Wild Walk Tours
Andaman Birding
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a slender chain of 324 islands covering 8,300 square kilometers, lie 1,200 kilometers from the Indian mainland, in the middle of the Bay of Bengal. Midway between India and Sumatra, and nearest to Burma, they are as much south-east Asian as they are Indian, and so are their fauna and flora. They are a remote, isolated, and truly oceanic archipelago, largely covered with the finest virgin tropical rainforest, and surrounded by sticky mangrove swamps and idyllic little coral islands. Their isolation has resulted in a high degree of endemism that has always tantalized naturalists, with a staggering 95 of the islands’ 242 bird species and subspecies being endemic! This endemism applies to plants and mammals as well.
Sadly for the naturalist, these islands have always remained largely inaccessible, mainly because of their rugged and densely forested nature, and the difficulty of landing on most of the rather ‘primeval’ islands. Even today, access is restricted to all but the southern quarter of South Andaman Island, and it is this part of the archipelago that we will explore from the comfort of the well-positioned Fortune Resorts Bay Island Hotel that commands a fine view of the pleasant harbor of Port Blair from its airy perch.
Itinerary
Day 1
The trip Starts from Port Blair, with the early morning arrival at the airport and after meet and greet, we transfer to the Fortune Bay Island Resort for next 06 nights.
Day 2 to 7
Port Blair is the small, and only, the town of the Andamans and is a tatty though jolly place, run by Indians but with an Indonesian flavor. From Port Blair, a half-hearted logging industry has made minor inroads into otherwise pristine rainforest, while bananas, areca nuts, and coconuts are farmed round the harbor. Generally speaking though, the islands are left in the hands of their rightful guardians, the aboriginal Stone Age tribes that have always lived in these jungles. Though ‘the Andamanese’, the largest tribe, has generally adopted the traditions of the immigrant Indians, the ‘Kondul’, ‘Nancowries’, ‘Onge’ and ‘Jarawas’ pursue timeless Stone Age traditions with little or no contact with the outside world.
We will concentrate our wildlife-searching efforts on the wetlands of Sippighat, the tropical forest, lagoons and palm-fringed beaches, Chiriatapu (one of the finest birding areas yet found on the island), the dense evergreen forest on Mount Harriet, and the wonderful cluster of coral islands off the south-western corner of South Andaman (assuming, of course, that we can find a suitable boat, as not much goes to plan in this part of the world!).
These coral islands offer the most magnificent snorkeling in warm and clear waters: the corals are spectacular and tropical fish species are as numerous as anywhere in the world. Great Stone Plover, Lesser crested and Black-naped Terns are to be seen on the beaches, and Ruddy, Stork-billed and Blue-eared Kingfishers are seen in the mangroves en route to the islands.
Other species to look out for at Sippighar, Chiriatapu and on Mount Harriet include White-bellied Fishing-eagle, Black Baza, Indian Lorikeet, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Red Turtle Dove, Andaman Drongo, White-headed Myna, Violet Cuckoo, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher , Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Brown Coucal, Red-breasted Parakeet, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Edible nest Swiftlet, Common Snipe, Black-naped Tern, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-naped Oriole, Andaman Drongo , Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird. Broad-billed Roller, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Green-backed and Reef Herons, Red-cheeked and Alexandrine Parakeets, White-collared and White-breasted Kingfishers, Large Brown-throated Needletail, White-bellied Swiftlet, Great Indian Black Woodpecker, Andaman Coucal, Black-naped Oriole, and Fairy Bluebird.
The numerous waders found along all the shorelines include Greater and Lesser Sandplovers, Pacific Golden Plovers, and Terek Sandpipers. This is a wonderful place to explore, and we will do as much of this as we can, considering the limited and constantly changing conditions on the island. This is a remote and unspoiled corner of the globe and you certainly won’t be bumping into other compatriots here!
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All meals at the hotel.
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Overnight at hotel Fortune Resort Bay Island. Drop off at Port Blair Airport on 7th day of tour.
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All our tours are curated with the minutest of details with the objective of giving our guests a rich travel experience. We partner with the best and most comfortable properties for accommodations. From Budget Accommodation to Luxury Cottages, we cater to all requirements.
Most Importantly our tours include the services of the Expert Birding Guide present throughout the trip.
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Weather you are a Solo Traveler or If you wish to travel in a group along with like-minded travelers, or even conduct a group of your own, we cater to all.