This was my first pelagic birding trip. While I’ve explored various habitats in Vasai wetlands, the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the sea shores of the Vasai-Virar region I had never experienced anything quite like this. It turned out to be one of the most extreme and unique birding trips I’ve ever done. A truly wonderful experience!
So far, our Vasai Virar birding group has recorded over 230 species in various semi urban hotspots across the region (excluding Tungareshwar WS), and the list keeps growing with each season. But I was eager to spot some birds that can only be seen far out at sea. Living just 30 minutes away from the vast Arabian Sea, I decided to join a boat trip with some local fishermen.
On the morning of 31st October 2015, we met at Arnala Beach at around 6:30 AM. The boat owner, a gentleman accompanied by his family, arrived at 6:45 AM and warmly welcomed us aboard. They practice traditional fishing about 20–25 km into the deep sea.
By 7:15 AM, we set off. As the boat gradually ventured into the sea, I began to feel the thrill of open water birding. Due to strong winds, the boat rocked heavily, rising and falling with each large wave it felt as though we were being tossed into the air. Initially, there was plenty of activity around us. Many Common Terns, Little Terns, and Gulls were fishing and flying close to the boat.
But after about 30–45 minutes of sailing, bird activity started to decline, and for several minutes, there was not a bird in sight. Then suddenly, one of my fellow birders shouted, “Dolphin!” I was on the roof of the boat, and by the time I climbed down, the dolphins had vanished into the deep. My friend claimed to have seen about three dolphins jumping. Phew! What a miss!
With the boat constantly rocking, it was difficult to stand without support, let alone take photographs. On multiple occasions sions, we lost balance thankfully, no one fell overboard. Pelagic photography, I realized, is one of the most challenging tasks I’ve ever attempted.
We sailed about 20–25 km out to sea. Though bird activity was low at that distance, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The fishermen were busy with their work it was a well-organized but tough and demanding job .
After dropping their nets, it was time to cook and rest for a while. They prepared a delicious fish meal with their fresh catch, which I enjoyed immensely 😊. Afterward, the crew took a short nap while I kept my eyes on the horizon, hoping to spot something special. Despite the stillness, I remained hopeful.
After more than two hours, the fishermen began pulling up the nets. I felt confident that birds would appear once the fish surfaced. And sure enough, we spotted a dark bird in the distance it was an Arctic Skua! Though far away at first, soon a flock of terns began fishing nearby, including Greater Crested Terns, Lesser Crested Terns, Common Terns, Little Terns, and Heuglin’s Gulls.
Then, at the horizon, we spotted a Bridled Tern. A tropical seabird from the Sternidae family, the bridled tern was a delightful sighting. I spent some wonderful time observing and photographing both the skua and the tern
Needless to say, that I had an amazing outing watching some of those avian wonders – those that can only be seen out in the open-sea far-off the coast. The birds we watched included:
http://ebird.org/ebird/india/view/checklist?subID=S25651728
