India Part 4

Tuesday 25th

We did our own pre-breakfast walk up the track behind our hotel, seeing some of the same birds as yesterday and the only Asian Emerald Dove of the trip. After breakfast we drove to the Eravikulam National Park and walked up the path accompanied by dozens of other tourists. It’s most well known for its population of Nilgiri Tahr, a type of goat. We’d been told none had been seen for four days but we tracked down a small herd within an hour and then spent ages showing them to people.

Our guide, along with many general tourists

Nilgiri Tahr

Also in the non-avian category were Large-scaled Pit-Viper and Anamalai Spiny Lizard whilst on the birding front were Palani Laughingthrush and Hill Swallow but we couldn’t find Nilgiri Pipit. 

Anamalai Spiny Lizard

Large-scaled Pit-viper

Palani Laughingthrush

White-bellied Shortwing

After lunch back at the hotel we had another walk around the grounds then drove a little way to a small town where we stopped for coffee. There was a Blue Rock Thrush on the opposite roof and a couple of Black-headed Munias on the overhead cables.

Blue Rock Thrush

Election flags

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Indian Black-lored Tit

The posters and flags were up along the main road as we were in the middle of the state election campaign. The Communist Party has been in charge of Kerala for many years but we did not get a sense of whether that was about to change or not.

Bonnet Macaque

Daybreak from our hotel balcony

Sunset

Wednesday 26th

We checked out after breakfast and drove to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. We went for a walk with the local ranger who showed us a roosting Indian Nightjar, then two of us climbed halfway up the lookout tower but saw little apart from a couple of Indian Peafowl.

butterflies

Tea country

Watchtower

Sandalwood Tree, a valuable local crop

Asian Fairy Bluebird

Indian Nightjar

Oriental Honey-buzzard

Juvenile Pied Cuckoo

Large Grey Babbler

Tufted Grey Langur

We carried on driving, crossing into Tamil Nadu. It was a long drive so there was no further opportunity to do anymore birding in the afternoon. We stayed at Accord Highland hotel in Ooty, a former colonial hill station at an altitude of 2,200m.