’S an amazing variety of 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 the slightly more adventurous, this is a great holiday destination, with mile after mile of palm-fringed, golden beaches, a patchwork of - rich habitats and friendly locals.

Three hours drive inland takes us to the cool forested mountains of Karnataka and the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. From the comfort of our lodge, we will search for exciting birds and mammals, on foot and by jeep. Indian Pitta Throughout the trip there is an abundance of great habitats; huge river estuaries to monsoon ; 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 joined by winter visitors from Siberia and the Himalayas. The bird list from our previous visits is truly outstanding with highlights including Chestnut Bittern, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Slaty-breasted Rail, Great Knot, Small Pratincole, Brown Fish Owl, Brown Wood 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, Wagtail, Indian Pitta and Little .

Bird Holidays was the first company to organise birding tours to this exciting destination and no-one knows its birdlife better.

ITINERARY abound: Smyrna Kingfishers, Purple-rumped , Plum- headed Parakeets, Brahminy Kites, Great White Egrets, Little GOA Green Bee-eaters and Red-rumped Swallows. Ideally situated to explore Goa’s richest sites, we will spend the first eight nights a couple of miles inland from the coast Close to our hotel, a wooded hill at Saligao is home to Asian near Arpora. Paradise Flycatchers, endemic Malabar Whistling Thrushes, Puff-throated Babblers and, with luck, the unusual-looking A few minutes drive away is the village of Baga, famous as a Brown Wood Owl. Another site nearby has proved reliable for resort and one of the original retreats of the hippies who the endemic Indian Pitta. came here in the late 1960’s. The variety of habitats here is outstanding. In the marshes there are Painted Snipes, The bird spectacle at Carambolim Lake is the most Chestnut Bitterns, Watercocks, Indian Spotted Eagles and impressive in Goa. Much of the lake is covered with lilies and superb Black-capped Kingfishers. On a wooded hillside we other aquatic vegetation, allowing the gallinules and jacanas will look for Amur Falcon, Common Peafowl, Black-rumped to walk right across it. Purple Gallinules, Pheasant-tailed and Flameback, White-spotted Fantail-flycatcher, Indian Yellow Bronze-winged Jacanas, Little Cormorants, Intermediate Tit and Vigors’s , whilst in drier areas there are Rose- Egrets, Lesser Whistling Ducks and Garganey are among the coloured Starlings, Yellow-wattled Lapwings, Indian most numerous species. Both Indian Shag and Indian Darter Nightjars, Indian Robins and Ashy-crowned Finch-larks. can also be found. Raptors hunting over the lake may include These are in addition to the many common species which Greater Spotted and Booted Eagles. The list of other scarce Purple, Small and the Loten's Sunbird all busily move from and exciting possibilities is just too long to include. one flowering plant to the next. Black-naped, Tickell's Blue, Brown and White-bellied Blue Flycatchers are all here. The Mandovi River estuary and its associated mangroves Thrushes include the smart Orange-headed Ground Thrush and marshes on Chorao Island are a veritable haven for and Blue-headed Rock Thrush. Babblers include the endemic birds. At low tide hundreds of Indian Pond Herons stalk their Black-fronted. Greater Racket-tailed Drongos do indeed prey alongside numerous Western Reef Herons. Waders make a racket as they fly over the tree tops, calling excitedly. include Lesser Sand Plover, Terek and Broad-billed Bulbuls are represented by Yellow-browed, White-browed, Sandpipers, and Little and Temminck's Stints. Walking on a Red-vented and Red-whiskered. However, the prize among raised bank through mangroves, we should find Green- these birds goes to the endemic Flame-throated Bulbul. backed, Purple and Night Herons, and Lesser Adjutant Stork. A boat trip on the backwaters here should produce close On the last morning it is then a drive of a little over an hour to views of the very local White-collared Kingfisher. the airport, arriving in good time for our flight home.

Further north, the River Chapora meets the Arabian Sea. CLIMATE AND PACE Here the magnificent White-bellied Sea Eagle shares its The lower elevations are hot and humid, but it is cooler in the home with Great Black-headed Gulls, numerous Brown- highlands, where rain is also possible. Early to bed and early headed Gulls and Siberian Gulls. Crested and Lesser to rise is the comfortable way to see the wildlife. When the Crested Terns can be compared at close range. birds rest in the early afternoons so will we. Most breakfasts will be at around 6.30am. Mornings and late afternoons will THE WESTERN GHATS be spent in the field, involving short walks. There will be very On day ten we will head inland to the hills of the Western little uphill walking. Ghats. We will stop en route to visit a working spice farm, where we can see a variety of plants and trees which ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD produce the spices for which the region’s cooking is famed. Full-board accommodation is provided. Eight nights are at the The farm is located in the forest, huge trees providing shelter Hotel Presa di Goa near Arpora. This lovely hotel is a from the sun. Birds abound too; Little Spiderhunter and restored country house, with Portuguese colonial décor. It is Malabar Whistling Thrush are reliable here. small and friendly; a world away from the busy resort hotels on the coast. At Dandeli we will stay three nights at the good We will drive into the state of Karnataka, spending three quality Bison River Lodge. Finally we have three nights at the nights near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. We will stay at the Molem Dudhsagar Resort. All rooms have private facilities en Bison River Lodge, a picturesque spot surrounded by good suite and air conditioning. The food served will include a habitat. The Kali River flows through the garden and on our choice of Indian, Chinese and Western dishes. recent visit we saw five species of kingfisher in the grounds and Grey-headed Fishing Eagle nearby. Malabar Pied PRICE INCLUDES ….. Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill are both common. All birdwatching excursions with Bird Holidays leader and expert local driver/guide, full-board accommodation (starting On short walks from the lodge we will look for forest birds with lunch on 10th, ending with breakfast on 24th), soft drinks such as Blue-bearded Bee-eater and White-bellied at meal times, bottled water throughout, local transport by Woodpecker. In the evening Ceylon Frogmouths call; we will mini-coach, boat trips, jungle activities, reserve entrance fees try to find them roosting during the day. and international flights.

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a national reserve and is well WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED protected. We will explore it on a jeep safari. Mammals are Travel insurance. Cost of obtaining an Indian visa (approx. regularly seen, including Palm Civet, Chital, Indian Bison, £40). Personal items, alcoholic drinks, laundry. Please note: Muntjac, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel and Malabar Giant the Indian authorities have now introduced the eTV, a vastly Squirrel. We saw an Indian Pangolin on one visit! simplified tourist visa scheme, saving us all time and money. Fairy Bluebirds shine in the sunlight and both Golden-fronted and Blue-winged Leafbirds can be seen feeding in flowering INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Return flight to Goa from Manchester Airport using the trees. Scarlet Minivets chase each other around the tree charter services of Thomson Airlines. Outbound flight departs tops. Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters are fairly common in the early evening, return flight arrives back late afternoon. It may clearings. Barbets call incessantly and include the endemic be possible to fly from London Gatwick; please call for Crimson-throated. The prettiest woodpecker in the forest details. must be the dainty Heart-spotted Woodpecker. Pairs of this endearing little bird, with heart-shaped spots on their tertial feathers, flit from branch to branch. 15 nights including one overnight flight: 9th to 24th November 2018 Raptors are frequently seen. Both Crested and Rufous- bellied Hawk-eagle breed here and the strange-looking Principal leader: Paul J. Willoughby Crested Serpent Eagle is common. Driver/guide: Lloyd Fernandes On day 13 we will drive to Molem, spending our last three nights at the Molem Dudhsagar Resort. Recently rebuilt, with Maximum group size: 10 clients with one leader luxury rooms and an excellent restaurant, this is a lovely place to end our tour. There will be birds on our doorstep and Cost with discount we will also venture to the lush forests at Tamdi Surla. In the (if you book before £3290 per person sharing th th vicinity of a 12 Century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord 27 July 2018): (£480 single supplement) Shiva, we will find some rare forest birds such as Blue-eared Kingfisher, Malabar Trogon and, if we are lucky, one of Full Cost: £3440 per person sharing India’s biggest birds, the Great Pied Hornbill. Deposit: £1000