Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka (12 days) SLK009

Introduction

Tour focus: Sri Lanka’s endemic birds – around 33 of them, depending on which list you work from!  Explore Kithulgala from a comfortable base, with chance of numerous endemics – Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Serendib Scops Owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Junglefowl and many more.  Moving on in search of highland endemics will take you to Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains.  Your guide will seek out Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Thrush, White-eye, Bush-warbler and Whistling Thrush. At the next location, the lush lowland rainforests of Sinharaja, there will be another chance to catch up with most species; expect flocks of Orange-billed Babblers and Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes as well as Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Spot-winged Thrush, White-faced Starling, Legge’s Flowerpecker and the rather elusive Sri Lanka Thrush.   We can’t list everything here but we are sure you’ll revel in the island’s high level of endemism.

 

Itinerary and price

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Meals: Dinner Arrive Colombo (likely to be early afternoon).  Your Sri Lankan guide will be there to meet you and will remain with you throughout the tour. From the airport you’ll drive (approx. 3 hours) to Kithulgala.  Check in at your lodge/hotel and with any time remaining you’ll explore the tranquil forests and Kelani river at Kithulgala, an area famous as the scene for the 1957 award-winning film The Bridge over the River Kwai. For birders and naturalists this area has biodiversity galore!  Many endemic birds are seen including the comical, colourful Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and the skulking, less colourful Green-billed Coucal.  Here you can also see the endemic Chestnut-backed Owlet and the rare Serendib Scops Owl, only recorded for the first time in 2001. Have dinner and relax for the evening. Meals: Breakfast and dinner Take advantage of the best hours for birding, nice and early in the morning with the time of breakfast arranged to fit around you exploring.  Other endemics to be found include Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler,  Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Brown-capped Babbler and Spot-winged Thrush along with many more exciting species such as Malabar Trogon, Crimson-backed Flameback, Lesser Hill Myna and Crested Treeswift.  Birding will either be along Kithulgala's quiet forest trails, for example in Makandawa Rain Forest which is accessed by dugout canoe (if river levels permit) or in habitats accessed via a hanging bridge and around the local villages.  Either a hot or a packed lunch (all lunches are payable directly unless stated otherwise) can be ordered (depending on the birding) and the search for endemics will continue in the afternoon.  Return to your hotel/lodge for dinner and relax for the evening. Meals: Breakfast and dinner Spend the early morning birding around the hotel (no entrance fee required), then after breakfast drive to Nuwara Eliya in the hills.  The plan will be to arrive around lunch time which should allow ample time to visit Victoria Park in the town.  In the winter months birdwatchers can catch up with a number of sought-after species here; Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, Indian Blue Robin and Indian Pitta are usually top of the list and endemic species reside here too including Dull Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka White-eye and Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler.  In addition a roadside location will be visited for the shy Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. Meals: Breakfast and dinner Taking a packed breakfast with you today, a very early start is recommended this morning to reach Horton Plains National Park as it opens.  You'll drive through Sri Lankan tea estates above 2000 metres till you reach extensive areas of superb montane forest, the home of the endemic Sri Lanka Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Sri Lanka White-eye and Yellow-eared Bulbul.  With luck you may also see the highland race of Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, known as the 'Bear Monkey', and the highland race of Toque Macaque. Birding can be incredibly good by the roadside.  It isn't necessary, but for those who wish to stretch their legs and enjoy the view, you can consider following one of two trails to World's End or Mini World's End.  These trails are popular with tourists so some birders may want to give them a miss.  However, the trails pass through wonderful forest habitat and you'll see more of the endemic birds on the way.  An incredible view awaits, subject to the level of cloud and mist. Other species that occur locally are Sri Lanka Swallow, Hill Swallow, Black Eagle and Legge's Hawk Eagle.  Horton Plains is a truly wonderful and most memorable place. You'll return to Nuwara Eliya around lunch time.  Then later in the afternoon it will be possible to enjoy some roadside birdwatching or if you wish, visit to the nearby Hakgala Botanic Gardens (optional so entrance fee is on direct payment) where it is possible to see the highland race of Toque Macaque and some of the endemic birds. Meals: Breakfast and dinner After breakfast you will journey on to Tissamaharama, or Tissa for short.  Expect the drive to take around five hours, depending on stops.  In the afternoon you'll visit a nearby wetland frequented by Crimson-backed Flameback, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Yellow and Black Bitterns, Watercock, Baya Weaver, Black-headed Munia, Brown Fish Owl and White-naped Woodpecker. Meals: Breakfast, basic curry lunch is included today and dinner It will be an early start today (with picnic breakfast and curry lunch both provided) for a full day jeep safari in Yala, Sri Lanka's oldest and most famous National Park, comprising of a diversity of habitats including scrub jungle, water reservoirs, brackish lagoons and riverine areas. Leopards are probably easier to see here than anywhere else in Asia, and Yala is world famous for its large population of this beautiful 'big cat'.  Marsh Crocodiles frequent the riverbanks and water reservoirs and it is possible to see the super-powerful Estuarine Crocodile in some of the brackish areas.  You'll see plenty of Asian Elephant, Tufted Grey Langur and most likely Ruddy Mongoose along with widespread Spotted Deer and Sambar.  Sloth Bear is also common in the Park, but less easily seen. On safari look out for Sri Lanka Wood Shrike, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon and Sri Lanka Junglefowl as well as Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue-faced Malkoha, Indian Pitta, Marshall's Iora, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser Adjutant, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Greater and Eurasian Thick-knees and many more endearing species. Usual park entry times are from 0600 hours to 1800 hours. Extra note: Yala can be busy with jeeps through the most popular entrance and whilst this doesn't seem to impact on the bird sightings some of you may wish to explore a less busy area and for this we can supply a supplement for visiting Lunugamvehera (Block 5).  Please discuss this at the time of booking and we can explain more about this equally wonderful experience. Meals: Breakfast and dinner This morning you'll be driven to  Bundala Ramsar Wetland, the first declared Ramsar Site in Sri Lanka.  Comprising of a scrub jungle bordering the sea together with large shallow pools, this is a very good place to see a wide variety of bird species, and even Star Tortoise if you are lucky! On a morning jeep safari you can expect to see stunning Green and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters and in the winter months Blue-tailed are also readily seen.  Changeable Hawk Eagle and Brahminy Kite are often seen too. Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Black-hooded Oriole, Jerdon's Leafbird can all be easily seen locally and many more gorgeous species too. In the afternoon you can enjoy more birding with your guide around the water reservoirs (tanks), including Debarawewa Tank. Meals: Breakfast and dinner This morning after breakfast you'll drive (around 5 1/2 hours) to Sinharaja village.  For the remainder of the day you'll explore village areas outside of Sinharaja National Park where many of the local endemic species can be seen, including Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and Layard's Parakeet. Meals: Breakfast and dinner Sinharaja National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve offers great birding. You'll start seeing several endemic species along the track to the main Park entrance, so it may well be worth walking here at some time during your stay.  Otherwise the journey up the track is short 30 – 40 minute bumpy ride by 4WD to reach the entrance gate.  Note:   It is difficult to predict the weather here, so your guide will be flexible.  One entrance fee per day is included in the price and usually days locally involve time inside the National Park but also exploring the best habitats outside too.  Speak with your guide to plan lunch as it may be possible to have lunch (payable directly) at Martin's Lodge (just outside the National Park entrance).  It is a good location for lunch, as the undercover dining area offers protection from inclement weather and you can bird watch at canopy level with views across a forested valley.  Should you wish to enter the National Park twice in one day the second entry would be payable directly, but this shouldn't be necessary with all the wonderful habitat and birds to experience outside the National Park. One of the most interesting and colourful spectacles Sinharaja has to offer is the mixed species flocks of foraging birds, a phenomenon commonly found in rainforests.  Studies of many such flocks revealed that some were made up of over 40 species including 12 endemics. Almost 95% of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds occur at Sinharaja and these include Serendib Scops Owl, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Layard’s Parakeet, Green–billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Black-capped Bulbul, Sri Lanka Drongo, Orange-billed Babbler, Spot-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka Thrush, Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling and Sri Lanka Swallow. However, birding here can be challenging, as with many dense forest habitats. A high percentage of Sri Lanka’s endemic mammals occur here too and these include Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Toque Macaque and Layard’s (Flame-striped) Jungle Squirrel to name a few.  As with birding, mammal watching in dense forest can be equally if not more challenging. Meals: Breakfast The time you leave today will depend on the time of your flight.  You can expect the journey to take around five hours.  With an evening flight it will be possible to enjoy a few hours birding locally around village areas.    Chestnut-backed Owlet occurs here and you may even see Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, while those interested in invertebrates may enjoy the giant millipedes! Note: The airport has a wide range of reasonably-priced souvenirs to purchase from several stalls and most will take US$ or Sri Lankan Rupees.  Be prepared to discuss the prices! Tour ends Note: There are various ways to extend this tour. Price per person: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) US $ 1750 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) US $ 1350 Single room supplement US $ 250 Hotel upgrades are available. Please note: There is a supplement for the period 15th December to 10th January inclusive and we can supply this on request. Price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Kithulgala	Kitulgala Rest House or Plantation Hotel, Standard Room	2
Nuwara Eliya	Lake View or Leisure Village Hotel, Standard Room	2
Tissa	Hibiscus, Standard Room	3
Sinharaja	Rock View Motel, Standard Room	3

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels with meals as listed (breakfast and dinner)
• Services of an accompanying birding driver/guide from Day 2 till the end of Day 12 drop at the airport
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle including the transfer to the airport on Day 12.
• Entrances to the National Parks and gardens mentioned in the itinerary
• Adequate bottled water from the vehicle - any water ordered at hotels /lodges is payable directly
• Local tracker to search for Serendib Scops Owl and Sri Lanka Thrush inside Sinharaja when required
• Exclusive jeep safaris to the National Parks where a safari is listed
• Tips for hotel staff (except the porters who carry your luggage who you should tip directly), jeep drivers and local trackers
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any international airfare
• The tip for your guide at the end of the tour
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Camera fee (where levied, though this is often included in the entry ticket)
• Any additional taxes levied on the tourism sector in future
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section
• Any increase in the entrance fee to National Parks or Sanctuaries in the future. The price is based on the current entrance fee
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

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