Grey-sided Thrush at Doi Ang Khang

A rather successful day today as we birded Doi Ang Khang in the morning and then Doi Lang in the late afternoon, with the highlight for me being a couple of Grey-sided Thrushes (see photo below). Now this is not a bird I have seen very often at all and this was only my 3rd or 4th decent sighting ever, but this pair showed well if a little distantly this morning in company with a single Eye-browed Thrush. It wasn't a great day for sharp photo's for some reason but here goes...

We birded a nice sunlit slope and had a great time nailing a whole bunch of goodies such as Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Spectacled Barwing, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Buff-throated Warbler and others. 

Moving on to Doi Lang in the afternoon I was particularly pleased to get this male White-bellied Redstart  at one of the feeding stations. This is a really tough bird to see under normal field conditions but this just proves how amazing these sites are in Thailand. 

A female Slaty-blue Flycatcher was also at the same spot.

After finding a few Crested Buntings we retuned to the same area and got this obliging Spot-breasted Parrotbill....

We ended the day watching an Ultramarine Flycatcher and enjoying fantastic views of a big flock of Cook's Swifts flying low overhead. I did try to get a few pics but they aren't great although you can see the thin rump band and scaly underparts...

Back in Thailand....

As there are numerous Thailand posts from the past few years I thought that this time i'd do a summary of events as we go along and put a few decent photos here, just to give you a flavour of what birding in Thailand is all about. As you know, we do quite a few Thai tours each year and i really love the birding here.

So today was our first day here in the north and we have reached the forested slopes of Doi Ang Khang where we went straight to one of the feeding stations and totally nailed Rusty-naped Pitta. I mean NAILED IT!! Point-blank views down to 4 metres of this male feeding right out in the open, and a female skulking in the shadows behind.

Rusty-naped Pitta

There was also a flock of Silver-eared Mesias, Black-breasted Thrush, White-tailed Robin, Hill Blue Flycatcher and Large Niltava at the same spot. So not a bad start right...?

Black-breasted Thrush

Silver-eared Mesia

South India Wrap-up

Well i'm on my way to Thailand and some great birding in the dry season (it's definitely not the wet season as some people have suggested!!) & really should wrap-up the end of this tour. We finished our stay at Nagarahole National Park with 2 more jeep safaris and a boat ride. No Tigers this time, although we came pretty close and I feel that if you do maybe 6 jeep safaris then a Tiger sighting is pretty much guaranteed here. It would be a far more 'personal' experience than at one of the busier Tiger reserves in central India, where you might have to share your sighting with upwards of 30 or 40 other jeeps. Here at Nagarahole there are much fewer jeeps in the park and we had only 5 other jeeps at the Leopard we saw. 

Anyway, the boat ride along the Kabini River was very rewarding for sightings of Gaur, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Asian Elephants, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Western Osprey, Red-naped Ibis, Red-headed Vulture, and a flock of 250+ Small Pratincoles wheeling overhead at dusk. My particular favourite was the repeated views of a family of Smooth-coated Otters.

Smooth-coated Otter

Woolly-necked Stork

We moved on to Mysore and Ranginathittu Bird Sanctuary where a short boat ride got us up close and personal with Great Thick-knees, Eurasian Spoonbills and Spot-billed Pelicans. 

A real surprise was the nesting colony of Streak-throated Swallows that we sailed right beside and was a totally mesmerising experience.

Several Asian Openbills were also present and i enjoyed trying to get some action shots of this individual drinking the water and some fine breeding plumaged Little Egrets almost floated my boat....!

Thrushes and Spots...

The Oriental Scops-Owl I called in just before daybreak was our 14^th species of owl on the tour so far and a pretty decent start to proceedings. However, the reported Nilgiri Thrush failed to show so we drove down the road and quickly found Jerdon’s Bushlark and watched it song-flighting in the cool early morning. Driving on we stopped to watch a roving group of Tawny-bellied Babblers feeding beside the road and ended up with a White-eyed Buzzard in the scope. But we were under a time constraint today as it was going to be a 4 hour driver to Kabini River Lodge at Nagarhole National Park, however the birding gods had other ideas. As a phone call revealed that Sudeesh had found the Nilgiri Thrush and we were 35 minutes away, so raced back to the lodge. Without any breakfast so far and it was nearly 10.30am already we raced around and eventually had reasonable views at this shy & retiring bird, although not everyone managed to see it well enough. So we ate a quick breakfast, having been promised it at 7.30am but it had failed to materialise…!

Kabini River

Then we were off on a rally to get to Kabini and our afternoon jeep safari. Drove into Karnataka and through Bandipur Tiger Reserve before arriving at the wonderful Kabini River Lodge at 2.45pm and dashed into the dining room for a really late lunch after dumping our gear into our luxury tents. Then we were off on a jeep safari into the park and drove alongside the water where Gaur, herds of Spotted Deer, Woolly-necked and Painted Storks, Red-naped Ibis, Osprey, and a distant Grey-headed Fish-Eagle were seen. In the forest we drove along quiet tracks, stopping occasionally to listen for alarm calls.

We had an amazing experience with this Leopard

 Sure enough we heard a few alarms and drove in the general direction and unbelievably came across a stunning male Leopard dozing in a tree. Wow! So we stayed with him for over an hour and waited and waited for him to wake up and climb down. Several times he raised his head, twitched his tail and even turned around before waking up and staring balefully down at us, yawning a couple of times before suddenly climbing down to the ground, walking past us and crossing the track behind us and away into the forest. We were all speechless as it was an absolutely fabulous experience and by now it was past 6pm and we had to leave the park, elated…

Mudumalai (Jungle Huts)

Left Ooty early doors (well at 6.30am) and drove to Mudumalai and the rather uninspiringly named Jungle Huts Lodge – our base for the night. It took a good 3 hours to get to the first birding spot where we found a flyover Indian Spotted Eagle, a Sykes’s Warbler feeding in some small weeds, and many Brahminy Starlings. 

Sykes's Warbler

After a while our local guide appeared and took us on a whirlwind birding day of the highest calibre. First up, after a bit of a hike, was a Brown Fish Owl that looked  superb in the scope. The same area held Lesser Yellownape, White-rumped Shama, Black-naped Monarch and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher. 

Brown Fish Owl

Then we walked on to see a roosting Brown Wood Owl in a different area, where we also had Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Indian Scimitar-Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler and a surprising female White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. 

Brown Wood Owl

Continuing our trek into the late morning we then located a ridiculously confiding Indian Pitta that just sat preening for 20 minutes right in front of us. And then it was nearly 1pm and time for our picnic lunch during which we saw Forest Wagtail, Indian Nuthatch, Taiga Flycatcher, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, and a few Tricoloured Munias.

Indian Pitta

Then we drove to another scrubby area and quickly found Malabar Lark, along with several Paddyfield Pipits. Nearby our local guide took us to a Jungle Nightjar sat roosting on a tree, and then on to a Savanna Nightjar trying hard to be invisible in the grass underneath a bush. 

Jungle Nightjar

We also saw Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown-capped Pygmy and Yellow-crowned Woodpeckers, Wire-tailed Swallow, Small Minivet, Bay-backed Shrike, Crested Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Common Iora, Common Woodshrike, White-browed Fantail, and even our first Common Kestrel …….

White-bellied Minivet (female)

Then we drove back to Jungle Huts and looked for the previously reported Nilgiri Thrush, but we drew a blank. So we drove out to look for the usually tricky White-bellied Minivet, seeing 4 Woolly-necked Storks in a bare tree along the way, and after a short search found 2 female minivets feeding low down in a dense bushy area. Meanwhile an Indian Vulture flying over was a surprise, and there was also Grey Francolin, and we also saw another Sykes’s Warbler. 

Jungle Bush-Quail - best views ever!

Driving back we saw a group of Yellow-footed Green-Pigeons and amazingly a covey of Jungle Bush-Quail feeding beside the road that hung around for ages, totally unconcerned by our minibus and other passing traffic. Wow! What a day.

Nilgiri Crackers.....!

Birded the Doddabetta Road after a great breakfast at 7am and despite the foul weather with thick mist and drizzle we quickly found one of our main target species, a superb Nilgiri (Black-chinned) Laughingthrush feeding beside the path. 

Nilgiri (Black-chinned) Laughingthrush

Well, to be honest they found us and were really rather bold as they foraged around the small shops & huts beside us! With poor visibility and the renowned skulking Nilgiri Blue Robin still to find, we knew a great deal of patience was required. In the meantime, as we staked out its favoured area, we were entertained by Indian Blackbird, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Oriental White-eye, and both Tickell’s & Tytler’s Leaf-Warblers feeding right in front of us. 

Oriental White-eyes fed right in front of us

As did this Tickell's Leaf Warbler

After a while a robin began singing but soon stopped when a Crested Goshawk flew in and landed right over where we thought it was singing! But it soon moved off and after a short wait, during which we saw a pair of Nilgiri Flycatchers, the Nilgiri Blue Robin appeared and eventually began feeding in an open area below the path where it remained for several minutes. Wow! 

Nigiri Blue Robin

With further views of the Laughingthrushes we then headed down to a lake where we saw Indian Spot-billed Ducks, Common Coot, Green Sandpiper and a few White-throated Fantails.

Indian Spot-billed Ducks

After a lengthy lunchtime back at our swanky hotel we birded the botanical gardens and found it crowded with many people enjoying the improving weather. Despite the hustle and noise a stonking male Kashmir Flycatcher posed nicely in the Pine trees above us and was a real surprise as this species hasn’t been reported here this winter so far. 

Kashmir Flycatcher

Then, a superb male Black-and-orange Flycatcher gave crippling views as it fed along a drainage channel just a metre away from us – the best views I’ve ever had actually. 

The stunning Black-and-orange Flycatcher

We also saw Scaly-breasted Munia, confiding Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Nilgiri Flowerpecker and a brief Olive-backed Pipit. Not a bad little haul and we were back at the hotel at 5pm to enjoy the facilities and get ready for a full-on day tomorrow - and boy how we are loving the birding here in southern India. 

Topslip Dipping...

Spent the morning at Topslip in a vain pursuit of Wynaad Laughingthrush, but we did see a number of good birds such as Malabar Trogon, White-bellied Treepie, Grey Junglefowl, Rufous Babbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater etc.

To be honest I really didn't feel that we had much of a chance finding the laughingthrush, and didn't get positive vibes from the local guides, so another dip with this species. But there must be other places to find it right...?

Rufous-bellied Eagle

Anyway, after lunch we drove for over 5 hours to Ooty and a superb hotel in the town for a 2 night stay.

Moving on to Topslip

Left after breakfast and drove for a couple of hours to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, seeing a Crested Goshawk perched at eye-level beside the road. 

Crested Goshawk

Along the way we stopped in a good area for Yellow-throated Bulbul and after a short while we enjoyed great views of a bird close to the road. This forest here was alive with birds and in particular one large flock had Brown-headed Barbet, Large Cuckooshrike, Common Woodshrike, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Orange Minivet and White-browed Bulbul.

Yellow-throated Bulbul

Driving along the road a pair of Yellow-legged Buttonquails scuttled across in front of us and we saw the male fly away. There was also a perched Shaheen and a soaring Black Eagle as well, plus a close Blue-faced Malkoha. 

Forest Eagle Owl

Once at Chinnar we walked into the open forest and scrub to some tall trees where Sudeesh quickly located a roosting Spot-bellied (Forest) Eagle Owl near the top of a huge tree and we spent quite some time admiring this huge beast through the scope. Just a few metres away was a roosting Jerdon’s Nightjar as well. 

Jerdon's Nightjar

This forested area was also jumping with birds and a calling Jungle Prinia was a little bit of a surprise, but there was also a brief Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Common Woodshrike, Green Warbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Ashy Woodswallow, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Babblers, Malabar Parakeet, Common Iora, White-bellied Drongo, Indian Robin and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.

After a packed lunch at the HQ we drove through Anamalai Tiger Reserve and on up to Topslip, seeing Indian Peafowl, Brown-backed Needletail,  Coppersmith Barbets, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Indian Roller, and Malabar Whistling-Thrush. But we didn’t hang around and drove back down to our digs for the night, the wonderfully named Banyan Tree Lodge. By now it was almost 6pm so after dumping our gear in the rooms we had a quick walk in the grounds and saw a flyover Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Owlet being mobbed by an Asian Paradise-Flycatcher.

Nilgiri Langur

It had also been a good day for mammals with the cool-looking Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque and Hanuman Langur seen. With Barking Deer and Spotted Deer and even a huge bull Gaur spotted as well. But one hair-raising incident will linger with us for a while… As we waited at some roadworks in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, where a gang of labourers were resurfacing the road a huge bull Indian Elephant came out of the forest and walked towards us. It knocked flat a large sign and was clearly ‘angry’ as his ears were flaring and he was moving at a fair speed right towards us. We couldn’t drive forward to escape as there was a large steam roller blocking our escape, and still the Elephant came on. Just in the nick of time the road was cleared and we sped off….. Mmmmm