Long wait for the elusive Smooth Coated Otter

From 11th March 2013 to 15th March 2013 

I have been documenting the presence of Otters in Goa as a part of the Small Mammals project undertaken by the Mhadei Research Centre. Otters are locally known as “Udh” in Goa. On this trip I have come to Elsewhere Eco Resort, Mandrem, Goa to photograph the Smooth Coated Otters.

Indian Otters have been scarcely studied. The Book of Indian Animals by S. H. Prater and A Field Guide to Indian Mammals by Vivek Menon provide some information about them. I also got some more inputs from Dipani Sutaria, Girish Punjabi and Vidya Athreya.

There are 2 species of Otters found in Goa namely the Smooth Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the Small Clawed Otter (Amblonyx cinereus). While Small Clawed Otter is found along the forest streams of northern Western Ghats, the Smooth Coated Otter is found along the coast with Mangroves being its preferred habitat.

Reached Elsewhere Eco Resort on a hot Monday afternoon, Denzil and Barbra provided info about the property and their sightings. I was glad to know that there is significant amount of Small mammal, reptile and bird activity within the property. The Otter Creek along the property looked very promising habitat for the Smooth Coated Otters.

In addition to Otters, I was also interested in photo-documenting the Common Palm Civet and the Grey Mongoose that frequently roams around the property.

I had brief chat with Salu and the security guards about their sightings. Salu being the local resident had lots to share. There were some small mammal trails and scats at various locations within the property.

I had a tent ready along the Otter creek, an ideal location for an Otter sighting. As I scanned the property it seemed quite promising with some small mammal trails and scats. 

Spend the evening by the tent jetty waiting for Otters to arrive, but sighted none. As sun went down it was time for the Common Palm Civets to come out. I was setting up my equipment for the night shoot, just then Salu came to call me as the security guard had sighted a Palm Civet next to the main gate. We rushed in to the location; I was delighted to sight one up the coconut tree. It was hidden up the branches; we waited and watched it move from one coconut tree to another.

I spent the entire next day waiting for the Otters to arrive. While the wait for the elusive Otter still continued, I had a great time in the night with the Palm Civets. It was fantastic to observe them moving around from one tree to another.

On 13th, I was up early morning; sitting by my tent jetty and waiting for the Otters to arrive. Suddenly some action nearby caught my eye. Eurasian Kingfisher had caught a prawn and was in the process of eating it. Quickly, focused the camera on the Kingfisher and documented the action. 

Latter, I went up the creek along with Salu in the canoe to look for Otters. Salu was mentioning different areas where he had sighted Otters. Though the area seemed to be quite potential habitat for the Otters, but there were no Otter sightings as yet.

In the evening, I went to survey another area of the creek that passed through the village. Spoke to a fisherman there, gathered some more info about the Otter sightings. A particular stretch up there looked very promising, so decided to spend the next morning there.

Next morning, I went to the village area along the creek. Found a location to hide inside the mangroves, set the camera there and waited. To my surprise, on the other side of the creek I saw a Grey Mongoose walk by. It was wonderful to watch a Grey Mongoose in the mangroves.

The wait for the Otter continued....

On 15th March, I was scheduled to leave after a morning session and it was my last chance to get a glimpse of an Otter on this trip. As I spend time observing ripples in the Otter and hoping for the Otter to arrive suddenly there was a different action in the water, the Smooth Coated Otter had finally arrived. Within no time it was on the other side of the creek with a fish in its mouth.

After it had finished eating it dived into the water.

I could see it moving under water, it popped its head out couple of times before moving away.

These Otters move up and down the creek in search of food (mainly fish). As they drive away the fish, they are not liked by the local fishermen. With increasing human settlements in the area, the pressure on these species is enormous.

Arial view of the Otter creek with the sighting location (N15 39.610 E73 42.887) marked can be seen below.

Both the Smooth Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the Small Clawed Otter (Amblonyx cinereus) are listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List and their population has been decreasing as years go by. As very few undisturbed patches of their habitat remain, habitat deterioration and habitat loss is the major threat. They are also poached for their skin and meat. There is an immediate need to protect these species and their habitat.

My special thanks to Denzil Sequeira, Barbra Dsilva, Nirmal Kulkarni, Mhadei Reasearch Center and the Goa Forest Department for their support.

Male Baya Weaver collecting nesting material

Male Baya weavers need to collect thousands of grass strands to build their nest. There is always a fierce competition between them, as each one wants to complete his nest before the other. This would certainly increase his chances of finding the mate for the season.

While the older ones use their experience, the armatures have an upward learning curve.

This male weaver was pealing of a strand from a palm tree. He was pealing of strands only from a young leaf as it was easier to do and also more suitable raw material for the nest.

He was moving around from one palm tree to another in search young leaves.

He was very quick and relied on speed to tear off the strand from the leaf. Motion blur can be seen in the below image.

He did not stop after peeling off couple of strands. He accumulated them at the base of his beak.

He was very comfortable with peeling more and appeared least concerned about dropping the existing ones.

He kept on accumulating till his bill is full and it could take no more.

Collecting more strands in one go saves time and would expedite the process of nest construction. Getting the nest ready earlier than his peers would increase his chances of finding a mate.

Here is the video of this male in action

Also watch the video of Male Baya weaver making its nest. This is a different male working on his nest.

Three hours with Green Bee Eater

Date: 03-Nov-2012

Time: 6.45 am – 9.45 am

On a Saturday morning I was sitting along the coast of river Mula studding Green Bee Eaters for three hours. Made some observations. Documented them with photographs, videos and notes.


Observations: 

• Every Bee Eater has a set of 3-4 perches, he keeps on shuffling around.

• Some perches are shared by more than one Bee Eater during the peak time.

• If the entire perch is available they fine tune their position on the perch.

• The perch is selected depending upon the insects flying nearby. It also depends upon the availability of the perch and the hierarchy.

• General tendency is to pluck Bees/insects from the air, near their perch.

• Their attempts are calculated and decisive. They don’t take a flight if they are unsure about it.

• The success rate varies depending upon individuals. On an average the success rate appeared to be more than 50%, a quantitative analysis is yet to be done.

• An unsuccessful attempt is often followed by another attempt. Second attempt more successful on many occasions.

• They scratch with their legs and clean the feathers with their beaks

• Once the Bee Eaters higher up in the hierarchy had feed themselves, they move away to rest. The younger ones get more opportunities and better positions on the perch then.

• Their long tail helps them to maintain balance while landing.

• They often smash their catch on the branch maybe to kill it. Sometimes this also helps to disorient the bees that are holding tight to its beak.

• They toss up the catch quite often during the process of gulping.

• Bees are more frequent catch compared to dragonflies and other insects

• They take longer time to eat dragonflies as compared to bees.

• Rare behavior seen – Green Bee Eaters plucked up Bees from the water surface. In the below image you can see the wet feathers.

Behavior traits observed:

• Very decisive and calculated 

• Overambitious at times

• Restlessness after a failed attempt

Here is a video of the Bee Eater eating a bee

Cormorants using their tail feathers to feel water

I was out to photograph birds along the coast of river Mula, my favorite hangout location. It was morning time and I could find couple of little cormorants out there. I kept observing them and simultaneously setting up my camera.

I began to look through the viewfinder to observe closely and take some pictures. It was observed that, when they are about land they fly very low touching their tail to the water surface.

It appeared to me that they use their tail feathers to get the feel of water to decide the exact position to land. Hence the trail made varies; short on some occasions while long otherwise. A short trail can be seen below.

Unfortunately, lost all my images from that session.

Images shared here are of Indian Cormorant captured in a different session. Have currently observed this among Indian and little cormorant, expect great cormorant as well to do the same, but yet to document it.  A long trail can be seen below.

Little Egrets fighting for a fovorable perch

Date: 15-July-2012
Time: 7.41 a.m.
Location: River Mula, Pune

I was sitting along the coast of river Mula observing the action around. I found 2 little egrets fighting for a favorable perch. This perch would have certainly increased their chances to catch the fish.

Both of them looked almost of same age and were determined to get the perch.

The challenger chose to overpower from the above.

That gave him a distinct advantage over his counterpart.

The challenger landing on his counterpart.

A little fight back from the one below.

The fight back wasn't good enough as the challenger sent the fellow competitor crashing down on the water surface.

The perch holder accepts defeat and is trying to get back up.

The challenger moved in to occupy the perch.

The challenger winning the battle watches his counterpart move on