At Kovalam creek, marsh sandpipers show up early and flamingos arrive in hundreds
Chennai: Bird enthusiasts in the city reported an early sighting of marsh sandpipers at Kovalam Creek, weeks before their usual Aug arrival. The area also hosted at least 300 greater flamingos, generating interest among the local birding community.
Kovalam Creek holds significance as the only site where greater flamingos were recorded by birders in the past six years, they said.
The Nature Trust founder, K V R K Thirunaranan, said flamingos are not typically seen in June. "This period usually brings pelicans, painted storks, egrets, and resident species such as Indian spot-billed ducks, cormorants, and grey herons. Marsh sandpipers are an unexpected element this year," he said.
Some birders said these sandpipers are non-breeding birds that have not migrated to northern latitudes and may have remained in the creek. "That is a possibility. It can be established only after a detailed observation and study," Thirunaranan said. He said ample food sources and a reduction in poaching could be contributing to the birds' continued presence.
Additionally, around 50 red-rumped swallows were seen at Pallikaranai marshland — a substantial increase from the usual single-digit counts. "This is quite an unusual pattern for this time of the year," he said, suggesting the early and higher numbers could be related to shifts in weather or habitat.
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