Thursday, May 26, 2016

Thattekad - meeting the endemic birds

December 16-19, 2015
For a nature lover and birder, Thattekad is a must visit to meet the endemic birds of the Western Ghats. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is nestled among the rich forest in the lower elevations of the western ghats and boasts of abut 300 bird species. This visit has been on my wishlist for many years, and I am now finally able to make it.
We stay at the small and charming  home-stay run by Girish Chandran and his cheerful and hospitable family. Both Girish and his mother are excellent birders and their establishment is well known for providing a warm and comfortable ambiance for both Indian and international birders.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekad
A beautiful green drive to this well preserved forest is enough to raise expectations. So here is a glimpse of the birdlife 


































Ervikulam National Park
A scenic drive of 12 kms beyond the bustling hill station of Munnar brings one to this  charming place where sighting of the Nilgiri Tahr is a certainty



And now for the birdlife








Thank you Adesh and Mandar for this amazing trip and thank you Girish and family for your warm hopitality as well as being our guide for this trip/
 

 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Cochin

February 20, 2016.
Cochin is a charming port town and the twin city of the much bigger Ernakulam. If you would like to look at how life was a century ago, then this is a quaint experience worth checking out. a half to full day plan will give you a reasonably good flavour of the city. a brief stopover and with a day in hand after visiting the Minicoy islands gave me some time to explore this town.