We depart from your hotel at exactly 03:00 PM to arrive at Chidiya Tapu just as the harsh midday heat breaks and the forest undergoes a massive shift in activity. We begin by scanning the coastal shoreline, mudflats, and mangrove edges, capitalizing on the late-afternoon light to spot active waders, kingfishers, and coastal hunters like the Pacific Reef Egret, Collared Kingfisher, Dollarbird, and Changeable Hawk-Eagle moving along the water's edge. As the afternoon progresses, we move inland into the dense tropical rainforest, walking quietly along shaded forest roads beneath grand Padauk and Mahua trees to catch mixed feeding flocks and colorful residents such as the Andaman Serpent Eagle, Violet Cuckoo, Andaman Shama, Long-tailed Parakeet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Andaman Bulbul, and Asian Fairy-Bluebird.
After enjoying light field refreshments and tea to toast the sunset, we transition into the final, highly anticipated phase of the tour: post-sunset nocturnal trailing. As darkness settles over the canopy between 06:00 PM and 07:00 PM, the forest fills with entirely new sounds, giving us our first prime opportunity to track and spot the region’s iconic endemic owls—including the Andaman Scops-Owl and Andaman Hawk-Owl—before wrapping up the expedition.
The Dusk Resurgence: Take advantage of the secondary peak of daily bird activity, when species actively forage before roosting for the night.
Golden Hour Photography: The low, warm angle of the late-afternoon sun offers the most spectacular lighting conditions for capturing vibrant plumage colors.
Nocturnal Introduction: Unlike morning tours, this session smoothly transitions into twilight, letting you experience the thrilling first hour of night birding.