Chundikkulam National Park saline flats: wintering Lesser Sand Plovers and Caspian Terns?
What are the 4WD sand track access routes and bird observation hides across the Jaffna peninsula lagoon borders of Chundikkulam Sanctuary?
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3 Answers from travellers
Chundikkulam National Park encompasses the eastern narrows of Elephant Pass Lagoon and coastal sand barrier dunes. Between November and March, shallow brackish water bodies host huge concentrations of migratory waders and waterbirds. Driving the unpaved sand tracks requires deflating 4WD tires to 18 PSI to prevent beach bogging. Observers position along outer saline flats at 8:00 AM to document wintering flocks of Lesser Sand Plovers, Caspian Terns, Gull-billed Terns, and Eurasian Curlews foraging on exposed estuarine polychaetes.
The area features dense Palmyra palm groves along inland borders where rare resident raptors like the White-bellied Sea-eagle perch to survey the lagoon.
Stay strictly on defined tracks; historical conflict ordnance clearance was completed on main paths, but venturing into unverified scrub is prohibited.
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