A LEISURELY AFTERNOON ON THE POOVAR BACKWATERS.

It was a pleasant afternoon in the middle of December.  I was on a short visit to Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram.  Knowing my passion for bird-watching, the cab driver suggested that I visit Poovar backwaters.....he said, 'I am sure, you would love it madam'! With nothing to lose, I thought, I would give it a go.

It was about a 45 minute drive from the hotel.  On the way, I visited Kovalam beach, but didn't spend too much time there, as I was eager to reach Poovar.  Its a small village almost on the southern tip of Trivandrum.  I am still recovering from a revision knee-replacement surgery, so I was a bit doubtful whether I would be able to get into a boat but the boatman was very helpful and helped me to cross that hurdle!

It was a motorboat with a capacity of about ten people, but I was the lone passenger in that boat. I came across several boats during the ride. The boatman said there were around 120 boats in all. As soon as the journey began, a Brahminy Kite made the first appearance, I thought that was a good beginning!

Poovar Backwater Channels

Brahminy Kites

The boat went along small canals or waterways in the calm waters, flanked by coconut trees, mangroves and other dense vegetation.  There was a particular stretch which he said was the 'Anaconda Jungle' , as it resembled the foliage in the famous movie by the same name. Whenever  I sighted a bird, the boatman would kill the engine and glide silently so that I could photograph the bird from various angles. I thought it was very kind of the birds to allow me to phtograph them peacefully!  There was this beautiful Pied Kingfisher posing for me.

The Pied Kingfisher

I almost missed the tiny Common Kingfisher, which the boatman brought to my notice. The kingfisher was making small sorties and giving me a 360º Degree view of its lovely colours. which I thought were more vibrant than usual. (Common Kingfisher in flight).

The Common Kingfisher

There were floating restaurants and cottages, bang on the water.  There was a big rock in the shape of an elephant-head. I felt a moment of peace and serenity, when I saw a statue of Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary in the middle of the lake!

Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary.

There was a beautiful beach with silver sands, which was so aptly named as 'Silver beach'!  I didn't want break my journey along the waterways.  

There were quite a few Brahminy Kites and other raptors on a small sand bank. It saddened me to see a lot of plastic waste deposited by the sea there!  The human race is of course the culprit here!

The Brahminy & Black kites amongst plastic trash swept in by the waves!

Carrying on into the waterways, I saw a Darter drying its wings, Pond herons, and then there was this Common Sandpiper doing its bobbing dance.

Darter, drying its wings!

Pond Heron & Common Sand Piper

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Suddenly theere was a flash of the brightest blue...it was a White-thoated Kingfisher. 

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White-throated Kingfisher

We turned around a bend, and then I saw an Asian Openbill.  

Asian Openbill

But the highlight of the afternoon were a couple of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, a lifer for me!

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

This whole journey was very reminiscent of Nal Sarovar of Gujarat, where you cruise around in rowboats and see the water birds at close quarters at your own pace! But there the similarity ends; the waters of Nal Sarovar are very shallow (around 4 feet deep) and the vegetation there is full of tall reeds.  Whereas the Poovar lake or backwaters is very deep and the foliage is very dense.

To Know more about Nal Sarovar, Please refer to my blog, please visit the following link:  https://www.aditideshp.com/blog/times-passion-trail--3

I am glad I heeded the cab driver's advice; I spent a beautiful afternoon doing the thing I loved best!

Aditi,

January 10, 2023