Birding in the Nilgiris: A Day in Kothagiri in Dec - 2017
The Nilgiri biosphere, nestled amid southern India's Blue Mountains, awakens each winter to an orchestration of feathers and songs. Between November and February, this vibrant hotspot becomes a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds alike, drawing photographers and birdwatchers from all corners to its forested slopes and meadows.
For someone local to Coimbatore, the foothills of Silent Valley promise both familiarity and wild possibility. Nestled, too, is a farm house — a starting point for journeys into the heart of the mountains. The winding ghat roads, painted with mist and sunlight, create a picturesque path from home to the high country of Coonoor or Kothagiri, making the call of the wild always just an hour away.
One such day, the promise of winged wonders beckoned. The plan was simple: drive to Kothagiri and seek out some of the region’s famed avian treasures — the Kashmir Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, and Red-breasted Flycatcher. With camera gear ready, the road curled through green hills, the anticipation mounting with every turn.
Joining the adventure was Mr. Bhupathi, a naturalist whose knowledge anchored the journey with hope. Luck favored the early hours: the first sighting, a Kashmir Flycatcher, perched near his home, its plumage catching the morning light. The chase continued through enclaves and forest clearance, each corner of Kothagiri revealing new possibilities.
Their quest wove through silent woods and bustling groves. In a single, charged day, several of these small beauties appeared as if by invitation — the Red-breasted Flycatcher and Taiga Flycatcher among them, each encounter a memory pressed into a photograph. By sundown, joy accompanied the drive back home, the blue hills now echoing not just with birdsong, but with the contented silence of fulfillment.
Kashmir Flycatcher
Taiga flycatcher
Red breasted flycatcher
Rusty tailed flycatcher
Red breasted flycatcher
Red avadavat
Malabar-Crested-Lark
