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| Black-and-orange Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa ©Michael Clark http://micclarkphotography.co.uk/p729506859 |
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August is the dry season in Tamilnadu, with howling winds daily across the great parched plains. Here, tucked at the foot of the Western Ghats, we are sheltered from those heavy winds and often steal a late afternoon rain shower from the South West monsoon. Even so, this month our 300 lake of the Kamaraji Dam near Dindigul, is half dry and a meeting place for Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants, Spot-bill Ducks, White Ibis, Egrets and Herons. I was amazed to see a pair of Minivets, which had flown out of the hills. Flycatchers scoop drinking water on the wing as they skim our pond, where Kingfishers large and small come each evening to roost. Two families of Partridges come each early morning for their broken rice breakfast, followed by 5 Quail, followed by Spotted and Brown Doves, then Babblers and the odd Chipmunk. Five schoolboys come bird-watching one Sunday morning each month, and they came early in August with their note-books and the birds they have spotted. Their list included a Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Probably a Yellow Lapwing, I suggested. No, they said very confidently, Definitely a jacana. Their idlies and dhosai were cooking and quickly they settled under a large Neem tree for their breakfast. Next day, scanning the lake with my binoculars during breakfast and forgetting the jacana claim, I saw six strange birds - three pairs of jacanas! Now I know how excited birdwatchers can get. Next day only one pair remained and each day for the past month we have watched a pair of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and four grey, well camouflaged chicks as they work the long mud flat opposite our Lakeside Guest House. With that, the number of bird species recorded around Lakeside has risen to 185. If its birds you want, Tamil Nadu is well worth a visit. |
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This page is sponsored by...
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Joe Homan
(Kanniwadi valley, close to the Kamaraj Dam)
joehoman2003@yahoo.co.in
* Field Guides & Bird Song
For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering India as a whole - please see the main India page of FatbirderBirds of Tamil Nadu
TAMIZHNAATTU PARAVAIGAL: Munaivar K. Ratnam; Meippavan Tamizhaivagam, 53, Pudhutheru, Chidambaram-608001. Rs. 225.State Bird
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Madras Natural History Society
Madras Naturalists'Society (MNS) was formed in 1978 by a group of sixteen nature enthusiasts to bring together like minded persons in the city and to exchange news and views. It was formally registered in 1979 as a non-profit voluntary, non-governmental organization...
Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu
WebsiteAnnotated list of sanctuaries...
Forests of Tamil Nadu
WebsiteFrom the sun drenched sea shores of Point Calimere to the teak forests of Mudumalai and Topslip, the green grassy hills of Nilgiris to the wet evergreen forests of Kalakkad and Mundanthurai, Tamil Nadu`s forests and animal life is as diverse as India itself...
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
WebsiteSatellite View
Endowed with a combination of different ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs); the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (from here on referred to as the Reserve, supports over 3,600 species of plants and animals. The first of its kind in India, the Reserve encompasses a group of 21 small islands along the coast of the Gulf of Mannar in southern India...
Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary
InformationSatellite View
Kunthakulam bird sanctuary is situated 33-km south of Tirunelveli in Nanguneri taluk. Kunthakulam is a small and natural scenic village, which is covered with natural forests and ponds. During the season January to April every year more than 10 thousand birds from various countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, USA, Australia migrate here and when the season is over the birds return...
Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary
InformationSatellite View
Manjira wild life sanctuary spreads over an area of 20 sq.kms and is the abode of a number of resident and migratory birds and the marsh crocodiles...
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
InformationSatellite View
ESTABLISHED: Mudumalai, 1940 as a sanctuary.Mudumalai wildlife reserve is a continuation of the Bandipur National Park...
Nagarhole National Park
InformationSatellite View
Located right where the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala trijunct, Nagarhole National park is one of the premier forest of south India...
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
InformationSatellite View
The Coromandel coast once had extensive scrub forests which come under the classification of dry evergreen scrub consisting of many thorny plants, but less than 1% of the original forests remain due to population pressures (Meher Homji,1973). Such a type of habitat closest to Madras is the Guindy National Park, which occurs within city limits. However, this is a highly modified forest, many trees having been planted by the forest department over the years. A few other naturally occurring scrub forests around Madras and all over Tamil Nadu have been classified as wastelands and have been afforested in the Social Forestry scheme...
Sanctuaries
WebsiteThe topography of Tamil Nadu is delightfully varied and diverse. Of the 130,058sq km land area, 17.6 is covered with forest area. These spreads over the plain and on mountain slopes. Dry lands are bestowed with dry-decidious forests, thorn forests, scrubs and mangroves. The Western Ghats and a few cooler regions are endowed with moist decidious, wet evergreen forests, sholas and grasslands. There are 5 National Parks and 17 Wildlife Sactuaries in Tamil Nadu...
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary
InformationSatellite View
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in South India, declared in 2008, which covers forest area of 524.35 square kilometres (202 sq mi). It covers Sathyamangalam taluk and parts of Gobichettipalayam Taluk of Erode District in the north western Tamil Nadu. This Sanctuary is significant as a wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and a genetic link between the four other protected areas which it adjoins, including the Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai National Park and Bandipur National Park...
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
WebsiteSatellite View
Originally established in 1798, the official sanctuary covers only 30 hectares of Marshy land on the edge of Lake Vendanthangal. Unofficially, the bird's breeding ground covers an area of about 10 square kilometers, with habitats, including woodland, marsh and open grass, as well as several other lakes. It is an extraordinarily crowded place, with up to 1,00,000 birds of different species being recorded at peak season. As many of them are migratory, the best time to visit is from November to February, at the height of the breeding season.
Vedaranyam Bird Sanctuary
WebsiteSatellite View
Vedaranyam is the migratory place of birds, which is one of the major wintering grounds for migrant birds from North India, Europe, Asia and Africa. Its uniqueness lies in its having a coastal marine system and tropical forests...
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2001 [January] - Bill & Doreen Stair
ReportDespite our best efforts to get to Thailand sooner, we ended up spending several days in Tamil Nadu. As expected, Chennai was not an ideal birding location, so we headed south to the little town of Mamallapuram. The temple walk behind the town yielded some good species, but the (relatively) nearby Vedanthangal sanctuary was great. Despite its tiny size, it`s a very important breeding ground, and the trees were covered with thousands and thousands of birds. It`s definitely worth a short visit - the site of so many Eurasian Spoonbills and Glossy & Black-headed Ibis in full breeding plumage is spectacular...
2010 [March] - Ficus - Ghermalam
ReportTypical for these mountain evergreen forests we see Black Bulbul groups, Malabar Whistling Thrush skulking in the lower thickets of the forest and Common Kestrel soaring against the wind, waiting to swoop down to catch prey in the grassland. We also see a pair of majestic Black Eagles, incredibly dextrous for its size, skimming the forest canopy. As we reach the Lantana on our way back, we see an elephant, barely visible above the five feet high thickets, and apparently part of larger herd, invisible to us...
2011 [March] - Ravi Kailas - South India Endemics
ReportWe saw small colonies of River Terns, Spot-billed Ducks, Cormorants, Ibis, Herons and Storks regularly as well birds of prey including Osprey, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brahminy Kite and notably Tawny Eagle, by the river. The river is reputedly rich in fish life and the numerous birds and presence of Mugger Crocodile (of which we had a sighting) seem to indicate its continuing status as such. Forest birds included relative rarities such as Heart-spotted and Malabar Woodpeckers and Red Spurfowl, among a good number of commoner species...
This section sponsored by:
All India Birding Tours
Tour OperatorYour Birding itinerary depends upon your interests, the duration of the planned trip, and other matters such as your budget...
Anytime Tours - 13-Days Birding the Western Ghats & South India
TourThis tour focuses on the endemic birds of the Western Ghats and South India. There is a good chance of picking up most of the endemic bird species associated with the Western Ghats. Species include White-bellied Treepie, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Woodpigeon and Nilgiri Flycatcher, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon and Indian Pitta...
Birding Pal
Tour OperatorLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Ficus Wildlife and Natural History Tour
Tour OperatorWe organize natural history tours in south India and specialize in tours to the Western Ghats of south India, a mountainous eco-region, which are considered as a global biodiversity hotspot. We offer custom made itineraries to individuals and groups with specific interests on birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well for those with a broad interest in the natural history of the region...
South India Tours
Tour OperatorWelcome to the website of South India Tours Ltd. The site introduces you to a range of fascinating and relaxing holidays in South India. Take a few moments to browse and see what we have on offer...
Banyan Tree
AccommodationLocated on the foothills of the Western Ghats, bordering the Indira Gandhi and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuaries, The Banyan Tree is situated in Sethumada, on a 4500 acre multi-crop farm...
Casa Deep Woods
AccommodationIn the heart of Madumalai Forest, on the banks of a natural mountain stream is an exotic wildlife Getaway: Casa Deep Woods. 600 trees grace the five acres at Casa Deep Woods. And not a single tree was cut as the Getaway took shape. Rather the well-furnished cottages were built around the trees...
Hotel Sinclairs Ooty
AccommodationOoty is one of India's most popular hill resorts, located at 2240 metres above sea level in the Niligiri Hills of southern India. Hotel Sinclairs Ooty has 88 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, wall-to-wall carpeting, satellite TV, direct-dial telephones, attached bath with hot and cold running water and room service. It also enjoys the distinction of being Ooty's only centrally heated hotel.
Lakeside Guest House - Athoor, Dindigul
AccommodationExcellent cuisine and accommodation, Organized South Indian Bird Watching Tours organized: local birding tours a speciality...
Mayuram Eco Lodge
AccommodationMayuram Eco Lodge is situated on a 350 acre farm right at the foot of the Western Ghats, which form a magnificent backdrop to the property. The land adjoins the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve; our conservation and restoration programmes have greatly improved the quality of the habitat, attracting a great variety of fauna, especially from the reserve adjacent. The Eco-Lodge is a building with strongly local architectural character; a bit rustic, but airy and spacious...
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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