South India Tour, 2007

India, one of the world's most exotic birding hotspots, is far too large to cover on a single tour, so we offer several different tours to allow comprehensive coverage of each of its faunal areas. On our South India Tour, we'll see over 300 of the Indian Subcontinent's 1,300+ bird species, including a good number of its 210± endemic species, many of which are found only in southern India.

Winter is the prime time to visit southern India as the intense heat of the other three seasons is moderated, it is the dryer season, and there are more species to be seen because of the presence of Palearctic migrants. Our tour ranges from the dry deciduous forest habitat of the Forest Owlet in the northern part of the Indian Peninsula, to the beautiful lowland forests of Goa, to the submontane rain forests and montane shola forests of the Western Ghats of S.W. India, the thorn scrub of Tamil Nadu, and the tropical rain forests of the Andaman Islands.

Our concentration will be on finding the endemic birds of South India and we'll find most of them, e.g.: Andaman Serpent-Eagle, Grey Junglefowl, Andaman Cuckoo-Dove, Malabar Parakeet, Brown Coucal, Andaman Scops-Owl, Andaman Boobook, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-cheeked and Crimson-throated Barbets, Andaman Woodpecker, Jerdon's Bushlark, Nilgiri Pipit, Grey-headed and Yellow-throated Bulbuls, White-bellied Robin, Rufous Babbler, Wynaad, Kerala and Black-chinned Laughingthrushes, Black-and-rufous, Nilgiri, and White-bellied Flycatchers, Crimson-backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling, Andaman Drongo, and White-bellied Treepie. A special effort will be made to find the Forest Owlet. With luck, we may also see: Painted Bush-Quail, Red Spurfowl, and Nilgiri and Andaman Wood-Pigeons. We'll see many other species, perhaps including Black Baza, Changeable, Crested and Mountain Hawk-Eagles, Painted Francolin, Chestnut-winged and Pied Cuckoos, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Violet Cuckoo, Blue-faced Malkoha, Oriental Scops-Owl, Jungle Owlet, Ceylon Frogmouth, Jerdon's and Indian Nightjars, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, etc. The recently published Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guidecontains about 50 new splits which add a number of endemics (and others) to our trip list. These are indicated by the scientific name appended to the English name in the lists that follow.

The tour involves some long, tiring drives. Much of the habitat in southern India has been destroyed by the press of its many millions of people, eliminating most birding near cities with airports. Accommodation is modest to first class. The food will range from basic sustenance to tasty. Anyone in good health could manage the tour. It does not involve strenuous walking. Bird walks are normally slow and easy. Join us for a grand birding adventure.

BEN KING, president of KingBird Tours, has led 47 tours to the Indian Region and is one of the most experienced bird-tour leaders on the Subcontinent, having spent nearly 3 years birding there. He has published A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia and Checklist of the Birds of Eurasia, and has seen 2,078 species of birds in Asia, including all but 17 of the 1,356 species known to occur in the Indian Subcontinent. His knowledge of the birds, their habits and where they are found assures you of the best possible birding experience in the Indian Region.

The FOREST OWLET (6-9 January) was rediscovered in 1997, after being unseen for 113 years, by Dr. Pamela Rasmussen, David Abbott and myself. Subsequent research by Indian ornithologists has found other sites and learned more about this rare owl. We’ll visit one of the areas where it occurs. Both our previous tours to see Forest Owlet were quite successful with superb views and our prospects are excellent. Other possible species are: Asian Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Oriental Honey-Kite, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Shikra, White-eyed Buzzard, Crested Hawk-Eagle, Painted Francolin, Jungle Bush-Quail, Indian Peafowl, Yellow-footed Pigeon, Rose-ringed and Plum-headed Parakeets, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Sirkeer Malkoha, Barn Owl, Oriental and Indian Scops-Owls, Jungle and Spotted Owlets, Mottled Wood-Owl, Jungle (Caprimulgus indicus), Large-tailed and Indian Nightjars, Alpine Swift, Crested Treeswift, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Indian Grey Hornbill, White-cheeked Barbet, Brown-capped Woodpecker, Common and Black-rumped Flamebacks, White-naped Woodpecker, Dusky Crag-Martin, Large Cuckooshrike, Small Minivet, Common Wood-shrike, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Tawny-bellied, Large Grey and Jungle Babblers, Jungle and Ashy Prinias, White-browed Fantail, Indian Tit (Parus aplonotus), Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Crested Bunting, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Brahminy Starling, Jungle Myna, Indian Golden (Oriolus kundoo) and Black-hooded Orioles, White-bellied Drongo and Rufous Treepie. Accommodation basic.

GOA (10-13 January) is a lovely tropical paradise situated on the Arabian Sea. Its miles of beautiful beaches give way inland to paddyfields and farther on to some fine forested areas. Our birding in Goa will center mostly in the forests in search of Western Reef-Egret, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Grey-fronted Pigeon (Treron affinis), Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Plum-headed Parakeet, Oriental and Indian Scops-Owls, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Brown Fish-Owl, Brown Boobook, Ceylon Frogmouth, Jerdon's Nightjar, Indian Swiftlet, White-rumped Needletail, Alpine Swift, Crested Treeswift, Malabar Trogon, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Brown-headed, White-cheeked and Crimson-throated Barbets, Speckled Piculet, Brown-capped, Yellow-crowned, Rufous, and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, Black-rumped Flameback, Indian Pitta, Malabar Lark, Forest Wagtail, Orange Minivet (Pericroctus flammeus), Malabar Woodshrike (Tephrodornis sylvicola), Grey-headed, Flame-throated (Pycnonotus gularis), and Yellow-browed Bulbuls, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Blue-capped Rockthrush, Malabar Whistlingthrush, Orange-headed Thrush, Puff-throated and Dark-fronted Babblers, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Greenish, Bright-green and Western Crowned Warblers, Brown-breasted, Red-throated, White-bellied, and Tickell's Blue Flycatchers, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Thick-billed and Pale-billed Flowerpeckers, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Black-throated Munia, and Chestnut-shouldered Petronia. Accommodation 2 nights in a pleasant tented camp, and 1 night in a nice basic hotel.

PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK (13-16 January) is one of India's finest parks and birding localities. It's situated at about 900 meters (3,000 ft.) and has some fine patches of primary evergreen forest. Some of the many fascinating birds we're likely to see are: Wooly-necked Stork, Grey-Junglefowl, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Malabar Parakeet, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Jungle Owlet, Great Eared Nightjar, Brown-backed Needletail, Malabar Grey and Great Hornbills, White-bellied Woodpecker, Common and Greater Flamebacks, Indian Blue Robin, Indian Scimitar-Babbler, Rufous Babbler, Blyth's Reed-Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Malabar Starling (Sturnus blythii), Jungle and India Hill (Gracula indica) Mynas, White-bellied Treepie, and Indian Crow (Corvus culminatus). With luck, we might find a Black Baza, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Red Spurfowl, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, or Wynaad Laughingthrush. There is a good chance of seeing an Indian Elephant here, as well as Gaur and Wild Boar. Accommodation basic but comfortable.

The MUNNAR (16-18 January) area is perched high in the Western Ghats in Kerala. There are nice patches of forest (sholas) left amidst the grass, grazing land and cultivation, where we'll look for the local endemics and other birds: Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon, Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola), Nilgiri Pipit, Sooty Bulbul (Hypsipetes ganeesa), Jerdon’s Leafbird (Chloropsis jerdoni), White-bellied Robin (Myiomela albiventris), Kerala Laughingthrush (Garrulax fairbanki), Large-billed and Tytler’s Leaf-Warblers, Western Crowned Warbler, Black-and-rufous and Nilgiri Flycatchers, and Common Rosefinch. We may see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Accommodation comfortable.

The MANGARAI FOREST RESERVE near Coimbatore (19 January) will give us an opportunity to see Short-toed Eagle, Blue-faced Malkoha, Jerdon’s Bushlark (Mirafra affinis), Black-headed Cuckooshrike, White-browed Bulbul, Black-headed Thrush (Turdus nigropileus), Tawny-bellied and Yellow-billed Babblers, Jungle Prinia, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, and Purple-rumped and Long-billed Sunbirds.

OOTACAMUND (19-22 January) is a picturesque hill station, one of the cool summer resorts of the Raj. Our target birds here will be Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon, Brown Wood-Owl, Nilgiri Robin (Myiomela major), Indian Blackbird (Turdus simillimus), and Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Garrulax cachinnans). We’ll search for Yellow-throated Bulbul on the dry western slopes of the hills. Accommodation comfortable.

MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK (21 January) is a large area of mostly dry deciduous forest where we’ll try to find: White-rumped Vulture, Grey Francolin, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Brown Fish-Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Malabar Lark, Wire-tailed Swallow, Richard’s, Oriental and Blyth’s Pipits, White-bellied Minivet (maybe), Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Bay-backed Shrike, Indian Robin, Blue-capped Rockthrush, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Booted Warbler, Hume’s Whitethroat, and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.

VEDANTHANGAL (23 January) is an excellent wetland area teeming with waterbirds: Indian and Little Cormorants, Oriental Darter, Grey Heron, Great, Intermediate and Little Egrets, Indian Pond-Heron, Asian Openbill, Glossy and Black-headed Ibises, Spot-billed Duck, Garganey, Black-shouldered Kite, etc. At three other sites near Chennai (Madras), including GUINDY NATIONAL PARK, we may also see Black Baza, Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Chestnut-winged, Pied, and Grey-bellied Cuckoos, and Indian Eagle-Owl. Accommodation first class.

The ANDAMAN ISLANDS (24-28 January) have been mostly closed to foreigners, but access to the southern part of South Andaman Island is permitted. Your leader, Ben King, is one of the few ornithologists who have extensively explored the forests there. Endemism is high among the interesting birds we will seek: Pacific Reef-Egret, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Andaman Serpent-Eagle, Eastern Marsh-Harrier, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Watercock, Black-naped Tern, Andaman Wood-Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo-Dove, Alexandrine, Red-breasted and Pink-cheeked Parakeets, Violet Cuckoo, Brown Coucal, Andaman Barn-Owl (Tyto deroeptorffi), Andaman Scops-Owl, Hume’s (Ninox obscura) and Andaman Boobooks, Andaman Nightjar (Caprimulgus andamanicus), Blue-eared Kingfisher, Spot-breasted (Picoides analis) and Andaman Woodpeckers, Large and Andaman (Coracina dobsoni) Cuckooshrikes, Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus), Andaman Bulbul (Pycnonotus fuscoflavescens), Andaman Shama (Copsychus albiventris), Andaman Flowerpecker (Dicaeum virescens), White-headed Starling, Andaman Drongo and Andaman Treepie. Accommodation comfortable and pleasant, overlooking a bay.

4 January, Thursday	Depart John F. Kennedy Airport in New York at 1825, via Northwest Airlines or KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
5 January, Friday	En route, stopping in Amsterdam. Arrive Mumbai (Bombay) at 2320. Overnight Orchid Hotel.
9 - 27 January	On tour.
28 January, Sunday	AM fly Port Blair/Chennai (Madras). Day room Trident Hotel. Tour ends in Chennai. Those traveling home from Mumbai, be sure to get Chennai/Mumbai sector on international air ticket. (Those connecting with our Sri Lanka Tour will fly Chennai/Colombo in the evening.)
29 January, Monday	Fly Mumbai/JFK (New York) via NW or KLM (0120 / 1625), en route stopping in Amsterdam and arriving in New York the same afternoon.

	Land	*Air	Total	Single Supplement
From New York	$7,596	$2,284	$9,880	$907
From Bombay	$7,596	1,254	8,850	907

LAND PRICE / NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: The land price is based on a minimum of 6 people. If there are fewer than 6, a small-party supplement will be charged. The maximum number of participants will be 10.

LAND PRICE INCLUDES: Land price includes all ground transportation, double occupancy hotel rooms, all meals, soft drinks and bottled water with meals, guides, tips, fees, and foreign airport taxes when accompanied by the leader. NOT INCLUDED are airport taxes when not accompanied by the leader, passports, visas, service charges for obtaining visas, excess baggage charges, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices (except at breakfast), room service charges, items not on menu of included meals, personal items, souvenirs, sightseeing not included in the itinerary, insurance of any kind, and telephone calls. For those joining only part of a tour, meals taken before and after leaving the group are normally not included.

Those folks taking this tour and connecting with our Sri Lanka Tour will have accommodation at the Berjaya Mount Royal Beach Hotel in Colombo provided by KingBird Tours for the time between tours.

LAND AND AIR RATES: All prices are based on tariff and exchange rates in effect on 1 December 2005. Price changes, due either to alterations in tariffs or exchange rates, will be reflected in the prices charged for the tour. KingBird Tour's planning, promotional and operating costs are included in all tour rates.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. Single rooms will be available at the supplement charge quoted. In some of the more remote areas, however, single rooms are unavailable. We'll supply roommates where possible, but cannot guarantee to find roommates for all desiring them. If no roommate is available, the single supplement will be charged for any person utilizing single accommodation. First class or best available hotels with private bath and air-conditioning are provided where available. However, some accommodation will be basic.

MEALS: All meals will be provided, i.e., breakfast, table d'hote lunch, and dinner. Box lunches will be utilized on some days.

TOUR ESCORT: The leader of your tour, Ben King, will be with you during the entire tour shortly after you reach Mumbai until you depart from Chennai. There will also be a representative of the local tour company with the group at all times to assist wherever he may.

TAXES AND GRATUITIES: All necessary gratuities to hotel staff, waiters, local guides, drivers, etc. are included in the tour price. Your tour leader is paid a salary and does not expect tips. Thus it is NOT necessary to tip anyone on the entire tour. However, if you wish to tip anyone for special services, or because you like them, it is quite all right. All local government taxes are included in the tour price.

LOCAL FEES: All park entry fees and still camera fees are included in the tour price. Motion picture and video fees are NOT included. (Most parks have camera fees.)

BAGGAGE: International flight baggage allowance from New York to India is two pieces with a maximum total dimension (length, width, height of both pieces added up) of 106 inches. Each bag may weigh up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds). However, all internal flights in India allow a maximum of 20 kg. (44 lbs.). They are likely to weigh your luggage carefully at least once or twice and perhaps each time. You will be responsible for any excess baggage charges. You are allowed one carry-on bag on all flights. Technically the 44-pound limit includes your carry-on bag and occasionally a zealous agent will demand that the rules be followed. Air carriers liability for baggage loss is limited and therefore baggage insurance is recommended and available at nominal rates.

SMOKING RULES: (1) NO smoking in vehicles. (2) NO smoking at meal tables. (3) NO smoking in bedrooms if your roommate does not smoke. (4) The smoker is expected to see that his smoke does not move toward other tour members, at all times. (5) Anyone smoking will be last in line on single-file paths or trails.