Nilgiri Pipit

Nilgiri Pipit-Anthus nilghiriensis

A resident of SW Indian hills.Comparatively heavily streaked body.Can be seen skulking at ENP Munnar.This picture was shot from Rajamalai in Feb.2010.It was very skulking but finally came out in the open from the dried grass bed.See how well camoflauged it is!Posted on the backdrop of Birdlife International plan to uplist the conservation status of Nilgiri Pipit to Vulnerable.See thr link below:

http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/2010/12/nilgiri-pipit-an/thus-nilghiriensis-uplist-to-vulnerable/

Regds

Vishnu

Bhoothathan Kettu-Idamalayar Birding Trip

Dear friends,
CNHS held a one day birding trip to Bhoothathankettu-Idamalayar region on 5th December.We started from Perumbavoor early morning and had breakfast at Bhoothathankettu and started our birding there.We saw a group of Grey Jungle in the fields behind the dam.On our way to old Bhoothathankettu we saw many birds including,a large flock of White Bellied Tree pies flying in a group.It was a good omen as it is our logo.Many chestnut headed bee-eaters were seen and photographed there.We also saw a guy with 600mm Nikkor lens on a strap around his neck.It was amazing how he could carry it so effortlessly;should be having a neck of steel!!!We next proceeded to Idamalayar at about 11.30am. We saw the eclipse male of Purple Sunbird on the way and all of us clicked it to the heart`s content in the scorching sun for some time....We reached the Dam site at about 2.00 and had a spartan lunch at the KSEB Canteen there.We went up to the tunnel , birding till about 5.30pm there and returned.
This is the complete list of birds sighted:

1. Darter 2. Cattle Egret 3. Indian Pond Heron 4. Little Green Heron 5. Crested Serpent Eagle 6. Shikra 7. Changeable Hawk Eagle 8. Grey Junglefowl 9. Red-wattled Lapwing 10. River Tern 11. Whiskered Tern 12. Blue Rock Pigeon 13. Pompadour Green Pigeon 14. Mountain Imperial Pigeon 15. Indian Hanging Parrot 16, Plum-headed Parakeet 17. Blue-winged Parakeet 18. Brainfever Bird 19. Drongo Cuckoo 20. Indian Edible nest Swiftlet 21. White-rumped Needletail Swift 22. Malabar Trogon 23. White-breasted Kingfisher 24. Lesser Pied Kingfisher 25. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 26. Oriental Broad-billed Roller 27. Malabar Grey Hornbill 28. Greater Golden-backed Woodpecker 29. Heart-spotted Woodpecker 30. Dusky Crag-Martin 31. Red-rumped Swallow 32. Large Pied Wagtail 33. Large Cuckoo Shrike 34. Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike 35. Ruby-throated Bulbul 36. Yellow-browed Bulbul 37. Common Iora 38. Brown Shrike 39. Blue-headed Rock Thrush 40. Malabar Whistling Thrush 41. White-throated Ground Thrush 42. Black-headed Babbler 43. Jungle Babbler 44. Common Tailorbird 45. Greenish Leaf Warbler 46. Large-billed Leaf Warbler 47. Asian Brown Flycatcher 48. Brown-breasted Flycatcher 49. Asian Paradise Flycatcher 50. Plain Flowerpecker ( Nilgiri Flowerpecker) 51. Purple-rumped Sunbird 52. Small Sunbird 53. Purple Sunbird 54. Chestnut-tailed Starling 55. Common Myna 56. Jungle Myna 57. Eurasian Golden Oriole 58. Black-headed Oriole 59. Black Drongo 60. Ashy Drongo 61. Bronzed Drongo 62. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 63. Ashy Wood Swallow 64. Indian Treepie 65. White-bellied Treepie 66. House Crow 67. Jungle Crow

68.PlainPrinia
69.Little Cormorant

70. Egret

71. Gold-fronted Chloropsis

72. Red-whiskered Bulbul

73. Crested Tree-Swift

74.Cheeked Barbet

75. Crimson-throated Barbet

76. Grey Wagtail

77. Oriental Magpie-Robin

78. Southern Hill Myna
79.Green Imperial Pegion.

Participants:
Dr.Dileep K G,Ginu George ,Jai P Jacob and his son,Dr.Prasanth,Dr.George Moti,Prasad M George,Anna George,Gopinathan Nair,Madhukrishnan,Binny V A,Jayesh,Rifaz,Manjesh,Rajsree Bhatter,Firoze,Prof.Muthafa, Ramanathan and myself.

Vishnu

Should we sacrifice the sanctity of our wilderness for luxuries?

Friends,
Recently my attention was captured by an article that appeared in 'The Hindu" newspaper.
It seems like there's a move to introduce air taxi for sabarimala pilgrims. Is it really a necessity?
Don't you think it will create a disturbance in the pristine forests which is also a project tiger reserve. Wild animals and trees also need space to live and thrive. We cannot invade and steal what little is left for them for our luxuries. Necessities, I can understand, but luxury????


Please read the article.:
Helicopter taxis for pilgrims A Correspondent

From Nedumbassery to Nilackal base camp

Nedumbassery: With more number of devotees from the neighbouring States opting for a flight to Kochi en route to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, the airport here is expecting a quantum jump in the movement of domestic passengers during the ongoing two-month annual pilgrimage season.

According to official sources, the number of devotees arriving at the airport here had been registering a steady increase over the last few years and the trend was expected to continue in the current season as well. During the period, a largest number of devotees are expected to arrive from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in association with Bharath Airways Private Limited, has introduced a helicopter taxi service to the Nilackal base camp.

The Travancore Devaswom Board, in September, gave permission to CIAL for operating the service, subject to the necessary security clearance and permission from the authorities.

The first flight of the season, carrying five devotees from Hyderabad, is scheduled to take off from here next week. The services will be operated with a Bell-407 type chopper having a passenger capacity of five. There are also provisions to avail of a bigger chopper with 12-14 seats. The flying time from Nedumbassery to Nilackal will be 30 minutes and the fares will be charged on hourly basis.

The airport has also introduced pick and drop services for the pilgrims landing here from various destinations.

CIAL has been reporting a consistent growth in domestic traffic on the back of a sharp jump in the number of domestic tourists arriving here.

Domestic traffic in the airport here during the last fiscal grew by a healthy margin of 26.7 per cent along with a 6 per cent increase in domestic aircraft movements.

Smitha Komath's Gallery

Simply awesome photographs. One would wish to see MORE pictures of this genre in this gallery. Congrats Smitha!!!

Film on TIGER WASP Released...

Hi, friends,

A short film on TIGER WASP is available for viewing in the VIDEOS section. Click over the thumbnail and go top. Your comments and criticisms are most solicited.

Thank you,

Dr.Dilip K G

CNHS House Sparrow Monitoring Project

Thank you, Dr. Anilkumar T R for your post in the "CNHS House Sparrow Monitoring Project". The data you provided is of immense value. Please continue posting.

One Day Birding Trip to IDAMALAYAR

Dear Friends,

Cochin Natural History Society is conducting a one day bird watching programme on Sunday
5th December.
Area : Bhoothathankettu to Idamalayar Dam Area.
Vegetation : Semi Evergreen and Plantation
Date : 5th December 2010
Route of Travel :Perumbavoor – Kothamangalam – Keerampara- Bhoothathankettu – Thundathil-Idamalayar
Distance : Approx: 50 kms from Perumbavoor
Starting Time : 5 45 a.m Near Perumbavoor Transport Bus stand
(There is a pay and park facility there where you can park your vehicle)
We will travel t by a Mini bus/Tempo traveler from Perumbavoor.
Cost : The actual cost of transportation & food to be shared by all

Instructions:
1. Please register before 30th November 2010 by email (cochinnhs@yahoo.com) or by phone Vishnu: 9446437410 Registration is limited to 20 persons.
2. You should carry light snacks, umbrella, caps, enough water etc.
3. We will be birding along the road and immediate vicinity. Most of the road from Bhoothathankettu passes through thick forest and we are likely to see 70 – 90 species on a good and lucky day including Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Blue Bearded Bee Eater, Chestnut Winged Cuckoo, Yellow Browed Bulbul, and Scarlet Minivet, Barn Swallow, Dusky Crag Martin and many more species of beautiful birds. We are likely to see many species of Butterflies and dragon flies etc. also.
4. We will start at 5.45 a.m on 05.12. 2010 from Perumbavoor KSRTC Bus station and do birding till 2 p.m and return.
5. Breakfast and lunch will be had along the way from small teashops (cost sharing basis).