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| BIRDING IN SOUTH & N. INDIA |
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Birding :
Kerala & South India
The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekkad, is one of the birding Hot Spots in the Indian Subcontinent with nearly 280 species in a narrow geographical area (an hours drive from Cochin ).This is a lowland forest with several types of eco-systems enabling it to be one of the best birding destinations in India. This is also home to most of the endemics of the Western Ghats. One should sight the Whitebellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimson backed Sunbird, White Bellied Blue Flycatcher, Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill besides owls like the Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Oriental Scopes Owl and Spotbellied Eagle Owl. You should also be able to sight the Red Spurfowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Pitta, Black-throated Munia and the Grey headed fishing eagle.
Accomodation will be at the Hornbill Camp along the banks of the River Periyar.
Munnar on the other hand is mountainous and home to many of the endemic birds of the Western Ghats at Eravikulam National Park and Bhodi Ghats area near Munnar. Birding in the sholas (high altitude montane forests) and grasslands for the Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black & Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Whitebellied Shortwing, Broadtailed Grassbird, Grasshopper Warbler. We will proceed to Bodi Ghats for sighting the rare Yellow Throated Bulbul, Indian Robin, Sirkeer Malkoha, Short Toed Snake Eagle, Bluefaced Malkoha and the Black eagle.
Several accomodation options are possible while at Munnar; palatial plantation bungalows, Eco lodges, Clubs & Resorts.
North India
Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park - finest in Asia, inundated with over 400 species of water birds. The sactuary covers an area of 40 sq. km of swamp, lightly wooded terrisn which was once the private hunting and shooting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur.
Today, it is the protected breeding ground for many species of birds and also the home of migratory birds, especially of the Siberian Crane, that spends its winter here. Colonies of cormorants, spoonbills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ibis and grey herons can be spotted all over the park, besides a fairly rich habitation of deers and snakes.
Accomodation is located on the outskirts of the national park.
Contact us for a tailormade itinerary if this is what ruffles your feathers.
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