A delight in all hues of blue

A glimpse of the rare ‘neelkanth’, also known as the Indian roller bird, the sighting of which is considered to be auspicious in many cultures.

The grey mist of an early winter morning over the seaside town of Digha on the eastern coast, bordering West Bengal and Odisha, had still not lifted. As I walked through the casuarina grove making my way to the beach to watch the sunrise, the fine sand grains gave my feet a gentle massage. I stood, digging my toes deeper into the sand, listening to the waves beckon as they crashed upon the shore a few metres away.

That was the first time I
sighted it!

A bright blue streak flashed through the trees right before me, like a wisp of magic from another world. The bird was a radiant contrast against the pale green casuarina needles faded with dust and time. I followed in the direction I had seen it fly, my eyes peeling through layers of grey, praying for one more glimpse. I didn’t have to go very far when I spotted it perched on a tree. My heart raced as I focused my camera and clicked my very first shot of the stunning Indian roller bird perched high above me on a casuarina branch.

The Indian roller, coracias benghalensis, belongs to the Coraciidae family. It is commonly called ‘Neelkanth’, which literally translates as ‘blue throat’ and is the reason this bird is believed to fulfill wishes made to Lord Shiva. It is widely found in the Indian Subcontinent as well as West Asia, and is the state bird of many Indian states. The Indian roller is also believed to be auspicious in many cultures and sighting one is considered a good omen specially around Dasara, since legend has it that Lord Rama had happened to see the bird on his way to kill Ravana, a quest he triumphed in.

Bewitched

But, even before I came across these interesting nuggets of information, the Indian roller had me bewitched the moment I had set eyes on it. And upon my return to Kolkata, I sought it out in places where other birders had sighted it frequently. But no matter how many rounds I did of nature parks, and birding trips to the wetlands of Rajarhat, which happens to include the surroundings where I reside — it eluded me for the past two years. Until the time the vibrant blue bird appeared in my dream. A quick Google search satisfied my curiosity as most dream interpretations claimed it meant happiness and positivity, both always welcome. And then, a few days back as I sat by my bedroom window inside our fourth floor flat, at a distance, I noticed a bird perched upon a lamppost. I looked harder, because white-throated kingfishers too have a smattering of similar bright blue plumage, and are resident birds. But clearly, it wasn’t one of the regular visitors.

A little larger, with a small, pointed beak and brown breast plumes, this was different. As if it knew I had been waiting, it flew towards me and perched upon a cement pole outside my window. I ran and got my camera and it didn’t keep me waiting any longer. It swooped down onto the dry grass below my window and spread its wings. The wide open wingspan had many different shades of blue, from deep purple to lilac and sky blue all rolled up in one beautiful bird. A stunning Prussian blue tail band merged with dull green central feathers. I don’t know for how long I stood there, gobsmacked at the brilliant colours, admiring its beauty. And then, like a final flourish to a spectacular opera that had me already weeping with joy, the Indian roller bird took flight. Mid-air, it did its signature acrobatic roll, and bowed out of my sight.