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==Birds== | ==Birds== | ||
===Notable Species=== | ===Notable Species=== | ||
| − | On Annamudi in the Eravikulam National Park the sought after [[Nilgiri Pipit]] can be found quite easily. Around Munnar [[Palani Laughingthrush]] and [[Nilgiri Flycatcher]] are found. Other species like [[Nilgiri Wood Pigeon]], [[Black-and-orange Flycatcher]] or [[White-bellied | + | On Annamudi in the Eravikulam National Park the sought after [[Nilgiri Pipit]] can be found quite easily. Around Munnar [[Palani Laughingthrush]] and [[Nilgiri Flycatcher]] are found. Other species like [[Nilgiri Wood Pigeon]], [[Black-and-orange Flycatcher]] or [[White-bellied Blue Robin]] need more patience and a bit of luck. |
[[Image:Munnar2.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Photo by {{user|Wintibird|Wintibird}}<br/>Tea plantations]] | [[Image:Munnar2.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Photo by {{user|Wintibird|Wintibird}}<br/>Tea plantations]] | ||
===Check-list=== | ===Check-list=== | ||
| − | {{BirdsSee|[[Grey Junglefowl]], [[Greater Flameback]], [[White-cheeked Barbet]], [[White-throated Kingfisher]], [[Chestnut-headed Bee-eater]], [[Common Hawk Cuckoo]], [[Indian Swiftlet]], [[Nilgiri Wood Pigeon]], [[Spotted Dove]], [[Common Moorhen]], [[Black Kite]], [[Little Grebe]], [[Brown Shrike]], [[Long-tailed Shrike]], [[House Crow]], [[Large-billed Crow]], [[Blue-capped Rock Thrush]], [[Malabar Whistling Thrush]], [[Indian Blackbird]], [[White-bellied | + | {{BirdsSee|[[Grey Junglefowl]], [[Greater Flameback]], [[White-cheeked Barbet]], [[White-throated Kingfisher]], [[Chestnut-headed Bee-eater]], [[Common Hawk Cuckoo]], [[Indian Swiftlet]], [[Nilgiri Wood Pigeon]], [[Spotted Dove]], [[Common Moorhen]], [[Black Kite]], [[Little Grebe]], [[Brown Shrike]], [[Long-tailed Shrike]], [[House Crow]], [[Large-billed Crow]], [[Blue-capped Rock Thrush]], [[Malabar Whistling Thrush]], [[Indian Blackbird]], [[White-bellied Blue Robin]], [[Black-and-orange Flycatcher]], [[Nilgiri Flycatcher]], [[Indian Blue Robin]], [[Oriental Magpie-Robin]], [[Pied Bushchat]], [[Jungle Myna]], [[Barn Swallow]], [[Hill Swallow]], [[Red-rumped Swallow]], [[Red-whiskered Bulbul]], [[Square-tailed Bulbul]], [[Indian White-eye]], [[Common Tailorbird]], [[Tickell's Leaf Warbler]], [[Greenish Warbler]], [[Large-billed Leaf Warbler]], [[Tytler's Leaf Warbler]], [[Palani Laughingthrush]], [[Indian Scimitar Babbler]], [[Rufous Babbler]], [[Purple Sunbird]], [[Grey Wagtail]], [[Nilgiri Pipit]], [[Common Rosefinch]]}} |
==Site Information== | ==Site Information== | ||
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Eravikulam National Park (or Rajamalai) is good for [[Nilgiri Pipit]]. Take a taxi or bus to the ticket centre (about 15km from Munnar). Be sure to be there first (around 7.15) to be on the first bus at 7.45. The bus goes up to the foothill of the Annamudi. Follow the road there higher up and scan the grassy slopes for the pipits. [[Palani Laughingthrush]] and [[Nilgiri Flycatcher]] can be found here too. The rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr usually sits on the top ridges. | Eravikulam National Park (or Rajamalai) is good for [[Nilgiri Pipit]]. Take a taxi or bus to the ticket centre (about 15km from Munnar). Be sure to be there first (around 7.15) to be on the first bus at 7.45. The bus goes up to the foothill of the Annamudi. Follow the road there higher up and scan the grassy slopes for the pipits. [[Palani Laughingthrush]] and [[Nilgiri Flycatcher]] can be found here too. The rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr usually sits on the top ridges. | ||
| − | On the same road, but much lower you find patches of shola forest. It's worth to spend some time around this patches and to look out for skulking [[White-bellied | + | On the same road, but much lower you find patches of shola forest. It's worth to spend some time around this patches and to look out for skulking [[White-bellied Blue Robin]], the local and shy subspecies of [[Indian Blackbird]] and the [[Black-and-orange Flycatcher]]. For this species patience and persistence may be needed. |
===Access and Facilities=== | ===Access and Facilities=== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:59, 23 August 2020
Overview
Munnar is a hill station in the Cardamom Hills in Kerala, South India. It's a good base to explore the shola forest and Eravikulam National Park. Many southwest Indian endemics can be found here. It can also be a base to explore the Bodi Ghat.
A visit to Munnar can be combined with Thattekad or Peryiar to see all south Indian specialities.
Birds
Notable Species
On Annamudi in the Eravikulam National Park the sought after Nilgiri Pipit can be found quite easily. Around Munnar Palani Laughingthrush and Nilgiri Flycatcher are found. Other species like Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black-and-orange Flycatcher or White-bellied Blue Robin need more patience and a bit of luck.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Grey Junglefowl, Greater Flameback, White-cheeked Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Indian Swiftlet, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Common Moorhen, Black Kite, Little Grebe, Brown Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, House Crow, Large-billed Crow, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Indian Blackbird, White-bellied Blue Robin, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Pied Bushchat, Jungle Myna, Barn Swallow, Hill Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Square-tailed Bulbul, Indian White-eye, Common Tailorbird, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Tytler's Leaf Warbler, Palani Laughingthrush, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Rufous Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Grey Wagtail, Nilgiri Pipit, Common Rosefinch
Site Information
History and Use
Most of the area is now covered with tea plantations or eucalyptus forest, both quite birdless. The remaining patches of shola forest still hold a good variety of birds and all the local specialities can be found. Further touristic developement is going on.
Areas of Interest
If you come from Kochi and Idukki you pass a dam before you reach Munnar. Go right over the dam and follow the road to the other side of the valley (it leads to some hotels and a village). It's worth to explore the forest in the valley below you for Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Palani Laughingthrush. Malabar Whistling Thrush is also found here.
Eravikulam National Park (or Rajamalai) is good for Nilgiri Pipit. Take a taxi or bus to the ticket centre (about 15km from Munnar). Be sure to be there first (around 7.15) to be on the first bus at 7.45. The bus goes up to the foothill of the Annamudi. Follow the road there higher up and scan the grassy slopes for the pipits. Palani Laughingthrush and Nilgiri Flycatcher can be found here too. The rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr usually sits on the top ridges.
On the same road, but much lower you find patches of shola forest. It's worth to spend some time around this patches and to look out for skulking White-bellied Blue Robin, the local and shy subspecies of Indian Blackbird and the Black-and-orange Flycatcher. For this species patience and persistence may be needed.
Access and Facilities
Munnar can be reached easily from other places in Kerala or from Coimbatore and Madurai. From Ernakulam or Cochi Airport you will need about 5 hours, from Madurai about 6. Busses are running regularly, but to explore the area around Munnar a car is better. The next airport is Cochi.
As Munnar is a popular holiday destination there are plentiful of accommodations, from basic guesthouses to luxury hotels. Around public holidays you should book in advance. Some hotels are outside the town. If you are relying on public transport you should choose something in the centre.
