{"id":6221,"date":"2010-12-23T06:13:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-23T06:13:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2019-05-10T10:37:07","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T10:37:07","slug":"tale-of-the-two-jungles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexplorerguide.com\/?p=6221","title":{"rendered":"Tale of the two Jungles"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
It was the first time that a preplanned trip was executed as thought. The trip to Bandipur and Madhumalai was planned well in advance for the 4th of December but we never planned where to stay. Our discombobulation was cleared when I suddenly recalled about the place owned by one of the friend’s (Mr.Deepan) in Masanagudi (New Mountaina Resorts). I took a chance to find out if there was availability of r<\/span>ooms from R<\/span>amakrishnan (Associate of Mr.Deepan) for our stay and to our luck we found out that there was room for us.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>
The day started at 3:30 AM we got ready and started our journey towards B<\/span>andipur. The first 35 kilometers was like as we were on a game round within the city. We for sometime thought we were on the moon looking at craters and moving around them. By the time we reached the Bandipur check-post it was 6:30 AM and since it was a Saturday we understood that the first game was out of question. As soon as we reached the Bandipur center we immediately got the ticket<\/span>s for the game and got into the Bus. The light was not as good as we expected, but our objective was to look out for the wildlife and we were at our best in the lookout.<\/span><\/div>\n

The entry into the wilderness was filled with suspense and excitement. We were welcomed by a herd of spotted deer (Axis axis<\/span>). The light was not as bright as we thought it would be as per the forecast, but was good enough to spot birds and animals. There was good activity of birds even though the trail was like a highway of vehicles including that of the resorts and the government assigned ones. We saw several jungle fowls <\/span>(Gallus so<\/span><\/span>nneratii<\/span>) on the track and w<\/span>ere scrambling around as soon as veh<\/span>icles passed by. As we moved o<\/span>n we saw two Red Wattled Lapwings (Vanellus indicus<\/span>) which started their regular display of trying to get the enemy (us) away from their ne<\/span>sting area. Our first bird of prey of the day was the Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela<\/span>)<\/span><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>\n
which is a majestic bird and was least bothered by our presence. It was resting right across the track planning for the next meal. The driver then stopped the van to show us the Racket Tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradieseus<\/span>) but my eyes caught up with something more interesting a new woodpecker that <\/span>was not seen till date the Streak-Throated Wood<\/span>pecker (Picus xanthopygaeus<\/span>). The Indian National bird excited most of them present in van. As we moved on we spotted a healthy Indian Wild Boar (a.k.a Wild Pig) (Sus scrofa<\/span><\/span><\/span>) (FACT: Same species of pig is found in Europe except that its coat is thinner). The game round ended with the dismay to most of them as they could not spot any big mammal.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
We then planned for a s<\/span>econd game round to the after breakfast. As soon as we finished breakfast the van was ready for the second round and we were given priority seats just behind the driver’s seat. We prayed that the van takes a different route and our prayer was answered initially. As we were about to enter the forest, we passed a jeep from one of the resorts and the driver of the jeep reported to ours that they spotted a tiger in a specific place, this started us to think of what would be our luck to confront the King of the Indian Jungle. The van was driven with utmost care as possible and all of us were instructed to keep our volume on mute for some time and all of us adhered to the same.<\/span><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>\n
One of the visit<\/span>ors suddenly started off shouting Tiger…Tiger… we all turned <\/span>towards that direction and to our surprise we spotted the Tiger (Panthera tigris<\/span>) which had just quenched its thirst in the lak<\/span>e “Kolaka Malli Katte”<\/span>. It gave us a single long stare a<\/span>nd moved on to get away from the greediest animal in the Universe. The sight of the KING made our day, the driver then switched off the van and we all were silent for sometime and expecting another glimpse of the Tiger only to be satisfied with some growls.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
Our journey towards Madhumalai continued expecting some more exciting confrontations but to our dismay we were only confronted by vehicles and were chased by many more honkers who never missed an opportunity to blow their favorite music and disrupting the silence of the jungle with their horns to let all the other creatures know that “I am here to d<\/span>estroy your peace…you better be careful”. We then planned to just reach “New Mountainia Resorts” which we did before our calculated ETA.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
The Resort is located well within the vicinity of Masanagudi town with an excellent view of the Nilgiris. We settled down and then started off for birding around the resort. We could make out with the overall activity that the place is a heaven for small birds. We were welcomed by a pair of Booted Warblers (Hippolais caligata<\/span>) a wonderful hyperactive bird. A female Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus<\/span>) gave us a glimpse to confuse us to some other bird, but our confusion was cleared as soon as we saw the male approaching. We then had an unusual visitor which was another new addition to our life list a Western Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus occipitalis<\/span>) an excellent bird with an orange beak and f<\/span>earless. A Green Bee-Eater (Merpos orientalis<\/span>) caught an insect, a highly trained bird in catching insects in flight. A Great Tit (Parus major<\/span>) was trying to find some food under the leaves of the Teak leaf. We then took a break for lunch, as we sta<\/span>rted having our lunch we could see a colony of mixed species flocking around us several House sparrows, Red-Vented Bulbul, Red-Whiskered Bulbul and Oriental Magpie Robins. A female Oriental Magpie Robin I think knew that we were docile and joined us on the table next to us for lunch.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
After lunch we planned for a small drive towards kalhatti ghats as I had been to one of the places nearby and had planned to get back there for birding. The approach road was a shrub jungle with small trees here and there. It had rained the previous week and there were puddles of water in most of the places. We spotted a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola<\/span>) which was trying to feed on tadpoles. A Bay-Backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus<\/span>) was resting on a dead branch keeping a watch for a meal down below. We then saw the Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops<\/span>) which perched on a branch against the shrike. The Yellow Billed Babblers (Turdoides affinis<\/span>) were making tweeting noise. A Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia<\/span>) was having its time of the day looking for insects on a Lantana plant. A White-Browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola<\/span>) had selected a branch of a sh<\/span>rub and was very possessed with the same. Several Malabar Parakeets (Psittacula columboides<\/span>) were returning to their nests and gave us an excellent display by flying in flocks. We then drove back planning to continue birding in the resort area.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
As soon as we reached the resort we watched a Purple Sunbird (Eclipse Male) (Nectarinia asiatica<\/span>) was trying to choose flowers which contained nectar to satisfy its hunger, just then two White-Cheeked Barbets (Megalaima viridis<\/span>) accompanied a Red-Whiskered Bulbul <\/span><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>\n
(Pycnonotus jocosus<\/span>). A close display was given by the White-Throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis<\/i>) which took us some time to ID it and have a comparison with the White Browed Fantail sighted earlier.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
As evening approached we were seen off by a pair of Vernal Hanging Parrots (Loriculus vernalis<\/i>) and an excellent sight of the Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae<\/i>) was an excellent curtain closer for the trip.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
I would like to firstly thank Mr.Deepan for hosting us and Mr.Ramakrishnan to have suggested this excellent place to stay and spend our unforgettable journey to Madhumalai.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>\n
The following is the checklist of the birds sighted by us during the journey from Mysore to Madhumalai and back.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n

Check List of Birds sighted on 4th<\/sup> and 5th<\/sup> December 2010 (Bandipur, Madhumalai and Masinagudi)<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Grey Jungle Fowl – Gallus sonneratii<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Indian Peafowl – Pavo cristatus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Streak-Throated Woodpecker – Picus xanthopygaeus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    White Cheeked Barbet – Megalaima viridis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Coppersmith Barbet – Megalaima haemacephala<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Common Hoopoe – Upupa epops<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Indian Roller – Coracias benghalensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    White-Throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    Green Bee-Eater – Merops orientalis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    Asian Koel – Edynamys scolopacea<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    Vernal Hanging Parrot – Loriculus vernalis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    Rose-Ringed Parakeet – Psittacula krameri<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    Plum-Headed Parakeet – Psittacula cyanocephala<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  14. \n

    Malabar Parakeet – Psittacula columboides<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  15. \n

    Laughing Dove – Streptopelia senegalensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  16. \n

    Spotted Dove – Streptopelia chinensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  17. \n

    Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  18. \n

    Red-Wattled Lapwing – Vanellus indicus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  19. \n

    Black Kite – Milvus migrans<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  20. \n

    Brahminy Kite – Haliastur Indus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  21. \n

    Crested Serpent Eagle – Spilornis cheela<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  22. \n

    Short-Toed Snake Eagle – Circaetus gallicus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  23. \n

    Shikra – Accipter badius dussumieri<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  24. \n

    Intermediate Egret – Mesophoyx intermedia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  25. \n

    Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  26. \n

    Black-Headed Ibis – Threskiornis melanocephalus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  27. \n

    Black Ibis – Pseudibis papillosa<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  28. \n

    Spot-Billed Pelican – Pelecanus philippensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  29. \n

    Asian Fairy Bluebird – Irena puella<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  30. \n

    Long-Tailed Shrike – Lanius Schach<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  31. \n

    Rufous Treepie – Dendrocitta vagabunda<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  32. \n

    Large-Billed Crow – Corvus macrorhynchos<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  33. \n

    House Crow – Corvus splendens<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  34. \n

    Small Minivet – Pericrocotus cinnamomeus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  35. \n

    White-Throated Fantail – Rhipidura hypoxantha albofularis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  36. \n

    Black Drongo – Dicrurus macrocercus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  37. \n

    White-Bellied Drongo – Dicrurus caerulescens<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  38. \n

    Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo – Dicrurus paradiseus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  39. \n

    Common Iora – Aegithina tiphia <\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  40. \n

    Tickell\u2019s Blue Flycatcher – Cyornis tickelliae<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  41. \n

    Oriental Magpie Robin – Copsychus saularis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  42. \n

    Indian Robin – Saxicoloides fulicata<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  43. \n

    Brahminy Starling – Sturnus pagodarum<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  44. \n

    Common Myna – Acridotheres tristis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  45. \n

    Jungle Myna – Acridotheres fuscus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  46. \n

    Great Tit – Parus major<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  47. \n

    Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  48. \n

    Red-Whiskered Bulbul – Pycnonotus jocosus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  49. \n

    Red-Vented Bulbul – Pycnonotus cafer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  50. \n

    Oriental White-Eye – Zosterops palpebrosus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  51. \n

    Clamarous Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus stentoreus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  52. \n

    Booted Warbler – Hippolais caligata<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  53. \n

    Common Tailorbird – Orthotomus sutorius<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  54. \n

    Western Crowned Warbler – Phylloscopus occipitalis<\/b><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  55. \n

    Yellow billed Babbler – Turdoides affinis<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  56. \n

    Purple-Rumped Sunbird – Nectarinia zeylonica<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  57. \n

    House Sparrow – Passer domesticus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  58. \n

    White-Browed Wagtail – Motacilla maderaspatensis<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  59. \n

    Scaly-Breasted Munia – Lonchura punctulata<\/p>\n

    Team members: M R Rajaram, Seshachalam M A<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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