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March 29, 2009 is a memorable day in my birding journey; we were eight in-group like - few members of bengalbirds google group, Mr. Raja Chatterjee [Secretary, NGO Junglee] and me and my spouse. Our destination was Koikhali at South Barasat, West Bengal an entry point of the Sunderban bio-sphere. The place is at the confluence of mighty rivers of Matla and Bidya, opposite Jharkhali. I can describe this place as breathtaking. There is a lonely ' Tourist Lodge Kaikhalil to feel the ambience of the mighty river Matla. We started from Science City crossing, EMBypass at around 5.45 AM. |
Our driver Tamal was genuine good driver. Within an hour we crossed Baruipur and took nose straight road to Jaynagar. At around 8.30, we stopped near a shoddy roadside shop for breakfast. After taking meager foods there we left for Nimpith. The Nimpith Ramakrishna Ashram provides the arrangement of foods or accommodation or both at Tourist Lodge Kaikhali. We were bit late to reach the place as the traffic kills our time on the way finally around 9.15 we all reached at Koikhali. March end is really poor birding in the salty wetlands. Already the weather and timing both was working against us. But sooner we reached the place you are just floored. The non stop rhythemic beat of matla was thrilling us as we dropped at the lodge place. Yes it is the Call of Mighty Matla. After completing some formalities in the lodge, we took a narrow path on the riverside. We were standing at a sharp bend of that path. I just feel I am in lap of mighty matla she was stimulating us in rough scorching summer heat for awaited birding. Well, as we moved more through the path a long tailed shrike tri color greeted us first. We found many of them here and there. But our objective was something different this time. I hope my reader has a question in mind why Koikhali? Yes Koikhali is the third spot in the world where the rarest Large billed reed warbler was seen after it was spotted in Chintamoni kar bird sactuary, Narendrapur in 2007. The first record shot was made in Taiwan for this bird. Later Dr. Sumit sen and his team spotted it second time at CKBS. Our objective was same to atleast spot the bird and snap it.
In the grown bush on muddy salty water we heard numerous calls of warbler. In one word it was just warblers paradise. We were not able to spot the bird correctly but its call was heard many a times. It was a real reward for us. Hundreds of shot was made around the salty bushes and by luck we made a one possible photo of that rarest species.
Apart from that particular bird we spotted yellow wagtails , citrine wagtails, greenish warbler, common hoopoe and others. Overall it was an wonderful birding trip in an unknown spot. I wish to thank Mr. Chatterjee for his plan and all logistic arrangement for the whole trip.
If anybody wants to know other mundane details email me at bengalbirds.amit@gmail.com.
Happy Birding
Mr. A K Ghosh