South India tour DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 South India tour South India birding tour in search of southern specialities and with the Andaman extension to look for all the island s endemics. Led by Gary Stewart (UK) and local guides. Quality accommodation throughout. Grading: easy walking at all times. Focus: on birds and mammals Early booking recommended for internal flights and safaris. Contact Sandwich Bird Tours for flight details, which will be purchased direct by you through ATOL bonded agents. DESCRIPTION This tour focuses on the endemic birds of the Western Ghats and South India generally. The area is known for its species richness with more than 450 bird species and a good diversity of mammals ranging from Asian elephant and Nilgiri Langur monkeys to the rare Mouse Deer and Lion-tailed Macaque to name just a few of the special fauna. With the help of an excellent bird guide, we stand a good chance of picking up most of the endemic bird species associated with the Western Ghats Endemic Bird Area. Species include White-bellied Treepie, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Woodpigeon and Nilgiri Flycatcher to name a few. In addition, you will hopefully see the enigmatic Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon and Indian Pitta, Kashmir an Black-and-Orange Flycatchers. The Andaman extension has been designed to see the endemics of these Islands. we can expect to see Andaman crake, Andaman coucal, Andaman treepie, Andaman serpent eagle, Andaman wood pigeon, Andaman scops owl, Andaman brown hawk owl, Andaman cuckoo dove, Andaman woodpecker, Andaman drongo, white-headed starling, Black-headed Bulbul, Andaman Shama. Other species that can be seen: White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brown-backed Needletail, Glossy Swiftlet, Alexandrine, Red-breasted and Long-tailed Parakeets; Fulvousbreasted Woodpecker, Black-naped Oriole, Scarlet Minivets. Pacific Reef Egret, Pacific Golden, Greater Sand and Lesser Sand Plovers, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone. Kingfishers: Collared, Stork-billed, common etc. Lesser Whistling Duck, Pacific Swallow, Black-browed, Oriental Reed Warblers, Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Red-throated Flycatcher, Yellow-browed and Two-barred Warblers, Large Cuckooshrikes, Baillon s and Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Slaty-breasted Rail, Pintail Snipe, Rusty-rumped Warblers, a flock of Red-throated Pipits, Emerald Doves and Forest Wagtails.

2 ITINERARY (Main Tour): 15th Jan, 2017: Arrive Kochi Thattekkad 16th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary 17th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad area 18th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad Munnar 19th Jan, 2017: Munnar 20th Jan, 2017: Munnar Topslip 21st Jan, 2017: Topslip Ooty 22nd Jan, 2017: Ooty area 23rd Jan, 2017: Ooty Mudumalai 24th Jan, 2017: Mudumalai Nagarhole 25th Jan, 2017: Nagarhole 26th Jan, 2017: Nagarhole Mysore 27th Jan, 2017: Mysore - Bangalore 28th Jan 2017: Bangalore Departure Itinerary (Extension tour): 28th Jan, 2017: Bangalore - Chennai Port Blair 29th Jan, 2017: Mount Harriet 30th Jan, 2017: Jiratang area 31st Jan, 2017: Wardoor and Shipyghat, Choldari 1st Feb, 2017: Port Blair Chennai 2nd Feb: Chennai Departure ITINERARY (Main tour): 15 th Jan, 2017: Arrive Kochi Thattekkad Meals: dinner Arrive Kochi (Cochin) in the afternoon / evening. On arrival at Kochi you will be met at the airport and transferred Thattekad to check in at Soma Birds Lagoon, Thattekkadu P.O., Palamattam, Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, Pin Tel: Night at lodge. 16 th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, also known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, is a prime birding destination in South India. Specialties here include Grey-headed Bulbul, Wynaad Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Treepie, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Red Spurfowl, Bay Owl, Rufous Babbler, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown-breasted, Whitebellied, Blue-tailed and Rusty-tailed Flycatchers. Other species include Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Blue bearded Bee-eater, White-bellied and Heartspotted Woodpeckers, Black-throated Munia, Black naped Monarch and Brown Hawkowl. Moreover, Thattekkad is ideal for seeing a good number of butterfly and mammal species. The more difficult birds are Wynaad Laughing Thrush, Grey headed Bulbul, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl and Ceylon Bay Owl and we ll look for these in the Orullathany area. Relax for a few hours during the heat of the day and then around 3pm your guide will take you to scrub habitat on a hillside strewn with flat boulders an ideal place to look for nightjars including Great-eared, Jerdon s, Grey (Indian Jungle) and Savanna. Here you can also look for Grey Jungle fowl, Jungle Owlet, Plain

3 Flowerpecker, Indian Rufous Babbler, Chestnut-headed Bee eater and many other species. Night at Soma Birds Lagoon. 17 th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad area Explore some superb forest areas outside of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. Key species include Black-crested (Flame-throated) Bulbul, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Large (Malabar) Woodshrike (the South Indian subspecies), Indian Swiftlet, Other species include Lesser Yellownape, Crested Goshawk, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Plum-headed Parakeet, White-rumped Needletail. White-bellied Woodpecker is also possible. Then a little later, you ll visit a shady spot along the Periyar River where you might be lucky enough to see Lesser Fish-eagle and other species like Dollar bird, Brahminy Kite, with Golden and Black-naped Orioles, Crimson-fronted (Malabar) Barbet, and Golden-fronted Leafbird all likely in local forest edge habitat. You might spend the remaining few hours of the birding day visiting a small drinking puddle in the forest which sometimes produces some good passerine species including Indian Blue Robin, Blue-throated and Tickell s Blue Flycatchers, Puff-throated Babbler and Orange-headed Thrush. Brown-breasted Flycatcher. Malabar Trogon and Malabar Parakeet occur locally. Spend a final night at Soma Birds Lagoon. 18 th Jan, 2017: Thattekkad Munnar Meals: Breakfast and lunch or packed lunch from Thattekkad, dinner at Oliver Brook Enjoy some final hours birding around the signaling station near Thattekkad. Here species might include: Drongo Cuckoo, Black-throated Munia, Red Spurfowl and Black Baza before heading off to Munnar. From memory the drive is about two hours. Around Munnar, the pockets of the shola forest and Nilgiri mountain grassland ecosystem 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. Depending on the amount of time available, you will visit areas of shola forest on the way. Key species around Munnar include Greybreasted Laughingthrush, White-bellied Blue Robin, Broad tailed Grassbird, Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Nilgiri Pipit, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Indian Scimitar Babbler. Towards the end of the afternoon you will visit a tea shack (Karadippara) with excellent vantage point across an extensive wooded valley. The species here might include Yellow-browed Bulbul, Crimsonbacked (Small) Sunbird, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Crimson-fronted (Malabar) Barbet, Little Spiderhunter, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Golden-fronted Leafbird and Rusty Tailed Flycatcher. Night at Olive Brook (P. B. No:62, Pothamedu, Munnar, Idukki(Dist.), KERALA , INDIA. Tel: , ).

4 19 th Jan, 2017: Munnar On this day you might have a singing Malabar Whistling Thrush as your alarm call. Eravikulam National Park is a plateau at an average height of 6500 feet, about 30 kms from Munnar, high up in the mountains of the Western Ghats. This park was originally established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), which found its way into the endangered list of animals in the Wildlife schedule. It was declared as a sanctuary in Considering the ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological and zoological significance, it was declared a National Park in It covers an area of 97 sq. kms of rolling grasslands and high level sholas. We will look for Nilgiri Tahr on our visit and will focus on the endemics listed above along with all the other resident species of the area. Incidentally, you can see Atlas Moth locally too. If time permits, a walk along the road further on from Olive Brook is worthwhile and one steep track (Portha Madu) leads you to an area of grassland where you can look for Broad-tailed Grassbird (difficult), but this might be best done in the morning your guide will advise. Night at Olive Brook. 20 th Jan, 2017: Munnar Topslip Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch from Olive Brook and dinner. After an early breakfast, if time is required spend a few more hours in the Munnar area. The drive of approx. 180 kilometers should take around 4-5 hours. Birds on the journey might include Paddyfield Pipit, Indian Roller, Brahminy Kite, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and Red Spurfowl. Situated in the Anamalai Hills, it is one of the best natural history locations in Southern India. Check in at Banyan Tree, have lunch and relax for an hour or so before heading out later in the afternoon. Birdwatching in the forest can prove a challenge, so one good area is forest edge habitat and our guide knows the ideal location for some excellent birdwatching next to a canal. Species that occur locally include Grey-headed Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul, Malabar Starling (the South Indian subspecies of Chestnuttailed Starling), Jerdon s Nightjar, Indian Pitta, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Loten s Sunbird, Black-hooded Oriole, Emerald Dove, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Black-rumped Flameback, Thick-billed Warbler and many other species. Overnight stay at The Banyan Tree, Top Slip, (No. 312, GV Residency, Sowripalayam, Coimbatore Tamilnadu, India. Phone: ) 21 st Jan, 2017: Topslip Ooty Meals: Breakfast and lunch (or packed lunch) at Banyan Tree, dinner at the Ooty. After an early breakfast you will make the most of birding in the Banyan Tree area note, you might not head into Topslip itself, as equally good birding can be found outside of the park. Then after best birding time is over drive on to Ooty. There are plenty of cracking species to look for in the Ooty area - 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, Crimson-fronted (Malabar) Barbet, Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Pacific (Hill) Swallow and

5 Kashmir Flycatcher (difficult). Your guide will take you to the best area of Shola forest to search for some of them. Night at Fortune Resort Sullivan Court, Ooty (123, Selbourne Road, Ooty , Tamil Nadu Phone : ). 22 nd Jan, 2017: Ooty area Meals: Breakfast, lunch or packed lunch and dinner Spend this day checking local sites and catching up with any species that might have proved elusive from the day before. Your guide will first take you to the grounds of a local hotel (where you might need to buy a coffee), a favoured haunt of Black and Orange Flycatcher and Indian Blue Robin and to one of the local viewpoints to look for Nilgiri Laughingthrush where they are quite partial to popcorn (you might want to purchase a bag!). The remainder of the day will be spent checking patches of shola forest for other local species which might include Vernal Hanging Parrot, Black Eagle, Black Bulbul, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Greenish and Tytler s Leaf Warblers, plus many others. Return for a second night at Fortune Resort Sullivan Court, Ooty (123, Selbourne Road, Ooty , Tamil Nadu Phone : ). 23 rd Jan, 2017: Ooty Mudumalai Meals: Breakfast in Ooty, lunch and dinner in Mudumalai If extra time is required around Ooty it will be factored in this morning. Then you will be driven on to Mudumalai (approximately 2 hours) where some excellent dry scrub habitat exists, but it gets exceptionally hot in the middle of the day. Your guide knows where you can pull off the road (you are not allowed to stop and get out along certain stretches of the main road) to explore some of these excellent dry scrub areas that are sure to add some new species to the list. Key species could include Rufous-winged (Jerdon s) Bushlark, Malabar Parakeet, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Minivet (difficult) and Indian Nightjar. Also Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Yellow billed Babbler, Small Minivet and Yellow-crowned Pygmy Woodpecker are a few others that are likely. Night at Jungle Huts, Mudumalai (Bokkapuram, Masingudi P.O Nilgiris Tamil Nadu, South India Tel: /240) 24 th Jan, 2017: Mudumalai Nagarhole Meals: Breakfast in Mudumalai, lunch and dinner at Nagarhole Again, in prime birding time you can explore the scrub habitat further if the bird list dictates. Then it s on to Nagarhole, a journey of approximately two hours with some interesting species to look for on the way. Arid areas can be briefly checked for Ashycrowned Sparrow Lark and it might be worth stopping on a bridge which crosses a river to break the journey. Additional species might include Small Pratincole, Red Avadavat and Black Ibis, plus several others. Nagarhole itself comprises a varied selection of habitats, dominated by extensive dry deciduous forests. Key species include Grey Jungle fowl, White-cheeked Barbet, Indian Rufous Babbler, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Lark, White-naped Woodpecker, Changeable Hawk-eagle and the South Indian subspecies of Scarlet Minivet. Not far from the lodge the Kabini River has been dammed and the resulting lake, together with its well-vegetated margins and stark, dead, partly submerged trees. Check the dead trees for Grey Headed Fish Eagle and around the lake you should

6 also see, Spot-billed Duck, Black-bellied Tern, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Indian Swiftlet and Ashy Wood-swallow. 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 or Brown Hawk Owl. Nagarhole, and the contiguous Bandipur National Parks, are a haven for mammals, though seeing the resident creatures requires a good deal of luck, especially as a third of the total area of these parks is designated a Wilderness Area from which human visitors are excluded. It is estimated that over a thousand Indian Elephants roam the mighty tracts of forest and at times large herds assemble at favoured locations near water sources such the banks of the Kabini River. The massive Indian Bison, the Gaur, is another valued resident of the Park occurring in herds of up to 20 to 30 animals, placidly grazing the emerging grasses. Wild Boar is numerous and, along with the Chital, they provide prey for a formidable trio of predators: Tiger, Leopard and Dhole. Other mammal sightings include the mostly nocturnal Sloth Bear, which can occasionally be seen digging for termites or lumbering across a clearing, Black naped Hares, Jackals, Otter, four species of mongoose and the constantly active troupes of Grey Langur and Bonnet Macaques. In the world of mammal-watching nothing can ever be guaranteed, but Nagarhole is a perfect place to look for some of the most impressive examples of India s diverse fauna. Check-in at Kabini River Lodge, have lunch and get ready for an afternoon jeep safari. Speak with the guide if time permits to explore the grounds of Kabini during your stay, either before or after lunch, as species here can include Mottled Wood-owl, Brown Fish-owl, Crested Treeswift, Forest Wagtail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Plum-headed Parakeet, Asian Koel. There is often a colony of Fruit bats as well. Night at Kabini River Lodge. 25 th Jan, 2017: 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. Likely species today include: Greater Racket-tailed and White-bellied Drongo, Velvetfronted Nuthatch, Black-hooded and Golden Orioles, Grey-breasted Prinia, Purplerumped Sunbird, Yellow-billed Babbler, (Southern) Hill Myna, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Large and Black-headed Cuckoo-shrikes, Small Minivet, Common Iora, and Palebilled Flowerpecker. Night at Kabini River Lodge. 26 th Jan, 2017: Nagarhole Mysore Meals: Breakfast at Nagarhole, lunch and dinner Morning safari in Nagarhole. Later drive to Mysore will take two hours, with extra time spent checking out small wetlands by the roadside the journey for us was a productive one. Species on the journey might include Indian Grey Hornbill, Blue-faced Malkoha, Malabar Lark, Pheasant-tailed Jacana and check the wires for Blue-tailed as well as Little Green Bee-eater. Check-in at The Green Hotel have lunch and then head out in the afternoon, either to Rangnathittu (to make use of best light) or to an area

7 where you will search for Yellow-throated Bulbul, Rufous-tailed Lark and Long-billed Pipit amongst other species before then going to look for vultures coming in to a roost site. Return to Hotel The Green, (Chittaranjan Palace, 2270 Vinoba Road, Jayalakshmipuram Mysore, Karnataka ) for overnight stay. 27 th Jan, 2017: Mysore - Bangalore Meals: Breakfast Morning at Ranginathittu you birdwatch in the grounds of this fabulous compact bird sanctuary and definitely take a boat trip on the Cauvery River where you ll get seriously close-up views of the breeding stork and egret colony, Spot-billed Pelicans and any other fly-by species. Expect to see Plain Flowerpecker, Streak-throated Swallow, White-spotted Fantail, Indian River Tern as well as stunning views of Painted, Open billed and Woolly-necked Storks. You could also see Black Ibis and Indian Eagle Owl, but the latter is more difficult. Then you will head for Bangalore. Arrive Bangalore in the evening. Overnight stay in Hotel Pride. 28 th Jan 2017: Bangalore Departure Meals: Breakfast Transfer to Bangalore airport to connect flight back to home. Tour ends. Tour cost per person: 1950 plus international flights Single room supplement: 460 Services includes: -Accommodation on above specified share basis -Meals as specified (without drinks) -Experienced local birding guide -British Guide -All surface transfers -All taxes -Safaris / boat trip and park entrance fee at Nagarhole Services excludes: -International flights, travel insurance, visa, bottled water and all drinks, tips, laundry, phone calls, Personal & incidental expenses camera fee, camera fees (where charged) except for Nagarhole.

8 Andaman Extension tour 28 th Jan, 2017: Bangalore - Chennai Port Blair on the Andamans After breakfast we will transfer you to Bangalore airport to connect flight to Port Blair via Chennai. Arrive Port Blair at hrs (Subject to the flight schedule for January 2016). As the Andamans is a restricted area, you will have to go through some permit formalities, but normally this doesn t take very long. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the airport and will take you to check-in at your hotel. The middle of the day could prove quiet for birding, but your guide will take you to the coast looking for your 1st Endemic, the Andaman Teal. Night at Hotel Shompen (Address: No.2, Middle Point, MG Road, Near Bengali Club, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands ) 29 th Jan, 2017: Mount Harriet Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Leave after an early breakfast with a packed lunch for full day birding in Mt Harriet. This is a great place to notch up Andaman Endemics, including Andaman Serpenteagle, Andaman Crake, Brown Coucal, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Treepie, Green Imperial pigeon, Andaman Cuckooshrike, Andaman Bulbul, Andaman Shama and Andaman Flowerpecker. Night at Hotel Shompen 30 th Jan, 2017: Jiratang area Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Spend the day birding in the Jiratang area. In the late evening try for Andaman Scopsowl, Andaman Barn-owl, Hume's Hawk-owl and Andaman nightjar. These birds are more often heard than seen, but your guide will try his hardest. Night at Hotel Shompen 31 st Jan, 2017: Wardoor and Shipyghat, Choldari Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Birding for the full day in Wandoor and Shipyghat, Choldari looking for the Andaman Teal and Long Toed Stint. Overnight Night at Hotel Shompen 1 st Feb, 2017: Port Blair Chennai Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Take the early afternoon flight from Port Blair to Chennai departing at hrs arriving in Chennai at hrs. You will be met and transferred to Hotel Pride for overnight stay. 2 nd Feb: Chennai Departure Meals: Breakfast Transfer to airport to connect flight back to home. Tour ends

9 Tour cost per person: 682 Single room supplement: 195 PS: Domestic flights of Bangalore Port Blair and Port Blair Chennai are not included in the price as there is huge fluctuation in domestic flights for all flights to & fro Port Blair (flight cost fluctuate between per seat per sector). So, guest can book domestic flights directly or we would be happy to book and let you know the exact amount when booking is done. Services includes: -Accommodation on above specified share basis -Meals as specified (without drinks) -Experienced birding guide -All surface transfers -All taxes -All entrances Services excludes: -Domestic and International flights, travel insurance, visa, bottled water and all drinks, tips, laundry, phone calls, Personal & incidental expenses camera fee, camera fees (where charged)