A 1600-Kilometer Odyssey for a tiny Kingfisher
Exploring uncharted destinations in pursuit of exotic species is a constant source of excitement for us. Whether traversing India’s southernmost tip to witness the flamboyant Greater Flamingos or navigating the Western Ghats’ winding roads to spot majestic Great Indian Hornbills or driving in a 4×4 vehicle to the peak of the Western Ghats to see rare frog species, every journey is filled with excitement and adventure. The thrill of the unknown, the excitement of discovering new species and places, and the joy of witnessing these incredible creatures in their natural habitats – it’s an experience like no other.
One such memorable trip was towards the heartland of Konkan region to see one of the very beautiful and tiny bird from Western Ghats-Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.
It was during a drive from Nilgiris through Kerala’s Western Ghats near Silent Valley, we discussed about kingfishers. As the discussion progressed about the various kingfisher species in India, we realized that we hadn’t spotted the elusive Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (ODKF) yet. The mere mention of ODKF brought Chiplun to our mind, thanks to stunning photos I’d seen on social media earlier. This picturesque town in Maharashtra’s Konkan region, nestled along the Vashishti River, is a haven for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts.
The ODKF, known as the “jewel of Indian forests,” is a vibrant gem of the Western Ghats. Its iridescent blues and fiery hues make it a prized sighting for bird enthusiasts. Due to its rarity and small size, it is difficult to see them as they prefer to stay in dense forests of western ghats. We knew that photographing this tiny bird during its breeding season would be the perfect opportunity because they would frequent its nest to feed their young ones.
The next 30 minutes saw us reaching out multiple people and finally to Mr. Nandu (Nishikant Tambe), who is a local enthusiast from Chiplun, who had converted his ancestral property into a bird sanctuary and an ODKF’s nesting is in his property. He offered to inform us when the ODKF breeding season began.
After a two-month wait, in the last week of July, Mr. Tambe called us and informed us about the breeding of ODKF in his property has started which prompted us to embark on an 800-kilometer drive from Bangalore to Chiplun. I traveled from Palakkad, Kerala, and joined KC at Goa, and we drove through the lush Konkan region. The scenic route was breathtaking after the rain. It was green all over and the drive itself was great
We reached Chiplun late in the night and checked into the hotel arranged by Mr. Tambe. Next day morning we drove to the location which was hardly 15 mins drive, and we met Mr. Tambe at his place and were guided to a bird hide overlooking the ODKF’s nesting site. We set up our cameras on tripod and waited with bated breath to see our dream bird. After waiting for some time, the bird came with food to feed its young and sat on the perch just near the burrow. It was a dream come true moment for us and looking at the stunningly beautiful bird we realized that the long drive and efforts were well worth. We witnessed the birds’ fascinating behavior, bringing insects to their young and exercising caution to avoid predators before going inside the nest. We captured stunning photos and videos of the ODKF with various insects which they brought to feed the young. It was a full day at the bird hide and though our stay there, both bird parents continued to come to the nest with food at intervals of 5-10 minutes. And later in the day as we were winding up, we even spotted an Indian Pitta, which posed beautifully for us.
We went back to the hotel and in the night, we took a drive to explore the nearby Chiplun town which was hardly a 30 mins drive from the place we were staying.
Next day in the morning we started our drive back to Bangalore. As we were close to Goa, we made a quick decision to visit Amboli Ghats, renowned for macro photography during the monsoon season. The winding ghat roads and pleasant climate welcomed us.
We checked into our hotel. Our naturalist was waiting for us, and we ventured into the rain-soaked terrain immediately. Amboli Ghats is a haven for macro photography lovers with its rich and abundant locations where we saw numerous amphibian and reptile species.
The macro photography session was exhilarating, and we left with unforgettable memories and a camera full of images. Compared to wildlife photography, macro photography is a different genre itself. The experience of being in the wild at night looking for small frogs and snakes is an experience in itself. The lenses, flashes and other accessories are equally important and is completely different from other forms of photography. We reached back hotel late night and the next day morning we bid adieu to Amboli and started driving back to Bangalore.
With a completely different photography situation and different species and camera equipments, Chiplun-Amboli photography drive was an amazing experience to cherish forever.