South India & Kanha National Park November 30 – December 12, 2016 Immerse yourself in India’s dizzying array of endemic birds and fascinating mammals in the Western Ghats, world-famous for biodiversity. Along the way, delight in rural India’s stunning landscapes and evocative culture, where colorful day to day life unfolds. Journey through Thattakad Bird Sanctuary in search of Indian Pitta, Malabar Trogon, Red Spurfowl, and Gray-headed Bulbul. Embark on a boat safari to spot elusive Leopard, Tiger, and Asiatic Elephant. Admire Eravikulam National Park’s endemic mountain goat, the Nilgiri Tahr, alongside White-bellied Blue- Flycatcher, White-bellied Shortwing, Indian Blue Robin, Nilgiri Pipit, and Orange Flycatcher. In Valpari forests, spot Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Flying Squirrel, and Stripe-necked Mongoose. Find Painted Bush-Quail at Ooty, where we enjoy comfortable lodgings on a quiet tea estate. Don’t miss an optional extension to Kanha National Park, the “Yellowstone of India,” where we search for the elusive Bengal Tiger, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, and Leopard. Tour Highlights Discover a host of Asian and Indian endemics on an itinerary rich in biodiversity Bird Thattakad Bird Sanctuary for Red Spurfowl, Grey Junglefowl, Malabar Parakeet, White Cheeked Barbet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Mottled Wood Owl, and so many more Take night walks in search of Travancore Flying Squirrel, Ceylon Frogmouth, and Great Eared Nightjar Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Explore Munnar on quiet forest walks, visiting cardamom and spice plantations and looking for endemics like Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Shortwing, and Indian Blue Robin Visit Eravikulam National Park in search of the endemic Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat) Search for mammals like Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Asiatic Elephant, Bonnet Macaque, Malabar Giant Flying Squirrel, and Stripe Necked Mongoose at Valparai Embark on jeep and boat safaris through Nagarhole National Park in search of Leopard, Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, and Smooth Coated Otter, alongside a rich array of birds Opt for a post-tour safari extension to Kanha National Park in luxurious tented accommodations Tour Summary 13-Day / 12-Night South India Birding & Wildlife Tour with Avijit Sarkhel $3995 from Kochi (Cochin), departing Mumbai Kanha National Park Extension, $2250 Arrival Airport is Cochin International (COK), Departing Airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM) Endemic Mammals Lion Tailed Macaque, Bonnet Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, South-eastern Langur, South-western Langur, South- eastern Lagur, Nilgiri Tahr, Indian Giant Squirrel, Black Naped Hare, South Indian Tree Shrew, Brown Palm Civet, Nilgiri Marten, Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat, Sahyadri’s Forest Rat Non-Endemic Mammals Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Sloth Bear, Indian Elephant, Indian Gaur, Slender Loris, Brown Mongoose, Travancore Flying Squirrel, Stripe Necked Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Grey Mongoose, Dusky Striped Squirrel, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Grey Slender Loris Endemic Birds Malabar Lark, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Wood Shrike, Malabar Starling, Malabar Barbet, White Cheeked Barbet, Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, White Cheeked Barbet, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Rufous Babbler, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Grey headed Bulbul, Flame Throated Bulbul, Yellow Throated Bulbul, Grey Fronted Green Pigeon, Vigor’s Sunbird, Small Sunbird, Red Spurfowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Mottled Wood Owl, White Spotted Fantail, Nilgiri Thrush, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Wayanad Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Kerala Laughingthrush, Black Chinned Laughingthrush, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Indian Rufous Babbler, White Naped Tit, Indian Yellow Tit, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Crimson Backed Sunbird, Vigor’s Sunbird, White-bellied Treepie, and more! Itinerary Wed., Nov. 30 Arrive in Kochi / Thattakad Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Welcome to India! On arrival at the Kochi International Airport, you are met and driven to a nearby hotel for a meal. From here we drive together to Thattakad, a two-hour drive, stopping for the first exciting birds en route. Birds that are expected here are many! Possible sightings include: Red Spurfowl, Grey Junglefowl, Malabar Parakeet, White Cheeked Barbet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Mottled Wood Owl, White Bellied Treepie, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Grey Headed Bulbul, Wayanad Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, Crimson Backed Sunbird, Indian Scop’s Owl, Oriental Scop’s Owl, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Great-eared Nightjar, Ceylon Frogmouth, Indian Nightjar, Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, Indian Pitta, Rufous Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, Black Baza, Vernal Hanging Parrot, and Black Headed Munia. Other birds that we have a chance to see here are Spotbellied Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, and Brown Backed Needletail. Endemic mammals include Travancore Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, and Dusky Palm Squirrel. Other mammals include Asiatic Elephant, Wild Dog, and Wild Boar; there are also a few Jungle Cat in the area, but a sighting would be lucky. Accommodations at Birds Lagoon, Lake View Room (B,L,D) Thurs., Dec. 1 & Fri., Dec. 2 Thattakad Both mornings we depart early for guided birding walks in the sanctuary and surrounding areas. After lunch we explore other areas, looking for some of the area’s key species. In the evenings (depending on the movement of elephants), we enjoy a short walk, looking for the Travancore Flying Squirrel and Ceylon Frogmouth. Accommodations at Birds Lagoon, Lake View Room (B,L,D) Sat., Dec. 3 Thattakad / Munnar This morning, after a quick breakfast, we leave Thattakad and proceed to Munnar (a four-hour drive). Munnar is one of the world's most popular hill stations (resorts built in higher altitudes as a respite from the summer heat), located in Kerala. Lush tea gardens and thick shola forests (stunted tropical montane forest) mix with each other to create a moist evergreen forested area, interspersed with spice plantations and jagged “Nilgiri peaks” dating back a few million years. Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Munnar is ideal for quiet walks along the forest patches, visiting cardamom and spice plantations or looking for the endemic birds that are found here, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Shortwing, Tytler’s Warbler, Indian Blue Robin, and the recently split Kerala Laughingthrush. Other birds like Fork Tailed Swift, Pacific Swallow, Alpine Swift, Common Kestrel, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler, Scaly Thrush, Painted Bush Quail, and several other species are also seen. Accommodations at Naturezone Munnar, Treehouse Cottage (B,L,D) Sun., Dec. 4 Munnar Early this morning we are driven to aEravikulam National Park (an hour and a half from the lodge). Upon reaching the park, we walk the trails searching for the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, a mountain goat that got separated from its Himalayan cousin and became restricted to the Western Ghats. There are plenty of endemic birds here, too, like Nilgiri and White bellied Blue Flycatchers, Nilgiri or Black Chinned Laughingthrush (Strophocincla fairbanki), Nilgiri Pipit, White-bellied Shortwing, Indian Blue Robin, and Black and Orange Flycatcher. Other species include the Painted Bush-Quail and Large billed and Western Crowned Leaf-Warbler. Accommodations at Naturezone Munnar, Treehouse Cottage (B,L,D) Mon., Dec. 5 Munnar / Valparai We depart early this morning for a very interesting drive through towns, villages, and eventually forests to Valparai (a six-hour drive). On arrival, we check in at a small planter’s bungalow. This evening we explore from the lodge, looking for the endemic Brown Palm Civet, Indian Flying Squirrel, and endemic Dusky Palm Squirrel. Accommodations at Monica Bungalow or similar lodge; standard room (B,L,D) Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Tues., Dec. 6 Valparai This morning we rise early, setting out in search of Lion Tailed Macaque. Other mammals include Nilgiri Langur, Indian Elephant, Bonnet Macaque, Malabar Giant Flying Squirrel, and Stripe Necked Mongoose. We also keep watch for Malabar Great Hornbill, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Loten's Sunbird, Purple Rumped Sunbird, Gold-fronted Leafbird, Long tailed Shrike, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Rufous Babbler, and more. The afternoon is at leisure ― you may wish to take a walk in the tea estate or just relax at the lodge. In the evening, opt for a second night drive looking for the Brown Palm Civet, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, and other nocturnal mammals. Accommodations at Monica Bungalow or similar lodge; standard room (B,L,D) Wed., Dec. 7 Valparai / Ooty After breakfast, we drive to Ooty for a two-night stay, stopping