Scheduled Tours

Scheduled Departure 2009 - 2009

• Point Calimere...
• Thattekad - Munnar...
• Kalakad - Mundanthurai...
• Silent Valley
• Agumbe

Point Calimere Birding Trip

Thattakad - Munnar Birding Trip

Explore Kalakad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Point Calimere Birding Trip

Birding expedition to Point Calimere, a globally recognized wetland (RAMSAR site), during the peak wintering season of birds in the wetlands of South Asia is an ideal tour for bird-watchers keen on recording several sub-continental wetland rarities among 250 plus species of birds recorded from the location.

Located on the southeast coast of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Point Calimere is a stopover for migratory wetland waders and wildfowl on their southward journey to wintering sites in Sri Lanka. The delta of the Cauvery river, the south Indian 'Ganges' enriches Point Calimere's habitat diversity which includes, freshwater and salt marshes, brackish lagoons, mud-flats, salt-pans, coastal beaches, mangroves and terrestrial habitats including grasslands and dry evergreen vegetation unique to southeast India.

The critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper and threatened Asian Dowitcher are regular winter visitors to Point Calimere. Winter records from the wetlands also include both flamingos among numerous waders, terns, gulls, ducks, herons and birds of prey. There are several sub-continental endemics among the land-birds of Point Calimere, including the Indian bushlark, white-browed bulbul and plaintive cuckoo. Intriguing records of the Kashmir flycatcher and broad-tailed grassbird also exist from the terrestrial habitats of Point Calimere.

Other wildlife that you are likely to encounter in the location includes a thriving population of the blackbuck - an antelope, Indian pangolin, giant flying foxes and several species smaller mammals. With some luck, dolphins can be sighted near the fishing jetty of the Kodikarai village. The threatened dugongs, a large sea mammal, are known to occur in the shallow bays around Point Calimere.

Download Point Calimere Itinerary.

Thattakad - Munar Birding Trip

A birding exploration of among the most bird rich habitats and locations in south India. This trip is ideal for those wanting to enjoy the best of south Indian birds within a limited time frame. Over 15 of the Western Ghats's endemic birds can be seen on this tour and the bird list includes over 300 species recorded from the tour locations.

Munnar is a small hill station town (1500m) nestled among tea plantations and wet montane forests (sholas) in Cardamom hills of the Western Ghats. The shola forests surrounding Munnar and the montane forest-grassland ecosystem of the nearby Eravikulam National Park are excellent locations to encounter several of south India's high altitude endemic birds. Some of the Western Ghats endemics you are likely to encounter in these locations include the white-bellied shortwing, painted bushquail, black and orange, white-bellied and Nilgiri flycatchers, grey-breasted laughing thrush, white-cheeked barbet, Malabar whistling thrush and Nilgiri wood pigeon. Several birds of prey are recorded from here, including the majestic black and Bonelli's eagle which are commonly sighted here.

The Salim Ali (Thattakad) Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of the Periyar River on the foothills of the Western Ghats of Kerala. The Riverine and lowland evergreen forests of the sanctuary contain an amazing density of birds and offer excellent photographic opportunities of several Western Ghats endemic species among an impressive bird-list of over 250 species. The world famous ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali, suggested that Thattakad contains among the highest species density of birds in India outside of northeast India. Some of the Western Ghats endemics found here include the broad-tailed grassbird, grey-headed bulbul, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, rufous babbler, Malabar grey hornbill, white-bellied treepie and Malabar whistling thrush. Sightings of black baza, Malabar trogon and the often highly approachable Ceylon frogmouth are not uncommon.

Other confirmed wildlife sightings include Nilgiri tahr, a Western Ghats endemic mountain goat at Rajamalai (Eravikulam National Park)apart from the pack-hunting Indian wild dogs, sambar deer, leopards and Indian elephants and a host of smaller mammals. The wet montane ecosystem also supports an exciting diversity of reptiles and amphibians.

The group will be led by reknowned bird naturalist K. V. Eldhose, who has captivated ornithological groups from around the world with his intimate knowledge of the region's avifauna.

Download Thattakad - Munnar Itinerary.

Explore Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR)

KMTR is located among the southern most range of the Western Ghats and as such, it is the southern most range of some of India's megafauna, including the tiger and elephant.

However, KMTR is better appreciated for its biodiversity rich, contiguous tracts of wet-evergreen forests and stunning mountain scenery.

While the reserve largely mirrors the biodiversity that occurs in other parts of the Western Ghats, it is a particularly good for encountering some of the smaller Western Ghats mammals, including its endemic primates, and herpetofauna. KMTR is also a well known centre for plant endemism.

Bird diversity is excellent, as is typical for other Western Ghats locations with similar habitat diversity. Notably, the rare oriental bay owl, formerly known only from the northeast India, was recently photographed in the reserve.

With us, you will visit a variety of habitat types that occur within KMTR, including the best rainforest locations, grasslands, deciduous forests and thorny scrub in pursuit of the reserve's impressive biological riches and stunning natural locations.

Download KMTR Itinerary.