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See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.
Our November 2012 South India tour not only found virtually all the endemic and near-endemic birds, but also had the pleasure of working with some great local guides, enjoyed fabulous weather and, perhaps most importantly, featured a wonderful group of keen, friendly, and fun-loving birders.
As usual our tour began in Bangalore with the short drive south to Kokkare Bellur, where Spot-billed Pelicans had arrived rather earlier than usual and many were already at their nests right within the village. We also enjoyed Red-naped Ibis, our first Black-rumped Flameback, and White-rumped Munias here before we continued on to the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary near the city of Mysore. And, as usual, it was a great place to see many of South India's more widespread waterbirds -- including (wandering) Asian Openbill and the elegant River Tern.
The following day found us heading south to the famous Nagarhole National Park, with several stops along the way at a local park, some flooded fields, and a couple of roadside pools. What a wonderful place India is -- where within just minutes one can see women in their colorful saris, an unbelievable variety of painted vehicles, beautifully decorated cows, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, and the endemic White-cheeked Barbet -- wow!
During two full days at Nagarhole we were joined by local guide Afsar, whose relaxed and pleasant guiding style led us to numerous herds of Spotted Deer, several Sambar, Gaur (the world's largest bovine), Common Langur, and some close encounters with Asian Elephant. The birding was (of course) also fabulous and varied from Jerdon's Leafbird and Indian Pitta in the garden to Gray Junglefowl and Yellow-footed Pigeon beside the seasonal pools. Crested Serpent-Eagle, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, and White-bellied Woodpecker were some of the forest highlights, while we found the endemic Malabar Lark in the farmlands, and White-rumped Needletail and Indian Swiftlets flew overhead.
We then headed to Mudumalai and a three-night stay at the 'Birder's Lodge' Jungle Hut. Accompanied by South India expert Sathyan Meppayur we soon found the extremely localized and endemic Gray-headed Bulbul, but there were also many other great birds -- from Jungle Bush-Quail and Yellow-wattled Lapwing to Malabar Parakeet, the secretive Blue-faced Malkoha, Malabar Gray Hornbill, White-naped Woodpecker, gorgeous Scarlet (Orange) Minivets, Asian Fairy-Bluebird, Indian Blue Robin, our first Malabar Whistling-Thrush and, during a late evening walk, Jerdon's Nightjar.
Continuing on, we climbed the Nilgiri Hills and based ourselves at the Taj Savoy Hotel -- and what a pleasure it was, from the comfort of this historic establishment to the nearby sholas (remnant forest patches) where endemic Rufous-breasted Laughingthrushes, Nilgiri Shortwings, and Black and Rufous Flycatchers were all easily seen.
We then went further south to the Banyan Tree Lodge at the bottom of the Anaimalai Mountains and were shocked to find the reserve at Top Slip was closed. Taking Sathyan's advice we spent the following day birding the nearby Valparai road, which turned out to be luck indeed, and we were soon adding Mountain (Legge's) Hawk-Eagle, Malabar Trogon, Crimson-fronted (Malabar) Barbet, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Crimson-backed Sunbird, and Black-throated Munia to our lists -- perhaps, though, the most exciting find was the critically endangered Liontail Macaque right along the roadside: we spent almost an hour with these rare but extremely tame monkeys.
Continuing still further south our next stop was Munnar in the Cardamom Hills, and again our main targets were the endemics and Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon (our best views ever), Gray-breasted Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Flycatcher, and White-bellied Shortwing (at least three) were all easily seen. Surprisingly difficult though was Nilgiri Pipit and it wasn't until our very last morning here that we found an obliging pair of these localized hill country birds.
We then dropped to the lower altitude country at Periyar (with a stop along the way for the localized Yellow-throated Bulbul). Periyar was once again a major highlight of this tour with just a few of the group favorites being (the not so common) Common Flameback, Malabar Woodshrike, White-bellied Treepie, the rare Wynaad Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, White-bellied Blue-Flycatcher, and Little Spiderhunter.
Our tour ended with a visit to Coconut Lagoon in The Backwaters and then with a fabulous shrimp and fish curry lunch as we took a private house boat to Kochi at the coast; Indian Cormorant, Black Bittern, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Stork-billed Kingfisher, and Ashy Woodswallow were the highlights -- and who would like another tiger prawn?!
--Terry
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
LESSER WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna javanica)
COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE (Nettapus coromandelianus)
INDIAN SPOT-BILLED DUCK (Anas poecilorhyncha)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
GARGANEY (Anas querquedula)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
GRAY FRANCOLIN (Francolinus pondicerianus)
JUNGLE BUSH-QUAIL (Perdicula asiatica)
GRAY JUNGLEFOWL (Gallus sonneratii)
INDIAN PEAFOWL (Pavo cristatus)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
ASIAN OPENBILL (Anastomus oscitans)
WOOLLY-NECKED STORK (Ciconia episcopus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
INDIAN CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ORIENTAL DARTER (Anhinga melanogaster)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
SPOT-BILLED PELICAN (Pelecanus philippensis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
BLACK BITTERN (Ixobrychus flavicollis)
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
WESTERN REEF-HERON (Egretta gularis)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
INDIAN POND-HERON (Ardeola grayii)
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
BLACK-HEADED IBIS (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
RED-NAPED IBIS (Pseudibis papillosa)
EURASIAN SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK BAZA (Aviceda leuphotes)
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus)
BLACK KITE (Milvus migrans)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
GRAY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)
WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE (Gyps bengalensis)
SHORT-TOED EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela)
EURASIAN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus)
NORTHERN HARRIER (EURASIAN) (Circus cyaneus cyaneus)
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius)
BLACK EAGLE (Ictinaetus malayensis)
TAWNY EAGLE (Aquila rapax)
BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus)
RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE (Lophotriorchis kienerii)
CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus cirrhatus cirrhatus)
MOUNTAIN HAWK-EAGLE (LEGGE'S) (Nisaetus nipalensis kelaarti)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE (Porzana fusca)
WATERCOCK (Gallicrex cinerea)
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (GRAY-HEADED) (Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus)
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
YELLOW-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus malabaricus)
RED-WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA (Hydrophasianus chirurgus)
BRONZE-WINGED JACANA (Metopidius indicus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura)
Turnicidae (Buttonquail)
YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL (Turnix tanki)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica)
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida)
RIVER TERN (Sterna aurantia)
LESSER CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
NILGIRI WOOD-PIGEON (Columba elphinstonii)
ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia orientalis)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis)
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica)
POMPADOUR GREEN-PIGEON (GRAY-FRONTED) (Treron pompadora affinis)
YELLOW-FOOTED PIGEON (Treron phoenicopterus)
GREEN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula aenea)
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia)
Psittacidae (Parrots)
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET (Psittacula krameri)
PLUM-HEADED PARAKEET (Psittacula cyanocephala)
MALABAR PARAKEET (Psittacula columboides)
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
COMMON HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx varius)
ASIAN DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris)
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
BLUE-FACED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris)
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis)
Strigidae (Owls)
INDIAN SCOPS-OWL (Otus bakkamoena)
JUNGLE OWLET (Glaucidium radiatum)
SPOTTED OWLET (Athene brama)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
JERDON'S NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus atripennis)
SAVANNA NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus affinis)
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-RUMPED NEEDLETAIL (Zoonavena sylvatica)
BROWN-BACKED NEEDLETAIL (Hirundapus giganteus)
INDIAN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus unicolor)
ALPINE SWIFT (Apus melba)
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
MALABAR TROGON (Harpactes fasciatus)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis capensis)
WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER (Halcyon smyrnensis)
PIED KINGFISHER (Ceryle rudis)
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
GREEN BEE-EATER (Merops orientalis)
BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus)
CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti)
Coraciidae (Rollers)
INDIAN ROLLER (Coracias benghalensis)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
MALABAR GRAY HORNBILL (Ocyceros griseus)
INDIAN GRAY HORNBILL (Ocyceros birostris)
MALABAR PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros coronatus)
GREAT HORNBILL (Buceros bicornis)
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
BROWN-HEADED BARBET (Megalaima zeylanica)
WHITE-CHEEKED BARBET (Megalaima viridis)
CRIMSON-FRONTED BARBET (MALABAR) (Megalaima rubricapillus malabarica)
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Megalaima haemacephala)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BROWN-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos moluccensis)
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Celeus brachyurus)
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis)
COMMON FLAMEBACK (Dinopium javanense)
BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK (Dinopium benghalense)
GREATER FLAMEBACK (Chrysocolaptes lucidus)
WHITE-NAPED WOODPECKER (Chrysocolaptes festivus)
HEART-SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Hemicircus canente)
Pittidae (Pittas)
INDIAN PITTA (Pitta brachyura)
Prionopidae (Helmetshrikes and Allies)
MALABAR WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis sylvicola)
COMMON WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
ASHY WOODSWALLOW (Artamus fuscus)
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia)
Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes)
LARGE CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Coracina macei)
BLACK-HEADED CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Coracina melanoptera)
SMALL MINIVET (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)
SCARLET MINIVET (ORANGE) (Pericrocotus flammeus flammeus)
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)
BAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius vittatus)
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
INDIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus kundoo)
BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthornus)
Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus)
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO (Dicrurus caerulescens)
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus)
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis albicollis)
WHITE-BROWED FANTAIL (Rhipidura aureola)
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea)
ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
RUFOUS TREEPIE (Dendrocitta vagabunda)
WHITE-BELLIED TREEPIE (Dendrocitta leucogastra)
HOUSE CROW (Corvus splendens)
LARGE-BILLED CROW (Corvus macrorhynchos)
Alaudidae (Larks)
JERDON'S BUSHLARK (Mirafra affinis)
MALABAR LARK (Galerida malabarica)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
DUSKY CRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne concolor)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii)
PACIFIC SWALLOW (HILL) (Hirundo tahitica domicola)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)
Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
GREAT TIT (Parus major)
INDIAN TIT (Parus aplonotus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
CHESTNUT-BELLIED NUTHATCH (INDIAN) (Sitta castanea castanea)
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis)
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
GRAY-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus priocephalus)
FLAME-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus gularis)
RED-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus cafer)
RED-WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus)
YELLOW-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus xantholaemus)
WHITE-BROWED BULBUL (Pycnonotus luteolus)
YELLOW-BROWED BULBUL (Iole indica)
SQUARE-TAILED BULBUL (Hypsipetes ganeesa)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
TICKELL'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus affinis)
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
LARGE-BILLED LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus magnirostris)
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
SYKES'S WARBLER (Hippolais rama)
BLYTH'S REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
CLAMOROUS REED-WARBLER (INDIAN) (Acrocephalus stentoreus brunnescens)
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
COMMON GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER (Locustella naevia)
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
ZITTING CISTICOLA (Cisticola juncidis)
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)
GRAY-BREASTED PRINIA (Prinia hodgsonii)
JUNGLE PRINIA (Prinia sylvatica)
ASHY PRINIA (Prinia socialis)
PLAIN PRINIA (Prinia inornata)
Sylviidae (Old World Warblers)
YELLOW-EYED BABBLER (Chrysomma sinense)
Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies)
ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE (Zosterops palpebrosus)
Pellorneidae (Fulvettas and Ground Babblers)
BROWN-CHEEKED FULVETTA (Alcippe poioicephala)
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps)
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes)
WYNAAD LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax delesserti)
RUFOUS-BREASTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax cachinnans)
GRAY-BREASTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax jerdoni)
LARGE GRAY BABBLER (Turdoides malcolmi)
RUFOUS BABBLER (Turdoides subrufa)
JUNGLE BABBLER (Turdoides striata)
YELLOW-BILLED BABBLER (Turdoides affinis)
Timaliidae (Babblers)
TAWNY-BELLIED BABBLER (Dumetia hyperythra)
DARK-FRONTED BABBLER (Rhopocichla atriceps)
INDIAN SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii)
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella)
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa dauurica)
RUSTY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa ruficauda)
BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa muttui)
INDIAN ROBIN (Copsychus fulicatus)
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus)
WHITE-BELLIED BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis pallipes)
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Cyornis rubeculoides)
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae)
NILGIRI FLYCATCHER (Eumyias albicaudatus)
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus)
NILGIRI SHORTWING (Brachypteryx major)
WHITE-BELLIED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx albiventris)
INDIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora brunnea)
MALABAR WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus horsfieldii)
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla)
BLACK-AND-RUFOUS FLYCATCHER (Ficedula nigrorufa)
STONECHAT (Saxicola torquatus)
PIED BUSHCHAT (Saxicola caprata)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH (Zoothera citrina cyanota)
INDIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus simillimus)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
SOUTHERN HILL MYNA (Gracula indica)
JUNGLE MYNA (Acridotheres fuscus)
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)
CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING (Sturnia malabarica)
MALABAR STARLING (Sturnia blythii)
BRAHMINY STARLING (Temenuchus pagodarum)
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
JERDON'S LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis jerdoni)
GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis aurifrons)
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
PALE-BILLED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)
NILGIRI FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum concolor)
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
PURPLE-RUMPED SUNBIRD (Leptocoma zeylonica)
CRIMSON-BACKED SUNBIRD (Leptocoma minima)
PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus)
LONG-BILLED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris lotenius)
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla flava)
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba)
WHITE-BROWED WAGTAIL (Motacilla madaraspatensis)
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus)
NILGIRI PIPIT (Anthus nilghiriensis)
FOREST WAGTAIL (Dendronanthus indicus)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED PETRONIA (Petronia xanthocollis)
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
BAYA WEAVER (Ploceus philippinus)
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
RED AVADAVAT (Amandava amandava)
INDIAN SILVERBILL (Euodice malabarica)
WHITE-RUMPED MUNIA (Lonchura striata)
BLACK-THROATED MUNIA (Lonchura kelaarti)
NUTMEG MANNIKIN (Lonchura punctulata)
TRICOLORED MUNIA (Lonchura malacca)
INDIAN FLYING-FOX (Pteropus giganteus)
LIONTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca silenus)
BONNET MACAQUE (Macaca radiata)
COMMON LANGUR (Presbytis entellus)
NILGIRI LANGUR (Presbytis johni)
INDIAN HARE (Lepus nigricollis)
INDIAN PALM SQUIRREL (Funambulus palmarum)
DUSKY PALM SQUIRREL (Funambulus sublineatus)
INDIAN GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa indica)
COMMON JACKAL (Canis aureus)
EUROPEAN RIVER OTTER (Lutra lutra)
INDIAN GRAY MONGOOSE (Herpestes edwardsi)
STRIPE-NECKED MONGOOSE (Herpestes vitticolis)
TIGER (Panthera tigris)
INDIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus)
WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa)
MUNTJAC (BARKING DEER) (Muntiacus muntjak)
SPOTTED DEER (Axis axis)
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor)
NILGIRI TAHR (Hemitragus hylocrius)
Reptiles seen on the tour included:
Marsh Mugger -- about 6 (including some really huge ones) at Ranganathittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Legless Lizard sp. -- one at Pettimundi
Green Vine Snake -- one at Eravikulam National Park
'Chickles' Keelback -- this was the name our local guide gave to the boldly marked swimming snake at Coconut Lagoon.
Totals for the tour: 259 bird taxa and 20 mammal taxa