Birding Locations around a City: Palakkad

1. Site: Banks of Malampuzha Main Canal
Note: The left bank canal from Malampuzha passes close to the Palakkad
town on the eastern periphery through Kallepully, Manali, Kalmandapam areas
and has good array of paddy fields on both sides in most locations. The
habitats are more or less the same as seen in any of the villages in the
Chittur, Alathur and Palakkad Taluks of the district - mostly centred around
paddy fields. Hence, this note is just an indicator for all such village
habitats in the district.
How to Reach: One can start from Kalmandapam (2km from Sultanpet) near the
Calicut bypasss and travel upstream towards Kalepully or downstream
towards the NH-by pass. The latter stretch has better paddy fields and is
less disturbed.
Birds: Most of the common wetland birds, Common, Wood & Green
Sandpipers, Snipes, Wagtails, Kingfishers, Cormorants ovehead, Egrets,
Jacanas, Waterhens, Palm Swifts, Brown Shrikes, occassional Marsh
Harriers, rare Blackwinged Stilts, Bee-eaters, all four of the common
Kingfishers, occassional Common Grey Hornbills, Bayas, Munias, Pipits - a
rare Richard's, Bushlarks etc. Generally about 30-40 species on a trip.
Mode: Along the canal bund, mid-sized cars will be possible but an
equally sized vehicle on the opposite side will create problems. One can go
on two-wheelers, park the vehicles and go along the bunds of paddy fields.

2. Site: Malampuzha Garden/Foothills
Note: About 12km from Palakkad town, offers variety of habitats
including garden, dam, mango orchards, downstream river etc. Evenings and
holidays tend to be crowded.
How to reach: Drive on your vehicle or take a bus from Palakkad.
Birds: Chestnut & Black Bittern, Little Green Heron, Night Heron,
Darter, Egrets etc along the downstream river during mornings, House
Swifts, Spotbill Ducks & River Terns in the reservoirs, Pitta,
White-throated Ground Thrush, woodland birds like Small Minivets, Wood &
Cuckoo Shrikes, Crested Serpent, Changeable Hawk Eagles, Honey Buzzards
Rosy Pastors etc in the woodlands between Malampuzha bus stand and rock
garden. Other common birds in the garden. About 50-60 species on a trip.
Mode: Walk along the habitats while using motor vehicles on the road
to select locations with less crowd.

3. Site: Dhoni Foothills
Note: Nearest western ghat locality from Palakkad about 10km from the
town; further about 6km from Olavakkod Railway Colony. Part of a more
wide range of hills known as Palakkad Hills. Forests in higher
altitudes can be visited only on a full day trip and hence its
suggested that one keeps to low altitudes during paskhi dinam. Moist
deciduous forest and teak plantations are the main habitats.
How to reach: Drive in your vehicle until Dhoni forest checkpost or
take one of the very occassional buses uptil Dhoni or take the
frequent buses to Railway colony and use auto to travel the last 6km.
Birds: Most of the low altitude Ghat species like Fairy Bluebird,
Rubythroated & Yellowbrowed Bulbul, Besra, Bronzed & Racket-tailed
Drongo, a rare Rufousbellied Eagle or a Three-toed Kingfisher, Malabar
Trogon, common forest raptors like Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle
and Honey Buzzard, Scarlet Minivets, Velvetfronted Nuthatch, Whistling
Thrush, Emerald Dove, wintering flycatchers, Malabar Grey Hornbills
etc. About 40-45 species on a trip.
Mode: By foot.
Permission: From Olavakkod Forest Range Officer

4. Site: Kawa
Note: Can be combined with Malampuzha trip, its further 6km from Rock
Garden to reach the eastern flank of the reservoir. Reservoir, open
meadows and degraded deciduous forests on the forest fringes.
How to Reach: Just one bus plies to Kawa from Palakkad. You will have to
use your own vehicle to drive down till Kawa. Fairly decent tar road
exists. About 50-60 species on a trip.
Birds: Good wetland birds like Pintails, Openbills, Spotbills,
Stints, Shanks & Sandpipers, River & Whiskered Terns, open meadow
species like Skylarks, pipits, yellow & white wagtails etc can be seen.
The forests near by is also good for woodland as well as Ghat species like
Large Green Barbet, Greenbilled Malkoha, Fairy Bluebird, Black Bulbul,
Rufous Babbler, Emerald Dove and a rare Great Pied Hornbill.
Mode: By foot in the reservoir beds and forest path. Drive till you see
a good point to go by foot.

5. Site: Walayar dam
Note: About 23km from Palakkad on the NH to Coimbatore. Exactly at the
state border. Reservoir, open meadows, scrubs and plantations.
How to Reach: Innumerable buses ply between Palakkad and Walayar. Get
down at last stop. Walk along the forest edges of the reservoir to reach
the vast meadows and water line of the dam.
Birds: Storks, Ducks, Stints, Shanks, Sandpipers, Plovers etc abound the
water body. Also look out for Larks, pipits, wagtails and
occassional quails & partridges. Forest edges are good for woodland
species and raptors. Overall a good area to get 80-90 species on a
single day.
Mode: By Foot

6. Site: Choolanur
Note: About 25km from Palakkad towards Naduvathapara-Thiruvilvamala in the
Palakkad-Thissur border. Open forest with small trees and scrubs.
How to Reach: Take any bus that goes to Thiruvillamala via
Naduvathappara and get down at Naduvathappara. While driving, you can
go via Kottayi-Peringottukurissi.
Birds: Most of the open woodland species are very easy to see here
because of the height of the trees. Indian Peafowl, Whitebrowed
Fantail, Cuckoos, Wood-Shrikes, Cuckoo Shrikes, Mahratta, Pigmy and
Streak-throated Woodpeckers, Small Minivets, Grey Partridges,
White-browed Bulbuls, Kestrel etc. About 50-60 species in a trip.
Mode: By Foot after parking the vehicle on the road side.

7. Site: Veezhumala
Note: About 27km from Palakkad, this lone hill can be visited either
from Kottayakulam or from Anakkampara. Open forest, rubber
plantations, scrubs and some grasslands at the top.
How to reach: Take a bus to Nemmara via Chittalanchery and get down at
Kottayakulam. Take a bus to Thrissur and get down at Anakkampara. From
these locations, one has to trek along to reach the hill top.
Birds: Very similar to Choolanur with birds like Peafowl, Whitebrowed
Fantail, Grey Partridge, Common Grey Hornbill, Black Eagle, Harriers etc.
About 50 species in a day.

All these were complied and written by "Praveen J"


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