Bird Walk at Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Vandipalayam Bridge), near Puducherry
- Near Puducherry
- 18 October, 2026
- Praveen and Hemavathi
About Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Vandipalayam Bridge)
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is a vast coastal wetland landscape in northern Tamil Nadu, comprising shallow waters, mudflats, marshes, open grassland, and seasonally inundated areas. The Vandipalayam Bridge area provides access to a section of this wetland mosaic, where changing water levels create a dynamic landscape throughout the year. During the monsoon and wetter months, the low-lying areas fill with water, while drier periods expose mudflats and open patches that remain important parts of the wetland ecosystem. The surrounding landscape includes agricultural fields, settlements, roads, and patches of natural vegetation, creating a transition between the wetland and the human-dominated surroundings.
The seasonal nature of Kazhuveli makes it particularly important as a refuge within the coastal landscape. Its shallow waters and exposed wetland edges support a range of ecological processes, while the surrounding vegetation provides additional habitat and shelter. The area is also influenced by the movement of water between different parts of the wetland, making the maintenance of natural drainage and seasonal inundation important for its ecological health. Increasing development, changes in land use, pollution, disturbance, and alterations to water flow can affect the quality and extent of wetland habitat. Protecting the interconnected wetland landscape around Vandipalayam Bridge is therefore important for maintaining the ecological character of Kazhuveli.
Bird Guide: Praveen Pandian
He is a wildlife enthusiast, birder, and photographer with 9 years of experience documenting around 800 bird species across India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He has extensive birding experience in Chennai, Vedanthangal, and Puducherry, and enjoys sharing bird identification tips, behaviour, and habitat insights with fellow birders. His depth of field experience and eye for detail make every walk with him both informative and engaging.
Bird Guide: Hemavathi Kalaiselvi
I’m Hemavathi, a passionate birder and wildlife photographer who enjoys observing, documenting, and learning about birds and their natural habitats. I have extensive birding experience across Chennai, Vedanthangal, and Puducherry. I have participated in bird censuses with the Forest Department. Have explored diverse birdlife across India, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Vandipalayam Bridge)
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is a spectacular coastal wetland where shallow waters, marshes and mudflats create a haven for both resident and migratory birds. The sanctuary comes alive with an impressive variety of waterbirds, including Indian Spot-billed Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Painted Stork, Caspian Tern, Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Striated Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Eurasian Moorhen and Baya Weaver. From waders probing the mudflats to kingfishers darting across the water and migratory birds arriving along the flyway, Kazhuveli offers an ever-changing spectacle of wetland life, while also highlighting the importance of protecting these fragile habitats from pollution, habitat alteration, changing water regimes and other growing pressures.
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck
Black-winged Stilt
Eurasian Moorhen
Baya Weaver
Pied Kingfisher
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Caspian Tern
Painted Stork
Indian Cormorant
Little Cormorant
Striated Heron
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Great Egret
Common Kingfisher
Summary of Walk
Six birders joined guides Praveen Pandian and Hemavathi Kalaiselvi at Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary near Vandipalayam Bridge on 18 October for a walk that began on an exciting note and finished with an impressive 62 species. Right at the start, participants watched a Striated Heron actively fishing and successfully catching its prey, a gift for photographers. Along the wetland they recorded Painted Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, all three egret species, all three kingfisher species, Little Cormorant, Grey Heron and Purple Heron, among many others. The group then explored the scrubby and grassland habitats bordering the waterbody, where they met a different set of birds, including the Blue-faced Malkoha, Zitting Cisticola, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill, Tricoloured Munia, Brown Shrike and Pied Bushchat. The wetland was also alive with migratory visitors, and the group spotted Garganey, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, a rich selection of travellers from far away. Some memorable moments stood out, among them a Zitting Cisticola carrying a mantis, and the Grey Heron, Striated Heron and Little Cormorant displaying their fishing skills with successful catches. The sighting of the beautiful Blue-faced Malkoha was another special moment. By exploring both the wetland and its surrounding scrub and grassland, the group built a wonderful picture of the sanctuary’s variety, and the guides explained how each habitat supports its own community of birds. It was another rewarding morning of birdwatching, photography and appreciation of the rich biodiversity of Kazhuveli’s wetlands, and the participants left with new birds on their lists and a deep respect for this special place.
Number of Participants
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