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14 day Sri LankaGuide: TBA
Sri Lanka is a picturesque island situated in the southern tip of India and is home to 33 currently recognised endemic species. Sri Lanka is a continental island, and has been connected to India for much of its geological past through episodes of lower sea-level. Despite these land-bridge connections, faunal exchange between the rainforests found in Southern India and Sri Lanka, has been minimal. This lack of exchange of species is probably due to the inability of rainforest organisms to disperse though the interceding areas of dry lowlands. These dry lowlands are still dry today and receive only one major rainy season whereas Sri Lanka’s ‘wet zone’ experiences two annual monsoons. This long insularity of Sri Lankan biota in a moist tropical environment has led to the emergence of a bewildering variety of endemic biodiversity. This is why south western Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of southern India are jointly regarded as one of the globe’s 25 biodiversity hotspots. Furthermore, Sri Lanka is the western-most representative of Indo-Malayan Flora and its abundant birdlife shows many such affinities. Our tour also offers plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities and is therefore also suitable for those with broader interests. The main focus however is on Sri Lanka’s abundant avi-fauna, including 33-plus endemics. The timing of our February tour during the northern winter, means that we enjoy the local residents amidst good numbers of migrants from further north. We aim to see 230-250 species of birds during this tour. Our August tour, at the end of the dry season, is excellent for mammals and other wildlife.
The itinerary covers a variety of habitat types, including lowland, monsoon and cloud forests, grasslands, coastal mudflats, imposing riverine woodland and forest. We do a fair bit of walking on our tour, particularly in the earlier stages as we search for endemics and mixed species flocks in different forest types. Our walks are gentle and slow-paced to enable us to spot and enjoy birds. Accommodation and meals
Detailed Itinerary (Endemics in bold) KITHULGALA
Day 01-02 Arrive in Bandaranaiyake International Airport in Katunayake, Sri Lanka and transfer to the lush lowlands of Kithulgala for endemics and sub-continental specialties. Our overnight retreat in Kithulgala is a colonial Resthouse overlooking the Kelani River and the endemic rich Kelani Valley Forest reserve. This location was the setting for the famous World War 2 movie – ‘The Bridge over the River Kwai.’ Birding: Black-capped Bulbul, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Green-billed Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Crimson-backed Flameback, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Serendib Scops Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Brown-headed Barbet, Brown Hawk Owl, Southern Coucal, Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Crested Serpent Eagle, Jerdon’s and Gold-fronted Leafbird, Dark-fronted Babbler, Orange Minivet, Square-tailed Black Bulbul, Lesser Hill Myna, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Indian Pitta, Forest Wagtail, Purple-rumped and Long-billed Sunbirds, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Oriental White-eye, Lesser Yellownape, Rufous Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, Asian Palm and House Swifts, Indian Swiftlet, Crested Treeswift, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black Eagle and Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies and Damselflies: Spine-tufted Skimmer, Pied Parasol, Black-tipped Flashwing, Asian Pintail, Yerbury’s Elf, and Shining Gossamerwing. Butterflies: Sri Lanka Birdwing, Clipper, Cruiser, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Plum Judy, Blue Bottle, Red Helan and Blue Mormon.
SINHARAJA
Day 03-05 After this excellent introduction to the island’s avifauna, we drive to the Sinharaja World Heritage Reserve, which represents the largest expanse of lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka and the premier site for endemics. We will check into our rain forest accommodation for three nights; which is a family-run Guest-house that overlooks the virgin rain forest – just 200m from the forest’s main entrance. Birding: The highlight of birding in Sinharaja is to pick up on a mixed species bird flock, or bird party. These moving congregations of birds are also called bird waves and are a strategy adopted by birds to maximize feeding efficiency and to reduce the risk of predation. Studied since 1981, Sinharaja’s bird flocks are the world’s longest studied. On average, 12 species occur in the flocks comprising of 42 individuals. Orange-billed Babbler and Sri Lanka Crested Drongo are found in 92 % and 89 % of flocks respectively and they jointly form the ‘nuclear-species’ of the flock. Other highlights, include Red-faced Malkoha, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Myna, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, Spot-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Swallow, Hill Munia, Besra, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Black-naped Monarch, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Indian Cuckoo, Brown-backed Needletail, Alpine Swift and Red-winged Crested Cuckoo. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies: Asian Skimmer, Marsh Skimmer, Sapphire Flutterer, Wall’s Grappletail, Dark-glittering Threadtail, and Jungle Threadtail., Butterflies: Giant King Crow, Tawny Rajah, Red-spot Duke, Five-bar Swordtail, Great Eggfly, Rustic, Three-spot Grass Yellow, Tailed Jay, Blue Glassy Tiger, and Tree Nymph., Botany: Ant plant, 45m canopy giants such as Dipterocarps and Shoreas and Bamboo orchids. Mammals: Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Slender Loris, Giant Squirrel, Layard’s Squirrel, and Dusky-striped Squirrel. UDAWALAWE
Day 06 In the dry lowlands of Udawalawe National Park a totally different avi-fauna awaits us. We will first reach our cosy game lodge accommodation for two nights at Udawalawe for lunch. Soon, we will board ‘open topped’ safari jeep and into the National Park in search of its birding specials. The park’s habitat includes gallery forests, monsoon forests and water holes, grasslands, scrublands and woodlands. In addition to excellent dry zone birding, a visit to Udawalawe also presents a good opportunity to observe Asian Elephant, which are found in good numbers in the park. Birding: Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Blue-faced and Sirkeer Malkohas, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Green Bee-eater, Coppersmith Barbet, Yellow-eyed and Tawny-bellied Babblers, Indian Robin, Brown Fish Owl, Rosy Starling, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Jungle Prinia, Baya and Streaked Weavers, Black-headed Munia, Indian Silverbill, Plum-headed Parakeet, Oriental Darter, Paddyfield and Blyth’s Pipits, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Oriental Skylark, Lesser Cuckoo, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Orange-headed Thrush, Barred Buttonquail, ‘Indian’ Red-rumped Swallow, White, Yellow and Citrine Wagtails, Pied Kingfisher, Spot-billed Pelican, Wooly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant and Painted Stork, Pallid and Marsh Harriers, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Common Kestral, Black-shouldered Kite and Grey-headed Fish Eagle. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies: Variable Flutterer, Dancing Dropwing, Wandering Glider, Foggy-winged Twister, Scarlet Basker, Blue Percher, and Oriental Scarlet. Butterflies: Plain Tiger, Glassy Tiger, Pioneer, Crimson Rose, Common Rose, Lime Butterfly, Common Gull, Common Jezebel, Tawny Coster, Common Cerulean, Grey Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Lemon Emigrant. Mammals: Asian Elephant, which is present in fair numbers in this park, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, Ruddy Mongoose, and Spotted Deer.
UDAWALAWE
Day 07 On our second day in Udawalawe we will combine several birding hotspots within the park where we can alight from our jeep to stretch our legs and to bird on foot. We will enjoy a relaxing midday break at our lodge between our morning and afternoon birding sessions. Birding: Cotton Pygmy-goose, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Yellow and Black Bitterns, Purple Swamphen, Purple Heron, Painted Stork, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Watercock, ‘Western’ Black-tailed Gotwit, Black-winged Stilt, Pintail Snipe, Indian Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodswallow, White-naped Woodpecker, Jungle Owlet, Indian Scops Owl, White-rumped Shama, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Indian Reed Warbler and Yellow-wattled Lapwing. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies: Common Bluetail, Painted Waxtail, Yellow Waxtail, Pruinosed Bloodtail, Sombre Lieutenant, Pink Skimmer, and Paddyfield Parasol., Butterflies: Common Pierrot, Red Pierrot, Metallic Cerulean, Tiny Grass Blue, and Common Lascar. Reptiles: Common and Green Garden Lizards, Land and Water Monitors and Mugger Crocodile.
Day 08: Bundala & Yala National Parks After an early cup of coffee, we collect our packed breakfasts and visit Bundala National Park, which is a Ramsar Wetland and a premier site for waterbirds and waders. The park contains large expanses of dry zone scrub, freshwater bodies, brackish water bodies, lagoons, and mud flats. This visit should boost our tally with a great many shorebirds and more dry zone specials. Thereafter, we will retreat to our air-conditioned comforts of our nature resort for a midday break. After recharging our batteries, we will explore the wilderness expanse of Yala National Park. Yala comprise of a bewildering array of habitats including monsoon forests, scrub jungle, mud flats, lagoons, riverine forests, lily-covered inland fresh-water bodies, open grassy plains, and rocky outcrops. The ecosystems of Yala harbour a rich diversity of wildlife, which makes it the premier National Park in Sri Lanka for birds and wildlife. Yala is a premier Leopard hotspot and with luck we will encounter this impressive beast. Birding: Western Reef Egret, Red-necked Phalarope, Small Pratincole, Little Heron, Garganey, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveller, Caspian Tern, White-winged Tern, Whiskered Tern, Common Tern, Large Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Terns, Indian Cormorant, Brown-headed Gull, Greater Flamingo, Great Thick-knee, Indian Thick-knee, Eurasian Curlew, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpipers, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Black-necked Stork, Common Hoopoe, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark, Brown Fish Owl, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, and Ashy Drongo. Non-birding highlights: Mammals: Leopard, Elephant, Sloth Bear, Spotted deer, Sambar, Wild buffalo, Wild Boar, Hanuman Langur, Toque Macaque, Stripe-necked & Ruddy Mongooses & Jackal; Reptiles: Mugger Crocodile and Land monitor.
Day 09: TISSA This morning, we will visit some of the wetlands/forest patches at Tissa. We will retreat to our air-conditioned comforts of our nature resort at midday. After recharging our batteries, we visit Yala National Park, again, in search of any missing dry zone specials. We will also visit a stake out of a pair of Indian Scops Owls. Birding: Same as Days 6-8.
Day 10:TO NUWARA ELIYA After breakfast, we will say goodbye to the friendly staff at our hotel, and drive up to the cooler hills of Nuwara Eliya, where several montane endemics await us. En route, we will make several strategic stops to bag several “high-value targets.” We search for specialties including Sirkeer Malkoha, White-tailed Iora, Jungle Owlet, Orange-headed Thrush, and White-naped Woodpecker. We continue ascending and pause at the Ella Resthouse, which faces the spectacular Ella gap, for lunch. After lunch we visit Welimada which is situated in the eastern drier hills of the central mountain massif. Birding at Welimada presents a mixture of lowland wet zone, highland wet zone, and lowland dry zone elements. One of our prime targets here is the mountain endemic, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon. Up to three Brown Wood Owls have been sighted here at a daytime roost! A special Woodpecker is also recorded here in the form of Steak-throated Woodpecker, which is a restricted range species in Sri Lanka. We could also see a few montane specials such as Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, and the highly sought-after Pied Thrush. Thereafter, we will continue our ascent to reach the cooler interiors of Nuwara Eliya (1,890-m), the famous hill station of Sri Lanka, named by some as, “Little England,” as still bears evidence of its colonial past with its English-style holiday homes, a racecourse, vegetable gardens, shooting ranges, an urban park, a few of pubs, flower gardens, and a fine 18-hole golf course to name a few. As we ascend, vast stretches of tea gardens dominate the landscape—a cash crop introduced by the British, which is currently the country’s third highest revenue earner. The temperature here is a welcoming 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the lowlands – you may even need your jersey! In the evening we visit a special spot for the secretive montane endemic – the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. Birding: Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, White-tailed Iora (aka. Marshall’s Iora), Lesser Hill Myna, Crested Hawk Eagle, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Indian Pygmy Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Crimson-backed Flameback, White-rumped Shama, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Grey Tit, Grey-breasted Prinia, Jungle Prinia, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Jungle Owlet, Brown Wood Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Orange-headed Thrush, Indian Pitta, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Pied Thrush and Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Overnight: A cosy lodge patronised by bird watchers for many years. NUWARA ELIYA Day 11 An early vigil near a creek at a montane forest patch would give us another shot, or possibly better views of Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. As the dawn breaks, we will encounter groups of Sri Lanka White-eyes—a gregarious endemic. The explosive whipcracks of Yellow-eared Bulbuls would add to the chorus, in addition to the mournful tunes of Dull-blue Flycatcher coming from the moss covered cloud forest. Our attention will soon switch to low-shrubs, and bamboo thickets, in search of Sri Lanka Bush Warbler—somewhat of a skulker, and Indian Blue Robin. Next, we will reach Victoria Park, which is an urban park established in 1897 to commemorate the 60th coronation jubilee of Queen Victoria. Our main reason for visiting this is to see the Pied Thrush—a western Himalayan special that is easier to Sri Lanka than at its natal grounds. Here, we should also find Forest Wagtail, and if lucky, Slaty-legged Crake. The Himalayan delight Kashmir Flycatcher occurs at Victoria Park, and we have another for this tricky bird. We should also get improved views of all montane specials including Dull-blue Flycatcher, Hill Munia, Crimson-backed Flameback, and Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon. Today’s list should also include Grey Tit, Indian Blackbird, Pied Bushchat, Hill Swallow, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Himalayan Buzzard, and with luck, the impressive Jerdon’s Baza. Birding: Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, Forest & Grey Wagtails, Great Tit, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, Jerdon’s Baza, Zitting Cisticola, Pied Bushchat, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, newly spit Himalayan Buzzard & the potential splits; Indian Blackbird & Black-throated Munia and with patience - Slaty-legged Crake. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies: Triangle Skimmer, Red-veined Darter; Mammals: Sambar, and Bear Monkey—the montane race of the vegetarian Purple-faced Leaf Monkey of lowlands; Botany: Endemic variety of Rhododendron; Reptiles: Rhino-horned Lizard, Black-lipped Lizard and if lucky, Dwarf Chameleon. Overnight: in a cosy lodge patronized by bird watchers for many years.
KANDY Day 12 After an enjoyable birding breakfast, we will drive to Kandy (477m), the cultural-epicentre of Sri Lanka, where age-old rituals continue at the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic. Kandy was the last Sinhalese kingdom in Sri Lanka, which was ceded to the British in 1815. En route, we will pause at a tea factory to see the newly-split Hill Swallow, which nests inside the factory. At the factory there is the option of a guided tour to see the production process of “Ceylon tea.” Common Hawk Cuckoo is often heard in the tea plantation nearby, and if we don’t get a visual here, it can also be seen at locations further down. Upon reaching the World Heritage City of Kandy, we will enjoy our lunch at a restaurant, with a commanding view of the city, with its lake and temple. Next, we will drive for a short duration to reach our comfortable overnight accommodation, with its swimming pool overlooking a forest. Late afternoon, we will reach a mid-elevational forest adjoining a tea and spice plantations to look for Crimson-backed Flameback, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl and Brown Wood Owl.
Birding: Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Hill Swallow, Lesser Hill-myna, Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle (seen sometimes during the descent to Kandy), Common Hawk Cuckoo, Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Black-naped Monarch, White-browed Fantail, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Black Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Besra, and Plum-headed Parakeet. Overnight: A classy Kandy hotel close to the birding sites.
Day 13 We will check out after breakfast, and visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kandy. This magnificent garden covers 147 acres, and is a botanical paradise. The main purpose of visiting this park is to look for the uncommon resident Common Hawk Cuckoo, and to get improved views of Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, and Lesser Hill Myna. A giant fig tree covering an area of 2,500 square metres is but one of the botanical highlights. As we approach the drunken pine avenue—a road running parallel to the Mahaweli River flanked by rows of Cook's Pine from Australia—a noisy colony of Giant Fruit bats would be hard to ignore with their quarrelsome arguments over landing rights. You will be able to see them in their thousands laying claim to several large trees. A secluded spot under some towering Dipterocarps holds a territory of an Indian Pitta. Birding: Common Hawk Cuckoo, Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Swallow, Lesser Hill Myna, Orange Minivet, Alexandrine Parakeet, and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher. Non-birding highlights: Dragonflies including Dawn Dropwing, Spine-legged Redbolt, Blue Pursuer, Dingy Duskfly, Indian Duskhawker, Elusive Adjutant, Sri Lanka Forktail, Pale-faced Forestskimmer; Mammals: Giant Fruit Bat aka Flying fox; Botany: including Giant Jawa Fig, which covers an area of 1,600 sq.ft, Double coconut, Drunken Pine avenue, Cannon-ball tree & orchid house in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Overnight: A classy Kandy hotel close to the birding sites.
Day 14: SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS Today we travel to the 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a World Heritage Site, in the Sigiriya Sanctuary. The area offers superb birding including Orange-headed Thrush, “Fork-tailed” Drongo Cuckoo, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Jerdon’s Nightjar, “Shaheen”—local race of Peregrine, Black Eagle, Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Crimson-backed Flameback, and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. Overnight: Kandy DAY 15: DEPARTURE All clients should obtain necessary insurance to meet cancellation charges and other risks. All photos by Amila Salgado
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Itinerary: Duration: 15 days Limit: 4-8 Date: February 2013 Start: Katunayake End: Katunayake Price:US$3185 per person sharing Single supplement: US$475 Price_Includes: Accommodation based on double/twin sharing basis with private facilities for 14 nights, Transportation in a comfortable A/C vehicle ; All meals, Sri Lanka bird and natural history checklist, Entrances tickets and taxes. Price_Excludes: Flights Insurance Tips Optional game drive Other personal expenses
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