A sighting that has surprised wildlife enthusiasts and birders -- a critically endangered lesser florican bird was spotted for the first time in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra, once again highlighting the rich biodiversity of the area.

Wildlife enthusiast and birder Nikhita Shinde told mid-day that it was birder and wildlife photographer Prasad Gokhale who spotted the female lesser florican on May 26.

Speaking to mid-day, Nikhita Shinde said, “After we got to know about the sighting of the female lesser florican, on 27 May, I, along with Rahul Sohoni and Ketan Chitale, went to the location where the bird was spotted, and we were lucky to observe it for almost 3-4 hours. The bird was taking short flights -- probably tired and may have stayed in Ratnagiri to rest. We were able to observe its feeding habits and saw that it was feeding on weeds found near the small lakes formed on the laterite plateaus of Ratnagiri.”