Rare Arctic migratory bird returns to Coimbatore’s Singanallur lake after 12 years | Coimbatore News

COIMBATORE: After a gap of 12 years, birdwatchers in Coimbatore have recorded the arrival of a rare migratory species — the red-necked phalarope from the Arctic region – to the Singanallur lake.The main bird migration season in and around Coimbatore typically runs from September to March, with the peak period falling between November and February. Migratory birds from the northern hemisphere begin arriving in September and October to spend the winter in the region before returning in March or April.“The annual bird migratory season has begun in Coimbatore, with early flocks already arriving at one of the city’s key wetlands, Singanallur lake. The lake has become increasingly active over the past three weeks, hosting long-distance travellers that journeyed thousands of kilometres to spend their winter months here,” said Coimbatore Nature Society (CNS) president P R Selvaraj.Migratory bird species such as oriental pratincole, western reef heron, curlew sandpiper, marsh sandpiper, little stint, Temminck’s stint, ruff, lesser sand plover, whiskered tern, western marsh harrier, garganey, common redshank, common greenshank, Eurasian spoonbill, western yellow wagtail, blue-tailed bee-eater, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, barn swallow, and grey wagtail have been spotted in the Singanallur lake this season.Birdwatchers have confirmed the sighting of two particularly rare species — the red-necked phalarope and the Siberian stonechat. The observation was made on Oct 5 by CNS members Angamuthu Arun, Vasanth, Arun Ram and Gokul D, who documented the birds’ presence at the lake.

Siberian stonechat“The red-necked phalarope, an Arctic migrant, is especially noteworthy as its reappearance marks only the second sighting after 12 years,” said Gokul D, a member of CNS. “This underscores Singanallur lake’s critical role as a refuelling and resting point for global avifauna. The presence of these rare birds reaffirms that the lake continues to provide essential habitat conditions despite mounting environmental pressures,” he said.However, Gokul expressed concern over the lake’s deteriorating condition. “Although the early arrival of migratory birds is encouraging, the sight of them foraging amidst floating plastic and garbage is disheartening. Immediate action is needed to preserve the lake’s health and ensure a safe habitat for these species,” he said.