Western Ghats Endemics, Late Oct and Nov
Two back to back guided trips to the southern Western Ghats, in late October and November this year, revealed much of the region’s specialities, including Lion-tailed Macaque (including those raiding coffee berries), Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Great Pied Hornbill (in a dwindled annual congregation around Valparai), Grey Slender Loris, Brown Palm Civet, Indian Brown Mongoose, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Striped Squirrel, Anamalai Pit Viper, Anamalai Gliding Frog (among various endemic frogs and reptiles) and various endemic birds (including a White-bellied Sholakili which was partial to crumbs of chocolate muffins at Eravikulam). The uncommonly seen Mainland Leopard Cat, Common Leopard (two individuals, lounging in tea gardens, a few steps away from people’s homes!), Asian Elephant, Indian Crested Porcupine and Indian Chevrotain were among the other highlights.
Much of our time was spent in the Anamalai hills around the human dominated landscape of Valparai (8 days, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Brown Palm Civet, Brown Mongoose, Indian Leopard, Mainland Leopard Cat and the most productive site for mammals otherwise), but also included visits to the hills around Munnar (4 days, Nilgiri Tahr, Grizzled Giant Squirrel Herpetofauna), Periyar Tiger Reserve (2 days. Endemic Birds, Indian Crested Porcupine, Nilgiri Langur) and Thattekad (1 day. Grey Slender Loris, Indian Crested Porcupine, Endemic Birds). There was a bit of moisture about, which, fortunately, did not affect sightings (though one did get a bit wet and leeched upon, at times) and turned out very well for a night out Herping around Munnar.
We stayed at tea plantation bungalows in Valparai (Moulmein House, Puduthottam and Monica Bungalow) and around Munnar (Talayar Valley Bungalow), in a government hotel in Periyar (Aranya Nivas, which is getting a little rough around the edges unfortunately, its advantageous location within the park boundaries, the most going for it) and Amritara Riverside Camp at Thattekad.
It was a pleasure to host Gai and Gary Stephenson on the first jaunt, as well as Tobjorn Lundqvist and Rudy Mateeuwsen (who need no introduction here, I suspect), in the latter half of November.
List of Mammals Seen
Three-Striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum
Jungle Striped Squirrel Funambulus tristriatus
Nilgiri Striped Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus
Malabar Giant Squirrel Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica
Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura
Indian Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis
Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indica
Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus Johnii
Tufted Grey Langur Semnopithecus priam
Lion-tailed Macaque Macaca silenus
Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata
Grey Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus
Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx
Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis
Spotted Deer Axis axis
Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak
Sambar Rusa unicolor
Gaur Bos gaurus
Asian Elephant Elephas maximus
Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis
Indian Brown Mongoose Urva fusca
Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica
Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni
Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Indian Leopard Panthera pardus
Mainland Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis
Indian Wild Pig Sus scrofa
Indian Chevrotain Moschiola indica
Nilgiri Tahr Nilgiritragus hylocrius
Highlight Birds Seen
Great Indian Hornbill
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Mottled Wood Owl
Brown Fish Owl
Black Eagle
Malabar Barbet
Malabar Parakeet
Nilgiri Flycatcher
Black and Orange Flycatcher
White-bellied Sholakili
Palani Laughingthrush
Rufous Babbler
Crimson-backed Sunbird
Malabar Trogon
Sri Lanka Frogmouth
White-bellied Treepie
List of Reptiles Seen
Peninsular Rock Agama
Oriental Garden Lizard
Elliot’s Forest Lizard
Large-scaled Green Calotes
Anamalai Spiny Lizard
Western Ghats Flying Lizard
Keeled Grass Skink
Dussumier’s Forest Skink
Anamalai Pit Viper
Large-scaled Green Pit Viper
List of Amphibians Seen
Anamalai Gliding Frog
Western Ghats Tree Frog
Meowing Night Frog
Beautiful Dancing Frog
Ponmudi Bush Frog
Jayaram’s Bush Frog
Sushil’s Bush Frog
Skittering Frog
Indirana sp. (Leaping Frog sp.)
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