White-breasted Waterhen

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The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a waterbird of the Rail and Crake family (Rallidae) and widely distributed across South Asia. During a previous season a couple of White-breasted Waterhens would daily visit my garden, which was my introduction to this bird, however since that time I haven’t personally spotted the White-breasted Waterhen in the Arunachala area.

Adult Waterhen [Photo: J.M. Garg]

This bird is a slaty grey stub-tailed long-legged marsh bird with white face and breast and bright rusty red under the tail. Immature birds are much duller versions of the adults. The adults are similar in size with the female being slightly smaller. The downy chicks are black, as with all Rails.

These birds are usually seen singly or in pairs as they forage slowly along the edge of a waterbody mainly on the ground but sometimes clambering up low vegetation. The tail is held up and jerked as they walk. They probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects, small fish, invertebrates and seeds.

White-breasted Waterhen in flight

Although ordinarily a silent bird its very noisy during breeding season during the rains, when it makes loud, repetitive croaking calls. At that time it is heard chiefly on overcast days and often through the night.

The nesting season is mainly June to October but varies locally. They nest in a dry location on the ground in marsh vegetation, laying 6-7 eggs. Courtship involves bowing, billing and nibbling. The eggs hatch in about 19 days. Both sexes incubate the eggs and take care of the chicks. Chicks often dive underwater to escape predation. Adults are said to build a roost or brood nest where young chicks and the adults roost.

Mother White-breasted Waterhen with Chicks

Waterhen Chick

Juvenile Waterhen

Indian Spot-billed Duck

This season a flock of several adults and a number of ducklings of Indian Spot-billed Ducks (Anas Poecilorhyncha) are resident at the Samudram Erie. The Indian Spot-Billed is one of three subspecies of the Spot-billed which is also called Grey Duck.

2 Ducks Wading in the Samudram

Samudram Take-off

The wings of the Spot-billed Duck are whitish with black flight feathers, a white-bordered green speculum and white wing coverts. Juveniles are browner and duller than adults.






The Spot-billed which is the size of a domestic duck, is grey with a paler head and neck and scaly-patterned plummage. Its black bill is tipped bright yellow. The sexes are similar except that the male has a red spot on the base of the bill, which is absent or inconspicuous in the female The birds legs are bright orange.





The drake’s call is a hoarse and wheezy but the duck makes a loud quacking sound.






This bird is found in lakes and marshes in open country. It is a surface feeder getting its food by tipping or up-ending in shallow water.When reaching down for food, the tail end of the bird sticks out above the water surface






The nesting season is generally from July to September, depending upon the rains. And the bird’s nest is a pad of grass and weeds among herbage on marshy margins of tanks.

The Indian Spot-billed Duck lays 6 to 12 grey-buff or greenish-white eggs.





For more photos and videos go to this link here.

My friend Charlie

I previously posted information about a commonly viewed bird in the Tiruvannamalai District, i.e. the Indian Treepie. To read the posting go to this link here.







I always think of the Treepie as a crow in evening dress. Charlie started visiting our garden some months ago and nowadays even brings his gang of friends to visit and feast.







However, Charlie is a crank and if some of his favourite food (i.e. chapattis, grapes or biscuits) is not waiting for him in his special place in the garden, he comes into my cottage for a fly around to demonstrate his displeasure.

First call of duty when Charlie enters the cottage is ALL FANS OFF and thereafter I can relax and watch him have his fly around. My dogs are so used to him coming into the cottage to visit, that they have stopped reacting. So much so that they don't even blink when emboldened Charlie perches on their food dish for a quick snack.

Arunachala Bird Population

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All photographs included in this narrative are by Mr. Kumar, artist and bird watcher, and whose paintings can be viewed on the paths of the Mountain of Medicine at the foot of Arunachala.







Bird Population at Tiruvannamalai



Those involved in afforestation work around Arunachala, believe that there has been an increase in the number of species found on the Hill and surrounding forests primarily as a result of the enhanced food base which is resulting from the increased green cover of this area.

There is currently 120 species of birds estimated in this area compared to only 20-30 species found a decade ago in the forest surrounding Arunachala. Some of the recent arrivals are: Small Minivet, Sirkeer Malkoha, Lesser-Spotted Eagle Owls, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Paradise Fly Catcher and the Black-Headed Cuckoo.

Common species such Mynah, Swifts, Swallows, Yellow Billed Babblers, Parrots and Indian Rollers (Blue Jays) are seen in large numbers in the forests surrounding Arunachala and also in the town of Tiruvannamalai and outskirts.










Other species such as Red-Vented Bulbuls, Robins, Coucals, Doves, Barbets, Shikra, Bee-Eaters, Sun Birds, Warblers can also be viewed in increasing numbers on the Hill and to a lesser extent, increasing sightings of Peacocks, Golden Oriole, Red Whiskered Bulbul and Koels are being recorded.







The District Forest Office has been ordered to take up a preliminary survey of birds and thereafter with the help of experts conduct a detailed survey of birds in the area.








A local artist and bird watcher Mr. Kumar mentions he has noticed increasingly larger numbers of: Common Wood Shrikes, Painted-Spur Fowls and Gray Francolins. With winter-visitors like Blue Rock Thrush, Pitta and Forest Wag Tail seen around Arunachala this season. Mr. Kumar attributes the growth of species to increase in forest cover, reduction of forest fires and a ban on hunting.









Mr. Kumar is currently engaged at the Mountain Of Medicine painting beautiful representations of the bird and wild life found at Arunachala. The paintings with supporting information are displayed on the paths of the Mountain of Medicine sanctuary which is located on the NH 66 Chengham Road, half a kilometre west of Raman Ashram. All are welcome.

[With thanks to A.D. Balasubramaniyan]