Sri Lanka
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return scheduled flights London-Colombo; all accommodation, meals, surface transport (including 4WD in the parks, as necessary), entrance fees and permits, tips, airport taxes, map, bird and mammal checklist, and services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks & other personal expenses. [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: February: Peter Kennerley & local guides November: Brian Small & local guides |
What could be better than heading for the tropics and exploring one of the world's most enchanting island paradises? Join us on a two-week mainly birdwatching tour in search of Sri Lanka's thirty or more endemic birds 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 30 species of endemic birds. We should see most, if not all, of them on this classic Sri Lanka tour: from Legge's Flowerpecker and the comical Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot through to Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the gorgeous Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. And with the help of our team of local guides, we will again hope to find the recently described Serendib Scops Owl at its day roost, as we have done with 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, Indian Pitta and the sought-after Pied Thrush. And with our return to Yala West National Park in 2012, we should encounter some fine mammals during our stay, with Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel, Asian Elephant, Leopard and even Sloth Bear possible. This is also a wonderful trip for anyone wishing to see 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 naturalists 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 is designed to enhance your chances of seeing all the island's endemic birds plus a wide cross section of the birds typical of this region of the Indian sub-continent. We will be accompanied throughout our tour by our good friend Dammithra Samarasinghe, an experienced Sri Lankan birdwatching and wildlife guide employed by our specialist local agents. Itinerary Day 1 We depart from London Gatwick today on an Emirates flight bound for Sri Lanka. Days 2 - 3 Morning arrival in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. We shall be met by our local guide and transfer by road 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: as Indian Swiftlets swirl overhead, we will look for the shy (but noisy!) Rufous Woodpecker, Crested Goshawk and Crested Treeswift, while the sight of the recently split endemic Crimson-backed Flameback will surely take our breath away if one lands on a nearby trunk! Without a doubt, a major highlight of all our visits to Kitugala in the last few years has been to see Sri Lanka's most recently-discovered and eagerly sought-after endemic, the Serendib Scops Owl, at its daytime roost. First described as a species new to science as recently as 2004, this delightful little bird is still only known from around half a dozen sites and is strictly nocturnal in its habits - so the opportunity to see one during daylight hours is a rare privilege indeed! Although we can't of course guarantee that the birds will be present every time, our local guides have an excellent record in tracking this diminutive forest owl for us in the days before our visit. 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 include numerous Green Warblers and, with luck, we could find our first Indian Pitta, calling loudly 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 to Sinharaja, arriving towards dusk for a three-night stay at the remote Blue Magpie Lodge. This is 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 Day 5 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 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, 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, including the stunning Tree-nymph and Blue Mormon. 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 in the forest, we'll return to our lodge for a short siesta or some leisurely birding near the hotel grounds. 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. Overnight Blue Magpie Lodge Day 6 Depending upon what we saw at Sinharaja yesterday, we will use the morning to try again for any of Sinharaja's special birds that may have eluded us. Eventually, it is 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 to enjoy an impressive Black Eagle as it soars overhead, or to watch a cluster of Ashy Woodswallows gathered on a roadside wire. Our plans for the remainder of the day today retain a degree of flexibility. But our ultimate destination is Embilipitiya, arriving there either for lunch or for dinner this evening (according to how long we decide to spend birding at Sinharaja in the morning). Our hotel at Embilipitiya is situated by a man-made lake, liberally sprinkled with Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns and Little and Indian Cormorants, whilst Spot-billed Pelicans and Brahminy Kite soar on thermals. Overnight Embilipitiya Day 7 Our overnight stay at Embilipitya will enable us to spend a full morning exploring the savanna-like dry country of the nearby Udawalawe National Park. Using Land Rovers, we will drive the tracks through the scrub jungle and grasslands, which are surprisingly rich in species variety. One of the most conspicuous is the breathtaking Indian Peafowl (looking even more spectacular in its native haunts), but Black-shouldered Kite, Crested (Changeable) Hawk-eagle and Malabar Pied Hornbill will also be demanding attention. Harriers, including both Pallid and Montagu's, are likely over the grasslands, where we'll receive a 'masterclass' in prinia identification with Grey-breasted, Ashy, Plain and Jungle all popping up to sing - in addition 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 and Blyth's Reed Warblers 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, and we shall have time to admire enormous Indian Elephants, while other possibilities include Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal, Chital, Wild Boar and Ruddy Mongoose. We shall return to Embilipitya for lunch and a short break, then continue an hour or so south to the coast to spend the cooler hours of the late afternoon exploring the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. 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 travel a short distance along the coast to our next hotel, at Tissamaharama (more often referred to simply as 'Tissa'), for the first of a three-night stay. Dinner will be slightly later this evening, at around eight. Overnight Tissa Days 8 - 9 Now that Sri Lanka's recent troubled past is behind it, we are once again able to visit wonderful Ruhunu (Yala West) National Park, which lies about an hour's drive from Tissa. Better known simply as 'Yala', Yala West forms part of Sri Lanka's oldest and most famous National Park. By taking a picnic breakfast with us, we'll be able to make the most of our morning here, before the heat gets up. Mugger Crocodiles frequent the river banks and, as we explore through the southern sector of the park, we'll find plenty of Grey Langurs as we watch eagerly for mammals such as Sambar, Chital and Leopard. Birds are abundant too, with a fine mix of species to enjoy, from Indian Peafowl, Lesser Adjutant and Black-necked Stork through to Spot-billed Pelican and White-bellied Sea-eagle. Dry country birds include Pied and Grey-bellied Cuckoos, colourful Small Minivets, the exceptionally 'spotty' Yellow-crowned and the minute Brown-capped Woodpeckers, the recently-split Sri Lanka Woodshrike, and both Blue-faced and Sirkeer Malkohas - the latter looking remarkably mongoose-like as it runs between bushes! As wildlife activity starts to wane by mid-morning, we'll take an early lunch. Venturing out again later in the afternoon, we'll drive to a nearby wetland where Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brown Fish Owl and the scarce White-naped Woodpecker can sometimes be seen. A more relaxed start next day will find us sifting through the large number of spindly-legged Marsh Sandpipers and other shorebirds at Bundala. Picking out Broad-billed Sandpipers amongst the throngs of Little Stints will keep us on our toes as we also strive to identify Greater Sand Plovers amidst the flocks of Kentish and Lesser Sand Plovers. Up to eight species of tern roost on Bundala's extensive saltpans, ranging from the massive Caspian to the diminutive Little. Here we can see Greater and Lesser Crested Terns standing side by side, and pick out winter-plumaged White-winged Black Terns amongst the numerous Whiskered. The strange Great Thick-knee will be less of an identification challenge, however! Oriental Skylarks, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Larks and the recently-split Jerdon's Bush Lark also occur nearby and, in the evening, we can try for Indian Nightjar. Two nights Tissa Days 10 - 11 Leaving the heat of the coastal lowlands behind, we shall welcome the more 'English' climate of our next destination, Nuwara Eliya, where we should arrive in time for a late lunch. Set at an elevation of nearly 2000m, this famous hill-station is the hub of Sri Lanka's tea estates. Extensive areas of superb montane forest still remain, holding hill-forest specialities such as Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Sri Lanka White-eye, the extremely secretive Sri Lanka 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 regarded as the island's trickiest endemic, the rare Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. At nearby Horton Plains, a plateau of moorland inhabited by Pied Bushchats and Paddyfield Pipits, we can scan the forest slopes for 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 and Pied Thrush which winter here, and the highland form of Purple-faced Langur, known as the 'Bear Monkey'. Two nights Nuwara Eliya Day 12 After some optional pre-breakfast birding, we depart from Nuwara Eliya, and traverse the hill country to Kandy, stopping 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 shall visit the lovely Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. Here we shall be looking for Forest Wagtail, Common Hawk-cuckoo, Southern Hill Myna, Indian Pitta and our final endemic, Crimson-fronted Barbet. At dusk, a colony of Indian Flying-foxes comes to life, flapping out across the sunset and looking for all the world like nocturnal Rooks. Before dinner, we shall have time to visit the famous "Temple of the Tooth", Sri Lanka's most famous and important Buddhist site. Overnight Kandy Day 13 We start the day with an early morning visit to 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 an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher as it darts across the lake. 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 will arrive in time for lunch. Best known for the enormous 200m high 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 Lanka Wood-shrike, Black-headed and Large Cuckoo-shrikes, Indian Pitta, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and White-bellied Sea-eagle, Changeable (Crested) Hawk Eagle, Crested Tree Swift, Tawny-bellied Babbler, and Indian and Grey-bellied Cuckoos are all possible here. As dusk falls, we shall look for Brown Fish Owl and Jerdon's Nightjar. Overnight Sigiriya Day 14 The birdlife at Sigiriya is always excellent and we will spend the morning here enjoying some more 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 that our visit here does not include a sightseeing trip to the World Heritage Site itself. 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 to Negombo. We'll enjoy a farewell dinner at an airport hotel here before making the late evening transfer to nearby Colombo airport. Day 15 Our Emirates flight home departs Colombo in the early morning of day 15, with arrival back in London Gatwick later the same morning. Accommodation: At comfortable tourist hotels but 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. 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 10-20°C, falling to below 10°C at night - with frost a possibility at Horton Plains before the sun warms the day! Rainfall is likely at any season. 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. See also the NaTHNaC website. 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 The Travelling Naturalist bookstore website. 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 Numbers: Max. 12 clients |
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