BIRDS SEEN IN VYTHRI, WAYANAD
We visited Kerala at the end of February and the beginning of March this year. Our stay at "The Village" resort, in Vythri, was spent bird-watching, full-time. It started when we saw this beautiful Blue-capped Rock Thrush sitting on a branch outside my window as soon as we entered our room. Taking pictures through the cloudy window panes was a bit of a challenge though.
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| BLUE-CAPPED ROCK THRUSH👇 |
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| BLUE-CAPPED ROCK THRUSH (F) |
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| BLACK-LORED TIT👇 |
The Racket-tailed Drongo definitely ruled! Their teasing whistle could be heard all over the resort, while they boldly flitted from tree to tree.
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| RACKET-TAILED DRONGO |
We could take pictures of at least three varieties of Bulbuls.
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BLACK CRESTED BULBUL or FLAME-THROATED BULBUL
In the Himalayan region and NE and E india it has a black crest hence the name. In SW India it has a ruby red throat and crest is missing. |
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| YELLOW-BROWED BULBUL |
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RED-WHISKERED BULBUL AND BABY
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| YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER |
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| ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH |
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| LOTEN''S SUNBIRD (F) |
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| ORIENTAL WHITE EYE |
We spent a lot of time trying to take a picture of this dark beauty in the dusk - not easy! The good thing was it was not very shy. On our visit to Coorg the Malabar Whistling Thrush had been extremely reticent.
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| MALABAR WHISTLING THRUSH |
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| GREY-FRONTED GREEN PIGEON👇 |
We saw the Hill Mynas, rather big birds, land on this tree across the stream, while we were having breakfast. The picture through the wire-mesh of the window has a lot of noise but the birds unmistakable yellow wattles made it easy to ID. It seemed to be drinking nectar from the "Palash" or as called in Kerala "Plasu" flowers.
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| HILL MYNA👇 |
Rajeev saw the Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike while sitting and reading a newspaper! while the rest of us were chasing birds all over the place. We learnt, here one just has to sit in a quiet place and the birds will come to you.
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| BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER SHRIKE👇 |
The White-browed Wagtail, or Waggy, as Anu called it, was forever hovering around the swimming pool.
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| WHITE-BROWED WAGTAIL |
There were many Magpie robins but this one was annoyed as Anu aimed her camera. It fluffed up its feathers and glared at her. Some feathers got really ruffled!
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| "Maggie" the MAGPIE ROBIN took umbrage at being photographed |
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| INDIAN BLUE ROBIN (F) |
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| BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA |
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| CRIMSON SUNBIRD |
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| COMMON BLACKBIRD |
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| WHITE-RUMPED MUNIAS |
BIRDS SIGHTED IN KOTTAYAM AND ASHTMUDI
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BROWN-HEADED BARBET
This bird could be heard across all the three states we visited in this season and we grew rather fond of its clownish face and called it "Barbie". |
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| LITTLE HERON |
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| BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER |
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| LOTEN''S SUNBIRD (F) |
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| LOTEN''S SUNBIRD (M) |
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| GREATER COUCAL |
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| BRAHMINY KITE - taking off |
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| BRAHMINY KITE - in flight |
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| INTERMEDIATE EGRET |
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| TREEPIE |
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| COMMON BABBLERS |
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| DARTER |
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| LITTLE CORMORANT |
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POND HERON
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SAND PIPER
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Sighted in Madurai FLAME-BACKED WOODPECKER👇
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HAWK CUCKOO
commonly known as the brain-fever bird because of its typical repetitive call.
sighted at Bangalore Ashram, at the start of the trip, proved to be a good omen for a fabulous trip. |
Photos contributed by everyone on the trip - Anuradha, Ajit, Rajeev and Sumita and Amma helped spot the birds
check out our full trip to Kerala
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