Our birding tour to the Western Ghats Mountains of southwest India and the Andaman Islands focuses on the many endemic and near-endemic birds found in these regions. We'll be visiting Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Periyar National Park, Rajamalai Bird Sanctuary within Eravikulam National Park, the Nilgiri Hills outside the town of Ooty, Mudumalai Bird National Park, and South Andaman Island 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 visit to that sanctuary must occur before March.

The tour begins with arrival at the international airport in Kochi. Following arrival, we transfer to nearby Thattekad, located near Kochi, for most of two days birding the bird rich Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. From there we drive to Periyar for most of two days birding Periyar National Park. We then transfer to Munnar where we'll bird the higher elevation site at Rajamalai Bird Sanctuary for a full day before continuing to Ooty. At Ooty we'll have a full day birding the Nilgiri Hills outside town before proceeding north to the Mudumalai National Park area. We'll spend most of 2 days birding that area before driving north to Bengalore for an afternoon flight to Chennar. Following a night in Chennar, we take an early morning flight to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. We have a full day to bird north of Port Blair at Mount Harriet National Park, another full day to bird farther north at Shoal Bay, in the south birding the forest and beach at Chidiya Tapu, and a final day at Ferrargunj Forest Reserve looking for anything missed on the previous days. The tour ends at Port Blair airport where a flight returns us to Chennia for connections onward home.

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). Most trails in the Andaman Islands are flat and not physically demanding, but seeing some of the more shy endemics and nocturnal birds takes some effort and can be challenging.

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. Seasons in the Andaman Islands is similar to those of India. Temperatures are generally pleasant from October through Febrary, but daytime temperatures and humidity can be quite high during other months.

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. Nesting season in the Andaman Islands is from March to August. Bird activity in another months is best during early morning until about 11:00am and in late afternoons. Sea turtles are nesting from December to April.

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

• Chidiya Tapu Forest Reserve
• Eravikulam National Park
• Ferrargunj Forest Reserve
• Masinagudi-Bokkapuram Road
• Mount Harriet
• Mudumalai National Park
• Munnar Area
• Ooty/Ootacamund
• Periyar National Park
• Shoal Bay
• Sippighat Wetlands
• Thatekkad Bird Sanctuary
• Wandoor