13-Day Birding to Western Ghats and South India
Bangalore - Mudumalai - Ooty - Top Slip - Munnar - Thattekkad - Kochi
This tour focuses on the endemic birds of the Western Ghats and South India. There is a good chance of picking up most of the endemic bird species associated with the Western Ghats. Species include White-bellied Treepie, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Woodpigeon and Nilgiri Flycatcher, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon and Indian Pitta.
Day 1: Bangalore (Bengaluru) – Mysore
You will be met outside Bangalore airport. The tour will start straight away with a drive to an area good for vultures and close by you will look for Yellow-throated Bulbul, Rufous-tailed Lark and Long-billed Pipit amongst other species. If you miss the Yellow-throated Bulbul there is another site accessed from Munnar, but it is quite a drive. The drive from here to Mysore will take around 2 ½ hours.
Target Species: Yellow-throated Bulbul, Rufous-tailed Lark and Long-billed Pipit
Overnight: Hotel Green. Relax for the remainder of the evening.
Day 2: Nagarhole
The drive to Nagarhole will take two hours. Species might include Indian Grey Hornbill, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-naped Woodpecker, Changeable Hawk-eagle and the South Indian subspecies of Scarlet Minivet. Malabar Pied Hornbill can also be seen here too and you may find Jerdon’s Nightjar sitting on the trails at dusk. Later in the evening you could hear Collared Scops Owl. Mammals included Indian Elephants, Indian Bison (Gaur), Wild Boar, Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Jackals, Otter, four species of mongoose, Grey Langur and Bonnet Macaques.
Target Species: Indian Grey Hornbill, Blue-faced Malkoha, Mottled Wood-owl, Brown Fish-owl, Crested Treeswift, Forest Wagtail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Plum-headed Parakeet, Asian Koel etc. Grey Junglefowl, White-cheeked Barbet, Indian Rufous Babbler, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Lark, White-naped Woodpecker, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Collared Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl and the South Indian subspecies of Scarlet Minivet.
Overnight: Kabini River Lodge
Day 3: Nagarhole
Enjoy your safari in the morning and a boat trip on the lake in the afternoon. A coracle ride might be offered, but from a birding perspective it would be best to opt for the boat trip on the lake.
Target Species: Greater Racket-tailed and White-bellied Drongo, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Black-hooded and Golden Orioles, Grey-breasted Prinia, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Yellow-billed Babbler, (Southern) Hill Myna, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Large and Black-headed Cuckoo-shrikes, Small Minivet, Common Iora, and Pale-billed Flowerpecker.
Overnight: Kabini River Lodge
Day 4: Mudumalai
The journey to Mudumalai of approximately two hours. Species might include Small Pratincole, Red Avadavat and Black Ibis etc. Arid areas can be briefly checked for Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark. Key species in the scrub could include Rufous-winged (Jerdon’s) Bushlark. Malabar Parakeet, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Minivet (difficult) and Indian Nightjar are a few others that are likely.
Target Species: Small Pratincole, Red Avadavat, Black Ibis, shy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Rufous-winged (Jerdon’s) Bushlark, Malabar Parakeet, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Minivet (difficult), Indian Nightjar, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Yellow-billed Babbler, Small Minivet and Yellow-crowned Pygmy Woodpecker.
Overnight: Jungle Hut or similar.
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Day 5 & 6: Ooty
The drive to Ooty will be approximately 2 hours.
Target Species: Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Blue-winged (Jerdon’s) Leafbird, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Malabar Parakeet, Crimsonfronted (Malabar) Barbet, Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Pacific (Hill) Swallow, Kashmir Flycatcher (difficult), Vernal Hanging Parrot, Black Eagle, Black Bulbul, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Greenish and Tytler’s Leaf Warblers etc.
Overnight: Glyngarth Villa
Day 7: Topslip
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to explore excellent birding habitat down from Top Slip. The drive of approx. 180 kilometres should take around 4 -5 hours. Check in at Banyan Tree.
Target Species: Grey-headed Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul, Malabar Starling (the South Indian subspecies of Chestnut-tailed Starling), Jerdon’s Nightjar, Indian Pitta, Asian Fairybluebird, Loten’s Sunbird, Black-hooded Oriole, Emerald Dove, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Black-rumped Flameback, Thick-billed Warbler etc.
Overnight: Banyan Tree
Day 8 & 9: Munnar
Drive to Munnar. Around Munnar, the pockets of the shola forest and Nilgiri mountain grassland eco-system are home to several of the endemic birds and various mammals including
the endemic Nilgiri Tahr. The altitude above 1600meters means an agreeable climate throughout the year, though in December-January the temperatures can fall to the single digits. Rainfall of over 300 cm is recorded mainly during June to September, but it can rain at any time of year. Here we will look for several of the South Indian and Nilgiri Hills endemic bird species.
Target Species: Grey-breasted Laughingthrush, White-bellied Blue Robin, Broadtailed Grassbird, Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Nilgiri Pipit, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Crimson-backed (Small) Sunbird, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Crimson-fronted (Malabar) Barbet, Little Spiderhunter, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Golden-fronted Leafbird and Rustytailed Flycatcher.
Overnight: Olivebrook
Day 10, 11, 12: Thattekkad
Drive to Thattekkad. Check in at a birding lodge. Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, also known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, is a prime birding destination in South India. Moreover, Thattekkad is ideal for seeing a good number of butterfly and mammal species.
More difficult birds are Wynaad Laughing Thrush, Greyheaded Bulbul, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl and Ceylon Bay Owl and we’ll look for these in the Orullathany area. Spend the evening looking for Indian Pitta and various owls and nightjars.
Target Species: Grey-headed Bulbul, Wynaad Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Treepie, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Red Spurfowl, Bay Owl, Rufous Babbler, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown-breasted, White-bellied, Blue-tailed & Rusty-tailed Flycatchers, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Whistling Thrush, White-bellied and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Black-throated Munia, Blacknaped Monarch, Brown Hawk-owl, Greyheaded Bulbul, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl and Ceylon Bay Owl.
Overnight: Thattekkad Birding Lodge
Day 13: Thattekkad – Kochi (Cochin) & Departure
You will have an early start to Kochi to connect flight to return / onward destination.
Tour ends.
Tour Price: Rate of Exchange UK £1 = INR 70 (prices will reflect any change in exchange rates)
2-4 paying persons: UK £ 1595 per person:
6-10 paying persons: UK £ 1430 per person;
Single room supplement: UK £ 680
The price is valid from Oct 2011 to June 2012 and can be tailored to your needs
Price includes: Land transport, accommodation, meals as per the itinerary, guided birding, permits, safaris.
Price excludes: International and domestic flights, Indian visa, travel insurance, tips, laundry, phone calls, all drinks, bottled water, extra snacks and meals not specified above, camera/video (if applicable), fee at monuments etc.