6-Day Kerala Birdwatching Tour with Nikhil Devasar

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of the Periyar River on the foothills of the Western Ghats of Kerala. The habitat matrix of the location, which includes riverine, lowland evergreen and plantation forests, contain an amazing density of birds and offers excellent photographic opportunities for several Western Ghats bird specialities among an impressive bird-list of over 250 species. Some of south India’s endemic birds found here include the Grey-headed Bulbul, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, White-bellied Treepie, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and White-cheeked Barbet. Sightings of rarities such as the Black Baza, Crested Goshawk, Red Spurfowl, Malabar Trogon, Ceylon Bay Owl and the Sri Lanka Frogmouth are not uncommon. Winter is interesting for several migrant flycatchers and warblers. Elephants are regularly seen in and around the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, along with several other mammals including rare sightings of top predators such as Indian wild dogs and leopards. The wet, humid habitats of the location also contain an exciting diversity of plants, herpetofauna and invertebrates.

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of the Periyar River on the foothills of the Western Ghats of Kerala. The habitat matrix of the location, which includes riverine, lowland evergreen and plantation forests, contain an amazing density of birds and offers excellent photographic opportunities for several Western Ghats bird specialities among an impressive bird-list of over 250 species. Some of south India’s endemic birds found here include the Grey-headed Bulbul, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, White-bellied Treepie, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and White-cheeked Barbet. Sightings of rarities such as the Black Baza, Crested Goshawk, Red Spurfowl, Malabar Trogon, Ceylon Bay Owl and the Sri Lanka Frogmouth are not uncommon. Winter is interesting for several migrant flycatchers and warblers. Elephants are regularly seen in and around the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, along with several other mammals including rare sightings of top predators such as Indian wild dogs and leopards. The wet, humid habitats of the location also contain an exciting diversity of plants, herpetofauna and invertebrates.

Munnar is a small hill station town (1500m) nestled among tea plantations and wet montane forests (sholas) in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The shola forests surrounding Munnar and the montane forest-grassland ecosystem of the nearby higher reaches are excellent locations to encounter several of south India’s high altitude endemic birds. Some of the Western Ghats specialities you are likely to encounter around Munnar include the White-bellied Blue Robin, Painted Bushquail, Black and Orange and Nilgiri Flycatchers, Kerala Laughing Thrush, White-cheeked Barbet, Rufous Babbler, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Yellow-throated Bulbul, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Small Sunbird and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. Winter reveals several warblers and rarities such as Indian Blue Robin. Wildlife specialities from here include the Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic mountain goat, Nilgiri Langur, an endemic primate, and a rarely seen endemic mustelid, the Nilgiri Marten.

Birding and transfers as described in the published outline.