Udupi: Lesser noddy, a rare tropical seabird, has been documented for the first time in the state in Udupi district, according to available eBird records. The bird was spotted at the Kundapur Kodi Sea Walk on Sunday by hobbyist birdwatcher and engineer Sumanth Kerur of Kundapur.Sumanth said he was scanning the sea for pelagic birds in rough monsoon weather when the lesser noddy flew in from the sea and perched on the tetrapods along the sea walk.“The bird spent more than an hour resting and preening on the tetrapods, making occasional short flights before returning to the same spot. Its prolonged stay provided excellent views for birdwatchers and visitors,” he said.The rare visitor soon drew the attention of tourists, many of whom stopped to photograph it and learn more about the species. Around 5.45pm, the bird flew away along with a flock of about 20-25 pelagic birds, including terns, Sumanth said.
Lesser Noddy, a tropical seabird not so common along the Indian coast, spotted at the Kundapur Kodi Sea Walk on Sunday by hobbyist birdwatcher and engineer Sumanth Kerur of Kundapur.
After the sighting, Sumanth alerted Udupi-based eBird reviewer Adithya Bhat, who later visited the site and observed the bird. He said that lesser noddies are known to take breaks on suitable resting sites during their movement.In another significant observation during the same birdwatching session, Sumanth recorded a Persian Shearwater, an oceanic bird that spends most of its life far from land. According to available eBird records, this is also the first documented record of the species in Udupi district.The outing also yielded sightings of great crested terns, lesser crested terns, caspian terns, common terns and white-bellied sea eagles.A regular visitor to the Kundapur Kodi Sea Walk during the monsoon, Sumanth monitors pelagic bird movements along the coast. He is also a member of Clean Kundapura Project, which works to keep Kodi beach clean.“Initially, I knew it was a noddy but was not sure of the species. I contacted Adithya Bhat and the expert members of the pelagic group, who confirmed it was a lesser noddy. The photographs and data were also shared with birdwatching groups, including pelagic bird groups,” said Sumanth, who has been birdwatching for three years after buying a camera for astrophotography.He noted that systematic bird documentation is still uncommon in Kundapur and said such sightings press the importance of regular birdwatching along Karnataka’s coast during the monsoon, when strong winds and rough seas can bring oceanic birds close to shore.
