Rolling Reel on Santragachi Jheel

This time, I paid a visit to the infamous Santragachi Jheel, very close to the Howrah city. I took a bus from Rabindra Sadan and it took barely 45 mins. for me to reach the jheel which is adjacent to the Santragachi Railway Station and Kona Expressway. The place is well known for the ‘Barenda’ Brahmin family, residing there about 300 years ago. The jheel is home to different indigenous and migratory birds and I had well anticipated what awaits me there.

As usual, the place drew a lot of my attention when I got there and I made my camera and tripod ready just in nick of time!

Birds spotted near the Jheel

Indian Pond Heron

THE NEXUS: Indian heron on a leaf-shed branch

GOING FOR A FLIGHT: Busy wings of Indian Heron

Found mostly in India, this heron finds its habitat in nations like Iran, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Indian neighbours. They feed on water hyacinth, insects, small fishes and are excellent in camouflage; took me a lot of effort to capture the moments. What’s most interesting is that these little birds turn their legs red during their mating season, which is around monsoon. The greenish yellow tint adds to the beauty of this bird.

HUNK ON A TRUNK: Indian Heron

White Wagtail

AMIDST THE DUST: comes the White Wagtail

Behold the national animal of Latvia, the white wagtail bird is in Asia on its breeding season! This insectivorous bird mostly migrates to Africa in deep winters and has a tendency of constant tail wagging, from which it has derived its name. Its diet mostly includes dragon flies and small snails. It was a tough time to find it sitting still!

Cattle Egret

THE SANDS OF TIME: Cattle Egret

The cattle egret is a Cosmopolitan species of heron. Very close relative of the ‘Bulbul’, it has very few predators. The mutualism of this bird species with cattle is worth noting, where it generally remove sticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. They are known to migrate 5000 km from their habitat. While I had been clicking, it was busy in search for food.

LOFTY GAZE: Cattle Egret on a tree near the water

Black Drongo

FROZEN GAZE: Black Drongo prior to preying

Though very widely found in almost every places, the black drongo is a must click, everytime. Spreading its dark black arrow shaped tail, it seems ready for another hunt while it basks the winter sun at the same time. The holed leaves of the tree it seats in, makes this snap a scenic beauty.

White-breasted Waterhen

FOOD FOR LIFE: White Breasted Waterhen

Trust me, this wild breasted waterhen was attacking my heron, while I was busy clicking the latter. Afterwards, I shifted my focus to this notorious bird and caught it with a mouthful of food. A very close relative of the Rallidae family, this bird sports clean, white face, breast and belly, while the other parts of its body are black.

THE STAGGER: White Breasted Waterhen

White-throated kingfisher

NOSTALGIA: White-Throated Kingfisher

There is always a royal sense attached to Kingfisher. Flaunting its red beak and blue wings, this Bird was caught lazily basking the sun. It mostly feeds on fish and has its breeding time around monsoon.

Lesser whistling duck

THE GREAT BATH: Lesser Whistling Duck

Also known as the Indian whistling duck, this cute little thing is found around lakes and wet paddy fields. Generally a social bird and found in a cluster, this duck is found to be friendly to other bird species too, which allowed me to click them and the cattle egret in the same frame in an island of their own!

THE DUCKLAND: Lesser Whistling Duck

Green bee-eater

NOSTALGIA: Green Bee Eater

It was good luck to have found the Green Bee Eater here, as I least expected it today. Generally found in plains, this bird can be found at over 5000ft above the Himalayas, too. A slender bird it is, with trails of yellow, green on its body with blue patches on its throat. They are mainly insect eaters and enjoy sunbathing. It was a pleasure to hear its ‘tree-tree’ nasal calls and of course, clicking a nice picture of it. 

EYES SET: Green Bee Eater

Little cormorant

THE SLANTING POSE: Little Cormorant

Look how kind of the little cormorant to have posed for me on a bamboo, on the middle of the lake! It is scientifically known as Microcarbo Niger, and generally breeds gregariously in trees, joining other water birds. It has an average size of 50 cm. and is widely found around the Indian subcontinent. It sports a black body with white spots on the face and mostly produces 'ah ah' and 'kok kok' sounds.

WATCHBIRD: Little Cormorant on an upright bamboo pole

Other Birds

LOOKING AWAY- Bird on tree looking away when facing camera

Overall Picture

I found the lake to be quite dirty with human habitats, all around. Plastics and garbage fill the lake, while people bathe in it.

I expected to see more migratory birds here, but since it is the end of the season, I photographed whatever birds came on my way, and as you see, it was not disappointing! Having said that, folks, stay tuned for more upcoming albums!

Photography         :      Riddhisattwa Bhattacharya

Content Writing   :      Ivan Das

Camera                 :      Canon EOS 600D

Lens                      :      Canon 50-250 mm lens