Pelican Bird
Bird Watching in Sri Lanka
Introduction
Sri Lanka is a birdwatchers’ paradise and attracts more than 430 species, nearly half of them migrants and 33 endemic to the island. Paradise Tours bird watching holiday comes with a specialist guide and can be designed to satisfy everyone from the committed to the amateur enthusiast. The best time for birding in Sri Lanka is between November and March when the migrant birds have landed, but there is plenty to satisfy you all year round, join us in this birdwatcher’s paradise.
This adventurous bird watching tour tends to use simpler accommodation than the Tailor-made Birding Holiday – although you can make any changes that you wish. It takes you through some of the island’s most fascinating locations including dry zones, the lakes, coastal wetlands, rainforests and the peaks of the hill country in search of exotic species of birds.
http://etravelersrilanka.com/BirdWatchingTour.jsp
Day 01 – Sigiriya
Arrival at the Colombo Airport, You will be met by our Chauffeur Guide and Airport staff and offer assistance. Thereafter transfer direct to Sigiriya evening leisure at the hotel no activities recommended for the day but walking around the hotel garden may find some of the interesting bird species such as Ceylon Green-pigeon, , Brown-headed Barbet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Black-rumped Flame back, Indian Pitta ,Asian Paradise flycatcher, Black-capped Bulbul, Orange-headed Thrush, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Black-hooded Oriole.
Day 02 – Sigiriya
After breakfast birding in Sigiriya Sanctuary Possible species to spot: SHAHEEN (Local race of the Peregrine), Coppersmith Barbet ,Crested Tree swift, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Square-tailed’ Drongo-cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, , Indian Pitta,, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Ceylon Small Barbet, White-browed Fantail, Ceylon Wood shrike, Large Cuckoo shrike, Black-headed Cuckoo shrike, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Orange-headed Thrush, Jungle Prinia, White-rumped Shama, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Greater Racket-tailed drongo, Purple Sunbird
Evening visit to Polonnaruwa; Polonnaruwa has served as the Island’s second capital from11th to 13th Century. Even today the well preserved ruins allow you to experience architectural capabilities of the ancient Sri Lankan craftsmanship. Main contributor to develop Polonnaruwa lies with three kings. Parakrama Samudra, The Royal Palace, The Quadrangle, Rankoth Vehera, Lankatilake, Galviharaya are to name few which is in the ancient capital.
Day 03 – Sigiriya
Morning visit to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Climb 600 feet Sigiriya rock this is most attractive place among the tourists to Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is an awesome sight, with amazing views & impressive archeological discoveries. The fortress was a kingdom from 477 A.D to 495 A.D. UNESCO declared a World heritage sight in 1982.
evening you have a chance to enjoy a jeep safari in one of the national parks around Habarana mainly to see wild elephants there are three national parks around, Mineriya, Kauwdulla & Huruluwa Eco Park. Elephants are roaming in theses three national parks in different times hence you can see elephants only in one National Park apart from Elephants you can spot Grey headed fish Eagle, White bellied Fish Eagle, Lesser Adjutant, Wooly necked Stork, Spot billed Pelican, Asian open billed stork, Jordon’s Nightjar, Plain Prinia,
Day 04 – Kandy
After breakfast leave to Kandy by en route visiting a spice garden at Matale, Sri Lanka has been famous for exporting spices even 1000 years before today also spices provide a substantial export income for the country, in the spice garden you will be able to explore wide range of spices & herbs. Kandy is the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka before it was ultimately surrender to British in 1815, Kandy is a world heritage site this beautiful hill city is the second largest city of Sri Lanka. Still in Kandy you can see the Old colonial type architectural well preserved buildings & most venerable Temple of the Tooth Relic. Evening you can witness a cultural show to get an idea about traditional dancing in Sri Lanka which includes a fire walk.
Day 05 – Kandy
Early in the morning visit to Udawatte Kele Forest Possible species: Emerald Dove, Ceylon Hanging Parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, White-Rumped Shama, Yellow-Fronted Barbet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Crimson-Backed Flame back, Black-Backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher
After breakfast at Udawatte Kele visit to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens this 147 acres big garden is a well maintained garden there about 4000 different species you found in this garden there are few rare plants you could see in this garden such as double coconut trees, & extravagant java fig tree is the icon of the garden, the suspension bridge would offer extra value to the garden, the orchid house has lots of varieties & the noise of bats who is hanging & flying in the river bank area creates lots of character to the garden.
Possible species: Common Hawk-cuckoo, Black hooded oriole, Alexandrine Parakeet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Large Cuckoo shrike, Indian Pitta. Large number of flying fox (Bats)
Day 06 – Nuwara Eliya
En-route visiting to a Tea Factory would be interesting on how Ceylon Tea is made. Visit to Victoria Park in the heart of Nuwara Eliya Town birding in Victoria Possible to see species: Forest Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Common Mynah, Pond heron, Indian Blue Robin, Pied Ground-Thrush, Indian Pitta, Kashmir Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-Eye & Dull blue Flycatcher.
Day 07 – Nuwara Eliya
Visit to Horton Plains national park this should be done very early in the morning with packed breakfast in order to spot the highland birds; Ceylon Woodpigeon, Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Pied Bush Chat, Ceylon Whistling Thrush, Common Blackbird, Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler, Grey-Headed Canary, Kashmir & Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch, Ceylon White-Eye.
Evening has an option to relax or enjoy a boat ride at the Gregory’s Lake
http://etravelersrilanka.com/Yala.jsp
Day 08 – Yala
Birding around wetlands in the Tissa area would be able to spot Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow Bittern, black Headed Ibis, Black Bittern, Brahminy Kite, black winged stilt, Shikra, Purple Swamphen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana and other common water birds, Wagtails, pipits.
Day 09 – Yala
Early in the morning safari to the Yala National park Possible noteworthy species: Spot-Billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Lesser Adjutant, Black-Winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Great Thick-Knee, Small Pratincole, Yellow-Wattled & Red-Wattled Lapwing, Painted & Black-Necked Stork Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little-Ringed, Kentish, Mongolian & Greater Sand Plover, Marsh, Wood & Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Brown-Headed Gull, Caspian, Gull-Billed & Whiskered, Tern, Bengal Bush lark, Ashy-Crowned Finch-Lark. Other than birds you can see the other mammals like Toque Monkey, Grey Langur, Golden Jackal, Mongooses, Asian Elephant, Wild Boar, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Water Buffalo, Giant Squirrel.
Evening leisure or optional bird watching near by lakes of the Tissa Area.
Day 10 – Yala
Early in the morning again another jeep safari to Bundala National Park species possible to spot; Greater Flamingo, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Watercock, Black-Winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Great Thick-Knee, Small Pratincole, Yellow-Wattled & Red-Wattled Lapwing Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little-Ringed, Kentish, Mongolian & Greater Sand Plover, Marsh, Wood, Terek & Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Brown-Headed Gull, Caspian, Great-Crested, Lesser-Crested, Gull-Billed, Whiskered, White-Winged, Saunders’s & Little Tern, Bengal Bush lark, Oriental Skylark, Ashy-Crowned Finch-Lark, Jordon’s & Indian Little Nightjar
Evening leisure or optional bird watching near by lakes of the Tissa Area or visit to Kataragama Temple.
Day 11 – Udawalawe
Jeep safari in Uda Walawe National Park, Possible noteworthy species: Spot-Billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Cormorants, Lesser Adjutant, Montagu’s Harrier, Pied Harrier, Crested Hawk-Eagle, White-Bellied Sea-Eagle, Grey-Headed Fish-Eagle, Barred Buttonquail, Ceylon & Orange-Breasted Green-Pigeon, Plum-Headed Parakeet, Blue-Faced Malkoha, Sirkeer Malkoha, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Prinias. Toque Monkey, Grey Langur, Golden Jackal, Mongoose, Asian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Water Buffalo, Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel other mammals to spot.
http://etravelersrilanka.com/Sinharaja.jsp
Day 12 – Sinharaja
Very early start with pack breakfast visit Sinharaja World Heritage Wilderness Area for a full day’s birding. Possible species: Ceylon Spur fowl, Ceylon Jungle fowl, Ceylon Woodpigeon, Red-Faced Malkoha, Green-Billed Coucal, Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo, Serendib Scops-Owl, Chestnut-Backed Owlet, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon Oriental Honey Buzzard, Rufous-Bellied Eagle, Shikra, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, , Yellow-Browed Bulbul, Himalayan Black Bulbul, Spot-Winged Ground Thrush, Ceylon Scaly Thrush, Ceylon Rufous Babbler, Ashy-Headed Laughing Thrush, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Ceylon Blue Magpie, White-Faced Starling, Ceylon Hill-Myna
Day 13 – Sinharaja
Morning birding in Sinharaja Rain Forest to focus mainly on birds not seen on the previous day evening leisure at the hotel or walking around the gardens in the hotel area.
Day 14 – Departure to Airport
After breakfast leave for Ingiriya Forest Reserve (Bodinagala)
Possible species: Green-Billed Coucal, Chestnut-Backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, Black-Backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-Fronted Barbet, Crimson-Backed Flame back.
Lunch in Ingiriya then proceed to the hotel near the airport for Dinner & late night or early morning departure.
Note: This Programme is not a standard programme this could be customized according to your requirement can be extended or shortened clarifications please contact: paradisetours@sltnet.lk
About the Author
Priyanga Fernando provides travel advisory to travelers to Sri Lanka an operates individual travel company in Sri Lanka which desing customise tour packgaes to suit customer specifications. contact priyanga through mapriyanga@gmail.com or paradisetours@sltnet.lk
http://etravelersrilanka.com/index.jsp
Pelican eats bird