Bird Watching
Duration : 9 Nights, 10 Days
Sri Lanka houses an extensive range of avifauna species which adorns the skies of Sri Lanka when in the air and glorifies the land when quiescent on the woods. A major section of the species is endemic whereas the other section remains rare under which some are migratory.
Day 1 – Kithulgala: A splendid Stay at Kithulgala Rest House for the night
Day 2 – Kithulgala: Stay a comfortable night at Kithulgala Rest House
Enjoy the chirruping of birds in the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve post breakfast. Drench in the splendor of some fascinating species like black eagle, rufous-bellied eagle, Ceylon spurfowl, Ceylon junglefowl and Ceylon green-pigeon.
Other exotic species found in the place: Ceylon hanging-parrot, layard’s parakeet, green-billed coucal, serendib scops-owl, chestnut-backed owlet, brown hawk-owl,Ceylon frogmouth,black-backed dwarf kingfisher, Ceylon swallow, Ceylon grey hornbill, yelo-fronted barbet, black-capped bulbul, gold-fronted leafbird, spotted-winged ground-thrush, legge’s flowerpecker, brown-capped babbler, Ceylon rufous babbler, caylon hill-myna, Ceylon crested drongo.
Day 3 – Sinharaja Forest: A splendid Stay at Blue Magpie Resort for the night
Explore the beauty of the Kitulgala Village for some time post-breakfast. Pursue the journey to Sinharaja via Ratnapura. Before lunch, have an amazing visit for bird exploring in the garden of Ratnaloka Tour Inns.
The best species to look out for: Ceylon hanging-parrot, plum-headed parakeet, Ceylon small barbet, yellow-fronted barbet and black-rumped flame-back. Some endemic species to the place are Indian pitta, Ceylon swallow, forest wagtail, Asian paradise flycatcher, white-browed fantail gold-fronted leafbird, loten’s and purple-rumped sunbird.
Day 4 – Sinharaja Forest: A splendid Stay at Blue Magpie Resort for the night
Spend a day filled with excursion to Sinharaja World Heritage Wilderness region Post-breakfast.
Look out for the eminent species of the place: Rufous-bellied eagle, Mountain hawk-eagle, Ceylon junglefowl, Ceylon woodpigeon, Red-faced malkoha, Green-billed coucal and Chestnut-winged cuckoo. Serendib scops-owl, chestnut-backed owlet, Ceylon frogmouth, Malabar trogon, spotted-winged ground-thrush, Ceylon scaly thrush, Ceylon rufous babbler, ashy-headed laughing thrush, asian paradise flycatcher, Ceylon blue magpe, white-paced starling,Ceylon hill-myna and black-throated munia are some other rare species found here.
Apart from the birds there are some Mammals that include purple-faced leaf monkey, S L Giant Squirrel, Layard’s Striped Squirrel and Indian palm squirrel.
Day 5 – Sinharaja Forest: A splendid Overnight Stay at Blue Magpie Resort, Sinharaja
Head to Sinharaja or Athwelthota/Morapitiya post breakfast. Full-day birding in the Forest with packed lunch.
The place is dotted with similar species that are found in Sinharaja.
Day 6 – Embilipitiya: A tranquil Stay Overnight at Centauria Hotel, Embilipitiya.
Be at rest post breakfast and enjoy the vistas around the Lodge.
Head to Embilipitiya. Afternoon bird exploring in Embilipitiya/Udawalawe region.
The species that adorns the place with their charm includes: Spot-billed pelican, black-crowned night-heron, yellow bittern, black bittern, lesser whistling-duck, oriental darter, purple heron, brahminy kite, pheasant-tailed jacana, pied crested cuckoo, stork-billed kingfisher and streaked weaver.
Day 7 – Udawalawe National Park with an Overnight Stay at Galway Forest Lodge, Nuwara Eliya.
Relish in an early breakfast. Jeep safari post-breakfast in Udawalawe National Park. Travel to Nuwara Eliya with lunch enroute at Ella Rest House. Enjoy birding walk in the Victoria Park or Galway Land Reserve post lunch.
The special species which one comes across in the place are spot-billed pelican, oriental darter, lesser adjutant, white-bellied sea eagle, grey-headed fish-eagle, barred buttonquail, black-winged stiltand Eurasian stone curlew. Some other endemic species are Yellow-wattled and red-wattled lapwing, pacific golden plover, marsh and wood sandpiper,Bengal bushlark, ashy-crowned finch-lark, orange-breasted green-pigeon, plum-headed parakeet, sirkeer malkoha, blue-faced malkoha, grey-bellied cuckoo, Malabar pied hornbill, Indian pygmy woodpecker, yellow-fronted pied woodpecker and Ceylon woodshrike.
Endemic Mammals that can be spotted in the park includes Toque monkey, grey langur, golden jackal, mongooses, elephant, spotted deer, water buffalo and Sri Lanka giant squirrel.
Day 8 – Nuwara Eliya with Overnight Stay at Galway Forest Lodge, Nuwara Eliya.
Enjoy the early morning travel to reach Horton Plains National Park. Spend the early afternoon exploring the highland endemics that includes Ceylon Woodpigeon, Alpine Swift, Crimson-Backed Flameback, Hill Swallow, Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Common Blackbird, Ceylon Whistling-Thrush, Kashmir Flycatcher, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Grey-Headed Canary-Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler, Ceylon White-Eye and Black-Throated Munia.
Late Afternoon bird exploring in Victoria Park with elegant species Forest wagtail, Grey wagtail,Yellow-eared bulbul, Indian blue robin, pied ground-thrush,Indian pitta, Kashmir flycatcher and Ceylon white-eye.
Day 9 – Kandy with Overnight Stay at Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy.
Travel to Kandy post breakfast exploring the Tea Factory en route. Head towards the Peradeniya Botanical Garden post lunch and witness the Sri Lanka’s largest Flying Fox.
Other primary Bird species to look for are Ceylon Hanging-parrot, Alexandrine Parakeet, Layard’s Parakeet, Common hawk cuckoo, Indian pitta, Forest wagtail and Large Cuckooshrike.
Day 10 – Udawattakele
Relish in an early breakfast and head to visit Udawattakele Forest Reserve with packed lunch.
Dinner in a hotel post-excursion, Transfer to Airport.
Admired species Udawattakele includes Emerald dove, Ceylon Hanging-Parrot, Plum-Headed Parakeet, Layard’s parakeet, yellow-fronted barbet, Ceylon small barbet, crimson-backed flame back, Indian blue robin, white-rumped shama, Brown-capped babbler and common hill-myna.