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Day 1-3: Bangalore to Mudumalai National Park

Arrivals into Bangalore international airport this morning, driving west to Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu for a two-night stay.  Much of Mudumalai lies in the rain shadow of the ghats, and in the dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub we will look for endemics that favour these conditions, such as Malabar Woodshrike, Grey-headed Bulbul and Malabar Lark, alongside Painted Spurfowl, Sirkeer and Blue-faced Malkohas, Indian Nuthatch, numerous babblers and woodpeckers, and the highly localised White-bellied Minivet.  We will depart on the drive up into the Nilgiri Hills by mid-afternoon on day 3, for a two-night stay in the former colonial hill station of Ooty.

Day 4:  Ooty

At 2268m Ooty is among the highest reaches of the ghats, home to some of the most restricted range endemics confined to these elevations.  Today, we will explore remnant patches of shola, the native stunted temperate forest unique to these higher hills, for some of the most enticing endemics of the tour, including Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Thrush and Nilgiri Laughingthrush.  Other possibilities include Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-capped Rock-thrush, Southern Hill Myna, and a chance of wintering Kashmir Flycatcher. 

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Day 5-6: Munnar

On day 5, a long drive south will take us into the Cardamom Hills of Kerala for a two-night stay at Munnar at 1600m. Munnar is uniquely picturesque, dominated by tea plantations but with patches of native woodland and vegetated gullies where we hope to encounter Indian Rufous Babbler, Malabar Whistling-thrush, Alpine and Blyth’s Swifts, Hill Swallow, and Painted Bush-quail.  Further afield, in upland plateau grasslands and shola we will look for White-bellied Blue Robin, Palani Laughingthrush, the striking Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, the elusive Broad-tailed Grassbird, and endemic mammals such as Nilgiri Tahr and perhaps the elusive Nilgiri Marten.

Day 7-8: Periyar National Park

We leave Munnar in the morning of day 7, travelling south to Periyar via Bodinayakanur (or Bodi for short) to look for the localised endemic Yellow-throated Bulbul in its preferred rocky scrub habitat in the rain shadow of the ghats.  We will arrive at Periyar, our southernmost site, by midday to begin our exploration of this vast area of undulating terrain surrounding the Periyar reservoir.  The rich forests and grasslands host a diverse avifauna which includes some of the most elusive endemics, notably Wynaad Laughingthrush,as well as some sought-after winter migrants such as Pied Thrush and an abundance of mammals including Gaur (Indian Bison), Ussuri Dhole (wild dog), Asian Elephant, various deer, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Travancore Flying Squirrel.

Day 9-10: Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

In the morning of day 9 we make our way to the base of the Cardamom Hills to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary for a two-night stay.  The magnificent lowland rainforest of Thattekad is considered the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable and with affinities to the bird-rich Eastern Himalayas.  Most of the Western Ghats’ endemics not confined to the sholas and higher altitudes occur here, and among our key targets will be White-bellied Treepie, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet and Small Sunbird.  We also hope to encounter some of the exceptional selection of night birds found here, that includes Spot-bellied Eagle-owl, Mottled Wood-owl, Ceylon Bay Owl and Ceylon Frogmouth, as well as four species of nightjar.  Other possibilities include Malabar Trogon, Great Pied and Malabar Pied Hornbills, White-bellied and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Indian Pitta, Black-throated Munia, Emerald Dove, Black Baza and Grey-headed Fish-eagle.  The damp, humid forests are equally rich in butterflies, including exquisite endemics such as Malabar Banded Peacock.

Day 11: Depart Kochi

Depending on group departure plans we may have time for some final birding at Thattekad before leaving for Kochi.  Departures from Kochi (Cochin) international airport this afternoon.

**OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR EXTENSION: Andaman Islands Endemics

Day 1-4 Port Blair, South Andaman

Arrivals into Port Blair airport in the morning of day 1.  Port Blair will be our base for a four-night stay on South Andaman, where we can expect a good introduction to the islands’ more widespread birds, such as Dusky Warbler, Long-tailed Parakeet, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Pacific Reef-egret, a selection of waders and our first endemic, perhaps Andaman Drongo or Andaman White-headed Starling.  Further afield, the dense tropical rainforest of Mount Harriet National Park hosts most if not all of island’s available endemics, including Andaman Treepie, Andaman Shama and Andaman Cuckoo-dove, and in the evenings we hope to locate Andaman Nightjar, Andaman and Hume’s Hawk-owls, and Andaman Scops-owl.  We will also visit the coastal rainforest of Chiriyatapu looking for endemic Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Woodpecker and the elusive Andaman Crake.  Elsewhere, mangrove-lined creeks, marshes and flooded fields host Long-toed Stint, Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers, Ruddy and Collared Kingfishers, Mangrove Whistler and Andaman Teal.

Day 5:  Depart Port Blair

Departures from Port Blair airport this morning or fly to Bangalore to continue with main tour (day 1 of main tour).

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