A trip that was pending and in-plan for more than 3 years, finally came to fruition. Our primary birding happened only in South Andaman and our base camp was Port Blair. Although we also planned to visit the Little Andaman (for the Mandarin duck) but the ferry timing did not work out for us. In a way it was good, as we didn't have a single day that went without lifers.
Total Days of Birding: 8
Location: Only South Andaman
Total Lifers: 54
Guide Help: Shakti Vel
Place of Stay: Hotel Coral Cove, Port Blair
Some tips for birding enthusiasts:
Day 1:
Landed at Port Blair (thanks to direct flight from Hyderabad)
Day starts early in Andaman (almost every day at 4-30 AM) and ends late (almost 7 PM) as we do a lot of Owling after dark.
Total lifers spotted: 5
Location of birding: Around Sippighat Wetlands
Total Days of Birding: 8
Location: Only South Andaman
Total Lifers: 54
Guide Help: Shakti Vel
Place of Stay: Hotel Coral Cove, Port Blair
Some tips for birding enthusiasts:
- Shakti is an amazing guide, young and enthusiastic. Knows his terrain well and is very hard working. There are other guides available for Andaman too, but we were very happy with Shakti on our side.
- South Andaman is great for birding and if you want you can arrange your own stay as well, in your own choice of Hotel in Port Blair. It feels nice to be back to a good hotel after the gruelling day of hard work and trekking.
- We stayed at Hotel Coral Cove which is a 4-star property right beside the airport. A great place to relax after birding. They are very particular about your needs and take care of your stay in the best possible manner.
- Port Blair is completely commecialized, so 3 star properties are not worth it. They are unhygeinic and don't treat you well. Better avoid any kind of 3-star hotel stay.
- Trekking is moderate but be ready for some hard work under the sun in humid weather.
- Be prepared for rain and leaches - ponchos and leach guards are a must.
- Visit to Nicobar or Little Andaman is advisable only if you have enough time in your hands (minimum 15 days). For South Andaman, a week long trip should be sufficient.
- Better arrange for a chopper instead of ferry if you plan to go to other lesser known islands for birding (it will be expensive but you will save a lot of time)
Day 1:
Landed at Port Blair (thanks to direct flight from Hyderabad)
Day starts early in Andaman (almost every day at 4-30 AM) and ends late (almost 7 PM) as we do a lot of Owling after dark.
Total lifers spotted: 5
Location of birding: Around Sippighat Wetlands
Day 2:
Total lifers spotted: 11
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu and other common wetlands
Total lifers spotted: 11
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu and other common wetlands
Day 3:
Total lifers spotted: 9
Location of birding: Around Shoal Bay, Bambooflat and Sippighat Wetlands
Total lifers spotted: 9
Location of birding: Around Shoal Bay, Bambooflat and Sippighat Wetlands
Day 4:
Total lifers spotted: 6
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu and Badabalu beach
Total lifers spotted: 6
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu and Badabalu beach
Day 5:
Total lifers spotted: 7
Location of birding: Around Shoal Bay Bambooflat
Total lifers spotted: 7
Location of birding: Around Shoal Bay Bambooflat
Day 6:
Total lifers spotted: 7
Location of birding: Around Mt. Harriet National Park
Day 7:
Total lifers spotted: 5
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu
Day 8:
Total lifers spotted: 4
Location of birding: Around Bambooflat
Total lifers spotted: 7
Location of birding: Around Mt. Harriet National Park
Day 7:
Total lifers spotted: 5
Location of birding: Around Chidiyatapu
Day 8:
Total lifers spotted: 4
Location of birding: Around Bambooflat
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| Hume's Hawk Owl |
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| Oriental Scops Owl |
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| Andaman Hawk Owl |
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| Andaman Scops Owl |
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| Pacific Golden Plover |
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| Purple Swamphen |
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| Changeable Hawk Eagle |
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| Changeable Hawk Eagle dark morph |
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| Black-naped Oriole juv |
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| Black-naped Oriole Male |
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| Alexandrine Parakeet male |
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| Red-collared Dove |
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| White-headed Starling |
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| Andaman Bulbul female |
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| Andaman Bulbul male |
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| Long-tailed Parakeet Female |
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| Long-tailed Parakeet male |
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| Asian Fairy Bluebird Male |
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| Asian Fairy Bluebird female |
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| Black Baza |
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| Green Imperial Pigeon |
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| Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Male |
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| Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike female |
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| Andaman Drongo |
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| Stork-billed Kingfisher |
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| Common Kingfisher |
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| Collared Kingfisher |
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
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| Blue-eared Kingfisher |
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| Ruddy Kingfisher |
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| Slaty-breasted Rail |
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| Emerald Dove |
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| Vernal Hanging Parrot |
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| Glossy Swiftlet |
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| Pacific Reef Egret |
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| Andaman Shama |
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| Andaman Woodpecker Male |
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| Andaman Woodpecker female |
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| Andaman Cuckoo Dove |
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| Andaman Treepie |
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| Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo |
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| Mangrove Whistler |
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| Spot-breasted Woodpecker |
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| White-bellied Sea Eagle |
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| White-bellied Sea Eagle juv |
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| Chinese Pond Heron |
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| Indian Pond Heron |
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| Lesser Whistling Duck |
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| Andaman Serpent Eagle |
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| Dollarbird |
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| Brown Coucal |
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| Olive-backed Sunbird Female |
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| Olive-backed Sunbird male |
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| Forest Wagtail |
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| Red-breasted Parakeet Male |
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| Red-breasted Parakeet female |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Andaman Green Pigeon |
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| Eurasian Curlew |
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
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| Andaman Nightjar |
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| Cinnamon Bittern |
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| Red-necked Stint |
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| Long-toed Stint |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Andaman Teal |
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| Andaman Flowerpecker |
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| Andaman Cuckoo Dove |
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| Black Baza |
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| Brown-backed Needletail |
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| White-breasted Woodswallow |
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| Asian Glossy Starling |
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| Watercock |
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| Broad-billed Sandpiper |
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| Lesser Sand Plover |
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| Striated Heron |
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| Yellow Wagtail |
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| Ashy Minivet Female |
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| Brown Shrike |
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| Common Snipe |
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| Edible Nest Swiftlet |
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| Oriental Pratincole |
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| Yellow Bittern |
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| Eastern Jungle Crow |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Pacific Swallow |
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| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo |
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| Grey-headed Lapwing |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Brown Shrike |
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| Short-crested Bay Island Forest Lizard |
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| Large Tree Nymph |
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| Andaman Water Monitor Lizard |
can you share Guide contact details and charges it will be very helpful... for our next visit...
ReplyDeleteGuide was Shakti Vel, you can easily find him in facebook. I prefer not to put phone numbers on the public forum as that can lead to spam. Guide charges completely depend on the type of birding that you wuld want to do and the type of hotels where you would like to stay. It is totally customizable based on your requirements and it would vary between every individual.
DeleteNoted... thanks for sharing info... is there any birder group in Hyderabad with whom i can learn more about birding... as i am a beginner...
ReplyDeleteThere are many birding groups in Hyderabad, some of them are quite formal and organised. BSAP is one, the other one is HBP. Personally, I don't like doing birding in groups, that nullifies the purpose of birding. It is easier to click the bird in the filed and then come back home and refer to birding books to identify the species. That way the learning is far more. If you need help in identifying the location of birding, then I can help you with that. You can anyday gather 2-3 friends and go to these locations for birding. You can even go alone, all the locations are pretty safe.
Deleteand best period to visit Andaman...
ReplyDeleteBest time to visit is Nov-Dec-Jan-Feb. Since, Andaman is hot and humid always, so these 4 months are a little better than others.
DeleteSuch a delightful blog, helpful in several ways. The fact that these islands have such an amazing diversity of avian life never ceases to surprise me. Hope I cud bird here some day.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true. Thanks.
DeleteThanks for the input Sumeet. Very helpful info.
ReplyDeleteGlad it could help.
Delete