Kuldiha WLS – A Birder’s Paradise – 22nd Feb 2021

Start your trip soon after lunch because the light available for photography/observation is very limited, late in the afternoon. From the camp, move up to the four point crossing (Mukhochoturi Four Point Crossing) as shown on the map and take a right turn towards Juriatota Watch Tower which is 1.5 Kms from the road junction. Park your vehicle at the watchtower and climb the starirs to reach the top of the tower. You will have a 360 degree view of the canopy and will get to see a lot of birds in good light. You will also get to see the Indian Giant Squirrel at close range. Spend not more than 15 minutes on this watch tower. From this place, take a right turn and proceed towards Jorachua FRH, which is 6.5 Kms from Juriatota Watchtower. Enroute, you can take the first left turn and proceed to Machhkund which is a good spot for birding. You will have mobile connectivity at Machhkund. From here, proceed to Jorachua FRH. The drive is very scenic and the road straddles a Nala, offering an excellent opportunity to look for your target species of birds. Orange-headed Thrush, Tickell’s Thrush, White-rumped Shama, Red Junglefowl are a common sight on this road. You can also keep your ears open for the distinct call of the Malabar Trogon. Just before you reach the Jorachua FRH, there is a road turning left which goes to a pond, as marked on the map. This area can be scouted for the Malabar Trogon. Another road leads you around the Jorachua FRH and is an excellent habitat for all kinds of birds. Pale-capped Pigeon can also be targeted on this road. This is a heavily wooded section of the forest and you might have a chance encounter with Elephants, Spotted Deer, The Red Muntjac (Barking Deer), Sloth Bear, Leopard, etc. You can also spend some time at the Jorachua FRH to look for the Malabar Trogon and the Pale-capped Pigeon. Return to the camp before sunset to get the maximum from this trip.

The staff at the camp will serve you tea and pakoras in the evening and you can spend time at leisure. Dinner is served at 9:30 pm and you can retire for the day amidst the sounds of the forest. you can also walk out of the camp for a short distance to look for Nightjars. We heard distinct calls of the Jerdon’s Nightjar and the Large-tailed Nightjar before we were promptly ordered inside by the dutiful staff who had to deploy the electric fence for the night. Nights are very peaceful and the sounds of the jungle can be heard from a long distance. Enjoy the serenity of the place. You are virtually assured of a good night’s sleep unless you suffer from insomnia.

Get out of bed early next morning and proceed to the crossroads at Mukhochoturi. Spend about an hour/hour and a half at the crossroads and the bridge on the Nala just below the crossroads. You will thank me for this piece of advice. This is a veritable treasure trove. You will see all kinds of passerine birds, sometimes several species on one single tree. Just stand on the bridge with the Sun behind your back. you can get down to the Nala bed and walk for a furlongh, if you wish to explore further. You will not be disappointed. From here, proceed towards Juriatota watchtower and mark your observations. After this, proceed towards the left of the watchtower towards Kuldiha FRH, which is 3.5 Kms from Juriatota Watchtower. Expect to see a lot of action on this route. Once at Kuldiha FRH, spend some time outside the FRH looking for birds. You might find the Crested Serpent Eagle here. Another road from Kuldiha FRH leads to Tenda Dam, which is where you can look for the elusive Malabar Trogon. At the Tenda Dam, expect to find the Blue-eared Kingfisher along with other species. The road will lead you back to the crossroads near Rissia Nature Camp. Be back at the camp for breakfast, which is served at 8:30 am.

After breakfast, go to the Rissia Dam and look out for the Blue-eared Kingfisher and lots of waders. When the Sun is up, all birds in the forest seek cover from the rising heat. The forest goes silent and there is hardly anything to see. It is only around late afternoon that you start to see birds again. Therefore, come back to the Camp for lunch and proceed for birdwatching soon after lunch. This time, take the route backwards i.e; Rissia – Tenda Dam – Kuldiha FRH – Juriatota Watchtower – Rissia Camp. This circuit should give you all that you would have missed out on your previous excursions. Doing this circuit twice over, from different directions and at different times of the day, you will be able to explore the entire circuit and discover its full potential. Be back at the Camp before sunset to recoup and rewind. Retire for the day after dinner.

Guide Map of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary has been provided in this blog. You are encouraged to download the map and carry a printout for ready reference. Our own checklist of birds, the ones we were able to observe/photograph/hear is uploaded on ebird.com by my colleague and birding partner, Dr. Anirban Bhaduri. We were able to document 51 species within a span of 24 hours inside the Kuldiha WLS. This trip has left us wanting for more and we plan to visit the place again in the near future.