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.
Western Ghats
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)