As the forests at Chidiya Tapu were quiet at first light on our previous morning visit we stopped along the coast to have a look at some wintering waders. We then continued onto Chidiya Tapu in an attempt to see Andaman Woodpigeon that Jijo had warned us on our very first morning was one of the toughest endemics to see. We walked the road running through the regenerating forest but no luck. We then tried an area of coastal forest, but again, no luck. We entered the reserve proper and were again failing in our aim when Jijo suggested that we take a trail to the top of a hill dominated by tall forest. That was an inspired decision, as not far along the trail, Jijo picked out an Andaman Woodpigeon sat silently on a low branch in a tree. It sat quietly until we'd watched it for as long as we wanted. We then retraced our steps to Port Blair, where seeing another couple of 'Pacific' Swifts loosely associating with a flock of Swiftlets was a surprise whilst waiting for the ferry. We arrived at the Ferrargung Forest Reserve area at dusk. Just as it got dark, frustratingly, it started to pour with rain. We waited for an hour and then decided to brave it by walking alongside a forest stream. The leeches had a field day, but thankfully so did we, finding a calling Andaman Scops Owl - brilliant!
Pacific Reef-Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Andaman Serpent-Eagle 1
Changeable Hawk-Eagle 2
White-bellied Sea-Eagle 3
Andaman Crake h
Pacific Golden Plover 5
Greater Sand Plover 2
Lesser Sand Plover 10
Whimbrel 1
Common Sandpiper 3
Turnstone 3
Green Imperial Pigeon 10
ANDAMAN WOODPIGEON 1
Red Collared Dove 6
Andaman Cuckoo-Dove 1
Andaman Green-Pigeon 8
Vernal Hanging-Parrot 2
Alexandrine Parakeet 6
Asian Koel 3
Andaman Brown Coucal 2
ANDAMAN SCOPS OWL 1
Edible (White)-nest Swiftlet 100
Plume-toed (White-bellied) Swiftlet 500
'Pacific' Swift 2
Brown-throated Needletail 1
Collared Kingfisher 8
White-throated Kingfisher 6
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 1
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 4
Pacific Swallow 2
Grey Wagtail 3
White-breasted Woodswallow 1
Scarlet Minivet 4
Red-whiskered Bulbul 2
Brown Shrike 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
Asian Brown Flycatcher 2
Andaman Plain Flowerpecker 1
House Sparrow 15
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 4
Andaman Drongo 2
Andaman White-headed Starling 6
Common Myna 10
Andaman Treepie 3
coastline near Chidiya Tapu
Lesser Sand Plovers near Chidiya Tapu
Greater Sandplover near Chidiya Tapu
Pacific Golden Plover near Chidiya Tapu
Immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Chidiya Tapu
coastal forest near Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu
Five-striped Palm Squirrel at Chidiya Tapu
Vernal Hanging-Parrot near Chidiya Tapu
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Chidiya Tapu
Andaman Plain Flowerpecker at Chidiya Tapu
Vernal Hanging-Parrot near Chidiya Tapu
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Chidiya Tapu
Andaman Cuckoo-Dove near Chidiya Tapu
Andaman Woodpigeon at Chidiya Tapu
Birdlife considers this uncommon species is Near Threatened as it appears to rely on dense forest. It is thought to have a small or moderately small and potentially fragmented population, which may be declining due to hunting and logging.
awaiting our ferry to arrive ...
