Mandalpatti – Madikeri.
I was up this morning before 6am. My jeep safari to Mandalpatti was due for 6:30am but as per usual was fifteen minutes late. Up the hill we went. Then it got bumpier and bumpier. I paid 25 rupees at Mandalpatti and then the goat track got even bumpier. My driver was fantastic in his Indian-made Mahindra four-wheel-drive.
Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)
We somehow made it to the top of the mountain where the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is situated. I paid my 100 rupees foreigner entrance fee and went for a walk. The highlight of the day was this Yellow-browed Bulbul. I thought it was an oriole so I just took a few and it flew off.
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
But firstly I ran into some Crested Larks which were hopping on the rocks.
Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha)
And some more Blue-capped Rock Thrush that I had just seen yesterday. On the way back we passed a jeep towing a huge generator. It was a major task going over the humungous pot-holes, but they got the job done. A cup of chai at the checkpoint at Mandalpatti and back down the hill again.
This is pretty much what the country looks like around here.
Coorg bird list
Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Blue-capped Rock thrush ( Monticola cinclorhyncha)