Dawn at Thattekad | An April Birding Surprise
26th April 2026
#intothewildwithrufus #birding
Today, our bird walk started exactly at dawn, and we all were right on time to step into Kerala’s very first bird sanctuary - the legendary Thattekad.
Now for a few words on the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary –
The name “Thattekkad” literally translates to “flat forest” in Malayalam. Unlike many other hill sanctuaries in the Western Ghats, this is a lowland forest!
Moreover, Thattekad owes its fame and existence to Dr. Salim Ali, India’s most renowned ornithologist (often called the “Birdman of India”). After surveying the area in the 1930s, he famously described Thattekad as the “richest bird habitat in Peninsular India”.
Largely due to his efforts, it was established as Kerala’s very first bird sanctuary in 1983 and is officially named the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
It is a haven for a host of endemic species - birds that are found nowhere else on Earth – including the brilliantly coloured Malabar Trogon, the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the vibrant Flame-throated Bulbul, and the White-bellied Treepie.
One specific section of the sanctuary is so heavily populated by different varieties of cuckoos that it has earned the nickname “Cuckoo Cathedral”.
Coming back to our day today -
Every seasoned birder knows the unwritten “rules” of birding! 😊
April isn’t exactly the time for birding! The heat begins to set in, and many of the winter migrants have by now already made their journeys back home!
However, Nature sprang a surprise on us today in the lovely Thattekad canopy.
Almost as soon as we stepped into the sanctuary, the forest started coming alive to us!
All the endemic species were out in full force to say ‘hi’ to us. 😊
We caught sight of the Malabar Gray Hornbill, the vibrant Flame-throated Bulbul, the Racket-tailed Drongo and the Hill Mynah, the Pied Kingfisher, the White-throated Kingfisher, the Malabar Parakeet and the Plum-headed Parakeet!
We were lucky enough to spot both the Treepies – the striking White-bellied Treepie and my namesake – the Rufous Treepie as well.
Alongside the flame-throated Bulbul, we were treated to sightings of the bright Yellow-browed Bulbul and the classic Red-whiskered Bulbul. We also heard the familiar rustle of Jungle Babblers and a Jungle Fowl navigating the undergrowth. Higher up, a White-cheeked Barbet and a Yellow-nape Woodpecker were busy at work, while a stunning little Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and a lovely Magpie Robin posed beautifully for us.
We spent some quiet moments observing the sleek Darter, alongside the ever-patient Pond Heron, a bright white Cattle Egret, and a drying Cormorant.
Of course, no trip to the forests of the Western Ghats is complete without running into a few non-avian friends. Today, the show was effortlessly stolen by a magnificent Malabar Giant Squirrel. With its deep maroon and black coat, it bounded through the high branches, earning its spot on our checklist as an honorary bird friend for the day.
After a soulful birding delight into the forests, we were treated for coffee and lovely local snacks.
A memorable “birding day” in every way!
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| Right after a Rewarding Birding Comes a Well-deserved Cup of Coffee! 😊 |
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