Kotagiri - The Western Ghats...

Kotagiri is a small town in the Nilgiris District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This place is full of Tea Plantations with awesome scenery and mountains. Captured some pics during my visit here..

The Indian Gaur. Captured in the early mornings in the Tea Estate located in Kotagiri, Western Ghats. Awesome climate with lush green tea plantations. The Indian Gaur is the largest species of wild cattle, bigger than the Cape Buffalo, Water Buffalo and Bison. The biggest populations are found today in India. The wildlife sanctuaries in South India namely Kabini, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Masinagudi, BR Hills are the best place to see them. Unlike the Elephants, the Gaur are essentially timid and avoid confrontations.

The Indian Gaur. They have a distinct ridge running from the shoulders to the middle of the back; the shoulders may be as much as 12 cm (4.7 in) higher than the rump. This ridge is caused by the great length of the spinous processes of the vertebrae of the fore-part of the trunk as compared with those of the loins. The hair is short, fine and glossy, and the hooves are narrow and pointed. 

The Indian Gaur are largely confined to evergreen forests or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, but also occur in deciduous forest areas at the periphery of their range. Gaur habitat is characterized by large, relatively undisturbed forest tracts, hilly terrain below an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 ft (1,500 to 1,800 m). The average weight of adult gaur is 650 to 1,000 kg (1,430 to 2,200 lb)..  

The Indian Gaur is a strong and massively built species with a high convex ridge on the forehead between the horns, which bends forward, causing a deep hollow in the profile of the upper part of the head. Due to their formidable size and power, gaur have few natural enemies besides humans. Leopards and dhole packs occasionally attack unguarded calves or unhealthy animals; however, only the tiger and both the mugger and the saltwater crocodiles have been reported to kill a full-grown adult.  

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher.. This is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family. This is an insectivorous species which breeds in tropical Asia, from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia..

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher.. The metallic song of the bird includes a series of clicks followed by five or six notes that end abruptly. The metallic song consists of short clicks followed by five or six notes resembling that of the White-browed Fantail-flycatcher. Alarm calls include churr and clicking notes.

Yellow-cheeked Tit is a mainly small, stocky, woodland species with short, stout bills. Some have crests. They range in length from 10 to 22 cm..

Yellow-cheeked Tit. This species frequents in forest, open temperate and deciduous or mixed forest with oak and pine trees. In some parts of the range, it can be found in evergreen hill forests.

Crimson-backed Sunbird. The crimson-backed sunbird or small sunbird (Leptocoma minima) is a sunbird endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Like other sunbirds, they feed mainly on nectar although they take insects, especially to feed their young. They are tiny birds that are resident and are found in forests but are particularly attracted to gardens at the edge of the forest where people grow suitable flower-bearing plants.. 

Crimson-backed Sunbirds mostly feed on nectar, although take insects particularly during the breeding season to feed their young and to satisfy their own need for increased protein in their diet during this demanding time. They favor flowers with the highest sugar content and seek out those areas containing flowers with high energy nectar. Even though most sunbirds can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, the Crimson-backed Sunbirds usually perch while taking nectar

Crimson-backed Sunbirds are tiny, even by sunbird standards, and are only 8 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations for nectar feeding.. 

This image was taken in a very low light. The velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) is a small passerine bird found in southern Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka east to south China and Indonesia. It has the ability, like other nuthatches, to climb down trees, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go upwards. It has the typical nuthatch big head, short tail and powerful bill and feet. It is violet-blue above, with lavender cheeks, beige underparts and a whitish throat. The bill is red, and there is a black patch on the forehead. Captured this in Kotagiri, near Ooty.

The velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) is a small passerine bird found in southern Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka east to south China and Indonesia. It has the ability, like other nuthatches, to climb down trees, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go upwards. It has the typical nuthatch big head, short tail and powerful bill and feet. It is violet-blue above, with lavender cheeks, beige underparts and a whitish throat. The bill is red, and there is a black patch on the forehead. Captured this in Kotagiri, near Ooty. 

The velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) 

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) 

The Black-Hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)

Grey Crowned Crane.. Captured in Hyderabad..