India Andaman Islands Endemics Extension 5th to 10th November 2018 (6 days) Southern: Birding & Wildlife II 11th to 22nd November 2018 (12 days) Trip Report Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl by David Hoddinott Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader, David Hoddinott Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to India Trip Report – RBL India - Andaman Islands + Southern II 2018 2 Tour Summary: Andaman Islands Our Southern India tour started off with a six-day pre-tour extension to the Andaman Islands. After arrival in the capital, Port Blair, we transferred to our comfortable accommodation for a superb five-night stay. We met up for dinner and discussed the plans for the coming days before getting a good night’s rest. “I found it hard to sleep through with the anticipation of some fabulous birding that lay ahead.” Our inaugural tour of the Andamans was a tremendous success. During our time on the island, we explored the forests of Mount Harriet and Chidiyatapu, and also combed the impressive and extensive Sippighat wetlands. Our forays to these areas saw us scoring a near clean sweep of the endemics, finding 20/21, including splendid views of the very tricky Andaman Crake, elusive Andaman Cuckoo-Dove and unobtrusive Andaman Wood Pigeon. Other notable sightings included great scope views of Chinese Egret, lovely Cotton Pygmy Goose, Andaman Teal, several Yellow Bittern, handsome Andaman Serpent Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Slaty-breasted Andaman Crake by David Hoddinott Rail with chick, Watercock, Grey-headed Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Pin-tailed Snipe, Terek Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Oriental Pratincole, Andaman Green Pigeon, Andaman Coucal, a bunch of night birds including Andaman Scops Owl, Hume’s and Andaman Hawk-Owls and Andaman Nightjar, Plume-toed (Glossy) Swiftlet, Stork-billed, Ruddy, Blue-eared and Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Freckle-breasted and impressive Andaman Woodpeckers, Long-tailed Parakeet, tricky Andaman Cuckooshrike, Ashy, Small and Scarlet Minivets, Andaman and Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, Black-naped Monarch, Andaman Treepie, Eastern Jungle Crow, beautiful Andaman Bulbul, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Common Hill Myna, White-headed Starling, Orange-headed Thrush, Andaman Shama and Andaman Flowerpecker. “Our comfortable and convenient accommodation was an ideal base to explore the island, and with delicious meals and splendid birding what more could you ask for… I can’t recommend this fabulous extension enough.” Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to India Trip Report – RBL India - Andaman Islands + Southern II 2018 3 Tour Summary: Southern India From Port Blair, we flew to Bengaluru for the start of our South India adventure. A late afternoon walk around our hotel produced a superb Chinese Pond Heron, a nice bonus for the list. After all meeting up early the following morning, we set off on our adventure. Our first birding stop en route to Mysore was very productive. We found two new species for the route, both much sought-after species. Painted Spurfowl, of which we managed brief scope views of a pair, and then a splendid Sirkeer Malkoha which gave fabulous views. Other notable sightings here whilst we walked through mixed bush and farmlands included several Indian Vulture flying above, a superb Blue Rock Thrush, tricky Yellow- throated Bulbul which showed well in the end, lovely Blue-faced Malkoha, a pair of Jerdon’s Leafbird and Pale-billed Flowerpecker. What a great start. The next stop saw us watching several lovely Red-naped Ibis and Bronze- winged Jacana. It was then time for lunch, and we enjoyed a delicious barbeque overlooking the river. In the afternoon, we took a splendid boat trip on the Cauvery Spot-billed Pelican by David Hoddinott River. Photographic opportunities were aplenty, and we snapped away as the boat took us closer to a Painted Stork in near full breeding plumage, Black-headed Ibis, Black-crowned Night Heron, a nesting colony of Spot-billed Pelican, Little and Indian Cormorants, Brahminy Kite, White-breasted Waterhen, magnificent Great Stone-curlew and elegant River Tern. We also saw several impressive Marsh Crocodile. In the surrounding woodland, we noted the huge Stork-billed Kingfisher, Indian Grey Hornbill, White-spotted Fantail, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and Western Yellow and White-browed Wagtails. We then settled in to our comfortable hotel and reminisced over dinner about all the great sightings we’d had that day. Leaving Mysore, we travelled to Mudumalai and en route enjoyed some good sightings which included a superb pair of Cotton Pygmy Goose, many Indian Spot-billed Duck, a close perched Short- toed Snake Eagle and Indian Bush Lark. Mudumalai consists of a nice selection of open grassland and mixed woodland, including some hefty stands of bamboo, and thus offers a wealth of birdlife. Some of our highlights whilst exploring these different habitats included great views of Grey Francolin, a covey of Jungle Bush Quail, Grey Junglefowl, numerous Indian Peafowl, rare White-rumped Vulture and Indian Nightjar by David Hoddinott Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to India Trip Report – RBL India - Andaman Islands + Southern II 2018 4 Red-headed Vulture, White-eyed Buzzard, Yellow-wattled Lapwing which is tricky in South India, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, rare and mesmerising Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl (which not surprisingly won bird of the trip!), Brown Fish Owl, Jungle Owlet, Brown Hawk-Owl, Jungle, Indian and Savanna Nightjars, Eurasian Hoopoe, endemic White-cheeked Barbet, Yellow-crowned, Streak-throated and elusive White-naped Woodpeckers, Plum-headed and Blue-winged Parakeets, fantastic Indian Pitta, Bar- winged Flycatcher-Shrike, Malabar Woodshrike, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, erratic White-bellied Minivet, Bay-backed Shrike, White-browed Fantail, Jerdon’s Bush Lark, Malabar Lark, White-browed Bulbul, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Puff-throated, Yellow-billed and Yellow-eyed Babblers, Indian Nuthatch, Brahminy Starling, smart Orange-headed Thrush, White-rumped Shama, a cracking and confiding Indian Blue Robin and Thick-billed Flowerpecker. From Mudumalai, we climbed up into the Nilgiri Hills around Ooty. Here we added some real quality birds, including majestic Black Eagle, handsome Bonelli’s Eagle, Greater Flameback seen and heard drumming, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, lovely Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin and beautiful endemic Black-and-orange Black-and-orange Flycatcher by David Hoddinott Flycatcher. From Ooty, we transferred to the woodlands of Parambikulam. Although hampered by some unseasonal rain during our time here, we still managed to notch up some wonderful birds and mammals. Some of our notable sightings included several Black Baza, Jacobin Cuckoo, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Crested Treeswift, Indian Swiftlet, Indian Roller, a superb pair of Blue-bearded Bee-eater, lovely and highly sought-after Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Large Cuckooshrike, Small Minivet, Indian Golden Oriole, elusive Indian Black-lored Tit, Flame-throated Bulbul, Malabar Starling, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and superb endemic Malabar Whistling Thrush. On the mammal front, we enjoyed superb views of a grumpy Asian Elephant, smart Nilgiri Langur, Wild Boar, Chital and Sambar Deer and very impressive Gaur. The highlands around Munnar were our next destination, and they did not disappoint with many superb sightings, including point-blank views of the beautiful Painted Bush Quail – a pair with chicks, Common Buzzard, superb Nilgiri Wood Pigeon after a concerted effort, Square-tailed Bulbul, Hill Swallow, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, rare and secretive Broad-tailed Grassbird seen by the entire group, Indian Scimitar Babbler, smart Palani Laughingthrush, Indian Painted Bush Quail by David Hoddinott Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to India Trip Report – RBL India - Andaman Islands + Southern II 2018 5 Blackbird, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Robin, lovely Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Blue- capped Rock Thrush, Crimson-backed Sunbird and rare Black-throated Munia. Moving back into the lowlands to Periyar National Park, we explored some magnificent lowland rainforest and the surrounding area, finding some splendid birds including Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, fabulous Great and Malabar Grey Hornbills, Common Flameback, Plum-headed Parakeet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Orange Minivet, handsome White-bellied Treepie, Dark-fronted Babbler, scope views of the rare and reclusive Wynaad Laughingthrush, Southern Hill Myna, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Golden-fronted Sri Lanka Frogmouth by David Hoddinott Leafbird and Little Spiderhunter. From Periyar, we made an early start back to Kochi, stopping at Thattekad en route. Here we enjoyed our final birding of the trip, finding Brown Wood Owl, roosting Sri Lanka Frogmouth, camouflaged Jerdon’s Nightjar, lovely Malabar Trogon, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Ashy Woodswallow, elusive Grey-headed Bulbul and superb songster, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher. Thus ended a fabulous adventure, and we travelled to Kochi where we enjoyed our final dinner together. Thanks must go to a wonderful group of enthusiastic and fun participants, as well as a superb ground operations team. I am very much looking forward to travelling with you all again! ___________________________________________________________________________________ Annotated List of species recorded Note: Number in brackets ( ) indicate number of days on the tour the species was recorded. List powered through