South India and Andamans

Western Ghats and the Andaman Islands endemics

Note: can be combined with West India

11th - 24th January 2025

Leader: Shashank Dalvi

Day 1:
‍Arrivals into Port Blair Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ). Night in Port Blair.
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Days 2-4:
‍Three full days birding at several different localities in search of the islands' imaginatively named endemics: Andaman Teal, Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Barn Owl, Andaman Boobook, Hume’s Boobook, Andaman Nightjar, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Brown Coucal, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Shama, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Crake, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Starling, Andaman Woodpigeon, Andaman Green Pigeon, Andaman Flowerpecker, Andaman Cuckooshrike and Andaman Cuckoo Dove. We will visit at least three different sites, ranging from roadside forest birding, coastal mudflats and pools to mangrove, returning for lunch each day. Nights in Port Blair.

Day 5: Early breakfast then to the airport for our flight to Coimbatore. We then drive north to Ooty, arriving in the early evening. Night at Ooty.

‍Day 6:
‍Morning birding around Ooty. It may not be the prettiest of hill stations but does contain Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Sholakili (Bush Robin), Indian Blackbird, Malabar Flameback, Indian Scimitar Babbler and Black-and-orange and Nilgiri Flycatchers. We also have a chance of the most elusive of endemics, Nilgiri Thrush lurking in the shadows. Wintering species can include Rusty-tailed and Kashmir Flycatchers, and even Tytler’s Leaf Warbler is possible. Following birding, which will be both roadside and maybe a visit to the Ooty Botanical Gardens, we head downslope, to Mudumalai after birding. Masinagudi is such a beautifully situated spot, it’s hard to get yourself out for birding. Bright-green and Greenish Warblers, Orange-headed Thrush, Malabar Whistling-thrush, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Spotted Owlet, and all manner of species come-and-go, while the Spotted Dear are often present in the garden itself. There is even a chance of Nilgiri Thrush close to our accommodation. However, we do have to go out birding, in search of Malabar Lark, Indian Nuthatch, White-bellied Minivet, Red Spurfowl, Grey Junglefowl and in the evening, Jungle Nightjar is present nearby. Night at Mudumalai.

Day 7:
‍We have a full day to enjoy Mudumalai. Our targets include Indian Scimitar Babbler, Indian Pygmy Woodpecker, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Nuthatch, White-bellied Minivet, Yellow-billed Babbler, White-browed Bulbul, White-cheeked Barbet, Jacobin Cuckoo, White-bellied Woodpecker, Bright-green Warbler, Malabar Lark and Nilgiri Flowerpecker. Occasionally Nilgiri Thrush can be found lurking in a bamboo gulley. A variety of owls are possible too, with Brown Fish, Brown Wood,and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl roost sites occasionally found. Night at Mudumalai.
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‍Day 8:
A long driving day as we head for Munnar going back through Ooty, stopping if required. We will proceed to Bodi Ghats en-route Munnar, with little birding en-route, reaching Munnar by the evening. A stop at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to stretch our legs and see Grizzled Giant Squirrel around the car park – only site in India to see them (it’s a common species on Sri Lanka), and depending on what the rangers have seen recently, we might opt for a walk there too. Night at Munnar.

‍Day 9:
‍Birding in the sholas (high altitude montane forests) and grasslands, mainly from the roadside in search of Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Kerala Laughingthrush, Malabar Whistling-thrush, Nilgiri Flycatcher and White-bellied Sholakili. If we have succeeded with all of those targets then in the afternoon, a relatively steep walk up above the treeline gives us our one shot at the incredibly elusive Broad-tailed Grassbird, a monsoon-singer– though we’ve not done this for several years! Night at Munnar.

Day 10:
‍Winding our way down the hillside gives us our one shot at Yellow-throated Bulbul, along with Blue-faced Malkoha and Jungle Prinia. Following on from here, we arrive in Kumily for lunch. Afternoon visit to the fabulous Periyar Tiger Reserve to concentrate on locating the difficult Wynaad Laughingthrush, with a supporting cast that could include Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Treepie, Indian Spinetail, Loten’s Sunbird and Heart-spotted Woodpecker, in this bird-rich area. Night at Kumily.

Day 11:
Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the finest wildlife and birding destinations in South India with over 320 bird species and is ideal habitat for Tiger. Periyar Tiger Reserve contains a variety of habitats from grassland and dry decidu­ous forest to evergreen forest and riverside scrub. As a result of its wide range of habitats it boasts an impressive list of resident species includ­ing about half the peninsular endemics and near-endemics. We spend the day searching here for some very special species including Wynaad’s Laughingthrush. Other birds to look out for include Black Baza, Malabar Trogon, White-bellied Treepie, Grey-fronted Green Pi­geon, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Rufous Babbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, and Heart-spotted Woodpecker among other more widespread species. We may also see Woolly-necked Stork, Besra, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Jungle Owlet and Indian Spinetail.
A walk skirting the reservoir gives us one of our best chances of Indian Spinetail, and along the shoreline Asian Elephant and Sambar Deer feed, with Dhole also being possible.
Night at Kumily.

Day 12:
Depending on our success will decide on when we leave Periyar for Thattekkad. On the way an area of roadside forest provides us with the best chance of Grey-headed Bulbul, one of the more difficult endemics of the region. Thattekkad is a lowland forest area with several types of eco-systems – river­ine, grasslands, evergreen, scrub, dry deciduous, lowland forest. This is also home to most of the endemics of the Western Ghats: White-bel­lied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimson-backed Sunbird, White Bellied Blue Flycatcher, Indian Spinetail, Malabar Parakeet and Malabar Grey Hornbill. Though much of the night-birding in Western Ghats is spent finding day-roosting owls, with Brown Wood Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Orien­tal Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl all possible, we plan to spend considerable time out at night in search of the highly sought-after Sri Lanka Bay Owl. Night at Thattekad.

‍Day 13:
Full day inside and around Thattekad for our remaining targets, along with nightbirding. Night at Thattekad.

‍Day 14:
Departures from Thattekad to Cochin (Kochi) International Airport for our onwards flights.