in water I retreated slowly and heard the noise of Hill Mynas and Rose-ringed Parakeets overhead.  It was nearing six as I reached the entrance.

Clean and flowing even in Summer!

Lazy frog reclining in water

Indian Pitta of Mangalavanam

// March 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Eco Watch

A Unique Ecosystem: Mangroves of Mangalavanam

Saturday, 6 March 2010:   After a lot of things done on a hot summer day in and around the city I reached the green and cool Mangroves of Mangalavanam for the first time this year as the sun was dipping down into the Arabian sea, at the mouth of the harbour in Kochi.  Seeing the high tide I was a bit disappointed that I missed the waders and shore birds.  I climbed up the wooden watchtower and waited a while in vain.  The always welcoming forest guards Raju and Jayan told me that the Night Herons who were here for the past many years had vanished!  Plenty of giant bats are now colonizing the rain trees behind the forest station.  Raju also informed me that he is regularly watching a Pitta in the thickets at dusk.

Atop the Green Mangroves: A view from Watchtower

I decided to wait for the darkness to fall and meet the rare winter visitor, Kaavi (Thuthu Chuvapan Kaavi, literally means Red vented Kavi in Malayalam) to appear.  It is also called the Six ‘O clock Bird as it appears after sunset.  During the silent meandering through the walkways under the mangroves I was lucky to spot a forest wagtail, an orange headed thrush, a Paradise Flycatcher (Male, Rufus morph) and a few water hens.

Raju also told me that he has also sighted a Great Tit in the sanctuary recently and White Ibises, Stilts and Shanks are also regularly visiting the mud banks during low tide.  I remember reporting about Stilts and Shanks last year at the same time.  At around 6.20 pm we heard a distinct resonant call and Jayan helped me to sight the bird sitting on a low twig.

It was a beautiful Indian Pitta with its long white eye brow, green upper and light brown underparts; of course with a reddish vent!  I managed to take a few snaps in the dark.  I was really excited to see the bird that close and take the image.  After admiring the cute little bird for a while we retreated silently without disturbing it.

Indian Pitta in Mangalavanam, locally called 'Kaavi'

The Kerala Forest Department and the dedicated Staff here must be appreciated for their good work of conservation in the midst of a booming city like Kochi.  Recently there was an outbreak of wildfire near the old railway compound.  Now there is a talk about a Medical College near the sanctuary.  The threats and challenges for conservation are on the increase day by day and the brilliant bio diversity of Mangalavanam prompts us for protecting it, for all of us and for posterity.