Andaman Islands Short Birding Tours

Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park

  • India Show on map
  • 5 days
  • Difficulty: hard
  • Private tour
  • Pace: Active
  • Language: English
  • City: Port Blair
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About this tour

Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park


Our Andaman Short Birding Tours is designed to showcase almost all endemic birds of the Andamans over the course of five days. The geographic isolation of the archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been a boon for its avifauna. Being hundreds of kilometres away from any More Info


Included except arrival and departure city.


Our Andaman Islands Short Birding Tours is designed to showcase almost all endemic birds of the Andamans over the course of five days.


The geographic isolation of the archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been a boon for its avifauna. Being hundreds of kilometres away from any continental land mass, this cluster of islands far south of the Bay of Bengal has not just been spared exploitation at the hands of humans, but has also seen, over centuries and millennia, evolution of several bird species that are exclusive to the islands. These incredible avian beauties are the target of our short birding adventure of the Andamans.


The archipelago itself is quite large and many parts are strictly off limits. Our Andaman short birdwatching tour focusses on South Andaman, particularly the areas around its capital Port Blair.


A short ferry ride away from Port Blair is a place called Shoal Bay, a marshy wetland of mangroves where you may see almost all of the endemic birds of Andamans, including: Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Shama, and Andaman Drongo.


Just as good a birding site, if not better, is Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island), a patch of evergreen forest spread along sea shore. This birding hotspot of Andaman yields the endemics and other birds such as Changeable Hawk Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Beach Thick-knee, Olive-backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, and a host of kingfishers.

Itinerary
Day 1
Port Blair Arrival And Birding
Port Blair Arrival And Birding

Our Short Birding Tours of Andamans takes off at the archipelago's capital Port Blair. You arrive at Port Blair through a flight. Our representative meets you at the airport and drives you to a pre-booked hotel or resort. After a lunch break, we head out to watch the birds of Andamans.


Port Blair and the areas around it so teem with birds that all it takes is a short trip to one of the local water bodies to see some incredible avian beauties like Chinese Pond Heron, Chinese Egret, Pintail Snipe, Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Red-necked Stint, Long-toed Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Oriental Plover, Grey-headed Lapwing, Crab Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Gull-billed Tern, and Lesser Crested Tern. This Short Birding Tours of Port Blair warms you up for the busy birding days ahead.


We dine at the hotel, or you may try out local restaurants if you wish to. Overnight at the hotel or resort.

Day 2
Port Blair - Birding At Shoal Bay
Shoal Bay

We start the day early to clock in precious hours of morning birding. After a short drive, we take a ferry to Shoal Bay, a patch of rainforest with marshy wetlands where aquatic birds throng to in large numbers. Time is of the essence in these early hours, and so we have packed breakfast and even carry our packed lunches.


Shoal Bay is where you may see almost all the endemic birds of Andaman, besides a lot of other winged beauties. A good day of birding at Shoal Bay yields the likes of Andaman Woodpecker, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Violet Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Brown Coucal, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Alexandrine Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Red Collared Dove, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Emerald Dove, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Andaman Crake, Slaty-breasted Rail, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Treepie, apart from many others.


Lest we break our birding rhythm, we have packed lunches at Shoal Bay itself and continue birdwatching until the evening, when we return to our hotel in Port Blair for dinner and overnight.

Day 3
Port Blair - Birding At Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu

A full busy day of birding awaits us as we leave our Port Blair hotel for Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island), which is an hour's drive away. The birding trail starts about 4 km before Chidiya Tapu and runs right into the heart of the mangrove island and along its seashore forest.


The woods and waters here host many endemic, resident and migratory birds. A fruitful day of birding at Chidiya Tapu treats you to the sights of Andaman Crake, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Shama, Changeable Hawk Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Andaman Drongo, Beach Thick-knee, Olive-backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Violet Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Red-breasted Parakeet, and a lot more birds.


Around evening, we spend an hour or two lounging on the beach and watching the sunset. There are also some water sport opportunities nearby. After dusk, we scour the surroundings for night birds, such as Andaman Masked Owl, Andaman Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Hume's Hawk Owl, Andaman Nightjar and Andaman Barn Owl. Following this successful stint of nocturnal birding, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4
Port Blair - Birding At Mount Harriet National Park
Mount Harriet National Park

Mount Harriet National Park is named after the third highest peak (Mount Harriet) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is a favourite stomping ground of nature lovers and birders alike, owing to the glorious flora and fauna that one finds here. The park is also touted as a butterfly hotspot and has a fascinating marine ecosystem on its eastern coast.


This biodiversity haven is located about 10 km from Port Blair and we arrive here early in the morning to make the most of our birding trip to Mount Harriet National Park. A day of birdwatching here unveils a wide range of avifauna, including Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black-naped Oriole, Black-hooded Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Ashy Minivet, Small Minivet, Andaman Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Collared Kingfisher, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Pintail Snipe, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Andaman Treepie, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird, and White-headed Starling, and many others.


In the evening, we return to our hotel in Port Blair for dinner and overnight.

Day 5
Port Blair (Departure)
Port Blair

After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport in Port Blair for a morning flight to your destination. Our short birding adventure of Andamans comes to an end.

Locations & map

  • Port Blair - India
  • Port Blair followed by birding - India
  • Shoal Bay - India
  • Chidiya Tapu - India
  • Mount Harriet National Park - India
  • Port Blair Arrival And Birding - India
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Included

  • Birding guide services - Subject to final operator confirmation.
  • Local transport during the tour - Subject to final operator confirmation.
  • Accommodation and meals as arranged - Subject to final operator confirmation.

Not included

  • International flights - Not included unless confirmed in writing.
  • Visa, insurance and personal expenses - Guest responsibility unless confirmed otherwise.

Transport & stays

  • Private vehicle Ground transport as arranged by the operator; confirm final routing and vehicle details before booking. | Meet: Arrival in Port Blair followed by birding | Pickup: Confirm pickup point with BirdWatch before departure.

Policies & FAQ

Insurance & Safety

Travel insurance is recommended for all guests.

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