Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India

I am on a wild life visit spree. I wanted to visit Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary in Tamilnadu. This lake is near Andhra Pradesh Border reachabled via Ponneri but I thought the best part of the lake will be the part inside Andhra so went futher ahead till I got a telephone number on a board. Rang up the person and he told me better go to Nelapattu as Pulicat is not in season yet. So there I was. How to reach?
Just drive straight on NH-5 from Chennai to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. NH-5 goes to Calcutta/ Kolkata. Or you can come in the opp direction as well. When you go just drive straight to Nellore. Cross TADA and then reach Sullurpet. There will be a toll plaza (if you are travelling from Chennai to Nellore) after that 15 kms ahead will be a flyover- do not cross that take the side lane and turn right under the flyover.. And there on the left side after you come on the other side of the flyover is the entrance to Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary. It is a fresh water lake and not salt water like Lake pulicat. And unlike Pulicat where you can boat (I am yet to check that) here you walk on the side of the lake inside a covered pathway and see the birds.
By the way after you cross a rail crossing you see the entrance to the Nelapattu bird sanctuary and then on the right side you see some forest offices. Do not stop there go ahead some 500 mts and then you will see the gate on the left side. 50/- for car, 2/- or Adult and 50/- for camera.
Useful phone number 08623 242158 Wild Life Management Division Sullurpet. This is the number who told me to go to Nelapattu and not Pulicat this time. Helpful.

Well the season just started one day earlier and so here are the first birds.. I guess they are Open Bill Storks [from the boards and pictures there]


But some openings need to be... err.. opened...as usual nobody to take care-- our inefficient Govts!!!! The chair is supposed to look out on the lake but the plants have grown and covered. Actually you get very limited view of the lake!! So there!! If you are a discerning visitor do not visit.




The one above is Pond Heron or paddy bird

These are Open Billed Storks. You can identify it by its beak having a gap when closed

But after these photos I see that most of the Birds Sanctuary I will need a 500 mm or higher super telephoto lens if I want to shoot larger photos. But considering that I was hand-holding the camera and the birds were moving so a bit of fudginess for the first time is excused.. Yes I excuse myself!!

There were also a variety of beautiful butterflies. The most beautiful one was red and black but never sat still and so I could not shoot it. These I could.

Common Butterfly - Plain Tiger above and Blue Tiger below

By the way I would like to tell the world that whoever comes to India to do business, even if the Japanese, they probably think the Indian Market is seller friendly. They are right too. Unlike USA where they are careful here they are not. I have found many deficiencies in such products and services. The latest one is that Canon cameras have started a simply club canon edge, where they allow only people who have bought canon cameras from Jan 2008 (EOS 400D and above) to be members. Not that I am losing anything by not being able to become member of this online club but why this discrimination? Would CANON have done this if it was USA? There is nobody to answer my queries even from Canon India Office. So much for Japanese service!! ha!