Masked Booby

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Sorry for the poor image, as I was on a moving boat.
Nikon D750, Tamron 150-600mm, at 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640, ISO800.
Post Processed using: Nikon View NX & Photoscape.
Cropped Image.
Date : 13.02.2016
Place: Velliyamkallu > Thikkody > Kerala.

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Great to see this, almost adult plumage. the G crested terns add to the image. Wish you had got this in better light.

Vellyamkallu. It throws many surprises....we had once spent a greater part of the night on the rock, the fisher folks talk about seeing white apparitions on the rock even on clear nights with no mist. Maybe the moonlight plays tricks...more likely the moonshine they store on the boat did a good job...:laugh::laugh:. I miss those boat days.
TFS
Roopak

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice sighting of this large seabird. Is this a Male? Agree with Roopak about the background light. I liked the symmetry with the terns also looking in the same direction. Thanks for sharing.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Lovely. These are impressive birds, especially when one gets to watch them foraging :). Been a while since I saw any with the clean, striking adult plumage.
Is it possible to recover the highlights?
Could you add more about the geography of the place?

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Thanks Sir

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Velliyamkallu is a two-acre massive rock in the sea, 15-20KM from Quilandy a town in Kerala. Velliyamkallu has some unique 30 mtrs of natural engravings to explore. The island has both small and deep caverns and some treacherous rocks. Inside some of the caverns are deep wells. We need to take a boat to reach there. The boats cant touch the rock due to heavy tides. We need to swim to the rock. The picture was taken during my trip to the rocks.

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Thanks Mrudul Godbole

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Great to see this image. The details about the place has excited me, especially the info by Roopak. I would love to see an apparition. :D

Swimming is not an issue. However, my equipment can't swim. :(

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Prashobh,
I would love to see an account of this place in the Wilderness Updates section. Never heard of this place before, but am now thinking of making a trip soon. :)

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Just to add to prashob's account this place is also called sacrifice rock. it is a navigational landmark on the malabar coast and has a history of use in naval warfare by the Zamorins and later by the Portuguese and British. It is believed that the zamorins naval chief used this rock to launch successful attacks on the Portuguese ships and also to execute the survivors (hence the apparition tales). Most of the rock is whitish in colour and is completely bare. sometimes when the sea is calm the smaller boats can get closer and one can hop on to the rocks. September -November is a good time to visit the place for birding. Lots of terns and gulls but like I said the place can throw a surprise or two anytime.

Abhishek if planning a trip post April 1st week (caught up in year end work till then) do let me know, place is close to my ancestral home.

Rgds
Roopak

[Samrat Sarkar]

First time for me Prashobh...awesome record...TFS

Samrat

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Agree with Abhishek. Do post wide shots to show the habitat.

I would love to stay a night there. :)

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Thanks Sir....

[Prashobh Ailyam Nair]

Will do that... and you are most welcome.