Alleppey
Spot over 200 bird species in the Kuttanad backwater ecosystem — purple moorhens, grey herons, little cormorants, kingfishers, Indian darters, and seasonal migratory waders at Pathiramanal Island (accessible by boat from Alleppey), a bird sanctuary in the middle of Vembanad Lake.
Pathiramanal Island ('Sandy Midnight' in Malayalam) is a heron and darter rookery — best visited November to February when wintering species are present.