birding...

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier ©Laurence Poh http://www.laurencepoh.com/

August is the dry season in Tamilnadu, with howling winds daily across the great parched plains. Here, tucked at the foot of the Western Ghats, we are sheltered from those heavy winds and often steal a late afternoon rain shower from the South West monsoon. Even so, this month our 300 lake of the Kamaraji Dam near Dindigul, is half dry and a meeting place for Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants, Spot-bill Ducks, White Ibis, Egrets and Herons. I was amazed to see a pair of Minivets, which had flown out of the hills. Flycatchers scoop drinking water on the wing as they skim our pond, where Kingfishers large and small come each evening to roost. Two families of Partridges come each early morning for their broken rice breakfast, followed by 5 Quail, followed by Spotted and Brown Doves, then Babblers and the odd Chipmunk.

Five schoolboys come bird-watching one Sunday morning each month, and they came early in August with their note-books and the birds they have spotted. Their list included a Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Probably a Yellow Lapwing, I suggested. No, they said very confidently, Definitely a jacana. Their idlies and dhosai were cooking and quickly they settled under a large Neem tree for their breakfast. Next day, scanning the lake with my binoculars during breakfast and forgetting the jacana claim, I saw six strange birds - three pairs of jacanas! Now I know how excited birdwatchers can get. Next day only one pair remained and each day for the past month we have watched a pair of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and four grey, well camouflaged chicks as they work the long mud flat opposite our Lakeside Guest House. With that, the number of bird species recorded around Lakeside has risen to 185. If its birds you want, Tamil Nadu is well worth a visit.

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Mayuram Lodge

India Unplugged!
Deep in the rural hinterland of Tamil Nadu, land of many temples and ancient history, country rich in legend and folklore – experience the real India! Mayuram is at the foot of the Western Ghats, amidst 350 acres of native savanna woodland. The diversity of habitat makes it home to a wide range of bird species so is ideal birding country. When you want to take a break from birding you can walk the countryside, take a short hike or two into the neighbouring hills, or even make a trek through the surrounding forest. So visit us at Mayuram, for a different holiday in a different India!