Thursday 9 February 2017

COLOURFUL KERALA

A three week trip to southern India and the Andaman Islands with Sandwich Bird Tours.A small group of only 8 people left Gatwick for Cochin via Dubai on Saturday January 14th flying with Emirates on  an A380 Airbus.We arrived safely and were met by our guide from Asian Adventures and transferred to  Soma bird lagoon-Thattekkhad bird sanctuary.
OUR HOUSE IN THE JUNGLE.
Straight out for a quick stroll around the local patch,where we had views of Black Baza,Grey Junglefowl,Indian Pitta,Heart Spotted Woodpecker,Golden Oriole and Orange Headed Thrush to name a few.
MALABAR PARAKEET
Next morning, and every other morning come to that,we were up before dawn and out in the jungle.
RED PIERROT
SCARLET MINIVET



ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN

RED WHISKERED BULBUL
MALABAR GREY HORNBILL
CRESTED GOSHAWK


GIANT SQUIRREL
FORK TAILED DRONGO CUCKOO


CEYLON FROGMOUTH.

MALABAR TROGON




WHITE BELLIED WOODPECKER


CEYLON FROGMOUTH


COMMON FLAMEBACK

JUNGLE BABBLER
GREATER RACKET TAILED DRONGO
COMMON MYNA

G.R.T. DRONGO
CHESTNUT HEADED BEE EATER.
INDIAN SCOPS OWL
WHITE BELLIED TREEPIE


MALABAR WHISTLING THRUSH.

INDIAN POND HERON

ASIAN FAIRY BLUEBIRD
GOLDEN ORIOLE

NILGIRI FLOWERPECKER
Our guide said this was a juv Rufous Bellied Eagle,I thought Booted Eagle and still do.
BOOTED EAGLE?
GOLDEN FRONTED LEAFBIRD




LITTLE  SPIDERHUNTER.
WOOLLY NECKED STORK

WARMING THE WINGS

LESSER WHISTLING DUCKS


SPOT BILLED DUCK
WHITE CHEEKED BARBET

COLLECTING RUBBER

INDIAN PYGMY WOODPECKER.
VERDITER FLYCATCHER
GREENISH WARBLER
GREAT TIT.
It was time to move on to Munnar and the Olive Brook hotel,and its lovely gardens.


RED WHISKERED BULBUL
COMMON ROSEFINCH.
KERALA LAUGHING THRUSH


TEA PLANTATIONS ABOUND AND TUT TUTS.
INDIAN SCIMITAR BABBLER - We spent some time trying to see this bird which we eventually did.


PIED BUSHCHAT

 BREAKFAST STOP.
Buses waiting to take us into Eravikulam National Park













WHITE BELLIED BLUE ROBIN

NILGIRI THAR A wild goat.

THAR HE IS.
Meanwhile back at Olive Brook....
YELLOW BROWED BULBUL
BLUE HEADED ROCK THRUSH
YELLOW BROWED BULBUL
Having spent ages looking for this bird in the early morning two turned up in the garden for a wash and brush up in the afternoon.INDIAN SCIMITAR BABBLER..
BLYTHS REED WARBLER
Moving on again tomorrow to Topslip.Look out for more soon.

1 comment:

  1. Superb set of shots and birds, especially the frogmouths. Beer was nice last night!

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