I am quite passionate about shooting – both with my gun and my camera and love venturing into wildlife and capturing it. Just before the lockdown, I got an opportunity to visit Mangalajodi at Chilika Lake known globally as one of the largest congregation spot for migratory birds both domestic and foreign (between October to March) and is a delight for every birdwatcher. I was informed by a Forest official that the migratory bird count cross the million mark in Chilika which was an encouraging news. Winged guests from far off places including Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come to the Chilika lake in every winter for feeding and roosting and towards the end of March they embark on their journey back home.
An hour and a half away from the capital Bhubaneswar, the roadtrip offers stunning views of the hills in Khordha region. Odisha is blessed with grand landscapes, appealing countryside and diverse wildlife.
I wanted to witness the sunrise and ensure natural light for my photography and therefore, visiting Mangalajodi early morning was the plan. So I reached Chilika a day earlier in the evening and spent the night comfortably at the Mangalajodi Nature Camps run by the Forest Department of Odisha Government.
Early morning offers the most spectacular sight of thousands of migratory birds flocking the marshes and water gleaming with the first rays of the sun. As it’s not a park, one must dress as if you’re heading out on a soft hike wearing appropriate shoes ( sports shoes will do) and bring some bottled water along to keep you hydrated ( since you will have to be in the boat), plus sunscreen if necessary. We hired a boatman-cum-guide who was quite excited to join the journey with me and handed out binoculars, lifejacket and a book on migratory birds of Chilika.
Wildlife photography is a tedious task and requires lot of patience and a little bit of luck. Among the many birds in the lake , one can spot rare golden ducks, a variety of herons, kingfishers, northern shoveler, knob-billed duck, gadwall, Indian spot-billed duck, Asian palm swift, ruddy-breasted crake, gray-headed swamphen, watercock, baillon’s crake, pheasant-tailed jacana, bronze-winged jacana, white bellied sea eagles, purple moorhen, graylag geese, jacana, flamingos and one has to make sure to navigate quietly so as not to disturb the birds.
The above picture is of Purple Swamphen.
I managed to capture some good shots and continue with my boat ride to see more of Chilika. The journey in the lake showcases the other habitats that make up the beguiling tapestry of Chilika’s landscape. The ambiance was calm and peaceful with just the noise of birds singing and chirping. The trip was really worth the time and effort. Odisha is truly a paradise for travellers and can help them rediscover nature’s enchanting spirit.
Gagan Narang is an Olympics Bronze medalist in shooting. He has also been conferred with Padma Shree and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. When not shooting, he is busy exploring and capturing wildlife.
By Gagan Narang
The soul food of Odisha
19 Mar 2024
CHILIKA ODYSSEY : EXPLORING THE RICH AVIAN ...
14 Feb 2024
RABANDHARA ECO TOURISM
08 May 2023
Filming vivid colours of Bhubaneswar with ...
13 Apr 2023
Spellbound Odisha a picture perfect ...
03 Feb 2023
Satkosia a Nature’s Treasure Trove
03 Feb 2023
Odisha Wildlife in 4K
02 Jan 2023
SAPTASAJYA-A Heavenly Tourist Destination
10 Oct 2022
ODISHA BY ROAD 3.0-BEHIND THE SCENES
10 Oct 2022
My experiences on World Tourism Day
10 Oct 2022
Comments