A pre-dawn attempt to see Oriental Scops Owl was successful with the help of the Jungle Hut night watchman and his powerful torch. I then headed for the bamboo stand in the half-light seeing Indian Pitta, Orange-headed Thrush and Malabar Whistling-Thrush in quick succession. Jijo then arrived and promptly picked out a wintering Rusty-tailed Flycatcher before we all set off for Ooty. On the way we stopped in the foothills as the first rays of sunshine warmed the forest for a productive hour or so seeing several Malabar Parakeets, a couple of Indian Blackbirds, several Nilgiri Flycatchers, a nice selection of wintering Phylloscs - although frustratingly a calling Tytler's Leaf-Warbler eluded us - and a couple of Nilgiri Plain Flowerpeckers. We continued to Ooty seeing Doddabetta Peak, the highest peak of the Western Ghats, and visited the viewpoint where scraps from the numerous tea stalls were attracting a flock of Nilgiri Black-chinned Laughingthrushes. Next we walked a hillside pasture finding two pairs of Nilgiri Pipits behaving, and at times even looking, more like a Locustella than a Pipit! We then checked-in at the newly-built Logan's Lodge but we were soon out to a nearby shola finding two of the most sought-after regional endemics being Nilgiri Blue Robin and Black-and-Orange Flycatcher - superb. We returned to the Lodge and spent a very pleasant evening sat outside enjoying a barbecue and chatting with Jijo, Sabu and the owner of the Lodge.
Indian Pond-Heron 3
Grey Junglefowl 1 male
Indian Peafowl 2
White-breasted Waterhen 1
Spotted Dove 10
Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon 2
MALABAR PARAKEET 6
Oriental Scops Owl 1
White-throated Kingfisher 1
Blue-bearded Bee-eater 1
White-cheeked Barbet 6
Indian Pitta 2
Red-rumped Swallow 10
Grey Wagtail 6
NILGIRI PIPIT 4
Pied Flycatcher-Shrike 6
Red-vented Bulbul 6
Red-whiskered Bulbul 10
Yellow-browed Bulbul 6
Long-tailed Shrike 2
Bay-backed Shrike 2
Orange-headed Thrush 2
Malabar Whistling-Thrush 1
Indian Blackbird 2
NILGIRI BLUE ROBIN 1
White-rumped Shama 1
Oriental Magpie-Robin 2
Pied Bushchat 6
RUSTY-TAILED FLYCATCHER 1
BLACK-AND-ORANGE FLYCATCHER 2
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher 1
Verditer Flycatcher 1
NILGIRI FLYCATCHER 4
NILGIRI BLACK-CHINNED LAUGHINGTHRUSH 8
Jungle Babbler 6
Yellow-billed Babbler 6
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta 2
Puff-throated Babbler 2
Common Tailorbird 2
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher 4
Tickell's Leaf-Warbler 1
Greenish Warbler 6
Green Warbler 1
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler 6
Great Tit 10
Indian Yellow (Black-lored) Tit 4
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 6
NILGIRI PLAIN FLOWERPECKER 2
Oriental White-eye 10
Common Rosefinch 6
White-bellied Drongo 1
Jungle Myna 6
Indian Jungle Crow 6
Indian Pitta at the Jungle Hut, Mudumalai
Orange-headed Ground-Thrush at the Jungle Hut, Mudumalai
Whilst OhGT has always been a firm favourite of mine it was nice to see this black-and-white-faced cyanota, all the more so, as Rasmussen (2005) points out that more than one species is probably involved.
Male Tickell's Blue Flycatcher at the Jungle Hut, Mudumalai
Puff-throated Babbler at the Jungle Hut, Mudumalai
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher at the Jungle Hut, Mudumalai
roadside male Grey Junglefowl at Mudumalai
a hazy morning in the foothills of the Western Ghats near Ooty
Red-whiskered Bulbul near Ooty
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta near Ooty
Indian Yellow (Black-lored) Tit near Ooty
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch near Ooty
Greenish Warbler near Ooty
Green Warbler near Ooty
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler near Ooty
I still remember the thrill of JFC finding our first, on territory in montane forest near Lama Lodge along the Langtang trek, Nepal in May 1997. We then pondered whether this Arctic Warbler-like Phyllosc ever strays to western Europe. With a record from the UAE in October 2014, it's now known to have made it a little closer...
I still remember the thrill of JFC finding our first, on territory in montane forest near Lama Lodge along the Langtang trek, Nepal in May 1997. We then pondered whether this Arctic Warbler-like Phyllosc ever strays to western Europe. With a record from the UAE in October 2014, it's now known to have made it a little closer...
Male Malabar Parakeet near Ooty
White-cheeked Barbet near Ooty
Nilgiri Flycatchers near Ooty
in the lower image it's possible to just discern the difficult-to-see white basal panels on its tail
Nilgiri Plain Flowerpecker near Ooty
first views of the outskirts of Ooty
one of the many colourful tea stalls at the Doddabetta Peak viewpoint
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher at Ooty
Nilgiri Black-chinned Laughingthrush at Ooty
Birdlife considers this species Endangered due to its very small and severely fragmented range which is declining rapidly as a result of the conversion of forest habitats to plantations, agriculture and settlements.
Ooty, where snooker was first 'invented' in an old colonial club
Nilgiri Pipit at Ooty
Pot black!! I was completely unprepared for what a brilliant species this is!
Birdlife consider this species is Vulnerable because it has a small range in which its habitat is severely fragmented and declining in extent and quality, which in turn is suspected to be driving a decline in its small population. Confirmation that the area of suitable habitat totals less than 400km2 would likely make the species eligible for uplisting.
The fruit & veg store albeit the sign reads... Nihal Mess: Veg & Non Veg...
Our chalet at the luxurious Logans Lodge set amidst the tea plantations
Birdlife consider this species is Vulnerable because it has a small range in which its habitat is severely fragmented and declining in extent and quality, which in turn is suspected to be driving a decline in its small population. Confirmation that the area of suitable habitat totals less than 400km2 would likely make the species eligible for uplisting.
Male Black-and-Orange Flycatcher at Ooty
