It was a quick decision to join my birder friend Kalpalatha for Nelliampathy on a one day birding trip on an otherwise idyllic weekend!
The place had been on my to-do list since long but somehow never could make it . Beside , I felt I could do with a quick jungle therapy to combat the daily stress and decided to go for it.
We started off at 5 am from Coimbatore , picked up a wildlife enthusiast Ranjith Ram on way at Chitoor and headed for the hills .As we approached the foothills, Pothundi dam stretched alongside the palm fringed road, making a picturesque setting.
Peacocks could be seen casually strutting around in the open fields on the opposite side . The morning was bright and lovely giving a heady start .
As we climbed uphill, the air turned cooler and soon we were getting enveloped in a cloud of mist. What a respite from the scorching summer hear of the plains! It had rained there the previous night as we could see on way and the scent of the drenched forest was intoxicating.
Chestnut headed bee eaters , copper smith barbets, hill mynah, hawk eagle and kingfishers ,were spotted during the climb. A giant Malabar squirrel was seen jumping around the trees.