MUNNAR & THATTEKAD, KERALA’S BIRDING HOT SPOTS
Munnar and Thattekad are the top 2 Birding Hot Spots of Kerala.
These should be in your top most list, if you are venturing a birding trip to Kerala.
Munnar is a beautiful hill range and part of the western-ghat. Though it occupies a huge area, there are quite a few popular birding hubs within Munnar itself.
BIRDING IN MUNNAR, ONE OF THE TOP 2 HOT SPOTS
Anaimudi, Mathikettan, Pambadum sola ranges and Ervaikulam National Parks are the areas worth mentioning, for birding and bird photography within Munnar.
Even though Chinnar itself, is an exclusive birding hub, birders visiting Munnar will never sign off without completing their birding activity in Chinnar.
To be more specific, we intend to cover only on Kerala’s top 2 Birding Hot Spots viz., Munnar & Thattekad, in this blog.
THE PROMISING BIRDS’ LIST OF MUNNAR
The high altitude grasslands & chola lands are home to many endemics like the Black & Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Shortwing, Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon etc.
However, we will not miss birds like Oriental White Eye, Square-tailed Bulbul, Palani Laughing Thrush, Vernal Hanging Parrots, Bar winged flycatcher shrike, Velvet fronted Nutach, Himalayan Black Lored Tit, Blue Capped Rock Thrush, Malabar whistling Thrush, Asian Fairy Blue Bird, Golden fronted Leaf Bird, Yellow Browed Bulbul & Flame throated Bulbuls, to name a few.
AWESOME THATTEKAD
Thattekad per se is a different and unique terrain when comparing to Munnar. Thattekad promises you with a large number of resident as well as migratory birds, though the area it offers for birding is not a large one, in contrast to Munnar.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, the first bird sanctuary of Kerala, named after India’s legendary ornithologist, is situated in Thattekad. This is also known as ‘Thattekad Bird Sanctuary’. One can spend around 3 hours inside the sanctuary for birding and bird photography. In addition to this, you can also seek the assistance of the birding guides available in Thattekad to take you around for birding and bird photography.
PROMISING BIRDS LIST OF THATTEKAD
White bellied tree pie, Rufous tree pie, Grey jungle fowl, Isabellan Shrike, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar whistling thrush, Malabar Trogans , Oriental Dwarf King Fisher, Blue eared King Fisher, Cinereous Tit, Sreelankan Frog mouth, Hill myna, Flame backed wood peckers are some of the birds, we will not miss in Thattekad.
Copper smith Barbets, Greater-racket-tailed-drongos, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Pond herons, Malabar Starlings, Slaty-breasted-rails and Indian Pitta are other birds we will definitely add to our list. However, with the guide’s help we can also spot birds like Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental scopes Owl, Brown Fish Owl, and Spot bellied Eagle Owl.
One should be real lucky to spot Black Baza and Kashmiri flycatchers, the winter migrators to Thattekad and Munnar.
REACHING THERE
By Road:
For the visitors coming from North: Reach Coimbatore in Tamilnadu. From there, they can either travel to Angamaly in Kerala via Trichur, take a diversion to MC Road, drive upto Muvattupuzha and from there via Kothamangalam reach Thattekad. (Around 200 kms total drive).
From Thattekad via Adimali you can reach Munnar. (Around 70 Kms.)
Another route is reaching Udumalpet from Coimbatore and through Chinnar, Marayoor reaching Munnar. This takes around 160 Kms on road. From Munnar via Adimali you can also reach Thattekad.
By Rail : Around 50 Kms from Aluva Station, in Kerala, to Thattekad
Nearest Airports: Coimbatore ( 200 Kms to Munnar) and Kochi international airports. (50 Kms to Thattekad)
BEST SEASON & WHOM TO CONTACT
September to May is the best season to visit Munnar and Thattekad for birding and bird photography.
Whom to contact:
Thattekad bird Sanctuary. ( Timings: 7 AM to 5 PM )
For Munnar: Mr. Kuttan aka Kuttettan Munnar, Contact : 9447523928
For Thattekad: Mr. Sanu Sasi, Contact : 9846545992
Though this blog does not aim to market the guides & tour operators, some of the well known and dependable names in this area, based on our past experiences are given above.
Birders can contact the guides directly to find out their availability, fix the schedules and utilise their services for their birding activity in and around Munnar & Thatttekad and plan accordingly.
WHAT YOUR BAG SHOULD CONTAIN:
You should definitely carry a long zoom lens , appropriate camera and a sturdy tripod for your birding and bird photography. Binos would surely help you. So remember to bring one, if you have.
Also remember to carry mosquito repellant, sweat shirts & ID cards.
Your vehicles may be subjected to a thorough checking by the Forest Department officials and cops when you cross their check posts. ( Remember: A big No, No for ‘Alcohol’ and Plastic bottles or plastic kits in your bag ! ) Also follow the instructions if any given by these authorities, while you are driving through the forest land.
With these information, it should be possible for you to have a satisfying trip to Munnar & Thattekad, the top 2 Birding Hot Spots in Kerala.
Wishing you an enjoyable birding trip.