TROPICAL BIRDING (11 DAYS 10 NIGHTS)

“Binoculars, and a hawk-like vigilance, reduce the disadvantage of myopic human vision.”

Description

Richness of Sri lanka’s Bio diversity is refelct by its avifauna more than 450 recorded birdsm,birding hotspot all around the Sri lanka will makes perfect birding tour for bird lovers. Since Sri lanka situated in tip of India high amount of migratory birds comes here northern autumn winter through the central Asian -Indian fly way. since you can travel sea level to 2000 meters high within few hours in Sri Lanka would be one best birding paradise.

Birding Sites Covered

Muthurajawela Bird Sanctuary
Sinharaja Rain Forest
Birds Research Center - Hambanthota
Kumana National Park
Udawattakelle and Victoria Parks
Willpattu National Park
Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary

Locations Covered

Travel Route

itinerary

DAY 01 | ARRIVAL - TRANSFER TO PAMUNUGAMA - MUTHURAJAWELA WET LANDS.

Ayubowan!! Welcome to Sri Lanka. You will meet our representative of Real Lanka Holidays at the airport, and from there you will be transfer to a hotel in Pamunugama which will take approx. half an hour of drive. After couple of hours to relax, we can discover Muthurajawela Wet lands by boat.

Muthurajawela marsh is located in the southern region of the Negombo lagoon in Sri Lanka. Muthurajawela harbors over 194 species of flora distributed over seven major vegetation types which includes marsh, lactic flora, shrub land, reed, swamp, grasslands, stream bank and mangrove forest. Birds are the dominant group of vertebrates in Muthurajawela. It consists of 102 species including one endemic. The mixture of vegetation types and aquatic habitats in Muthurajawela has made it an ideal Eco-zone for a variety of birds.

Birds you can see from here – Green-billed Coucal, Srilankan Scimitar Babbler, Dark-fronted Babbler, Spotted-winged Thrush, Painted Stork, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Ceylon Small Barbet, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Ceylon Spur Fowl, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Emerald Dove,Green Imperial Pigeon, Brown–capped Babbler, Red-backed & Crimson-backed Woodpeckers, Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker, Black-capped, Yellow-browed & Black Bulbuls, Layard’s & Alexandrine Parakeets, Ceylon Lorikeet, Indian three-toed Kingfisher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker and many more.

Day 02 & 03 | DENIYAYA - SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST.

We will leave the hotel after breakfast, heading south to our second birding base, the lush Rainforest and the UNESCO World Heritage Sinharaja rain forest. After around four hours of drive you can have a nature walk around the Eco lodge we booked for you. Next day morning we will explore the forest reserve famous for endemic birds.

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 bird species as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles,Butterflies and rare amphibians. Sri Lanka’s tropical lowland rain forest has over 60% of the trees endemic and many of these are rare. Sinharaja is biologically the most unique wet ever green rain forest in the country with an exceptionally high degree of endeminsm. 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.

Day 04 & 05 | TRANSFER TO KUMANA - BEACH - FULL DAY SAFARI IN KUMANA NATIONAL PARK.

In the morning we drive to the dry lowlands of Kumana National Park. After checking in at the accommodation we will enjoy the beach of the Kumana/Arugambay and next morning we will explore this fantastic park in search of dry-zone birds, which abound here

Kumana National Park: The water bodies and mangroves of Kumana provide particularly a very important habitat for birds. Block II of the park was established in December 1969 and Block I in January 1970. The total extent of the park is 18,149 hectares with Block I consisting of 17,863 and Block II consisting only 265.3. The main feature this park is renowned for is the 200 hectare mangrove swamp which teams with nesting birds in May-June. It is surrounded by plains and jungle. There are saline large lagoons along the coast, often surrounded by extensive plains. The vegetation is mostly semi-arid thorn scrub with large areas of dense forest.

Birds you can see from here – Lesser Whistling Teal, Spot-billed Pelican, Openbill, Purple Coot, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Common Coot, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Jungle Owlet, Black-necked, White-necked & Painted Storks, Pintail, Garganey, Common Red shank, Greenshank, Wood, Common & Green Sandpipers etc and many more.

Day 06 | TRANSFER TO NUWARA ELIYA -RELAX.

After the breakfast we will travel to highest region in Sri lanka. Nuwara Eliya nickname as a Little England. After the long drive we will relax at the hotel. We can roam around the city by foot and have a nice Ceylon tea in the evening. over night stay will be at Nuwara Eliya hotel.

Day 07 | VICTORIA PARK - WATERFALLS - KANDY.

In the early morning we will walk through the Victoria park. Its a small in area but perfect birding base closer to the city. After the birding we will head back to our hotel and transfer to Kandy. We will stop at few places to take photos such as tea plantation and Ramboda waterfalls

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

Day 08 | KANDY -UDAWATTAKELE SANCTURY.

In the morning hours we will explore the Udawattakele forest. Not far away from Kandy the second largest city, there is famous birds spot Udawattakele Sanctuary. This is a very popular site with the birders in Kandy. This is a tall, wet evergreen forest. The lake within the sanctuary attracts many species of birds that feed on fish. Our day will end at Wilpattu hotel.

Udawattakele Sanctury – 104 hectares of this forest has been declared as a sanctuary and comes under the purview of the department of wild life conservation and 119 hectares is protected as a forest reserve by the forest department. Vehicles are are not permitted and ticket has to be obtained to enter the sanctuary. This is tall wet evergreen forest. The lake within sanctuary attracts many species of birds that feed on fish.

Birds you can see from here – Indian Three-toed Kingfisher, Stork Billed Kingfisher – Yellow fronted Barbet – Crimson backed woodpecker – Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher – Green Leaf Warblers.

Day 09 & 10 | FULL DAY SAFARI IN WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK - ANAWILUNDAWA BIRD SANCTUARY.

With our packed breakfastt we will do full day safari in the Wilpattu national park, the largest one in Sri lanka. Day will end at our hotel in Wilpattu. Next day we will travel to Anawilundawa bird sanctuary for more birding.

Wilpattu National Park – Wilpattu was originally declared as a Sanctuary in 1905 and upgraded as a National Park in February 1938. Wilpattu north Sanctuary was declared in November 1947. With an extent of 131,693 hectares, this is the largest National Park in the country. The main topographical feature in Wilpattu is the concentration of “villus” or lakes within the park. These water bodies though looking similar to lakes are formed by flat basin like depressions with the surface containing purely rain water. The park is unique in having a number of these with large sandy lake shores (Villus) which provide the animals with a continuous water supply during the dry season. Two of these “villus” are saline due to a characteristic of the soil. A permit is needed to be purchased at the entrance and a game guard is also provided by the Department of Wild Life Conservation. Except at a few locations, visitors are not permitted to get off their vehicles. This is a very scenic park. There are bungalows inside the park which has to be pre booked through the Department of Wild Life Conservation.

Birds you can see from here – Brown-capped Babbler, White-rumped Shama, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Pintail Snipe, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Stone Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Racket-tailed Drongo, Forest Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Black-backed Yellow Woodpecker, Rufus Woodpecker, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Common Kestrel, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Ceylon Frog Mouth and many more

Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary – This sanctuary which comes under the Department of Wild Life Conservation is 1,397 hectares in extent. It is primarily a complex of large tanks and adjoining forest. The largest of the tanks holds a large breeding colony of Herons and other water birds mainly during the months of April – June. The dominant species is the Openbill but Great Cormorant, White Ibis and a whole host of other species breed here. A walk on the bund of this tank will permit one to get close to the breeding colony. During the season many species of migrants can also be observed here. A spotting scope would add much value to get the most out of this locality. Meals and accommodation for those interested in staying over night is avaible at the Chilaw or Puttlam Rest House as well as at private guest houses in the area.

Birds you can see from here – Openbill, Purple Coot, Common Moorhen, Lesser Whistling Teal, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Stork-billed, Common, Pied & White-breasted Kingfishers, Gargany, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, Cotton Teal, Indian Shag, Spoonbill, Large, Median & Little Egrets, Black-backed Yellow Woodpecker, Brown Fish Owl and many more.

DAY 11 | DEPARTURE

Today is the last day of your tour. Our guide will transfer you to departure terminal of the airport. Hope to see you again. Have a safe flight !

Inclusions

10 nights accommodation at the resorts,eco lodges,guest houses with breakfast and dinners.
Arrival and the departure assistance at the airport and transportation by A/C 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