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A trip to Nilambur (KL) in search of specialities and rarities
Gopala Krishnan S
[email protected]
Nilambur is a municipality and Taluk in Malappuram district of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiris
range of the Western Ghats on the banks of Chaliyar river (Wiki). It is a beautiful place dotted with
Rubber ,coffee plantations and still retains untouched forest cover in the northern part of Chaliyar river.
Five of us (Mr. Gopalakrishnan, Mr. Pavendhan, Mr. Viswanathan, Mr. Balakrishnan, Mr. Nishanth)
reached the town on 27th night .There are decent stay options available and we have booked a hotel in
advance. Our Buttering friend Mr. Subash Pulikkal ,on whose invite the trip was planned, joined us in the
morning for breakfast.
Our journey to the butterflying spot started around 7.45AM and we reached the spot in half an hour
drive, which has a river on the one side and forest in the other. The place has received rains in the
previous night and it was sunny in the morning .
Our first sighting of the session started with the beautiful Southern Birdwing and soon other butterflies
started fluttering , Malabar rose, Tamil Catseye, Dusky Partwing, Common Redeye, Common Map,
Malabar Tree Nymph and Cornelian being other highlights.
After spending an hour there we headed for the second spot which was some 5 km from there. We were
greeted with the Hampson Hedge hopper – which is a lifer for all of us! We could spot many specimen
hopping there and giving us enough photographic opportunities. The highlights of the place were Long
banded Silverline and Tamil grass dart. A mating pair of Chestnut bobs posed enough for a photo session.
From there we started our journey back to the town and on the way, made a stopover in the riverside to
see mud puddling. We could spot a lonely Blue Mormon and few Common Emigrants mud puddling.
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 3 VEINS 3
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