[Ofcourse, the airtel signal even that far out into the sea was damn strong, so we were constantly updated about the scores!]
About 15 of us, a majority visiting from Bangalore were put up on 2 boats and we took off from the jetty in Mulki at 9 AM. Pelagic birds are basically those which are only found out in the ocean and nest in remote islands very much away from mainlands. Hence, these are unexplored areas of ornithology and especially in India, the knowledge of these species is still inadequate.
The feeling of being out in the sea on a regular (but motorized) fishing boat is incomparable. The waters were choppy and each wave seemed capable of turning the boat on its head, although it miraculously avoided doing so throughout. As the boat swayed from side to side, it was even harder to keep our binoculars and cameras steady. To top that, the horrendous sea spray, made worse since I was at the helm of the boat and the only one with spectacles on, made sure that I tasted salt throughout and spent a lot of my time wiping my glasses clean.
We were greeted almost immediately by a sighting of a couple of wonderful dolphins, while my favorites were certainly the flying fish which were quite literally *everywhere* around us. They are bloody graceful and seem to perform ballet on water. The birds were great too! With sightings including those of the Audubon’s Shearwater (see pic of the same by Shiva Shankar of Karkala here), a bird that has never been photographed in subcontinental waters before.
We also had interesting moments in the form of an upturned tank that collided against our boat and revealed a handsome fish when we lifted it onboard. It was also covered with the interesting looking sea creatures called barnacles (yes, of the Captain Haddock’s “1000 blistering barnacles” fame). The fish eventually jumped out of the box and into the sea by itself!
The barnacles attached to the container and the fish within.
We returned ashore at 5 PM with aching bodies (who knew boat rides could be so tiring?) and salt covered clothes and bodies, but with a feeling of having accomplished enough 🙂 A brilliant day (ending with a WC victory) and again, a fantastic insight into the treasures that we have access to so close from Manipal!
Some photos:
Common Tern (L) and the rarely seen and photographed Bridled Tern (R) on floating thermocol, a favourite perch for sea-faring birds.
A Greater Crested Tern on a more natural perch 🙂
The sexier looking and the faster boat that I was not on at the 10 KM mark (L) and first sighting of the estuary on our return from the boat I was on (R)
Cheers!
Ramit
For More on Bird Watching and Opportunities/Sightings in and Around Manipal – Visit Manipal – The BirdWatching Chronicles.
The description of it all has made me yearn for this trip too… 🙁
how do i do so???
whom do i contact??
O man,I have oceanophobia..Will never venture out into sea in boats…
I am happy watching birds swarming over KC and KMC greens….Both of these points are hot spots of biodiversity…. 😛
BATMAN
Hi. Thanks for the comments.
@ Sreyoshi – well, a pelagic trip normally takes a few days of planning and the cost can come up to be quite high. But you can always join me for the other birdwalks.
@ Anonymous – whatever rocks your boat 🙂
Hey BATMAN saw your movie "The dark night". Amazing role there Bro
@Vishal SirThe other day you have written an article showering encomiums on Porki Afridi.When I told you not to believe a paki,you didn't agree with me…Have you seen his latest statement in Samaa TV??He says that Indians don't have large heart as pakistanis and also broached religion into picture…I agree with him..We Indians don't have large heart to accommodate pigs in IPL ….In case you haven't seen the video,here is the link..https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150231450863438&oid=126797247366177http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Indians-not-as-large-hearted-as-Pakistanis-Afridi/articleshow/7861946.cmsPS:You may edit the post if you think my language doesn't confirm to the decorum of this blog…BATMAN
@Anonymous: That's the best line I have seen here in a long time 😀
@Anonymous
********Hey BATMAN saw your movie "The dark night". Amazing role there Bro******
Thank you,brother…
***BLUSHING***
BATMAN
Typo..Confirm=conform
BATMAN
@BATMAN: If Afridi would have said "I hate Indian media", more Indians would support him than Pakistani's…but this "We Muslims Are More Pure Than You Hindus" was really unfortunate! But as one of the guys in the thread put it –
"seriously… being a pakistani makes me ashamed of myself today…. shahid afridi shouldn't have said those words…. what he feels is his personal matter(and i totally disagree with him). As for media then both indian and pakistani media has played some serious negative roles which squares it. i am sorry my indian brothers for the harm n hurt caused to you by some idiot pakistanis. shahid is a good sportsman. and he should stop at that. his political brains are not the reason he is a star anyways."
There is till hope!
@Vishal Sir
I agree with him on Indian media.I hate Indian media for being pro-pakistan and for their "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS".This paki idiot doesn't have any gratitude for Indian media though it is pro-paki..That says a lot the PURE HEART of pakis….
And regarding his statements on religion,his PURE-HEARTED cousin must be enjoying 72 virgins for sacrificing his life for the cause of PURE HEARTS…
BATMAN