INDIA’S WESTERN GHATS an amazing variety of birds in a colourful and friendly destination Goa has established itself as a most attractive destination, where guaranteed sunshine can dispel the gloom experienced during a cold, damp British winter. For t he slightly more adventurous, this is a great holiday destination, with m ile after mile of palm - fringed, golden beaches, a patchwork of bird - rich habitats and friendly locals. Three hours drive inland takes us to the cool forested mountains of Karnataka a nd the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. From the comfort of our lodge, we will search for exci ting birds and mammals, on foot and by jeep . Indian Pitta Throughout the trip there is an abundance of grea t habitats; huge river estuaries to monsoon forests; mangrove swamps to lowland jungle; and bird - filled lakes to dry scrubland. Consequently, the bird life is rich and varied, giving an excellent introduction to Indian birds as well as offering a number of Western Ghat endemics. Resident birds are j oined by winter visitors from Siberia and the Himalayas. The bird list from our previous visits is truly outstanding with highlights including Cinnamon Bittern, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Slaty - breasted Rail, Great Knot, Small Pratincole, Brown Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Malabar Trogon, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Blue - bearded Bee - eater, White - bellied Woodpecker, Indian Banded Bay Cuckoo, Indian Blue Robin, Forest Wagtail, Indian Pitta and Little Spiderhunter. Bird Holidays w as the first company to organise birding tours to t his exciting destination and no - one knows its birdlife better. ITINERARY Kites, Great White Egrets, Little Green Bee - eaters and Red - rumped Swallows. GOA Ideally situated to explore Goa’s richest sites, we will spend Close to our hotel, a wooded hill at Saligao is home to Asian the first eight nights a couple of miles inland from the coas t Paradise Flycatchers, endemic Malabar Whistling Thrushes, near Arpora . Puff - throated Babblers and, with luck, the endemic Indian Pitta. A few minutes drive away is the village of Baga, famous as a resort and one of the original retreats of the hippies who The bird spectacle at Carambolim Lake is th e most came here in the late 1960’s. The variety of habitats here is impressive in Goa. Much of the lake is covered with lilies and outstanding. In the marshes there are Cinnamon Bitterns, other aquatic vegetation, allowing the gallinules and jacanas I ndian Spotted Eagles and superb Black - capped Kingfishers. to walk right across it. Purple Gallinules, Pheasant - tailed and On a wooded hillside we will look for Amur Falcon, Common Bronze - winged Jacanas, Little Cormorants, Intermediate Peafowl, Black - rumped Flameback, White - spotted Fantail - Egret s, Lesser Whistling Ducks and Garganey are among the flycatcher, Indian Yellow Tit and Vigors’s Sunbird, whilst in most numerous species. Both Indian Shag and Indian Darter drier areas there are R ose - coloured Star lings, Yellow - wattled can also be found. Raptors hunting over the lake may include Lapwings and Indian Robins . These are in addition to the Greater Spotted and Booted Eagles. The list of other scarce m any common species which abound: Smyrna Kingfishers, and exciting possibiliti es is just too long to include. Purple - rumped Sunbirds, Plum - headed Parakeets, Brahminy Thrushes include the smart Orange - headed Ground Thrush The Mandovi River estuary and its associated mangroves and Blue - headed Rock Thrush. and marshes on Chorao Island are a veritable haven for birds. At low tide hundreds of Indian Pond Herons stalk their Ba bblers include the endemic Dark - fronted. Greater Racket - prey alongside numerous Western Reef Herons. Waders tailed Drongos do indeed make a racket as they fly over the include Lesser Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Little and tree tops, calling excitedly. Malabar Parakeets give away their Temminck's Stints. Walking on a raised bank through presence with raucous calls. Bulbuls are represented by mangroves , we should find Green - backed, Purple and Night Yellow - browed, White - browed, Red - vented and Red - Herons, and Lesser Adjutant Stork. A boat trip on the whiskered. H owever, the prize among these birds goes to the backwaters here should produce cl ose views of the very local endemic Flame - throated Bulbul. C ollared Kingfisher. On the last morning it is then a drive of a little over an hour to Further north, the River Chapora meets the Arabian Sea. the airport, arriving in good time for our flight home. Here the magnificent White - bellied Sea Eagle shares its home with Great Black - headed Gulls, numerous Brown - CLIMATE AND PACE headed Gulls and Siberian Gulls. Crested an d Lesser The lower elevations are hot and hu mid, but it is cooler in the Crested Terns can be compared at close range. highlands, where rain is also possible. Early to bed and early to rise is the comfortable way to see the wildlife . W hen the THE WESTERN GHATS birds rest in the early afternoons so will we. Most breakfasts On day ten we will head inland to the hills of the Western will be at around 6.30am. M ornings and l ate afternoons will Ghats. We will stop en route to visit a working spice farm, be spent in the field, involving short walks. There will be very where we can see a variety of plants and trees which produce little uphill walking. th e spices for which the region’s cooking is famed. Th e farm is located in the forest, huge trees providing shelter from the ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD sun. Birds abound too; Little Spiderhunter and Malabar Full - board accommodation is provided. E ight nights are at the Whistling Thrush are reliable here. Hotel Presa di Goa n ear Arpora. This lovely hotel is a restore d country house, with Portuguese colonial décor. It is We will drive into the state of Karnataka , spending three small and friendly; a world away from the busy resort hotels nights near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. We will stay at on the coast . At Dandeli , we will stay three nights at the Whistling Woodzs Resort , a picturesque spot surrounded by excellent Whistling Woodzs Resort . Finally , we have three good habitat. The Kali River flows through the garden and on nights at the Molem Dud hsagar Resort. All rooms have our recent visit s we have seen five speci es of kingfisher private facilities en suite and air conditioning. The food served nearby . Malabar Pied Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill are will include a choice of Indian, Chinese and Western dishes. both common. PRICE INCLUDES ….. On short walks from the lodge we will look for forest birds All birdwatching excursions with Bird Holidays leader and such as Blue - bearded Bee - eater and White - bellied expert local driver/g uide , full - board accommodation (starting Woodpecker. In the evening Ceylon Frogmouths call; we will with lunch on 7 th , ending with breakfast on 21 st ) , soft drinks at try to find them roo sting during the day. meal times, bottled water throughout, local transport by mini - coach, boat trips, jungle ac tivities, reserve entrance fees and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a national reserve and is well international fligh ts . protected. We will explore it on a jeep safari . Mammals are regularly seen, including Palm Civet , Chital, Indian Bison, WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED Muntjac, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel and Malabar Gi ant Travel insurance. Cost of obta ining an Indian visa (approx. Squirrel. We saw an Indian Pangolin on one visit! £4 0) . Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry. Please note: the Indian authorities have now introduced the eTV, a vastly Fairy Bluebirds shine in the sunlight and both Golden - fronted simplified tourist visa scheme, saving us all time and money. and Blue - winged Leafbirds can be seen feeding in flowering trees. Orange Minivets chase each other around the tree INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS tops. Chestnut - headed Be e - eaters are fairly common in the Return flight to Goa from Manchester Airport using the clearings. Barbets call incessantly and include the endemic charter services of TUI . Outbound flight departs early Malabar Barbet . The prettiest woodpecker in the forest must evening , return flight arrives back late afternoon. It may be be the dainty Heart - spotted Woodpecker. Pairs of this possible to fly from London Gatwick; please call f or details. endearing little bird, with heart - shaped spots o n their tertial feathers, flit from branch to branch. Raptors are frequently seen. Both Crested and Rufous - bellied Hawk - eagle breed 15 nights including here and the strange - looking Crested Serpent Eagle is one overnight flight: 6 th to 21 st November 20 20 common. Principal leader: Terry McEvoy On day 13 we will drive to Molem , spending our last three nig hts at the Molem Dudhsagar Resort. Recently rebuilt, with Local d river/guide: Lloyd Fernand es pleasant rooms and a good restaurant, this is a lovely place to end our tour. There will be birds on our doorstep and we Maximum group size: 8 clients with one leader will also venture to the lush forests at Tamdi Surla. In the th vicinity of a 12 Century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Cost with discount Shiva , we will find some rare forest birds such as Blue - eared (if you book before £ 3390 per person sharing Kingfisher, M alabar Trogon and, if we are lucky , one of 2 4 th July 2020 ): (£ 490 single supplement) India’ s biggest bird s , the Great Pied Hornbill. Full Cost: £ 3540 per person sharing Purple, Small and the Loten's Sunbird all busil y move from one flowering plant to the next. Black - naped, Tickell's Blue, Deposit: £10 00 Brown and White - bellied Blue Flycatchers are all here.