More shots from the balcony at our homestay on the edge of Periyar reserve, in Kumily. Our vista included overgrown gardens, unkempt plots, scattered dwellings (with kids, dogs, oxen and chickens adding to the soundtrack) and scattered copses against a backdrop of the sub-jungle fringes of the reserve.
male (lower left) & female Malabar Grey Hornbills
Over the course of our five days here, it was almost impossible to step outside the room without something interesting appearing nearby. Species which we'd hoped to see well only the depths of the reserve (see following posts) played very nicely, some even giving a much better showing despite the bustle and low-level disturbance of everyday life.
the boars are back in town (and garden)
Highlights from comfort of our gently-swinging wicker chairs included Malabar Grey Hornbills (tame, and always entertaining), White-bellied Treepies (a beautiful Western Ghats endemic), Vernal Hanging Parrots (close and perched, as opposed to the usual speeding flight views), Golden-fronted Leafbirds and Loten Sunbirds (both irridescent in the 'winter' sunshine), White-cheeked Barbets (is there anything better than barbets?)......
the view from the balcony, looking west
Brown-backed Needletails gunning past us close by (and even allowing half-decent photos), Nilgiri Flowerpeckers (hyperactive endemics and a fairly recent split), Southern Hill Mynas (another obvious and fairly recent split), Black-headed Cuckooshrikes, Black-rumped Flamebacks, and Wild Boars snuffling politely through the undergrowth.
Commoner species included Pacific Swallows, Crested Treeswifts, Red-rumped Swallows and House Swifts overhead, Jungle Babblers, Pale-billed Flowerpeckers, Ring-necked Parakeets, Red-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Indian Pond Herons, Blyth's Reed Warblers, Greenish Warblers, Brown Shrikes, White-browed & Grey Wagtails, and many more.....
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Oriental Magpie Robin
Red-whiskered Bulbul
