Our birding tour to the Western Ghats Mountains of southwest India focuses on the many endemic and near-endemic birds found in this region. We'll be visiting Mudumalai Bird National Park, the Nilgiri Hills outside the town of Ooty, Rajamalai Bird Sanctuary within Eravikulam National Park, Periyar National Park, and Thattekad Bird Sanctuary during the tour. This tour is best conducted as described during the dry season from November-February. Because the Rajamalai Bird Sanctuary is closed during March and April, the tour itinerary cannot be conducted during those months.

The tour begins with arrival at the international airport in Bengalore. Following arrival, we transfer to Mudumalai Bird National Park. We'll spend most of 3 days there before driving south to Ooty for a two night stay. We'll have a full day to bird the Nilgiri Hills outside Ooty before proceeding to Munnar. While at Munnar we'll bird the higher elevation site at Rajamalai Bird Sanctuary before moving on to Periyar National Park. After devoting most of two days at Periyar, we'll drive toward Thattekad, located near Kochi, for most of two days birding the bird rich Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. The tour ends at the international airport in Kochi.

Tour Considerations

PACE - Moderate.

DIFFICULTY - Birding is mostly along flat trails or slightly inlined roads. The highest altitude reached during the tour is about 2650m (8700ft).

CLIMATE - India has 4 main seasons. December-February is cool and mostly dry. March to May is hot and dry. June to September is monsoon season with heavy rains and flooding. Ocotober-November is a transitional period with rain mostly in the south. Higher elevations reached on this tour can be quite cool, especially at night and in early mornings.

BIRD ACTIVITY - Peak nesting season is shortly before the monsoons from February through May. Birds are most active during these months. Some migrants that breed farther north such as the Indian Pitta are only present from June-September. Palearctic migrants are present mainly from October through January.

PHOTOGRAPHY - Photography is opportunistic and can be difficult in forested areas visited on this tour.

Opportunities for photography are excellent, especially during the first half of the tour during safaris in national parks. Getting photos of tigers is very feasible when tigers are congregating around permanent water but is unlikely early in dry season and during wetter months.

 

 

 

• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES
FOR THIS TOUR

• Eravikulam National Park
• Masinagudi-Bokkapuram Road
• Mudumalai National Park
• Munnar Area
• Ooty/Ootacamund
• Periyar National Park
• Thatekkad Bird Sanctuary