Rare visitors at Vellayani

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five rare guests are holidaying near the scenic Vellayani lake for the past month, evincing interest among naturalists. Birdwatchers, who spotted the Grey-headed lapwing (Vanellus cinereus), on the periphery of the lake, said that the birds were a rarity in the capital. ‘’This is for the first time that the bird is spotted in the capital,’’ said wildlife photographer Tiku J Anthraper. ‘’The bird was first spotted in the state by P K Raveendran at Enamavu, near Thrissur, in 1999,’’ he added. The Grey-headed lapwing, which breeds in northeast China and Japan, has been spotted from several parts of the state since then. A single bird was spotted during the winter bird count on the kole wetlands in 2012. In February 2008, another bird was sighted in Munderikkadavu, near Kannur. The Vellayani weland is frequented by birdwatchers during the winter.