The Armstrongs, Peter and Margaret in Sri Lanka. Photo, Courtesy of
P. Armstrong.

"We had a marvelous trip to Sri Lanka. It proved to be a birder’s triumph, with good to superb looks at all 37 of the Sri Lankan endemic birds and good looks at many of the south-India/Sri Lankan endemics. I counted 111 life birds and a list of 223 bird species. Our bird guide, Dhammitra, was supremely talented - hard-working, tenacious, supremely knowledgeable, and companionable. My final impression of Sri Lanka is that it is a premier destination for eco-tourism. I give this trip to Sri Lanka the highest positive marks; it was a marvelous trip.

Thank you again for everything!"

Peter

Professor Peter B. Armstrong
Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Biology
University of California at Davis
Private Sri Lanka Birding Tour
Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2012

Arrive in Sri Lanka at the Colombo International Airport where our staff will meet you and transfer you via a private vehicle to the hotel. You will have a relaxing day in Colombo where you will be introduced to few bird species and cultural sites such as temples, kovils and churches. Enjoy dinner at the hotel in preparation for an early departure to Kitulgala.

Day 2 (Kithulgala)

A top Sri Lankan English speaking birding guide will escort us throughout the tour. Our first stop is Kitulgula, where we will stay for one night. En route, it is not uncommon to find a host of birding species putting up appearances as the journey takes us through stretches of coastal palms, rice paddies and stretches of forest. Typically, you will be able to see species such as Common Myna, House Crow, Red-wattled Lapwing, Pond Heron, White-breasted Kingfisher and Indian Roller. Sri Lankan birds are still plentiful in all habitats.

Kitulgala is perhaps best known globally as the place where the movie “Bridge on the River Kwai” was shot. The Rest House overlooking the river displays many photographic scenes from the movie for everyone’s pleasure. On the banks of the river you will be able to witnmess several of the endemic birds such as the White-throated or Legge's Flowerpecker (yellow and blue bird) exploring Spot-winged Thrushes (usually found scratching at leaf mulch), Sri Lanka Junglefowl (trumpeting calls), Green-billed Coucal, one of the islands most endangered bird with a penchant for bamboo thickets, the Spurfowl and the Chestnut-backed Owlet, and the Frogmouth (nocturnal). We may also see other endemic birds in the area include the tiny Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, the chunky Layard's Parakeet, and Yellowfronted Barbet, one of four barbet species inhabiting the forests. To top it off, we may be lucky enough to the recently discovered Serendip Scops Owl, described for science less than a decade ago! Other than the endemics, there are excellent resident and migrant birds such as the Black-rumped Flameback, Paradise Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Flame Minivet, Brown Shrike and Indian Pittas.

From Kitulgala, we will continue our journey to the hill country where we will encounter moreendemics. The scenery is spectacular as we drive through the gorgeous hills. We will pass picturesque waterfalls tumbling down hillsides and resting points which afford views over a panorama of rugged hills stretching far into the distance. Soon we will arrive in Sri Lanka’s hillcountry, Nuwara Eliya, where we gain in altitude (1,890 meters above sea level) and neatly manicured tea estates. With the distinctive cooler temperatures, stands of pines are visible in the area. After checking into our hotel, we will drive into the town and visit Victoria Park, a small public English garden. In this English garden, we can expect to see a number of species including two more endemics, theYellow-eared Bulbul and Sri Lanka Hill White-Eye. In a small stream running through the park is frequented by a small flock of Pied Thrushe (migrants from the Himalayas). Also it is often possible to find Indian Pitta and Indian Blue Robin in this stream as well. Other birds that we might be able to watch might be Common Sandpiper, Brown Shrike, Grey Wagtail, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Paradise Flycatcher and Kashmir Flycatcher (from Northern India and the last named an is hard to see anywhere else in the sub-continent, including Northern India).

Horton Plains is Sri Lanka's highest and most isolated plateau. This fascinating biosphere reserve is a mixture of open grassy expanses and patches of forest. The scenery is spectacular and on clear days it is possible to see the distant summit of Adam's Peak. A plateau nnown as World's End drops steeply to the plains over 1,000 meters below. At Horton Plains, should certainly hear, and hopefullywe should see the extremely majestic Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (the Bear Monkey). We will also able to spot Tennant's Giant Squirrels and Dusky Squirrels. In the open plains, we may be able to spot a distant herd of Sambar Deer. Amog a host of birds, we’ll be able to spot Pied Bush Chats, one of the more conspicuous bird inhabitants, and other species such as Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler, Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher, Zitting Cisticola, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Brown Shrike and Hill Swallow. Horton Plains also boasts of several rare endemic species such as the Horned Lizard. Wish for good weather!

En route to Embilipitiya through an interesting drive gradually descend from the hills of Nuwara Eliya. In Embilipitiya, we stay overnight at a hotel on the shores of a large reservoir. Rest and relax as we get ready for birdwatching next day at Uda Walawe National Park.

Day 6 (Uda WalaweNational Park)

We will tour Uda Walawe National Park by jeep. This is an ideal place to see many Dry Zone birds in the mixture of teak plantation, grassland, scrub jungle and wetlands. This is a faunal region which is barely entered anywhere else on the tour. The selection of residents which could include; Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Plum-headed Parakeet, Barred Button-Quail, Changeable Hawk Eagle, White-bellied Fishing Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Sirkeer & Bluefaced Malkohas, Black-headed and White-throated Munias. Uda Walawe is an ideal place to see hundreds of elephants, which make it one of the best places in Asia to observe these majestic mammal. Sighting of these jumbos with calves is usually a memorable highlight of any holiday.

Day 7&8 Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the highlights of the tour, Sinharaja, is the largest and most important lowland rain forest in Sri Lanka. Sinharaja is a stronghold for endemic birds. Old trails facilitate access into the primary forest and from these we will be looking for such species as Crested Goshawk, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Layard's Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Malabar Trogon, Frogmouth, Brownbacked, Needletail, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Blackheaded & Yellow-browed Bulbuls, Spotwinged Thrush, Scaly Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Whitefaced Starling, Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Myna, White-throated Flowerpecker and Black-throated Munia. It is unlikely that we will see all of these birds in a single visit but sometimes it you will see flocks of mixed birds in magical colors. These birds include Orange-billed Babblers in association with Ashy-headed Laughing- Thrushes, Crested Drongos, Malabar Trogons, Red-faced Malkohas and Blue Magpies and other species. Noteworthy is that Sinharaja’s flora contains many species found nowhere else in the world.

Day 9 (Sinharaja Reserve Day)

In case of inclement weather, it is prudent to have a day in reserve. Hopefully we will not need it.

Day 10 (Bodhinagala Forest, Muthurajawela and Airport)

Before we return to Colombo, there will be a full day of birding ahead. First destination will be Bodhinagala Forest, where there is a possibility of encountering more endemics. Here we can possibly see the endangered Green-billed Coucal (one of the rarest species found here), Malabar Trogons, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Emerald Dove, Black-naped Monarch, Dark-fronted Babbler, Brown-breasted Flycatcher and Dwarf Kingfisher. In the suburbs of Colombo in Muthurajawela Reserve will produce opportunities to see Black and Yellow Bitterns, Purple Herons and other marsh loving species, some of which we can observe during an afternoon boat ride into the reserve.