Black-and-orange flycatchers and Nilgiri tahrs, Erivakulam National Park

Black-and-orange flycatcher is the iconic Western Ghats endemic that is high on the most wanted list of any birder who visits Munnar. It's not that rare within it's range but it can be quite elusive and difficult to see. Today we hired a birding guide who took us first to the magnificent Erivakulam National Park just north of the town of Munnar and then around various other nearby hotspots. 

Pretty soon we found the star bird, initially the female above and then later a couple of males. 

This is a male with a black head rather than the grey head of the female.

The great thing about Erivakulam is it gets you out of the tea plantations and eucalyptus trees that dominant much of the hillsides and allows you to concentrate on species that favour grasslands and other open areas.

After buying tickets you then have to get onto a bus which takes you for about two miles through tea plantations.

It's hot, tough work for the tea pickers!

As you get higher the scenery gets ever more impressive.

This area of the Western Ghats has the highest peaks in India, south of the Himalayas, with Anamudi reaching 2695m. 

The grassland areas are home to one of the sought after endemics, Nilgiri pipit. 

However, before I even get onto the birds, I should mention first the Nilgiri tahr, a type of goat and the real reason why Erivakulam is a National Park. The park even closes in February and March to avoid disturbance while these animals give birth.

A baby Nilgiri tahr.

Nilgiri pipit, one of the larger pipits.

This is White-bellied sholakili.

White-bellied sholakili.

Pied bushchat.

Palani Laughingthrush.

Hill swallows.

Indian white-eyes are pretty common here, with roving flocks moving through the scrub.

Greenish warblers are also quite common.

Female Indian blackbird.

Long-tailed shrike.