Sri Lanka
29th November - 12th December 2009
Leader: James Eaton
Maximum Group Size: 8
Sri Lanka has always been one of Asia’s most popular birding destinations thanks to its irresistible combination of fine birding, fascinating ancient culture and attractive scenery. Interest has recently been further boosted by the publication of The Birds of South Asia, which increased the island endemic tally to an impressive 33, ranging from the shy Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, to the gaudy Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the striking Red-faced Malkoha and the recently-discovered Serendib Scops Owl. During the tour we will visit the wet-zone at Kitulgala and Sinharaja World Heritage Site, the hills surrounding Nuwara Eliya and the dry-zone in the southeast. Although the endemics will be a priority, we will also enjoy the remainder of the rich resident avifauna and some special Himalayan visitors, including the striking Pied Thrush and the localised Kashmir Flycatcher.
Day 1:
International arrivals into Negombo International Airport. Night in Negombe.
Day 2:
After breakfast we drive to Kitulgala, arriving in the late morning for a two-night stay. Birding begins immediately around the gardens of the hotel where a number of frugivores are often found gorging in the numerous fruiting trees. Possibilities include a variety of the commoner endemics such as Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon and Black-capped Bulbul amongst other common species such as Brown-headed Barbet, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Southern Coucal, Southern Hill Myna, Yellow-billed Babbler and Purple-rumped Sunbird.
In the afternoon we cross the river to reach the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve for some initial exploration. Although birding can appear slow at times it just takes just one of Sri Lanka’s renowned feeding flocks to liven up proceedings. Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Sri Lanka Rufous Babbler, Black-naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Brown-capped Babbler are all likely; and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Spurfowl and Red-faced Malkoha are also possible. As dusk begins to fall the eerie calls of Sri Lanka Frogmouth will draw us towards this bizarre creature and Serendib Scops Owl, a species described as recently as 2004 is also present.
Day 3:
During the morning we will bird the forest edge. As dawn approaches the sweet, mournful song of the endemic Spot-winged Thrush should become obvious as will the two-note call of a wintering Indian Pitta. The increasingly rare Green-billed Coucal will be our main target this morning, but sidelines abound; Sri Lanka Grey Hornbills will be calling raucously overhead, Black-rumped Flameback - here of the distinctive endemic red-backed form, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Brown-capped Babbler and if we are lucky, Legge’s Flowerpecker.
Depending on our previous successes we will spend the afternoon birding the forest edge or the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve in search of the species mentioned previously.
Day 4:
After some pre-breakfast birding and breakfast we will head to the hills, centred around Nuwara Eliya, a bustling town situated high up in the midst of Sri Lanka’s famous tea plantations. Following lunch we will spend the afternoon in the vicinity of Nuwara Eliya searching several remnant forest patches in search of the various Sri Lankan endemics restricted to the central highlands. Sri Lanka White-eye is a common species in these forest patches, and we will also hope to find the endemic Dusky Blue Flycatcher singing its sweet song, pairs of attractive Yellow-eared Bulbuls and the more secretive Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon. As dusk approaches we will search a secluded stream for the endangered Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, one of Sri Lanka’s most elusive endemics. Night in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 5:
An early morning start will find us at Horton Plains for dawn. This mosaic of cloud forest interspersed with open grassland provides us with a chance to clean up on our remaining higher elevation endemics including Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, and any species missed the previous day. Horton Plains is home to numerous other interesting species including wintering Kashmir Flycatcher, an important species whose breeding grounds are largely out of bounds, along with Hill Swallow - endemic to South India and Sri Lanka, and the distinctive race of Black-throated Munia and Indian Blackbird.
Following lunch our afternoon will be spent at the famed Victoria Park, situated within ears-reach of Nuwara Eliya city centre. In the quieter corners of the park a host of wintering species are possible; Indian Blue Robin, Slaty-legged Crake, Forest Wagtail, Indian Pitta, Kashmir Flycatcher and the striking Pied Thrush - our main target at this site. Night in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 6:
Following a final pre-breakfast visit to Victoria Park we wind our way down to the lowlands of the south and head eastwards arriving at the marvellous Udawalawe National Park around lunchtime. En-route our first Sri Lanka Swallows will begin to appear along with wintering Red-rumped Swallows. After lunch we make a jeep safari into this wonderful mosaic of grasslands, thick scrub and low trees. Birds are plentiful in this habitat. Tricoloured Munias swarm in huge locust-like flocks, Orange-breasted and Sri Lanka Green Pigeons perch out perilously on open snags under the watching eye of Crested Hawk Eagles. Sirkeer Malkoha, Grey-bellied and Jacobin Cuckoos favour the scrub where ‘Indian’ Baya Weavers build their meticulous nests. Udawalawe is famed for its large number of mammals, especially Asian Elephant; other possibilities include Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel, Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal and Chital (Spotted Dear). As dusk arrives we depart for Tissa for a three-night stay.
Day 7:
Today will be a full day at Yala National Park comprising two jeep safari’s. Yala is renowned for the highest density of Leopards in Asia and this will be our prime target today. Mammals abound in this dry savannah; Tufted Grey Langur, Toque Macaque, Sambar and Chital are all common and Sloth Bear is a real possibility. Bird-wise the park provides a refuge for Black-necked Stork, one of Sri Lanka’s rarest species along with a plethora of other waterbirds. It is also a key site for Sri Lanka Woodshrike; a species confined to the dry zone. On the way back to our hotel we will scan the open scrub for Jerdon’s and Indian Nightjars.
Day 8:
We again bird from the comfort of our jeep this morning as we visit Bundala National Park. Bundala covers a range of different habitats, thick scrub plays host to Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Rosy Starling, Jacobin Cuckoo, White-browed Fantail and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater. The large, dry open areas are a favoured locality for Indian and Great Thick Knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Peafowl, Ashy-crowned Finch Lark and Oriental Skylark, while the shallow pools provide a refuge for huge numbers of Red-necked and Temminck’s Stints, ‘Western’ Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Spoonbill, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Small Pratincole and Pintail Snipe.
In the afternoon we shall bird locally searching for some of the specialities of this area, including Indian Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and the striking White-naped Woodpecker.
Day 9:
Departing early will see us arrive back at Udawalawe National Park for a morning safari in search of more dry-zone specialities as mentioned previously. Leaving the wonderful grasslands of Udawalawe behind us, we depart for the renowned Sinharaja World Heritage Site for a three-night stay. Sinharaja is one of the premier rainforest localities in Sri Lanka and host to an incredibly diverse flora and fauna.
Days 10-11:
Two full days birding in and around Sinharaja will hopefully produce all the remaining endemics as the park’s list includes all but one of Sri Lanka’s 33 currently recognised endemics. The stars of the show are the exquisite Sri Lanka Blue Magpies, which roam about in close family parties adding a splash of blue and red to the forest colours. Red-faced Malkoha is an equally striking endemic, and we will have to keep a watchful eye on the huge feeding flocks of Sri Lanka Rufous Babblers, Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes, Sri Lanka Crested Drongos and Sri Lanka Scimitar Babblers as they play follow the leader through the forest understorey. Prolonged watching of the understorey will hopefully reap its rewards in the form of Sri Lanka’s most tricky endemics, the ground-dwelling Sri Lanka Spurfowl and Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush.
However, we must not forget the canopy, as the open snags are often used as perches two further endemics, Sri Lanka Hill Myna and one of Sri Lanka’s most endangered endemics - White-faced Starling.
Further night birding may well produce Serendib Scops Owl and Sri Lanka Frogmouth if we haven’t already seen them already in the daytime, but a lot of luck and patience will be required for the little-known Sri Lanka Bay Owl.
Day 12:
Following our final mornings birding to locate any species we may still not have encountered we drive north to Negombo for our farewell dinner by the seashore.
Day 13:
International departures from Negombo International Airport.
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