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The Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thakkekad is one of the richest hotspots when it comes to birdwatching in India. It shelters more than 300 spp of colourful birds with most of them being endemic to this region of western ghats. This rich landscape comprises of various types of ecosystems and is a live natural history territory to observe, enjoy, learn and photograph wildlife, especially the flying jewels. It Mumbai Travellers tour to Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary is more of an birding expedition where in we try to understand birds as an ultimate creativity of nature, observe and document minimum 101 species of birds and live the joy of birding in a blessed wilderness destination with like minded travellers, tour leaders and great bird experts like Mr. Girish and his mother. India’s pioneer bird expert Mr. salim Ali described this place as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, which can only be compared to eastern Himalayas.
ITINERARY
Day 1:
Morning reach at Kochi Rlw stn. Breakfast and transfer to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. Check in and ice breaking session over a cup of refreshing tea. Afternoon lunch and information sharing over Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and its highlights. Post lunch Birdwatching session 1. During this session our aim will be to cover small forest bird species like Malabar Trogon, Pigeons, flycatchers, bulbuls and pipits.
Evening back to camp for a tea break with some light snacks. Late evening bird watching session 2.
During this session we will be specifically looking for Nightjars, Owls and Frogmouths.
Night dinner and discussion over the dinning table. Lights off.
Day 2:
Day starts pretty early in morning with various bird calls. Today we will be covering maximum featured species of Thattekad and western ghats, including species of Hornbills, Parakeets/Parrot, Cuckoos, Sunbirds, Dollar birds, Piculets, Thrush spp, Eagles and other birds of prey including the rare black baza and great hornbill. Post breakfast bird watching session 3.
Back to camp for delicious lunch of Keralan style. Post lunch birdwatching session 4.
Evening tea and snacks break. Late evening (short) bird watching session 5.
Night enjoy the yummy homely food over dinner table while we discuss the sightings of the day and best moments of winged wonders. Lights off.
Day 3:
Today our day kicks off very early. Early Morning we depart to Eravikulam National Park in search of Nilgiri Tahr and some of the exclusive bird species of western ghats that we missed out at Thattekad. Breakfast on the way.
Eravikulam national park is a shola forest ecosystem, which is a speciality of south India (western ghats). It gives us great opportunity for sighting and photo-composition of Nilgiri Tahrs, Nilgiri wood pigeons, Mountain imperial pigeons, Nilgiri flycatcher, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri pipits etc which are indicator species of Shola forest.
Lunch at Munnar. Post lunch free time for shopping at Munnar. Around 4 pm leave for Kochi Rlw Stn. Reach Kochi by 8 pm.