Sri Lanka
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return scheduled flights London-Colombo, with meals on-board as appropriate; all accommodation, meals, surface transport (inc 4x4 in parks), entrance fees and permits, tips, airport taxes, map, bird and mammal checklist, and services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks & other items of a personal nature. [Note: Entry visa issued free of charge to British passport holders and certain other nationalities on arrival at Colombo airport.] These trips will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. Leaders: Peter Kennerley & local guides |
What could be better than heading for the tropics and exploring one of the world's most enchanting island paradises? We'll seek out a superb variety of birds including thirty or so endemics, plus Indian Elephant, Leopard - and more! |
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It would be difficult to think of a more perfect destination for birdwatchers to escape the winter blues than the beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka. For despite lying so close to the southern tip of India, this Indian Ocean paradise has been isolated from the rest of Asia for so long as to have evolved more than thirty species of endemic birds. We should see most, if not all, of them on this Classic Sri Lanka tour - from the diminutive Legge's Flowerpecker and comical Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot through to strutting Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the gorgeous Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. And with the help of our team of expert local guides, we may again be lucky to find the newly described Serendib Scops Owl, a species seen well by all our recent groups.
Sri Lanka's appeal runs much deeper than this, however, for the one-time island of Ceylon also has many specialities shared only with southern India. Among them such delights as the peculiar Sri Lankan Frogmouth, the red-chested Malabar Trogon, Yellow-browed Bulbul, and the animated Loten's and Purple-rumped Sunbirds. A visit to Sri Lanka is even more welcome during Europe's winter months - not just so we can enjoy some unseasonable sunshine and warmth, but because this bewitching tropical isle is also a winter retreat for large numbers of birds from farther north. Here we may thrill to the likes of Pintail Snipe, Blyth's Reed and Green Warblers, Kashmir Flycatcher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, the highly sought-after Pied Thrush and the furtive Indian Pitta. We should also encounter some fine mammals during our stay, from Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel and Purple-faced Leaf Monkey to Asian Elephant. And this is a wonderful trip for anyone wishing to see something of Sri Lanka's abundant and exotic butterflies, with their many appealing English names. Sri Lanka is not only a very beautiful island, but its generally excellent tourist infrastructure allows birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts to explore prime habitats whilst, in the main, staying at some extremely good hotels. Those that wish to will be able to enjoy a little sightseeing at Kandy, with its famous 'Temple of the Tooth', and also pay a visit to a tea factory in the hills. Our finely-honed itinerary once again includes an extra night at the remote Blue Magpie Lodge for easy access to Sinharaja Forest, plus visits to the excellent wetlands on Sri Lanka's west coast. With upwards of two hundred and twenty species likely on this tour, what could be better than spending a winter's fortnight in the tropics, getting to know the birdlife of one of the world's most enchanting island paradises? Itinerary Day 1 Our tour begins with an Emirates flight from London to Colombo (going via Dubai). Days 2 - 3 Morning arrival in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. We shall be met by our local guide and transfer by coach to our first hotel, at Kitulgala. Along the way, we are likely to encounter a varied selection of the commoner birds of Sri Lanka's 'Wet Zone'. Possibilities include Shikra, Spotted Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Brown-headed Barbet, Oriental Magpie Robin, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Iora and Black-hooded Oriole. We should arrive at our destination for two nights in time to enjoy lunch beside the Kelani River, famed as the spot where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed. Having been ferried across the river by dug-out canoe, we shall spend the latter part of day two and all of day three exploring Kitulgala's quiet forest trails, which are home to such exciting endemics as Legge's Flowerpecker, Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Orange-billed Babbler and Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill. As well as these unique residents, the forest is rich in other bird life: the shy (but noisy!) Rufous Woodpecker, Crested Goshawk, Crested Treeswifts and Indian Swiftlets swirl overhead, while the sight of the recently split endemic Crimson-backed Flameback will surely take our breath away if one lands on a nearby trunk! Strident calls and whistles often herald the arrival of Sri Lankan Crested Drongos which accompany mixed foraging parties and, as the afternoon cools and the exotic chorus of cicadas and tree-frogs begins, we'll watch for two of the island's rarest and shyest endemics: Green-billed Coucal and Spot-winged Thrush. Chestnut-backed Owlet and Sri Lankan Frogmouth are possible at dusk within just a short drive. Two nights Kitulgala Lodge Day 4 Our hotel grounds and nearby gardens and farms are home to a wealth of exciting birds and we will have time to explore these thoroughly before we say our farewells to Kitulgala. The dawn is broken by the songs of Oriental Magpie-robin and Yellow-browed Bulbul. Fruiting and flowering trees hold Legge's and Pale-billed Flowerpeckers, Purple-rumped and Loten's Sunbirds, Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Sri Lankan Green Pigeon, Brown-headed Barbet and many more. Winter visitors here will include numerous Green Warblers and, with luck, we could find our first Indian Pitta here, calling noisily beneath a tree close to the hotel. After breakfast, we head south to Ratnapura. After lunch here, a short walk in the grounds may reward us with White-browed Fantail and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, as well as Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lankan Swallow, Indian Robin, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and White-rumped and Scaly-breasted Munias. Refreshed, we continue our journey towards Sinharaja, arriving towards dusk for a three-night stay at the remote Blue Magpie Lodge, the only accommodation to offer adequate comfort within a short drive of the magnificent Sinharaja Forest reserve. Recently, the rooms have been upgraded and, although simply furnished, all have en suite facilities. Overnight Blue Magpie Lodge Days 5 - 6 Sinharaja is home to more than half of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, and all but one of Sri Lanka's wonderful endemic birds. With its wildlife most active between daybreak and mid-morning, an early start is essential to reach the higher level just as the forest bursts into life. As the first rays of sunlight filter through the verdant canopy, they may reveal such treats as an obliging Sri Lankan Junglefowl foraging on the tangled forest floor. As we enter the forest, we'll be looking carefully for Green Imperial Pigeon, Malabar Trogon, Red-faced Malkoha, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Sri Lankan Scimitar-babbler, Brown-capped Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling, Sri Lankan Myna and the fabulous Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. From time to time, we may be side-tracked by a myriad of colourful butterflies, too - including the stunning Tree-nymph and Blue Mormon - while movements in the canopy high above might reveal the presence of a stunning Red-faced Malkhoa, although not all movement may be from birds, but betray the presence of Grizzled Giant Squirrels or the island's two endemic monkeys, Purple-faced Langur and Toque Macaque. After an exciting morning's birding in the forest, we'll return to our lodge for a short siesta or some leisurely birding near the hotel grounds. If we have not been successful in our endeavours elsewhere, in the late afternoon those who wish will be able to join a further excursion in search of Sri Lanka's most recently-discovered and now most sought-after endemic, the Serendib Scops Owl. This delightful little bird is still only known from around five sites (one of which was discovered by our local guides researching our November 2004 tour). Though our agents are working hard to locate this wonderful bird at localities closer to hand, please note that currently this trip to look for Serendib Scops Owl involves a two-hour drive each way, over bumpy, unmade roads at times. The owl is strictly nocturnal, so we'll take a packed dinner along and - hopefully having seen the owl! - expect to arrive back at our lodge about midnight. We anticipate that the opportunity to look for such a very special bird will appeal to most participants. But for anyone who doesn't fancy today's owling trip, there'll be an opportunity to explore Sinharaja's lower level forest in the late afternoon or simply to relax with a cool drink overlooking the little marsh and paddyfields beside the lodge, prior to taking dinner in the lodge's restaurant. Lured by the irresistible appeal of Sinharaja's fabulous forest birding, the following day we have further opportunities to try for any 'Wet Zone' specialities we may have missed yesterday. The notoriously elusive Sri Lankan Scaly Thrush and Sri Lankan Spurfowl will both be high on our 'most-wanted' lists - but we shall need to be in place just after dawn to have any real prospect of seeing either species. Two nights Blue Magpie Lodge Day 7 After breakfast at our lodge, it will be with some reluctance that we bid farewell to the 'Blue Magpie'. Passing through neatly-clothed hills of tea plantations, we journey out of Sri Lanka's 'Wet Zone' and drop down towards the 'Dry Zone', en route to the island's coastal lowlands. Making occasional roadside stops along the way - perhaps for an impressive Black Eagle as it soars overhead, or to watch Ashy Woodswallows gathered on a roadside wire - we will aim to arrive at our next hotel, in Embilipitiya, in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue about an hour or so south to the coast to spend the cooler hours of the late afternoon exploring the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Great Crested, Lesser Crested and Caspian Terns patrol the shoreline, while Kalemetiya's flooded lagoons are home to a wealth of waterbirds. Here, we may find both Yellow-wattled and Red-wattled Lapwings, along with Indian Stone-curlew and Great Thick-knee, Blyth's and Paddyfield Pipits, Pied Kingfisher and the noisy Rose-ringed Parakeet. Reedbeds are the haunt of the diminutive Yellow Bittern, and wintering waders could include Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Oriental Pratincole, and Pacific Golden and Lesser Sand Plovers. As dusk approaches, we head back inland to our hotel at Embilipitiya, arriving there in time for a slightly later dinner this evening, at around eight. Overnight Embilipitiya Day 8 Our overnight stay at Embilipitya will enable us to spend a full morning exploring the savanna-like dry country of nearby Udawalawe National Park. Using open-top vehicles here, we will drive tracks through the scrub jungle and grasslands, which are surprisingly rich in species. One of the most conspicuous residents is the breathtaking Indian Peafowl (looking even more spectacular in its native haunts), but the likes of Black-shouldered Kite, Crested (or Changeable) Hawk-eagle and Malabar Pied Hornbill will also be demanding attention. Harriers, including both Pallid and Montagu's, are possible over the grasslands, where we'll receive a 'masterclass' in prinia identification with Grey-breasted, Ashy, Plain and Jungle all popping up to sing - not to mention to that 'prinia impersonator', the curious Yellow-eyed Babbler! We may also discover that the strange 'moped-engine' sounds coming from the grasslands in fact originate from the pint-sized female Barred Buttonquail! Blyth's Pipits are numerous and Blyth's Reed Warblers also winter here, a long way from their northern breeding grounds, but if its colour you crave then Coppersmith Barbet, Indian Roller, Plum-headed and Alexandrine Parakeets, Little Green and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and Orange-breasted Green Pigeons should oblige. Mammals cannot be ignored at Udawalawe either, and we shall have time to admire enormous Asian Elephants, while other possibilities include Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal, Chital, Wild Boar and Ruddy Mongoose. After spending the morning at Udawalawe, we travel on to Nuwara Eliya for a two-night stay in Sri Lanka's hill country. Along the way we shall break for lunch at Ella. Overnight Nuwara Eliya Day 9 Set at an elevation of nearly 2,000m, Nuwara Eliya is a famous hill-station that lies at the hub of Sri Lanka's tea estates. Extensive areas of superb montane forest still remain, holding hill-forest specialities such as Sri Lankan Woodpigeon, Sri Lankan White-eye, the extremely secretive Sri Lankan Bush Warbler, Black-throated Munia, Dull Blue Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin and the shy Indian Blackbird. But we shall need to be out early next morning to have a chance of seeing what is generally regarded as the island's trickiest endemic, the rare and extremely shy Sri Lankan Whistling Thrush. At nearby Horton Plains, a plateau of moorland inhabited by Pied Bushchats and Paddyfield Pipits, we can scan the forest slopes for Himalayan Buzzard, Mountain Hawk Eagle or even a Black Eagle, the latter specialising in snatching Giant Squirrels from the tree canopy! We'll also visit Victoria Park in the middle of town, the haunt of montane forest specialities, including the stunning Kashmir Flycatcher, Forest Wagtail, Indian Pitta and Pied Ground Thrush, all of which winter here. With luck, we will also see the highland form of Purple-faced Langur, known as the 'Bear Monkey'. Overnight Nuwara Eliya Day 10 After some optional pre-breakfast birding, we depart from Nuwara and traverse Sri Lanka's hill country en route to Kandy. We'll pause along the way to investigate a working tea factory - for both tea and Hill Swallows! - before arriving at our hotel in Kandy for lunch. In the afternoon we pay a visit to the lovely Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. In these delightful and superbly laid out gardens we shall be looking for Forest Wagtail, Common Hawk-cuckoo, Southern Hill Myna, Indian Pitta and what may be our final endemic, Crimson-fronted Barbet. The gorgeous Tickell's Blue Flycatcher is often common here but, if they are proving difficult, there will be plenty or Toque Macaques and Indian Flying Foxes to distract us. As dusk approaches, the colony of flying foxes comes to life, with thousands flapping out across the sunset, looking for all the world like nocturnal Rooks. Before dinner, those who wish to can visit the famous "Temple of the Tooth", Sri Lanka's most famous and important Buddhist site. Overnight Kandy Day 11 We start the day with an early morning visit to nearby Udawatakelle Forest, where we have further chances to look for Brown-capped Babbler, Gold-fronted Leafbird and other hill-forest birds, such as Crimson-backed Flameback, Brown-breasted and Tickell's Blue Flycatchers, Stork-billed Kingfisher and that superb songster, the White-rumped Shama. If we are fortunate, we may encounter an Indian Blue Robin hopping along a forest trail, watch a Brown Fish Owl roosting by the lake or glimpse a diminutive Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher as it darts across the water. Later in the morning we leave for Sigiriya, a World Heritage Site for Culture and a superb birding spot in its own right, where we should arrive in time for lunch. Best known for the enormous, two-hundred metre high 'Sigiriya Rock' that thrusts up out of the forest floor, for us the attraction will be the Shaheen Falcons, the distinctive Indian race of Peregrine, which have made the rock their home. We have an excellent chance of seeing this dramatic falcon, while the nearby forest holds many birds typical of this region. Black-rumped Flameback, Sri Lankan Wood-shrike, Black-headed and Large Cuckoo-shrikes, Indian Pitta, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Tree Swift and Tawny-bellied Babbler, as well as Indian and Grey-bellied Cuckoos, and the 'fork-tailed' Asian Drongo-cuckoo are all possible here. As dusk descends, we have opportunities to look for the huge Brown Fish Owl, Jerdon's Nightjar and if we are very lucky, we may just drop onto an enormous Spot-bellied Eagle Owl or a diminutive Oriental Scops Owl. In the evening, we can enjoy views from the wooded grounds of our comfortable hotel towards Sigiriya Rock. Overnight Sigiriya Day 12 The birdlife at Sigiriya is always excellent and we will spend the morning enjoying some easy birding in this delightfully tranquil idyll, with chances to see anything from Rufous Woodpecker and Jerdon's Leafbird to Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Or perhaps to try for further views of the exotic Indian Pitta, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and elusive Orange-headed Thrush. Please note: our visit here is not a sightseeing trip to the World Heritage Site. However, if you would prefer to experience this rather than go birding at Sigiriya this morning, our guides will be happy to assist you in making arrangements for a sightseeing visit to the rock; fees for entry and guidance payable locally (not included in our tour price). After lunch at Sigiriya we board our coach and head west towards Marawila, on Sri Lanka's west coast, where we shall spend the final two nights of our tour. We'll break our journey with a few unscheduled stops to admire the likes of Crested Treeswift, Ashy Wood Swallow and other roadside birds along the way. We should arrive at our comfortable beachfront hotel near Marawila by late afternoon, with time perhaps to explore the beautiful gardens and fringing coast. Overnight Marawila Day 13 This additional destination was added to our itinerary in February 2008 and proved to be so popular that we've retained it ever since. With its mix of salt pans, muddy foreshore, mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands, this region offers the prospect of some exciting and highly productive birding to round off our tour in style. Terns and waders will be our principal targets, so don't forget to bring your 'scope, if you have one! The Puttalam salt pans are likely to be busy with yet more wintering waders, including the highly sought-after Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers, together with more familiar species such as Curlew, Grey Plover, Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Black-tailed Godwit and Turnstone. There is often a large gathering of terns here too, that may hold Little, Lesser Crested and Sandwich Terns amongst the larger numbers of Caspian and Gull-billed, while any gulls we encounter are most likely to be Himalayan-breeding Brown-headed Gulls from the Tibetan plateau. On our 2009 tour we even found a vagrant Isabelline Wheatear here, a species which usually spends the winter in East Africa! As we head back south this afternoon, a visit to Navadankulam Tank, a marvellous wetland, will surely leave us spellbound. In just the short time we will spend here, we should encounter a wealth of birds, including many Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns, plus a few White-winged Blacks. On the pads of floating water lilies and choking beds of invasive Water Hyacinth, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and Purple Swamphens abound, and herons and egrets seem to pop-up everywhere. By scanning the beds of Water Hyacinth, we can expect to find hundreds of Lesser Whistling-duck, and with them many Garganey and Pintail, and perhaps a handful of Cotton Pygmy-geese. Overhead, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Brahminy Kites are amongst the larger soaring raptors we may encounter. All in all, Navadankulam should make for an enjoyable and productive end to our trip. Our birding over, we return to our hotel at Marawila for a farewell meal this evening. Overnight Marawila Day 14 Making an early start from the hotel this morning, we transfer to Colombo airport and board our Emirates flight home. Early evening arrival in London later the same day, where our holiday concludes. Accommodation: At comfortable tourist hotels. More rustic and remote at Blue Magpie Lodge, where rooms are simply furnished. All rooms with private facilities throughout. Meals: All included in the price. Food is good. Dinners usually at the hotels (a packed dinner is necessary for optional evening excursion to look for Serendib Scops Owl). Some breakfasts and some lunches will be picnics. Walking: Mostly short and easy, but the going can be moderate at times along some forest trails. Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or boots, with stout soles and good grip required. Weather: Tropical. Although hot and humid (22-33oC) in the lowlands, for much of the time we will be in the shade of the forest. Cooler and more pleasant early and late in the day. Cooler in the mountains, typically 15-25oC, falling to below 10oC at night - even frost is a possibility at Horton Plains before the sun warms the day! Rainfall is likely at any season. Flights: We use the scheduled services of Emirates, from London to Colombo (going via Dubai). Ground Transport: By minicoach or minibus, switching to 4WD vehicle in some of the National Parks. Insects: The usual tropical nuisances are present in Sri Lanka. Mosquitoes: Sri Lanka lies within the malarial region of southern Asia. Away from the north of the island (which we do not visit on our tour) however, NaTHNaC assess the current risk of malaria as very low in Sri Lanka. As areas of risk can change, it is essential that you consult your doctor for advice before you travel. Bring insect repellent. Leeches: expect to encounter leeches in the forests of the Wet Zone where, although harmless, their presence can be distracting! We recommend that you bring with you a pair of 'leech socks', which will prevent leeches reaching the skin on your feet and lower legs. These are available from the Oriental Bird Club and other outlets (on the internet). Insect repellent applied to your footwear can be effective in keeping them at bay, but the effect is of course quickly lost if boots become wet or muddied. Photos: Some good photographic opportunities (birds, mammals, butterflies and scenery) in more open country but generally difficult in the forested areas Leaders: Peter Kennerley & local guides Numbers: Max. 12 clients |
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