Thattekkad diaries. Part 2

I was up at 6.15 am, we had a cup of tea & headed for the sanctuary. We saw many different Fly Catchers. We had very good views of the Crested Goshawk. Could not believe such a small raptor, which is capable of lifting off a rabbit.


But the highlight was when we saw one of the biggest woodpeckers, The White Bellied Woodpecker. The sound of the tapping which it made on the tree was amazing.

We also got to see for the first time The Malabar Squirrel. It was huge, sitting & enjoying some berries on a tree. We returned to our rooms by mid morning.

Girish said we will meet again at 4 pm & if our luck is with us we might get to see the Mottled Wood Owl. I couldn't wait !!!

We left at 4pm & scanned all the possible trees for about an hour for the Mottled Wood Owl, but luck was not with us, so we gave up the search.

We went to a lake nearby, we saw some waterbirds. The Whiskered Tern, the Ashy Wood Swallow, the Red Rumped Swallow. Then while walking back Girish said, now that it is dusk, this is the habitat of the Indian Pitta & there may be a chance to see it very clearly. We had seen it last year in Masinagudi. But Girish told us the characteristics of the Indian Pitta & how difficult it is sometimes to sight. Infact there was an an Australian birder who had come to Thattekkad just to see the Indian Pitta, she went about 4 days with Girish & unfortunately never was able to sight the Pitta. Suddenly Girish said in his usual style ...... wait........... told us to look ahead & there is a Pitta sitting.

All three of us were looking, looking, could see nothing, we thought the Pitta is on the ground, but this one was sitting on a branch. Suddenly it flew to a nearby tree, that is when we saw it in all its brilliance. A truly awesome bird. it kept us really engaged for about 15mts. Infact we got four different sightings in the next 15 mts. It was quite dark by then, so it was difficult to get any clear snaps

Then Girish said it is time now for the Jerdon's Night Jar. Since we could hear the metronomic calls nearby. I thought of the Night Jars i had seen in Bharatpur. I remember seeing them always sleeping. A flash of a bird passed by us, Girish said ..... here it is the Jerdon's Night Jar.

I said........ what ?? Can it be so active ?? Girish said of course, they sleep in the day, but as dusk settles in; they start their hunt. It was unbelievable to see this bird so active. Diving & swooping away at insects at will. Then it got too dark & it was time for us to get back.

Plus we had a bonus.......... while watching out for the Night Jar's, we saw two Brown Fish Owls really low in flight.

So, it was time to return back to our rooms, I am hoping to get to see the Mottled Wood Owl in the coming days and also had heard so much about the Malabar Trogan, Malabar Shama & about the Heart Spotted WoodPecker........ & i cannot wait for tomorrow morning !!