Once you’re there, you are immediately drawn to the coral-studded beach at Patuartek. Not many tourists are as enthusiastic as an inquisitive birdwatcher in exploring the other side of the Marine Drive—where small hills form a green, undulating terrain, with small passerine birds nestling in flowering shrubs.
During an early January visit to Patuartek this year, as I was walking down from the motorway to the coral-strewn beach, I did not initially notice that an avid wildlife photographer in our group—Ziaur Rahman—had walked along the west side of the road, the hilly side opposite the beach.
He got his reward later, proudly showing us a beautiful Oriental White-eye that he had managed to photograph.
The Oriental White-eye can be easily identified by its distinctive white ring of feathers around the eyes, which gives it a “spectacled” look—hence its local name, Chosma Tuni.
As we were appreciating the seclusion, serenity, and relative quiet of the beautiful Patuartek coral beach—some 30 kilometres away from the bustling beach town of Cox’s Bazar—the bird photographer among us remained on the lookout for something precious to capture with his telephoto lens.
Suddenly, he spotted a Chosma Tuni perched on a flowering shrub on the hilly side of the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive.
He was not entirely sure about the plant on which the white-eye had perched, but the striking pink flowers—which appeared to belong to an ornamental plant with long, pendulous blooms—must have attracted the nectar-feeding Chosma Tuni.
The flowering shrubs resembled various fuchsia or chenille plants, known for their vibrant, hanging flowers. He released the shutter and took a few shots, capturing the Chosma Tuni in all its grace—an olive-yellow upper body, a vibrant yellow throat, a whitish-grey belly, and a thin, slightly downward-curved beak.
The Oriental White-eye is a small, non-migratory resident bird, measuring about 10cm in length, with its signature white eye-ring. Highly social and active, it feeds on nectar and insects, is often seen in flocks, and typically breeds between April and October.
This tiny bird—the Chosma Tuni—also known by other Bengali names such as Shetakkhi and Babunai, weighs only about nine grams. It moves in flocks and often forages while hanging upside down to sip nectar or catch insects.
Chosma Tunis are commonly found in open woodlands, forest edges, mangroves, and gardens. They build small, delicate nests made of cobwebs and plant fibres on tree branches. Active during the day, they are often identified by their high-pitched, melodic chirping and quick, acrobatic movements through foliage.
Bird sightings along the western hill fringes of Patuartek add significant value for tourists who visit primarily for the corals, as well as for those seeking an escape from the otherwise crowded tourist spots of Cox’s Bazar.
Known for its quiet, rugged beauty, the Patuartek shoreline is characterised by numerous rocks and coral stones, setting it apart from the more typical sandy beaches of the region.
During one of my previous visits to Patuartek, I witnessed a beautiful sunset, with waves rolling in from the east and hills forming a dramatic backdrop to the west. The horizon glowed with hues of orange, offering a truly picturesque view.
Tourists and holidaymakers often combine a trip to Patuartek with nearby attractions such as Inani Beach. With its clear blue waters and coral-strewn shoreline, Patuartek offers a peaceful retreat rather than a bustling beach experience.
While Saint Martin’s Island remains the country’s primary and more diverse coral hub, studies in the Patuartek area have identified various scleractinians—commonly known as stony or hard corals—as well as some soft corals. However, Patuartek cannot be compared to Saint Martin’s Island in terms of coral deposits, as coral coverage here is generally low, with scattered colonies or rocky substrates bearing sparse coral growth.
Different studies also indicate that these coastal areas are vulnerable to environmental pressures, including sedimentation and, in some cases, high levels of microplastic contamination, which can negatively affect the local marine ecosystem.
