SRI LANKA ENDEMICS – 10-DAY BIRD WATCHING TOUR

Day 01

Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake and proceed to Kitulgala.

Afternoon – Birding in Kitulgala area.

Possible noteworthy species: Serendib Scops-owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Brown Hawk-owl, Sri

Lanka Frogmouth, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Dark-fronted Babbler, Sri Lanka

Rufous Babbler, Black-throated Munia, Sri Lanka Hill-myna

Overnight stay at the Kitulgala Plantation Hotel, Kitulgala

Day 02

After breakfast full day birding in Kitulgala area or Kelani Valley Forest Reserve.

Possible noteworthy species: Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka

Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Green-pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, Green-billed

Coucal, Serendib Scops-owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Brown Hawk-owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth,

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Sri Lanka Swallow, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted

Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Gold-fronted Leafbird, Spottted-winged Thrush, Legge’s

Flowerpecker, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Rufous Babbler, Sri Lanka Hill-myna, Sri Lanka

Crested Drongo.

Overnight stay at the Kitulgala Plantation Hotel, Kitulgala

Day 03

After a short pre/post breakfast birding session in the Kitulgala Village proceed to Sinharaja,

Having lunch on the way.

Spend the late afternoon birding in the periphery of Sinharaja.

Possible noteworthy species:Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Plum-headed Parakeet, Sri Lanka Small

Barbet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-rumped Flameback, Sri Lanka Swallow, Forest Wagtail,

Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-browed Fantail, Gold-fronted Leafbird, Loten’s & Purplerumped

Sunbird

Overnight stay at the Blue Magpie Lodge, Weddagala

Day 04

After early breakfast spend the full day in Sinharaja Forest.

Possible species include Crested Serpent-eagle, Shikra, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Crested

Hawk-eagle, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka

Woodpigeon, Sri Lanka Green-pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, Green-billed

Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Serendib Scops-owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Frogmouth,

Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Small Barbet,

Crimson-backed Flameback, Sri Lanka Swallow, Forest Wagtail, Black-headed Cuckooshrike,

Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Black-capped Bulbul, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Gold-fronted Leafbird,

Spot-winged Ground-thrush, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Browncapped

Babbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler, Sri Lanka Rufous Babbler, Legge’s Flowerpecker,

Black-throated Munia, White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Hill-myna, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Sri

Lanka Blue Magpie,.

Mammals: Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, S L Giant Squirrel, Layard’s Striped Squirrel, Indian

Palm Squirrel.

Overnight stay at the Blue Magpie Lodge, Weddagala

Day 05

After breakfast full day birding in Sinharaja Forest

Overnight stay at the Blue Magpie Lodge, Weddagala

Day 06

After a short pre/post breakfast birding session around the Lodge and drive to Uda Walawe.

Afternoon jeep safari in the Uda Walawe National Park.

Possible noteworthy species for the afternoon include Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Lesser

Adjutant, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Barred Buttonquail, Black-winged

Stilt, Great Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled & Red-wattled Lapwing, Pacific Golden Plover, Marsh &

Wood Sandpiper, Jerdon’s 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 Sri Lanka

Woodshrike.

Mammals possible in the park Toque Monkey, Grey Langur, Golden Jackal, Mongooses, Asian

Elephant, Spotted Deer, Water Buffalo, Sri Lanka Gian Squirrel.

Overnight stay at the Kalu’s Hideaway, Udawalawe

Day 07

After an early breakfast do another jeep safari in Uda Walawe National Park.

Afterwards proceed to Nuwara Eliya having lunch on the way in Ella Rest House.

Spend the late afternoon birding in Victoria Park.

Forest Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Indian Blue Robin, Pied Ground Thrush,

Indian Pitta, Kashmir Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye.

Overnight stay at the Jetwing St. Andrews, Nuwara Eliya

Day 08

A predawn start (with picnic breakfast) to reach Horton Plains National Park at first light.

Spend the whole morning looking for the highland endemics.

Birding highlights will include Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Alpine Swift, Crimson-backed Flameback,

Hill Swallow, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Common Blackbird, Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush, Kashmir

Flycatcher, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Sri Lanka Bush-warbler, Sri

Lanka White-eye and Black-throated Munia.

In the afternoon explore Hakgala Botanical Garden for highland birds.

Possible noteworthy species: Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Alpine Swift, Crimson-backed Flameback,

Yellow-eared Bulbul, Kashmir Flycatcher, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canaryflycatcher,

Sri Lanka Bush-warbler, Sri Lanka White-eye and Black-throated Munia.

Overnight stay at the Jetwing St. Andrews, Nuwara Eliya

Day 09

After breakfast leave for Kandy visiting a Tea Factory on the way

After lunch in the hotel visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden where possibly Sri Lanka’s largest

Flying Fox roost can be seen..

Bird species to look for are Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Alexandrine Parakeet, Layard’s Parakeet,

Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Common Hawk-cuckoo, Indian Pitta, Forest

Wagtail, Large Cuckooshrike,

In the evening OPTIONAL visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and/or witness a Traditional

Dance performance.

Overnight stay at the Hotel Suisse, Kandy

Day 10

After an early breakfast visit Udawattakele Forest Reserve.

Species to look for are Emerald Dove, Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Plum-headed Parakeet, and Layard’s

Parakeet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Small Barbet, Crimson-backed Flameback, Indian Blue

Robin, White-rumped Shama, Brown-capped Babbler and Common Hill-myna.

After lunch transfer to a hotel near Airport for Dinner & DEPARTURE in the night.