Thattekad bird sanctuary

Thattekad Birds Sanctuary ( Salim Ali Birds Sanctuary)- Largest Knwon habitat of Ceylon Frog Mouth

Thattekad Birds Sanctuary is the first birds’ sanctuary in Kerala, named after Dr.Salim Ali- father of Indian ornithology- in 1983. It is located in Ernakulam district, about 65kms east of Cochin City. It is also accessible from Munnar Hill station after 70kms drive towards west. The sanctuary is famous for its population of Ceylon Frog Mouth, an endemic species of Western Ghats. The sanctuary is in one the last bit of Tropical West Coast Rainforest in the bank of Periyar River. The Sanctuary harbours 34 species of mammals, 276 sp of birds, 30 species of reptiles, 15 species of amphigians and 47 species of fishes. Rare birds found are Ceylon Frogmouth, Bourdillon’s Long eared Indian Nightjar, Peninsular Bay owl, Crimson throated barbet, Malabar Grey hornbill, Malabar Trogan, etc. We offers guided bird watching and photography tour, accommodation in farm stay and jungle camp.

Birds diversity

Wester ghats explorer

Thattekad is an Important Bird Area. The avifauna of the sanctuary includes residents and migratory birds. Thattekad is famous for its Srilankan Frog Mouth population. The lush tropical west coast rainforest harbours many endangered and endemic species. The sanctuary is located in the catchment of Bhoothathankettu dam in Periyar river. Wetland formed by the waters of dam, deciduous teak forest, rainforest and the gradual development of western hills harbours species restricted to peculiar habitats. It is an ideal location to spot Sri Lankan Frogmouth , Night jars, Owls, Goshawk, eagles , Malabar Grey Horn bill, Malabar Trogon, White rumped Shama, Dark fronted babbler , flame throated bulbul etc.

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2 DAYS COCHIN-THATTEKAD BIRDING TOUR

Thattekad
Start our trip early in the morning at 5.30am from Cochin with packed breakfast. Reach Thattekad by 7am. The guide will meet you at sanctuary gate .After a fresh cup of tea start hiking through the sanctuary for birds. The morning session will ends up at 11am. Check in to your private farm house stay. Cool up in its small pool. Have your lunch and rest. The afternoon session for more birds will start at 3pm. searching for more birds with special emphasis on target species. Overnight in farm stay. Have a night stroll for nocturnal birds in the farm forest. Wake up early for early birding in search of Ceylon Frog mouth and other endemic species in and around the sanctuary area. Check out after lunch. Departure transfer. itenerary    booknow

5 DAYS COCHIN-THATTEKAD-MUNNAR-MARAYUR-CHINNAR

Salim Ali birds sanctuary

Start our trip early in the morning at 5.30am from Cochin with packed breakfast. Reach Thattekad by 7am. The guide will meet you at sanctuary gate .After a fresh cup of tea start hiking through the sanctuary for birds. The morning session will ends up at 11am. Check in to your private farm house stay. Cool up in its small pool. Have your lunch and rest. The afternoon session for more birds will start at 3pm. searching for more birds with special emphasis on target species. Overnight in farm stay. Have a night stroll for nocturnal birds in the farm forest. Wake up early for early birding in search of Ceylon Frog mouth and other endemic species in and around the sanctuary area.Transfer to Munnar. After lunch prepare for a mountain birding through farm forest and shola forest for Southern Hilltop forest birds. Overnight in birds camp. Day three is totally for high altitude birds like Nilgiri blue flycatcher , Black and orange flycatcher, Kerala laughing thrush, Broad tailed grass bird etc through Shola , grassland and riparian forest. Overnight in camp. Check out from Munnar and transfer to Chinnar-Marayur leeward forest through Thalayar patched of shola and Marayur sandal woo forest. Birding through the riparian forest of Marayur. Overnight in Marayur camp. The fifth day is for birding in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary – a lucky hunt for grey headed bulbul, and good number of dry forest birds. Over night in Chinnar Camp. After morning session of birding transfer to Cochin.

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