Bird Photography in Thattekad Bird Sanctuary: My Wildlife Photography Experience in Kerala

Exploring Thattekad Bird Sanctuary as a Wildlife Photographer

Among all the birding locations I have visited in Kerala, my experiences at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary have been some of the most memorable and rewarding. I have visited the sanctuary multiple times — sometimes alone, sometimes with my father and brother, and even as part of forest department camps focused on birding and herping.

Thattekad, also known as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, is one of the best places in Kerala for bird photography, especially if someone wants to explore species endemic to the Western Ghats.

Every visit gave me a completely different experience, whether it was bird photography, macro photography, reptile spotting, or simply understanding the forest ecosystem better.

Different Birding Trails Inside Thattekad

One thing many people don’t realize is that Thattekad has multiple birding trails and not just one common forest path.

The most accessible trail is the regular sanctuary area that any visitor can enter by paying a nominal entry fee. Even this public section has a decent amount of bird activity and is good for beginners.

However, guided tours are much more rewarding because local guides know the hotspots where rare and nocturnal species are usually found.

One of the most famous routes is the Black Baza Trail, which is especially popular between January and March when birders try to spot the elusive black baza. Sightings still depend heavily on luck, but experienced guides significantly improve the chances.

My First Solo Trip to Thattekad

The first time I visited Thattekad, I travelled there alone.

At that time, I was still learning how birding trails and guided tours worked. I initially explored the public trail on my own and only later decided to take a guided trip. Unfortunately, by the time the guided tour started, it was already around 9 a.m., which is relatively late for bird activity.

In hindsight, the issue was not with the guide but with my own planning. Early mornings are critical for bird photography because that is when birds are most active.

Even though I could not spot many rare birds during that visit, the experience helped me understand how birding in dense rainforest ecosystems works.

The Importance of Experienced Local Guides

One important lesson I learned from Thattekad is the value of experienced private guides.

Forest department tours are useful, but they often start slightly late, sometimes around 7 or 8 a.m. For casual visitors that may be fine, but for serious bird photographers, every hour matters.

Some local guides such as Sudhish and other experienced birders know the forest exceptionally well. They are familiar with nesting areas, owl territories, raptor hotspots, and the movement patterns of endemic species.

These guides can make a massive difference in the overall experience, especially for photographers targeting rare Western Ghats birds.

My Monsoon Herping Experience in Thattekad

One of my most unique experiences in Thattekad happened during the monsoon season when I attended a camp focused mainly on herping.

Herping refers to observing and photographing reptiles and amphibians in the wild.

Monsoon season is not ideal for bird photography because many birds remain hidden inside dense foliage and nesting areas. The lighting also becomes extremely challenging due to the thick canopy and constant cloud cover.

However, the rainforest completely transforms during the rains and becomes a paradise for amphibians and reptiles.

During this trip, I saw:

• Malabar gliding frogs

• Malabar pit vipers

• Vine snakes

• Various endemic frog species of the Western Ghats

The biggest challenge during the monsoon was dealing with leeches. We carried sanitizer bottles and salt water sprays specifically to remove leeches that would constantly attach themselves to our shoes and clothing.

Learning Macro Photography in the Rainforest

This herping camp was also the first time I properly observed how macro wildlife photography is done.

My friend Ramgeet showed me how macro lenses, flashes, and diffusers are used to photograph tiny amphibians and reptiles in extremely low-light forest conditions.

Watching photographers carefully compose images of frogs and reptiles opened up an entirely new side of wildlife photography for me.

My brother had accompanied me during this camp as well, although he was not particularly into birding or wildlife photography. He mostly came along to accompany me, and understandably, the experience was much more exciting for me than for him.

Staying in a Tree House Inside Thattekad

Another memorable trip to Thattekad was when I travelled there with my father and brother during peak summer.

We stayed in a tree house located near the Periyar River, inside the sanctuary region itself. Even though there was limited electricity and no air conditioning, the natural environment made the stay enjoyable.

Waking up to rainforest sounds and seeing dense forest all around was an experience in itself.

Unfortunately, during that trip, the guide accompanying us did not have detailed knowledge about some of the rarer target species I wanted to photograph. So while I could not tick off everything on my birding wishlist, I still managed to see and photograph multiple Malabar trogons, which remain one of the most beautiful birds I have encountered in Kerala.

My First Sighting of the Malabar Trogon

Interestingly, my very first sighting of the Malabar trogon did not happen inside the main Thattekad sanctuary trails.

During my first guided trip, the guide suggested that I visit Thommankuthu Waterfalls because the chances of spotting the Malabar trogon there were better at that time.

I followed his advice, and that eventually became the place where I saw the Malabar trogon for the first time.

For any wildlife photographer or birder visiting Kerala, seeing the Malabar trogon in the wild is always a special experience because of its vibrant colors and shy nature.

Challenges of Bird Photography in Thattekad

Bird photography in Thattekad is incredibly rewarding, but it is also challenging.

Some of the main difficulties include:

• Dense rainforest canopy reducing available light

• Birds staying high up in the trees

• Fast-moving species inside dark forests

• Leeches during monsoons

• Bird activity reducing later in the day

Because of this, photographers need patience, proper planning, and ideally experienced local guidance.

Why Thattekad Remains One of My Favourite Birding Locations

Even after visiting multiple forests and birding hotspots across India, Thattekad still remains one of my favourite places for wildlife photography.

The combination of rainforest landscapes, endemic Western Ghats species, reptiles, amphibians, and peaceful forest trails makes every visit unique.

More importantly, every trip taught me something new — whether it was about photography, patience, forest ecosystems, or simply understanding nature better.