Visceral Birding in the Western Ghats – TamilNadu and Kerala

Eventhough i have birded the endemic rich parts of Western Ghats (TamilNadu, Kerala and Kartnataka), it was not intense and i was in my baby steps during those days. So, with little bit of homework and a list, it’s time to get some intense birding. Munnar became a clear undisputed winner among several others given the different elevations and lots of potential targets. The trip was divided into several legs as this was mainly a trip back home to visit family. 

Itinerary : 

Jan 23 – Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Jan 24 – Munnar, Kerala
Jan 25 – Munnar, Kerala
Jan 26 – Valparai, TamilNadu
Feb 3 – Kothagiri, TamilNadu
Feb 4 – Coonoor, TamilNadu
Feb 10 – Yercaud, Salem, TamilNadu
Feb 12 – Coimbatore & Tiruppur, TamilNadu

Logistics and Accommodation :

For the entire travel, own vehicle has been used. The roads were generally good. The roads in Munnar can be tricky at some places, very narrow and steep.

Munnar – Hotel was booked through Oyo rooms for 2500 INR/day. Excellent place for stay, cons were overpriced food and a massively narrow and steep access road.

Valaparai – Saravana Grand Hotel. No online booking available, booking only available through calling their front desk(+91 4253 222 467). Very friendly staff,  decent rooms for  1400 INR/day. Only setback is the car parking which is bit cramped. 

Kotagiri – Trilan Cottages. Just walked in and got the room for 1500 INR/day. 

Western Ghats Birding Areas :

Grey-headed Bulbul, Common Rosefinches

Yellow-throated Bulbul

Bar-headed Geese, Waterfowl and Small Pratincole.

Indian Courser, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Raptors

Kerala Laughingthrush

Rufous-bellied Eagle

Brown Hawk Owl

Spot-Bellied Eagle Owl

Day Wise Itinerary :

Jan 23 –  Started from Homebase, picked up Mothi at the Erode Railway station. We stopped for Breakfast at Udumalaipet. Uday who came from Madurai joined us here and we were set to hit our first spot, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. We arrived at Chinnar, slightly past 8AM, paid the trek/guide fee at the booth and set on foot. Orange Minivet, Common Iora, Chestnut-headed Bee-Eater, Crested Treeswift were plenty at the start of the trail. The path came to clearing which produced Small Minivets, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike, Bronzed and White-bellied Drongo. The trekking guides now led us to a stream and we walked alongside the stream scanning the mature old trees along. After a lengthy search, the guiding duo of Vijayan/Shiju found the ultimate prize of the trek Spot-bellied Eagle Owl. We spent couple more hours along the stream picking up Common Kingfisher, Crested Hawk Eagle, Shikra, Indian Golden Oriole, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Brown Fish Owl.  Lunch at Marayur, the road between Chinnar and Marayoor is potential for Legge’s Hawk Eagle and Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle but we weren’t able to score either of them. We birded enroute to Munnar picking up further more birds for the day. Marayoor yielded Chestnut-tailed Starlings, Golden Fronted Leafbird, Plum-headed Parakeet, Common Rosefinches, Black Eagle. Shortly before Eravikulam National Park, we picked up the highly anticipated Kerala Laughingthrush, Niligiri Flycatcher and Indian Scimitar Babbler. We called it end of the day and checked-into our hotel “Pallivasal Valley View”.  

Jan 24 – Our top priority for the day is to obtain some decent photographs of Kerala Laughingthrush. Our destination is Top Station and surrounding areas. As expected, Top Station delivered stunning views of Kerala Laughingthrush. Just few Kilometres after the Top Station, we stopped at the checkpost of PompadumShola National Park to register and we were totally caught in surprise by the endemic White-bellied Blue Robin right at the checkpost. The forest department guards grew nervous about our presence and gave strict instructions not to stop or alight the vehicle until the end of the reserve road. We drove the car slowly throughout the stretch of the national park road picking up the sole Malabar Trogon of the trip. However, the big reward in this area is the vulpinus form of Common Buzzard often called as Steppe Buzzard. We also, picked up a single female Black and Orange Flycatcher along the reserve road. Afternoon session seemed to be totally birdless, we birded the Pothamedu area (Bison Valley Road) all the way towards tall tress inn. Very few birds were noted in this trail. After dinner, we had gripping views of Brown Hawk Owl from our balcony window. When the night grew, the entire family of the Owls put up a great show.

Jan 25 – Our last day in Munnar, still couple of targets to achieve and we set our path to Eravikulam National Park. Eventhough, we were early and got into the first van that takes tourists to the hilltop, the crowds can be intimidating. We had no luck in finding the Broad-tailed Grassbird anywhere in the area but we highly entertained the tourists. Some of them were genuinely interested and surprised by the Nilgiri Tahr’s. A juvenile Pallid Harrier surprised all of us by zipping past couple of times. Talking of surprises Eravikulam came up with a huge bundle. First was a flyby Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the size and the color was hard to miss. Being dipping the target birds, we were tired physically and mentally. We rested at the hilltop canteen and while  sipping the hot coffee, a Nilgiri Pipit was walking through the leaf litter right below the canteen dump site. All of the sudden, it became a busy dumpsite. A huge family of Painted Bush Quails joined the fray along with Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Robin, Indian Blackbird, Common Rosefinches, Kerala Laughingthrushes. We then bid good bye to Munnar and headed to Valparai. Overnight at Valparai.

We got ourselves checked into Saravana Grand hotel, rooms were spacious and comfy. The hotel does some night safaris for their guests. We spoke to the owner and he was thrilled to find wildlife enthusiasts and we were all set with flash lights for a nocturnal birding/mammal watching. Civet Cat and Sambhar Deers were common to see around after dark. We were fascinated by the Mouse Deer and Porcupine eventhough we din’t come across the ultimate mammalian prize of Valparai. Leopards are very common in Valparai and we heard bone chilling stories from the hotel management who accompanied us throughout the night. We came back to the lodge around 3AM with super happy as we witnessed a pair of India Scops Owl doing their nocturnal hunting.

Jan 26 – Our final day on this leg of the trip. Mothi was kind enough to arrange for a permit to visit Manomboly reserve forest. We had a late start due to the nocturnal birding and by the time we got there, the early morning activity has settled down but we had no trouble picking up the commoners.  The no of Rosy Starlings in the town came as a surprise and did the Osprey at that elevation. We also saw the most notorious Hornbill at the Villoni Estate, the female inside the nest. Also, brief views of Two Hornbills flying over the Villoni estate. We nailed the Western Ghats endemic White-bellied Treepie at the Manombli power house. We tried the Balaji Temple Road for our final attempt at the Legge’s Hawk Eagle and Rufous-bellied Eagle with no luck. 

Feb 3 – Next leg of the trip to the Western Ghats. This time its north of the Palghat gap and on the Nilgiris. We used the services of Aggal Sivalingam, who was recommended by Mothi for some of the trickier birds. Nilgiris can be done independently but some of the stakeouts are in some private estates and hence the need for local guide. Started in the afternoon and we tried to combine it with birding and mammal. We trekked through the tea estate on the Halakarai Road of Kotagiri again for the Leopard but the big cat was a no show. Nevertheless,  it was fine evening with two individuals of Sloth Bears, plethora of Indian Gaurs and the most wanted Grey-headed Bulbul to end the day. 

Feb 4 – We started at Sim’s Park in Coonoor. Nilgiri Wood Pigeon’s were an easy find, so is the Black and Orange Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and the Indian Blue Robin. We hit the Longwood Shola National Park next as the “most wanted” is still eluding the  list. There was an awareness campaign for the school kids at the Park. We joined the session for couple of mins and went our way for the big prize. Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher put up a small cameo before we picked up the western ghats endemic Rufous-bellied Robin in a thick undergrowth. One down, one to go. We once again checked the private estate for a migrant and were duly rewarded by the presence of a female Kashmir Flycatcher. Another brilliant finish for a couple of days in the western ghats.

Feb 10 – This is merely a casual trip to meet a friend and Yercaud which is called as the Prince of Hills is a nice place to beat the heat of the plains. Notable birds were very close by  flying Black Eagle, Verditer Flycatcher, Plum-headed Parakeet, Emerald Dove.

Feb 12 – This trip was mainly to get my boogie birds down. Have been trying to get them since 2012 without luck and Mothi had some recent info who put me in touch with the local birder from Tiruppur. Met Harii Sudan at Tiruppur and we were off to Coimbatore. We scouted the area close to Sulur Air Station and within few minutes got about 6 Indian Coursers. Phew, the monkey is finally off the back. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses were plenty and some of them were very close. The most intriguing moment of the day came in the eary afternoon when a male Montagu’s Harrier finished off its brunch right infront of us. We also, stopped by at the Nanjarayan Tank of Tiruppur which is famous for its Bar-headed Goose. We noted 4 Bar-headed Geese along with hundreds of Northern Shovelers. The added bonus for visiting Nanjarayan Tank is my another boogey bird, a Small Pratincole. Now that’s two down in a single day. 

Species List :

Common name	Scientific name	Location	Date
Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae) – 4 / 173
Bar-headed Goose	Anser indicus	Nanjarayan Tank,Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Indian Spot-billed Duck	Anas poecilorhyncha	Kundale Lake, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Garganey	Anas querquedula	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Pheasants and allies (Phasianidae) – 3 / 182
Grey Francolin	Francolinus pondicerianus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Grey Junglefowl	Gallus sonneratii	Top Station, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India	1/24/17
Indian Peafowl	Pavo cristatus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Grebes (Podicipedidae) – 1 / 23
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Storks (Ciconiidae) – 1 / 19
Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) – 4 / 72
Cinnamon Bittern	Ixobrychus cinnamomeus	Kundale Lake, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Indian Pond Heron	Ardeola grayii	Kundale Lake, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Western Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Sim’s Park, Conoor, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) – 1 / 41
Little Cormorant	Microcarbo niger	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) – 1 / 4
Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Ospreys (Pandionidae) – 1 / 2
Western Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Kites, Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) – 14 / 256
Black-winged Kite	Elanus caeruleus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Crested Honey Buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Crested Serpent Eagle	Spilornis cheela	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Changeable Hawk-Eagle	Nisaetus cirrhatus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Black Eagle	Ictinaetus malaiensis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Bonelli’s Eagle	Aquila fasciata	Longwood Shola, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Crested Goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Shikra	Accipiter badius	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Montagu’s Harrier	Circus pygargus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Brahminy Kite	Haliastur indus	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
White-eyed Buzzard	Butastur teesa	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Common Buzzard	B.b. vulpinus	Pambadam Shola National Park, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Rails, Crakes and Coots (Rallidae) – 1 / 151
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) – 1 / 10
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Plovers (Charadriidae) – 3 / 67
Yellow-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus malabaricus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Red-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus indicus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) – 8 / 96
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Limicola falcinellus	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae) – 2 / 17
Indian Courser	Cursorius coromandelicus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Small Pratincole	Glareola lactea	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) – 1 / 16
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles exustus	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) – 5 / 335
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Kiliyur Road to Kiliyur Falls, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India	2/10/17
Nilgiri Wood Pigeon – VU	Columba elphinstonii	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Common Emerald Dove	Chalcophaps indica	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Green Imperial Pigeon	Ducula aenea	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Cuckoos (Cuculidae) – 2 / 149
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Common Hawk-Cuckoo	Hierococcyx varius	Kundale Lake, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Owls (Strigidae) – 3 / 222
Indian Scops Owl	Otus bakkamoena	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl	Bubo nipalensis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Brown Hawk-Owl	Ninox scutulata	Heavenly Heights, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae) – 1 / 4
Crested Treeswift	Hemiprocne coronata	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Swifts (Apodidae) – 1 / 106
Asian Palm Swift	Cypsiurus balasiensis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Trogons (Trogonidae) – 1 / 43
Malabar Trogon	Harpactes fasciatus	Pambadam Shola National Park, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Rollers (Coraciidae) – 1 / 12
Indian Roller	Coracias benghalensis	Kiliyur Road to Kiliyur Falls, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India	2/10/17
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) – 3 / 93
Stork-billed Kingfisher	Pelargopsis capensis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
White-throated Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Bee-eaters (Meropidae) – 3 / 27
Green Bee-eater	Merops orientalis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Blue-tailed Bee-eater	Merops philippinus	Kiliyur Road to Kiliyur Falls, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India	2/10/17
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Hoopoes (Upupidae) – 1 / 4
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Pambadam Shola National Park, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Hornbills (Bucerotidae) – 2 / 59
Malabar Grey Hornbill	Ocyceros griseus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Great Hornbill	Buceros bicornis	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae) – 2 / 30
White-cheeked Barbet	Megalaima viridis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Coppersmith Barbet	Megalaima haemacephala	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Woodpeckers (Picidae) – 4 / 234
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker	Dendrocopos nanus	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker	Dendrocopos mahrattensis	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Streak-throated Woodpecker	Picus xanthopygaeus	Halakkarai Road, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu, India	2/3/17
Greater Flameback	Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus	Heavenly Heights, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) – 0 / 67
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Pambadam Shola National Park, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Parrots (Psittacidae) – 4 / 366
Vernal Hanging Parrot	Loriculus vernalis	Heavenly Heights, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Plum-headed Parakeet	Psittacula cyanocephala	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Malabar Parakeet	Psittacula columboides	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Woodshrikes and allies (Tephrodornithidae) – 3 / 8
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike	Hemipus picatus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Malabar Woodshrike	Tephrodornis sylvicola	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Common Woodshrike	Tephrodornis pondicerianus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Woodswallows, butcherbirds and allies (Artamidae) – 1 / 24
Ashy Woodswallow	Artamus fuscus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Ioras (Aegithinidae) – 1 / 4
Common Iora	Aegithina tiphia	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) – 3 / 92
Black-headed Cuckooshrike	Coracina melanoptera	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Small Minivet	Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Orange Minivet	Pericrocotus flammeus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Shrikes (Laniidae) – 3 / 33
Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Bay-backed Shrike	Lanius vittatus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Long-tailed Shrike	Lanius schach	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Figbirds, Orioles (Oriolidae) – 1 / 38
Indian Golden Oriole	Oriolus kundoo	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Drongos (Dicruridae) – 5 / 25
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus	Kiliyur Road to Kiliyur Falls, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India	2/10/17
Ashy Drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
White-bellied Drongo	Dicrurus caerulescens	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Bronzed Drongo	Dicrurus aeneus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo	Dicrurus paradiseus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Fantails (Rhipiduridae) – 1 / 50
White-browed Fantail	Rhipidura aureola	Kotagiri–Franciscan Brothers Road, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Monarchs (Monarchidae) – 2 / 99
Black-naped Monarch	Hypothymis azurea	Longwood Shola, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Asian Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone paradisi	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Crows, Jays (Corvidae) – 3 / 131
Rufous Treepie	Dendrocitta vagabunda	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
House Crow	Corvus splendens	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
White-bellied Treepie	Dendrocitta leucogastra	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) – 1 / 9
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Tits, Chickadees (Paridae) – 2 / 61
Cinereous Tit	Parus cinereus	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Indian Black-lored Tit	Machlolophus aplonotus	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Larks (Alaudidae) – 2 / 97
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark	Eremopterix griseus	Nanjarayan Tank (Koolipalayam Reservoir), Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Oriental Skylark	Alauda gulgula	Kalangal, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) – 6 / 151
Grey-headed Bulbul	Pycnonotus priocephalus	Halakkarai Road, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu, India	2/3/17
Flame-throated Bulbul	Pycnonotus gularis	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Red-whiskered Bulbul	Pycnonotus jocosus	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Yellow-browed Bulbul	Acritillas indica	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Square-tailed Bulbul	Hypsipetes ganeesa	Top Station, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India	1/24/17
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) – 4 / 88
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Hill Swallow	Hirundo domicola	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Dusky Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne concolor	Halakkarai Road, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu, India	2/3/17
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Leaf Warblers and allies (Phylloscopidae) – 3 / 77
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus affinis	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Greenish Warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Western Crowned Warbler	Phylloscopus occipitalis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Reed Warblers and allies (Acrocephalidae) – 2 / 61
Blyth’s Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Booted Warbler	Iduna caligata	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Cisticolas and allies (Cisticolidae) – 1 / 158
Plain Prinia	Prinia inornata	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Babblers (Timaliidae) – 1 / 55
Indian Scimitar Babbler	Pomatorhinus horsfieldii	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Fulvettas, Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae) – 1 / 70
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta	Alcippe poioicephala	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae) – 5 / 133
Large Grey Babbler	Turdoides malcolmi	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Jungle Babbler	Turdoides striata	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Yellow-billed Babbler	Turdoides affinis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Black-chinned Laughingthrush – EN	Trochalopteron cachinnans	Longwood Shola, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Kerala Laughingthrush	Trochalopteron fairbanki	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
White-eyes (Zosteropidae) – 1 / 128
Oriental White-eye	Zosterops palpebrosus	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Fairy-bluebirds (Irenidae) – 1 / 2
Asian Fairy-bluebird	Irena puella	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Nuthatches (Sittidae) – 1 / 28
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch	Sitta frontalis	Marayoor, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) – 5 / 123
Southern Hill Myna	Gracula indica	Bison Valley Road, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Jungle Myna	Acridotheres fuscus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Malabar Starling	Sturnia blythii	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Rosy Starling	Pastor roseus	Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India	1/26/17
Thrushes (Turdidae) – 1 / 166
Indian Blackbird	Turdus simillimus	Sim’s Park, Conoor, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (320) (Muscicapidae) – 16 / 320
Indian Robin	Copsychus fulicatus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Oriental Magpie-Robin	Copsychus saularis	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
White-rumped Shama	Copsychus malabaricus	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Brown-breasted Flycatcher	Muscicapa muttui	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher	Muscicapa ruficauda	Kunjapanai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher	Cyornis tickelliae	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Verditer Flycatcher	Eumyias thalassinus	Kunjapanai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Nilgiri Flycatcher	Eumyias albicaudatus	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Indian Blue Robin	Larvivora brunnea	Sim’s Park, Conoor, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Nilgiri Blue Robin	Myiomela major	Longwood Shola, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
White-bellied Blue Robin	Myiomela albiventris	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Malabar Whistling Thrush	Myophonus horsfieldii	Bison Valley Road, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Kashmir Flycatcher – VU	Ficedula subrubra	Kotagiri–Franciscan Brothers Road, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Black-and-orange Flycatcher	Ficedula nigrorufa	Pambadam Shola National Park, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/24/17
Blue-capped Rock Thrush	Monticola cinclorhynchus	Kunjapanai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Pied Bush Chat	Saxicola caprata	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Leafbirds (Chloropseidae) – 1 / 11
Golden-fronted Leafbird	Chloropsis aurifrons	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae) – 1 / 48
Pale-billed Flowerpecker	Dicaeum erythrorhynchos	Kotagiri–Franciscan Brothers Road, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) – 2 / 143
Purple-rumped Sunbird	Leptocoma zeylonica	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
Purple Sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) – 2 / 51
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Yellow-throated Sparrow	Gymnoris xanthocollis	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Waxbills, Munias and allies (Estrildidae) – 2 / 141
Indian Silverbill	Euodice malabarica	Kakapalayam Lake, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India	2/9/17
White-rumped Munia	Lonchura striata	Kunjapanai, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India	2/4/17
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) – 4 / 65
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Nanjarayan Tank, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Gundumalai, Munnar, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Paddyfield Pipit	Anthus rufulus	Nanjarayan Tank, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India	2/12/17
Nilgiri Pipit – VU	Anthus nilghiriensis	Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India	1/25/17
Finches (Fringillidae) – 1 / 219
Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	Marayoor, Kerala, India	1/23/17
Species: 169

Mammals :

1. Indian Boar
2. Indian Gaur
3. Sloth Bear
4. Mouse Deer
5. Indian Muntjac
6. Dusky Palm Squirrel
7. Malabar Giant Squirrel
8. Grizzled Giant Squirrel
9. Indian Palm Squirrel
10. Sambhar Deer
11. Spotted Deer
12. Indian Crested Porcupine
13. Small Indian Civet
14. Ruddy Mongoose
15. Black-naped Hare
16. Bonnet Macaque
17. Nilgiri Langur
18. Gray Langur
19. Lion-tailed Macaque

Butterflies :

1. Southern Bluebottle
2. Tailed Jay
3. Common Rose
4. Crimson Rose
5. Southern Birdwing
6. Lime Butterfly
7. Common Grass Yellow
8. Mottled Emigrant
9. Plain Orange Tip
10. Great Orange Tip
11. Indian Cabbage White
12. Common Jezebel
13. Peablue
14. Lesser Grass Blue
15. Red Pierrot
16. White Hedge Blue
17. Plain Tiger
18. Striped Tiger
19. Common Four Ring
20. Tawny Coster
21. Indian Fritillary
22. Rustic
23. Sullied Sailor
24. Blue Pansy
25. Yellow Pansy
26. Lemon Pansy

 

Acknowledgment :

• Mohamed Mothi – A fantastic birder, photographer and a very good friend. His immense knowledge about the sites, birds and mammals helped to achieve most of the target birds. 
• Udayakumar – Fantastic Spotter, many of the raptors would have gone unnoticed if not for his keen eyes. 
• Aggal Sivalingam – Professional Bird Guide based in Kotagiri. A very friendly people’s person and highly recommended for toughies.
• Harii Sudan and Om Prakash from Tiruppur and Erode for the arrangements in Coimbatore and Tiruppur.