Airoli Flamingo Watch 3 May 2009 (First trip with 150-500)

On 2nd May bought a new lens the Sigma 150-500 OS HSM and was very eager to use it.
Immediately called Jayesh to check if any plans can be made.

Got a confirmation in the evening that we are goind to Airoli next day for the flamingo watch.
Reached on 3rd May morning 7:30 am at Airoli

The shore line was lined with atleast 200-300 waders most of them curlew sandpipers in very lovely rusty breeding plumage.

There were little stints, sanderlings, sand plovers, whiskered terns also in breeding plumage with black belly and red legs & beak, little terns, gull billed terns.

Curlew sandpiper flock



Curlew sandpiper closeup



Waders (little stints, sanderlings)



Curlew sandpipers in flight



Some distance ahead was a huge flock of sand plovers. With a very beautiful orange plumage.

Waders flock



Sandplovers



Sand plover


Waders


Mix of whiskered tern, gull billed tern, a gull, sanderlinf, little stint and curlew sandpiper


Little tern


Gull billed tern


Little ahead was a complete line of Flamingoes for many kms.
There would be atleast 10000 of them. It was a mix of both lesser as well as greater flamingoes.

Flamingo flock



Flamingo Flock



Flamingo with a very pink beak



Flamnigo flock



Dancing flamingo



Little stints (Is there a sanderling in the background)


Flamingo


Flamingo dance


Flamingo flock


Flamingo in Flight


Flamingo in flight


Flamingo in flight


Flamingo in flight


Flamingo


Flamingo race


Flamingo Flock


Congregation of flamingoes

Other birds seen were the cormorant, oriental white ibis, great egret.

One of the cormorant dived in the the water and came up with a good catch.

Cormorant with a catch


Cormorant


Orinetal white ibis



Ibis in flight


Great Egret