I was happy when I booked my ticket to Cochin in the Special train from Chennai, It was our Maiden trip to Dr. Salim ali Bird Sanctuary in Thattekad. As usual I was early to the Central Railway station and the Train came late. Nothing was in order in that train so as the coach numbers , it created a chaotic scene amongst passengers. After 30 mts, things have settled in and the journey has started. After a home made dinner we settled in for a sleep.
I proposed an idea to my friend if the train stops at aluva station we should get down as it is closer to Thattekad. I woke up at 3.45 am and curiously looking out to identify the station, it was a big disappointment to me, the train had just reached Erode Junction at 4.15 . Oops....... it was delayed by 6 hrs. With a complete discontent, I went back to my berth and slept.
Finally we decided to get down at Angamaly Rly station and took a Private cab via Perumpavoor , Kothamangalam and to Thattekad. At last, we reached Thattekad - Bird's Home stay around 11.15. The caretaker/ guide Vinod welcomed us with a complete understanding of our painful travel.
After a quick refreshment, we decided to go near by waterbody and watch out for few birds. The weather was hot and humid, as we walked, we saw Purple sunbird, Brahminy Kite , Green Bee-eater and Chestnut-headed bee-eater, whistling ducks etc...it was very challenging to take the best shots due to low light and dense. We turned back to home stay with some bit of fundamental learning of light for an authentic Kerala Lunch.
Vinod asked us to be ready for the next trail around 3 pm. After a heavy lunch and the train journey, I couldn't resist myself to avoid a power nap for 30 mts..
Our guide took us to a dense forest nearby, it was a bit hot weather around that time. I had my own suspicion of any bird activity. We crossed the majestic Periyar river and entered the forest area.
As we walked down we sighted lots of Drongos, Wood peckers, Crested treeswift, parakeet, grey hornbill, barbet etc. By then some activities had begun. We had a numerous sighting of various barbets, bulbul, and parakeets in the dense forest. I was curiously waiting to sight the Endemic Malabar Grey hornbill, finally we saw it. My friend was able to shot the Migratory Indian Pitta
We came back with few clicks to the Homestay, it was a tiring trip and challenged our fitness levels. around 7 pm, there was a reasonably heavy rain for about 45 mts in our place, power was shut down. We had our diner in the darkness, before we complete our final peace power resumed. Thank god. The climate suddenly changed to pleasant , it was required for us after a long walk. After the dinner, Vinod had told us to be ready by 6 am for next day.
Next day, we had to travel down to a place which is the other side of the hill. Our friends have joined us from Kerala and we went by his car , the travel was close to 30 mts and we reached the spot around 7 am . It was an elevated rock , suitable for photographers to shoot. We were able to sight birds like Southern Hill Myna, Malabar Parakeet, Minivit, Hanging Parrot etc.. Again the challenge was timing, beyond 9 not much of activity due to the rise in temperature. It is recommended to be at the place around 6.30 however Fog could be a another challenge for early morning shots. Try manage it between 7-9 in the mrng.
One of my fellow photographer was enthused to sight the Endemic bird of Thattekad - Ceylon Frog mouth, so as many of us in the group. With the huge expectation, we followed our guide in the dense pathway, suddenly he stopped and peeped in to a bush and signed ushhhhhh to us .....he had identified the bird.
We slowly reached that point, I was trying to locate the bird but couldn't ..after 5 mts of focus, I saw that bird ..infact 2 , adjacent to each other. Thanks to our guide who had made our day so memorable by identifying that bird.
After our breakfast, we moved in to Dr. Salim Ali sanctuary which is very much located on the Main road. With an entry ticket we entered the place - neatly maintained by the forest dept. Due to the timing, low light and long distance we unable to shot pictures of Stork Billed Kingfisher, Rufous Treepie, Small green barbet etc.. Above all we were tired , wanna return back to our place.
Again an Sumptuous Kerala Lunch was provided by Vinod .
After the afternoon nap, we have decided to move around near the lake area for the final shoot. WE were so lucky that the common king fisher was very close by on the Perch inside the lake , it was one of my favourite shot in the trip.
Overall , it was a fantastic and fulfilling trip at Thattekad, Vinod was very knowledgeable on birding and it's behaviour.
Birds Song Home Stay is a good place to stay for bird watchers, Photographers as it is just inside the Thattekad Bird sanctuary, its clean and comfortable with basic amenities . We get a true feel of real Home stay . The corridor outside the room is a best place to relax and chit- chat with friends, Sipping a hot tea :-) in the green shelter.The Hospitality inside the homestay was very pleasant and gratifying. Pl carry a Dual SIM Mobile if possible as the connectivity is very limited.
Thanks for reading my blog , see you soon with an another episode.
I proposed an idea to my friend if the train stops at aluva station we should get down as it is closer to Thattekad. I woke up at 3.45 am and curiously looking out to identify the station, it was a big disappointment to me, the train had just reached Erode Junction at 4.15 . Oops....... it was delayed by 6 hrs. With a complete discontent, I went back to my berth and slept.
Finally we decided to get down at Angamaly Rly station and took a Private cab via Perumpavoor , Kothamangalam and to Thattekad. At last, we reached Thattekad - Bird's Home stay around 11.15. The caretaker/ guide Vinod welcomed us with a complete understanding of our painful travel.
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| Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) |
 |
| Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) |
After a quick refreshment, we decided to go near by waterbody and watch out for few birds. The weather was hot and humid, as we walked, we saw Purple sunbird, Brahminy Kite , Green Bee-eater and Chestnut-headed bee-eater, whistling ducks etc...it was very challenging to take the best shots due to low light and dense. We turned back to home stay with some bit of fundamental learning of light for an authentic Kerala Lunch.
 |
| Chestnut-Headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaultia) |
 |
| Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) |
Vinod asked us to be ready for the next trail around 3 pm. After a heavy lunch and the train journey, I couldn't resist myself to avoid a power nap for 30 mts..
Our guide took us to a dense forest nearby, it was a bit hot weather around that time. I had my own suspicion of any bird activity. We crossed the majestic Periyar river and entered the forest area.
As we walked down we sighted lots of Drongos, Wood peckers, Crested treeswift, parakeet, grey hornbill, barbet etc. By then some activities had begun. We had a numerous sighting of various barbets, bulbul, and parakeets in the dense forest. I was curiously waiting to sight the Endemic Malabar Grey hornbill, finally we saw it. My friend was able to shot the Migratory Indian Pitta
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| White Cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis) |
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| White Cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis) |
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| Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis |
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| Bronzed Drango -Dicrurus aeneus |
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| Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) |
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| Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus) |
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| Black-hooded oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) |
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| Plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) |
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| Crested Tree swift |
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| Wood pecker |
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| Plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) |
We came back with few clicks to the Homestay, it was a tiring trip and challenged our fitness levels. around 7 pm, there was a reasonably heavy rain for about 45 mts in our place, power was shut down. We had our diner in the darkness, before we complete our final peace power resumed. Thank god. The climate suddenly changed to pleasant , it was required for us after a long walk. After the dinner, Vinod had told us to be ready by 6 am for next day.
Next day, we had to travel down to a place which is the other side of the hill. Our friends have joined us from Kerala and we went by his car , the travel was close to 30 mts and we reached the spot around 7 am . It was an elevated rock , suitable for photographers to shoot. We were able to sight birds like Southern Hill Myna, Malabar Parakeet, Minivit, Hanging Parrot etc.. Again the challenge was timing, beyond 9 not much of activity due to the rise in temperature. It is recommended to be at the place around 6.30 however Fog could be a another challenge for early morning shots. Try manage it between 7-9 in the mrng.
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| Nilgiri flycatcher (Eumyias albicaudatus) |
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| Orange minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) - Male |
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| Racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) |
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| Malabar parakeet (Psittacula columboides) |
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| crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) |
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| Malabar parakeet (Psittacula columboides) |
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| Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
One of my fellow photographer was enthused to sight the Endemic bird of Thattekad - Ceylon Frog mouth, so as many of us in the group. With the huge expectation, we followed our guide in the dense pathway, suddenly he stopped and peeped in to a bush and signed ushhhhhh to us .....he had identified the bird.
We slowly reached that point, I was trying to locate the bird but couldn't ..after 5 mts of focus, I saw that bird ..infact 2 , adjacent to each other. Thanks to our guide who had made our day so memorable by identifying that bird.
 |
| Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) |
 |
| Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) |
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| Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) |
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| Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) |
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| Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) |
After our breakfast, we moved in to Dr. Salim Ali sanctuary which is very much located on the Main road. With an entry ticket we entered the place - neatly maintained by the forest dept. Due to the timing, low light and long distance we unable to shot pictures of Stork Billed Kingfisher, Rufous Treepie, Small green barbet etc.. Above all we were tired , wanna return back to our place.
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| Add caption |
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| Add caption |
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| Add caption |
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| Minivet Female |
Again an Sumptuous Kerala Lunch was provided by Vinod .
After the afternoon nap, we have decided to move around near the lake area for the final shoot. WE were so lucky that the common king fisher was very close by on the Perch inside the lake , it was one of my favourite shot in the trip.
Overall , it was a fantastic and fulfilling trip at Thattekad, Vinod was very knowledgeable on birding and it's behaviour.
 |
| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
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| Malabar giant squirrel, (Ratufa indica) |
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| Malabar giant squirrel, (Ratufa indica) |
Birds Song Home Stay is a good place to stay for bird watchers, Photographers as it is just inside the Thattekad Bird sanctuary, its clean and comfortable with basic amenities . We get a true feel of real Home stay . The corridor outside the room is a best place to relax and chit- chat with friends, Sipping a hot tea :-) in the green shelter.The Hospitality inside the homestay was very pleasant and gratifying. Pl carry a Dual SIM Mobile if possible as the connectivity is very limited.
Thanks for reading my blog , see you soon with an another episode.
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| The Ace Team with Vinod Narayanan (2nd from Left) |
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| The Ace Team - Sudarsan, Dhannanjeyan , Me and Suresh George |
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| Me |
