Srilanka : Birding In Paradise

Arrival and transfer direct to Ranweli Holiday Resort, located approximately 45 minutes away from the airport.

 Ranweli is the perfect place to begin a Birding Tour of Sri Lanka. The property is ideally located on a sliver of land wedged between the ocean and the lagoon. An evening boat ride through the mangrove ecosystem will be a great introduction to Sri Lankan birdlife. Species to lookout for: STRIATED HERON, YELLOW BITTERN, BLACK BITTERN, SLATY-LEGGED CRAKE, SLATY-BREASTED RAIL, MARSH SANDPIPER, WOOD SANDPIPER, BLACK-WINGED STILT, LITTLE TERN, SAUNDERS'S TERN, WHITE-WINGED TERN, STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER, LESSER PIED KINGFISHER, BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER, PURPLE-RUMPED and LOTEN'S SUNBIRD.

 Dinner & overnight at Ranweli Holiday Village, Waikkal.

Take a second optional boat ride through the lagoon for some early morning birding. After breakfast, leave for Kitulgala. Lunch at Kitulgala Rest House. In the afternoon explore the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve and village around the Kitulgala Rest House for some exciting birding

Possible species: CEYLON GREEN-PIGEON, CEYLON HANGING-PARROT, LAYARD'S PARAKEET, GREEN-BILLED COUCAL, SERENDIB SCOPS-OWL, CHESTNUT-BACKED OWLET, CEYLON FROGMOUTH, CEYLON GREY HORNBILL, YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET, BLACK-CAPPED BULBUL, SPOT-WINGED GROUND-THRUSH, CEYLON RUFOUS BABBLER, ORANGE MINIVET, LEGGE'S FLOWERPECKER and BLACK-THROATED MUNIA.

 Dinner & overnight at The Kitulgala Rest House, Kitulgala.

Full day birding in the Kitulgala Forest Reserve

 Species to lookout for: ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE, BLACK EAGLE, RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE, CEYLON SPURFOWL, CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL, CEYLON GREEN-PIGEON, CEYLON HANGING-PARROT, LAYARD'S PARAKEET, GREEN-BILLED COUCAL, SERENDIB SCOPS-OWL,CHESTNUT-BACKED OWLET, CEYLON FROGMOUTH, CEYLON GREY HORNBILL, YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET, CEYLON SMALL BARBET, INDIAN PITTA, BLACK-CAPPED BULBUL, SPOT-WINGED GROUND-THRUSH, BROWN-CAPPED BABBLER, CEYLON RUFOUS BABBLER, ORANGE MINIVET, LEGGE'S FLOWERPECKER and BLACK-THROATED MUNIA.

 Dinner & overnight at The Kitulgala Rest House, Kitulgala

After breakfast, spend a couple of hours birding in the area and leave for Sinharja Rainforest (a UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness Area) driving via Ratnapura. Spend the afternoon bird watching around the lodge which is located at the edge of the rainforest.

 Possible species: CEYLON HANGING-PARROT, LAYARD'S PARAKEET, CHESTNUT-BACKED OWLET, CEYLON FROGMOUTH, YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET, BLACK-CAPPED BULBUL, HIMALAYAN BLACK BULBUL and COMMON HILL-MYNA.

Dinner & overnight at The Blue Magpie Lodge, Sinharaja

Full day birding at Sinharaja Rainforest with picnic lunch, Sri Lanka’s last remaining rainforest and home to most of the islands endemic birdlife.

Species to lookout for: CEYLON SPURFOWL, CEYLON WOODPIGEON, GREEN-BILLED COUCAL, RED-FACED MALKOHA, CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO, SERENDIB SCOPS-OWL, CEYLON FROGMOUTH, BROWN-THROATED NEEDLETAIL, MALABAR TROGON, SPOT-WINGED GROUND-THRUSH, CEYLON SCALY THRUSH, ASHY-HEADED LAUGHINGTHRUSH, CEYLON SCIMITAR-BABBLER, CEYLON RUFOUS BABBLER, LEGGE'S FLOWERPECKER, WHITE-FACED STARLING, CEYLON HILL-MYNA, BLACK-THROATED MUNIA, CEYLON CRESTED DRONGO and CEYLON BLUE MAGPIE Possible Mammals: TOQUE MONKEY, PURPLE-FACED LEAF MONKEY, SRI LANKAN GIANT SQUIRREL, INDIAN PALM SQUIRREL and LAYARD’S STRIPED SQUIRREL.

 Dinner & overnight at The Blue Magpie Lodge, Sinharaja

After breakfast, spend a couple of hours birding in the area and leave for Udawalawe and take an afternoon Jeep Safari in the Udawalawe National Park

Key species to look for in the park are SPOT-BILLED PELICAN, ORIENTAL DARTER, WOOLLY-NECKED STORK, LESSER ADJUTANT, WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE, GREY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE, CRESTED HAWK-EAGLE, BARRED BUTTONQUAIL, ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN-PIGEON, PLUM-HEADED PARAKEET, SIRKEER MALKOHA, BLUE-FACED MALKOHA, GREY-BELLIED CUCKOO, MALABAR PIED HORNBILL, COPPERSMITH BARBET, INDIAN PYGMY WOODPECKER, YELLOW-FRONTED PIED WOODPECKER, BLYTH'S PIPIT, CEYLON WOODSHRIKE, TAWNY-BELLIED BABBLER, YELLOW-EYED BABBLER, all the PRINIAS, INDIAN SILVERBILL and BAYA WEAVER.

Possible Mammals: TOQUE MONKEY, HANUMAN LANGUR, GOLDEN JACKAL, RUDDY MONGOOSE, ASIAN ELEPHANT, SPOTTED DEER, WATER BUFFALO, SRI LANKAN GIANT SQUIRREL and INDIAN HARE.

 Dinner & overnight at The Centauria Hotel, Embilipitiya

Leave after an early breakfast for a second jeep safari of Udawalawe National Park Proceed to Tissamaharama with packed lunch and spend the afternoon birding around the wetlands of Tissa.

 Possible species around Tissa wetlands: SPOT-BILLED PELICAN, ORIENTAL DARTER, PURPLE HERON, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, YELLOW BITTERN, CHESTNUT BITTERN, BLACK BITTERN, COTTON TEAL, WATERCOCK, PURPLE SWAMPHEN, COMMON MOORHEN, PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA, PIED CRESTED CUCKOO, BROWN FISH-OWL, STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER, WHITE-NAPED FLAMEBACK, INDIAN REED-WARBLER, STREAKED and BAYA WEAVER.

 Dinner & overnight at Elephant Reach Kirinda or similar

Early start with picnic breakfast for a morning jeep safari in Yala National Park

 Possible species: BLACK-NECKED STORK, LESSER ADJUTANT, CEYLON JUNGLEFOWL, BARRED BUTTONQUAIL; LITTLE RINGED, KENTISH, LESSER SAND and GREATER SAND PLOVER; YELLOW-WATTLED; PINTAIL SNIPE, GREAT THICK-KNEE, SMALL PRATINCOLE, BROWN-HEADED GULL; GULL-BILLED and CASPIAN TERN, JERDON’S NIGHTJAR, INDIAN LITTLE NIGHTJAR and BRAHMINY STARLING.

 Possible Mammals: GOLDEN JACKAL, SLOTH BEAR, RUDDY MONGOOSE, STRIPE-NECKED MONGOOSE, LEOPARD, ASIAN ELEPHANT, WILD BOAR, SAMBAR, SPOTTED DEER, WATER BUFFALO, SRI LANKAN GIANT SQUIRREL and INDIAN HARE.

 Lunch at the hotel and spend the afternoon birding around the lagoons and water bodies between Yala and Tissamaharama

 Key species to lookout for: LITTLE RINGED, KENTISH, LESSER SAND and GREATER SAND PLOVER, SPOTTED REDSHANK, MARSH SANDPIPER, LITTLE STINT, LONG-TOED STINT, CURLEW SANDPIPER, BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, RUFF, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and other waders. INDIAN PITTA, JERDON’S NIGHTJAR, INDIAN LITTLE NIGHTJAR, GULL-BILLED TERN, CASPIAN TERN, LESSER CRESTED TERN, GREAT CRESTED TERN, SANDWICH TERN, COMMON TERN, LITTLE TERN, SAUNDERS'S TERN, WHISKERED TERN and WHITE-WINGED TERN

Dinner & overnight at Elephant Reach Kirinda or similar

Leave after an early breakfast for a morning jeep safari of Bundala National Park, a Ramsar Site.

 Possible noteworthy species in Bundala: WESTERN REEF-HERON, STRIATED HERON, EURASIAN SPOONBILL, GREATER FLAMINGO, BARRED BUTTONQUAIL, WATERCOCK, WHIMBREL, EURASIAN CURLEW, TEREK, CURLEW and BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER; RUDDY TURNSTONE; LITTLE, TEMMINCK'S, and LONG-TOED STINT; RUFF, BLACK-WINGED STILT, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, SMALL PRATINCOLE; BROWN-HEADED GULL; GULL-BILLED, CASPIAN, LESSER CRESTED, GREAT CRESTED, SANDWICH, COMMON, LITTLE, SAUNDERS'S, WHISKERED and WHITE-WINGED TERN.

 Possible Mammals: TOQUE MONKEY and HANUMAN LANGUR.

After the park proceed to Nuwara Eliya with packed lunch, climbing up in to the central highlands

 In the afternoon visit the Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya for birding

 Possible noteworthy species: INDIAN PITTA, FOREST WAGTAIL, YELLOW-EARED BULBUL, PIED GROUND-THRUSH, KASHMIR FLYCATCHER, DUSKY BLUE FLYCATCHER, INDIAN BLUE ROBIN and CEYLON WHITE-EYE.

 Dinner & overnight at The Galways Forest Lodge, Nuwara Eliya

Leave very early in the morning with a packed breakfast for the Horton Plains for a morning of great birding

 Species to lookout for: CEYLON WOODPIGEON, ALPINE SWIFT, CRIMSON-BACKED FLAMEBACK, HILL SWALLOW, YELLOW-EARED BULBUL, COMMON BLACKBIRD, CEYLON WHISTLING-THRUSH, KASHMIR FLYCATCHER, DUSKY BLUE FLYCATCHER, GREY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER, PIED BUSHCHAT, CEYLON SCIMITAR-BABBLER, SRI LANKA BUSH-WARBLER, GREENISH WARBLER, LARGE-BILLED LEAF-WARBLER, CEYLON WHITE-EYE and BLACK-THROATED MUNIA.

Possible Mammals: PURPLE-FACED LEAF MONKEY, SAMBAR and DUSKY STRIPED SQUIRREL.

 Return to Nuwara Eliya for lunch and spend the afternoon birding around Nuwara Eliya. Dinner & overnight at The Galways Forest Lodge, Nuwara Eliya

Leave after an early breakfast for a last opportunity for birding around Nuwara Eliya and proceed to the hill capital Kandy.

After lunch at the hotel visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya

 Species to lookout for: CEYLON HANGING-PARROT, ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET, LAYARD'S PARAKEET, COMMON HAWK-CUCKOO, CEYLON SMALL BARBET, FOREST WAGTAIL, TICKELL'S BLUE FLYCATCHER, INDIAN PITTA and COMMON HILL-MYNA.

 Dinner & overnight at The Citadel, Kandy

After an early breakfast visit Udawattakele Forest Reserve for a few hours’ birding.

 Species to lookout for: EMERALD DOVE, CEYLON HANGING-PARROT, ALEXANDRINE PARAKEET, LAYARD'S PARAKEET, YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET, CEYLON SMALL BARBET, CRIMSON-BACKED FLAMEBACK, TICKELL'S BLUE FLYCATCHER, INDIAN BLUE ROBIN, WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA, BROWN-CAPPED BABBLER and COMMON HILL-MYNA.

 Descending from the central hills in the northern direction we travel to Habarana After lunch at the hotel, birding around the hotel and beside the Habarana lake where over 130 species have been recorded.

 Species to lookout for: SPOT-BILLED PELICAN, ORIENTAL DARTER, COTTON TEAL, YELLOW BITTERN, BLACK BITTERN, WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE, GREY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE, WATERCOCK, BROWN FISH-OWL, JERDON’S NIGHTJAR, MALABAR PIED HORNBILL, INDIAN PITTA, LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE, BLACK-HEADED CUCKOOSHRIKE, SMALL MINIVET, ORANGE MINIVET, PIED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE, CEYLON WOODSHRIKE, ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER, THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER.

 Dinner & overnight at The Chaaya Village, Habarana.

After an early breakfast visit Sigiriya Sanctuary for a half day’s birding. Sigiriya is incredible not only because it is one of Sri Lanka’s most fascinating cultural heritage sites, it is also one of the islands best birding locations! Birding around the Sigiriya Rock and the surrounding forest before climbing the rock fortress would yield some good dry zone species.

Species to lookout for: SHAHEEN (LOCAL RACE OF THE PEREGRINE), PIED CRESTED CUCKOO, BLUE-FACED MALKOHA, GREY-BELLIED CUCKOO, ‘SQUARE-TAILED’ DRONGO-CUCKOO, INDIAN CUCKOO, CRESTED TREESWIFT, CEYLON GREY HORNBILL, MALABAR PIED HORNBILL, INDIAN PYGMY WOODPECKER, RUFOUS WOODPECKER, INDIAN PITTA, LARGE CUCKOOSHRIKE, BLACK-HEADED CUCKOOSHRIKE, SMALL MINIVET, ORANGE MINIVET, PIED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE, CEYLON WOODSHRIKE, ASIAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER, ORANGE-HEADED THRUSH, THICK-BILLED FLOWERBECKER, ASHY DRONGO AND GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax at the hotel, beside the pool or take in some relaxed birding at your own pace.

Dinner & overnight at the Chaaya Village, Habarana.