Andaman Islands - 27th November (Day 3)

We were up at 04:00 and headed to the ferry that crosses the mouth of Flat Bay from Port Blair to Bamboo Flat. The ferry shuttles constantly back and forth for much of the day and we were on the first ferry at 05:30. The ferry was fairly empty and we had great views of the bay area as we took the 15 minute journey seeing Edible-nest Swiftlet, Pacific Reef-heron and Peregrine during the short crossing. We birded an area of forest along a short dirt track through forest and scrub at Kalathang and saw a good selection of endemics including Andaman Sharma, Andaman Cuckoo-shrike, Andaman Coucal, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Woodpecker, White-headed Starling, Andaman Cuckoo-dove, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker and Andaman Bulbul. Other species here included Alexandrine Parakeet, Long-tailed Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Lesser Cuckoo, Brown-backed Needletail, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black Baza, Dusky Warbler and Pacific Swift. Come mid-morning we birded the road up to Mount Harriet Forest Reserve mainly looking for Andaman Woodpigeon but it was very hot and we saw little but for Green Imperial Pigeon and so headed back to the hotel via the, now crowded ferry, to the hotel for lunch and a siesta.

Andaman Cuckoo-shrike - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Bulbul - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Bulbul - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Scarlet Minivet of the subspecies andamanensis - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Brown Shrike - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Lesser Cuckoo - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Lesser Cuckoo - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Alexandrine Parakeet - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Woodpecker - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Coucal - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Black Baza - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Black Baza - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Black-naped Monarch - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Long-tailed Parakeet - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Bengal Clipper Parthenos sylvia - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Sharma - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Andaman Mormon Papilio mayo – Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Thai Cruiser Vindula erota - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Betel Nut - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Brown Shrike - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Plain Flowerpecker of subspecies virescens and a potential split as Andaman 

Flowerpecker- Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Green Imperial-pigeon - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

In the afternoon we birded the road near the biological park at Chidiyatapu mainly looking for Andaman Crake. It was exceptionally busy with traffic and we spent more time dodging the vehicles than looking at birds and failed to see Andaman Crake despite entering the forest to tape for it. As the light faded we headed to an area of scrub to the west of Chidiatapu where after a short while taping an Andaman Nightjar flew low overhead and away. We spent the next couple of hours birding this road and heard Hume’s Boobook, Andaman Boobook, Andaman Scop’s-owl and Oriental Scop’s-owl but failed to see any. There was a remarkable density of owls in a very short stretch of road with Oriental Scop’s-owl being the most abundant with around eight heard. We then headed a short distance to the Chidiyatapu Biological Park entrance seeing a distant Hume’s Boobook on telegraph wires but we failed to get any decent views. At the entrance to the biological park we eventually had good views of Oriental Scop’s-owl and heard another Andaman Boobook but failed to connect with this bird despite it being very close-by. We headed back for dinner rather despondent at 21:00 and crashed at 23:00 after another curry dinner and much welcomed beer.

Collared Kingfisher of subspecies davisoni - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Bat species  - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Oriental Scop's-owl of the subspecies modestus and a potential future split as Walden's 

Scop's-owl - Kalathang, Andaman Islands

Links to Other Days of the Trip (Click to View)

• Day 1 – International flight from London Heathrow.
• Day 2 – Landed Chennai then flight to Port Blair. Birding on Andaman Islands PM.
• Day 4 – Andaman Islands.
• Day 5 – Andaman Islands.
• Day 6 – Travel day from Port Blair (Andaman Islands) to Ooty (Western Ghats). 
• Day 7 – Birding Ooty then on to Mudumalai. 
• Day 8 – Birding Mudumalai then drive back to Ooty.
• Day 9 – Birding Ooty and then drive to Munnar.
• Day 10 – Birding Munnar area.
• Day 11 – Drive from Munnar to Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• Day 12 – Periyar Tiger Reserve. 
• Day 13 – Drive from Kumily to Thattekkad.
• Day 14 – Thattekkad area. 
• Day 15 – Thattekkad area then travel to Chennai.
• Day 16 -  International flight.