Endemic Bird Seekers (07 Days 06 nights)

"Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain".

Description

Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the World. Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size and 523 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds. we designed this 07 days Birding journey with covering country’s hotspots for birding. you can customized the tour with your suggestions as we are fully bespoke.

Tour can be done throughout the year if you are more interesting about migratory birds November to February is the best season.

Birding Sites Covered

Locations Covered

Travel Route

itinerary

Day 01 & 02 | ARRIVAL - TRANSFER TO KITHULGALA - MAKANDAWA RAIN FOREST

Ayubowan!! Welcome to Sri Lanka. You will be met by a guide from Real Lanka Holidays at the airport and we will proceed to Kithulgala. Upon Arrival, we will do some evening birding at Forest edges.

Kithulgala (Makandawa Forest Reserve): Over 50 rare species of birds can be seen, The Makandawa Forest Reserve is one of Sri Lanka’s richest and most unspoiled rainforests. And the oldest forest reserve in Sri Lanka. It covers an area of 1155 hectares and lies close to the village of Kithulgala, one of Sri Lanka’s centers for adventure sports. The reserve hosts a plethora of rare and endemic flora and fauna. This secondary lowland rainforest has several interesting geographical features; such as crystal-clear natural rock pools, waterfalls, wonderfully challenging trails that meander through the thick tropical rainforest, and of course the Kelani River running right through the jungle.

Birds you can be seen here – Green-Billed Coucal, Ceylon Lorikeet, Layard’s Parakeet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Red Faced Malkoha, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Jungle & Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Broad Billed Roller, Spotted Winged Thrush, Yellow Fronted Barbet, Black Naped Monach, Common Hill Myna and many more.

DAY 03 & 04 | TRANSFER TO NUWARA ELIYA - VICTORIA PARK - HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK

Today we will journey center of the Island, ascending into the cooler highlands of central Sri Lanka after some final, early morning birding around Kitulgala. We should have time after lunch to visit a quiet side-road near the edge of Nuwara Eliya town where a selection of localised endemics, restricted to these higher elevations, can be found.

Victoria Park – This is a small but well-preserved patch of montane forest that has been preserved which offers a habitat for many species of hill birds. A permit is required to walk into the park.

Birds you can see from here – Black Bird, Ceylon Warbler, Yellow-eared Bul Bul, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Grey-headed Flycatcher, Ceylon Hill White Eye, Kashmir Red-breasted Flycatcher, Grey Tit and many more.

Horton Plains Park – Having been protected as a nature reserve from December 1969 this park was upgraded as a National Park in March 1988. The park covers an area of 3,160 hectares of montane grassland fringed and interspersed with patches of dense montane cloud forests. This park and the adjoining peak wilderness form the most important catchment area for almost all the major rivers in the country. This is also the highest plateau of the country, being above 5000 feet, and the western slops of the park supports the most extensive area of montane cloud forests surviving in the country. There are motorable roads as well as footpaths to different locations in the park including the locality referred to as the “worlds end” which is a near vertical drop of 884m, and the picturesque Bakers Falls etc. Most of the hill species of birds can be easily seen here during any walk in the park which is through forested areas, grasslands and streams. A walk to the “world’s end” is also through pristine hill bird habitat.

Birds you can see from here – Ceylon Warbler, Ceylon Whistling Thrush, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Scaly Thrush, Spotted-winged Thrush, Ceylon Rufus Babbler, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Hill White-eye, Pied Bush Chat, Kashmir Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Buzzard, Brown Baza, Yellow-eared Bul Bul, Black-winged Kite, Black eagle, Mountain Hawk-eagle.

Targeted Endemic Birds – Sri Lankan wood pigeon(Columba torringtoniae)/ Yellow-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus)/ Black-capped bulbul (Rubigula melanictera)/ Sri Lanka white-eye (Zosterops ceylonensis)/ Dull-blue flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus)

DAY 05,06 & 07 | TRANSFER TO WEDDAGALA - SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST -DEPARTURE

After breakfast you will transfer to Weddagala edge of the Sinharaja Rain Forest. Best place to explore the endemic birds of the country. Rest of the day you can relax at the hotel. Next day we will explore the Sinharaja rain forest by walk. Last day our guide will transfer you to departure terminal of the airport. Hope to see you again in Sri lanka . Our representative will see you off at the airport. Thank You ! Have a safe flight !

Sinharaja Rain Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an area of 18900 acres is located within southern provinces of Sri Lanka. It is home to over 95% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Sri Lanka’s tropical lowland rain forest has over 60% of the trees endemic and many of these are rare; there are 21 endemic bird species, and a number of rare insects, reptiles and amphibians. Sinharaja is biologically the most unique wet ever green rain forest in the country with an exceptionally high degree of endemism. Sinharaja is famous for its mixed feeding bird flocks and a high degree of endemic birds can be observed during the bird walks.

Birds you can see from here – Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Rufous Babbler, Ceylon Hill Myna, Ashy Headed Laughing Thrush, White Headed Starling, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Spot-winged Thrush, Scaly Thrush, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Ceylon Spurfowl, Crimson Backed woodpecker, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Layard’s Parakeet, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Ceylon Lorikeet, Serendib Scops Owl, Ceylon Bay Owl, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Chestnut Backed owlet, Ceylon Frogmouth, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Scimitar Babbler, Ceylon Trogon, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent & Hawk Eagles, Crested Honey Buzzard and many more.

Targeted Endemic Birds – Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii)/ Sri Lanka spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)/ Layard’s parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae)/ Sri Lanka hanging parrot (Loriculus beryllinus)/ Chestnut-backed owlet (Glaucidium castanotum)/ Serendib scops owl (Otus thilohoffmanni)/ Green-billed coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos)/ Red-faced malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus)/ Crimson-fronted barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus)/ Yellow-fronted barbet (Psilopogon flavifrons)/ Sri Lanka drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus)/ Yellow-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus)/ Black-capped bulbul (Rubigula melanictera)/ Sri Lanka blue magpie (Urocissa ornata)/ Sri Lanka hill myna (Gracula ptilogenys)/ Ashy-headed laughingthrush (Argya cinereifrons)/ Orange-billed babbler (Argya rufescens)/ Sri Lanka scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus melanurus)/ brown-capped babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus)/ Sri Lanka bush warbler (Elaphrornis palliseri)/ Legge’s flowerpecker (Dicaeum vincens)/ white-faced starling (Sturnornis albofrontatus)/Sri Lanka scaly thrush (Zoothera imbricata)/ spot-winged thrush, (Geokichla spiloptera)/ Sri Lanka whistling thrush (Myophonus blighi).

Inclusions

6 nights’ accommodation at the mentioned resorts, eco lodges, guest houses with breakfasts.
Arrival and departure assistance at the airport and transportation by AC vehicle on private basis with passenger insurance.
Service of the English-speaking professional guides having good experienced in birdwatching.
A "Photographic Guide to Birds of Sri Lanka" by Gehan De Silva and two more guide books related to butterflies and dragonflies for every client as a complimentary gifts.
Preparing the Trip Report before the departure.
Free water bottles, Wi-Fi (Sim Card).
All government taxes are included for above all