Fort-Kochin

Only in second day I realized I first time in ocean. The tide in the morning, the ebb in the evening. In the morning birding I observed mostly Egrets and Herons which were feeding on the floating seaweed or in the fishnets. Totally there were more than one hundred Egrets in the coast and nearby. I saw Great Egrets, Intermediate Egrets, Western Reef-Egrets (my lifer), Little Egrets, Indian Pond Herons, and flying flocks of Cattle Egrets. Due to Reef-Egret are my lifer, a lot of time I took photos of them. I tried to make photos of all morphs of this Egret, but I didn't see birds of white morph.

There are a bit of sandy spots in the coast, probably therefore I saw only three waders of one only species, the Common Sandpiper. One of Sandpiper was feeding on he floating leaves, another one between the stones. Of the birds in outside the water I photographed all excluding the Chestnut-tailed Starling, which behavior differs from behavior of other Starlings. Birds of this species are quite a shy. Also I saw these birds feeding in the trees, not in ground like other Starlings.

Some time I tried to take photos of Dolphin, both in open sea and in gulf. Unfortunately today Dolphins not jumped, but I have some photos with heads and dorsal fins, which is good.

The local man told me about Owls. He said there are two white Owls in the giant tree near fishermen. I tried to find its, but I think it's impossible. All the trees in the coast are full of House Crows. Hundreds of Crows either are building nests, or feeding fledglings, or staying in the nest. I don't understand how Owls can to stay in the tree with the so loudly neighbors like Hose Crows.

Close to sunset I observed the birds fishing in the waves of ebb, especially Kites and Terns. Tens of Kites were fishing in sunset. The full absence of Gulls in the ocean coast is unbelivable.

From a side of birding Fort-Kochin is not significant spot. Or may be I mistake, because had a bit of time to birding here.

1. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

2. Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

3. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

4. White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis)

5. Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)

6. Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)

7. Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis)

8. Great Egret (Ardea alba)

9. Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii)

10. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

11. Coast of ocean

12. Indian humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)

13. Indian humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)

14. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

15. Brahminy Kites (Haliastur indus)

16. Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

17. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

18. Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)

19. Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

20. Fort-Kochin