UDUPI: The ongoing monsoon season, with its unseasonal heavy rains, has prompted birders in the Udupi region to intensify their search for elusive pelagic (deep-sea) birds. Stormy winds have driven these rare birds closer to shore, offering a unique opportunity for local enthusiasts to spot them. The Lesser Frigatebird, which had previously been sighted only twice in Karnataka—both in 2020—has now been spotted for the third time.
Following reports of similar sightings in Maharashtra and Kerala, birders stepped up their efforts over the weekend. Their perseverance paid off on Sunday when Tejas K Rao and Shaurya Rahul Narlanka discovered a Lesser Frigatebird at Kodi Beach in Kundapur. This sighting marks the third confirmed record of the bird in Karnataka, raising hopes for further rare sightings before the end of the monsoon.
Tejas K Rao shared that the Lesser Frigatebird, native to the Australian region and known for its long-distance flights, typically breeds from May to December. The birders also documented other pelagic species, including Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel, Sooty Tern, and Bridled Tern.
Tejas has been actively scouting Udupi’s beaches for the past month, visiting Malpe, Padukere, Mattu, and Hoode regularly. His visit to Kodi Beach turned out to be particularly successful. During an October 2023 pelagic birding expedition, he had also observed the Streaked Shearwater, marking a first record for Karnataka. Tejas emphasized the growing interest and study in pelagic birds due to the limited information available about these deep-sea species.