With all but one of the endemics seen we could now simply enjoy visiting Mt. Harriet National Park. It is named after the wife of Robert Tytler so it seems fitting that virtually all of the endemics can still be seen there - something Aidan Kelly nearly managed to do a good few years ago. It was actually our favourite site with good forest, almost no other visitors and nice views. The highlights of our visit were seeing another obliging Andaman Serpent-Eagle, another pair of Andaman Crakes, 3 Andaman Woodpigeons and an Andaman Woodpecker. We still had Andaman Masked Owl to try and find so we caught the ferry back to Port Blair and first checked the Chatham Wood Mill but the building the Owls regularly roost in was padlocked and we couldn't arrange access. At dusk we tried a park alongside the Cellular Prison where the Owls had been seen a month earlier, but we failed again. Undeterred, Jijo next took us to the Agricultural College but again we couldn't arrange access to visit the fields frequented by the Owls. Jijo then decided we needed to tour the Port Blair wharfs. We first tried Haddo Wharf and as I got out of the car I saw something 'white' flying under the floodlights but it all happened so quickly I couldn't even be sure that it was an Owl. In an attempt to quickly follow it up we dashed c.100m and I picked it out sat under a light. I was a little surprised how similar it appeared to a Barn Owl. Excellent that it was, in my haste to dash after it, I'd left my camera in the car. Dilemma, stand and watch it or run back to car. I decided to watch it, but, as it seemed pretty settled, I then made a dash. Just as I got back to Jijo, frustratingly, it flew down behind the wall of the wharf and we failed to see it again. A dramatic finale to our visit to the Andamans.
Andaman Serpent-Eagle 1
Andaman Crake 2
White-breasted Waterhen 1
Rock Dove 60
Green Imperial Pigeon 6
Andaman Woodpigeon 3
Red Collared Dove 8
Andaman Green-Pigeon 2
Asian Koel 1
Andaman Brown Coucal 1
ANDAMAN MASKED OWL 1
Edible (White)-nest Swiftlet 10
Plume-toed (White-bellied) Swiftlet 10
Brown-throated Needletail 10
White-throated Kingfisher 2
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 2
Andaman Woodpecker 1
Forest Wagtail 2
Red-whiskered Bulbul 10
Andaman Bulbul 1
Asian Fairy Bluebird 2
Brown Shrike 4
Thick-billed Warbler 1
White-rumped Munia 1
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 2
Andaman White-headed Starling 1
Common Myna 10
Common Hill-Myna 3
House Crow 50
Eastern Jungle Crow 3
Andaman Treepie 10
Awaiting our 'sunrise cruise' from Port Blair
Another day and another ferry ride - just like being at work!
MV Hornbill on her way but not to Narcondam Island after all
Mount Harriet
Awaiting the National Park to open ...
our driver and Jijo
... but soon on our way
Common Hill-Myna at Mount Harriet National Park
Forest Wagtail at Mount Harriet National Park
Brown Shrike at Mount Harriet National Park
Andaman Bulbul at Mount Harriet National Park
Andaman Plain Flowerpecker at Mount Harriet National Park
Andaman Serpent-Eagle at Mount Harriet National Park
the summit area of Mount Harriet
Views from the summit of Mount Harriet
Green Imperial Pigeon at Mount Harriet National Park
Andaman Woodpigeons at Mount Harriet National Park
Andaman Woodpecker at Mount Harriet National Park
Awaiting our ferry back to Port Blair
looking for Masked Owl at Robert Tytler's Cellular Jail in Port Blair
Andaman Masked Owl (Albin Jacob)
