7 Days of Birding in Sri Lanka
Day 1
Day 01 - Airport – Kitulgala (100 kms / Approx. 03 hours)
SCHEDULE
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Meet and greet at the airport and directly transfer to Kitulgala.
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Check in to the hotel (Check in time after 12.30pm).
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Short bird watching trail in a close by village, near to your hotel.
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Overnight stay at the hotel (BB).
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Kitulgala, located in western Sri Lanka and considered as one of the most important holdings of the country’s biodiversity. Recently, Kitulgala has stated attracts outdoor enthusiasts to its beautiful setting, used in 1956 for the filming of the Academy Award-winning 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. The nature trails and forests are ideal for bird watching, and Kitulgala is considered as one of the island’s hotspots for endemic species.
Day 2
Day 02 - Kitulgala – Nuwara Eliya (80 kms / Approx. 02 ½ hrs)
SCHEDULE
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An early breakfast at the hotel.
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Half day birding trail in Makandawa rainforest.
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On conclusion, transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
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Check in to the hotel.
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Free time for relaxing in the afternoon.
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Overnight stay at the hotel (BB).
Spanning over 192 hectares, Makandawa Forest Reserve is one of the oldest forest reserves in the country. This area has a very unique biodiversity, and the rare and endemic birds make it a must for all the bird enthusiasts !
Mankadawa Forest is home to endemic species such as orange-billed babbler, chestnut-backed owlet, Sri Lanka hanging parakeet, Sri Lanka layard’s parakeet, Sri Lanka yellow-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Sri Lanka spot-winged thrush. Also, the Oriental dwarf kingfisher, black-naped monarch and emerald dove can be spotted here. During the migrant season, you may see Indian pitta too.
Day 3
Day 03 - Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Yala (200 kms / Approx. 06 hrs)
SCHEDULE
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Short birding trail in Victoria Park early in the morning.
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On conclusion, transfer Horton Plains with packed breakfast.
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Half-day trek in Horton Plains National Park.
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Transfer to Yala.
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Check in to the hotel / campsite.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel / campsite (HB).
The colonial Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s ‘Little England’ offers an excellent location for bird enthusiasts. About 50 different species of birds, including endemic species such as Sri Lanka yellow-eared bulbul, Sri Lanka white-eye, Sri Lanka scimitar babbler, Sri Lanka yellow-fronted barbet and Sri Lankan dull-blue flycatcher can be spotted around the park.
From Nuwara Eliya, you will head to the Horton Plains National Park, located in the highest plateau of Sri Lanka at an altitude of 2,100-2,300 metres. Characterized by gorgeous landscapes over the rolling hills, this nature reserve is recognized as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs). The forests and grasslands offer a perfect ground to observe many rare and endemic highland birds (out of 87 species 14 are endemic).
Horton Plains is home to several endemic bird species such as the Sri Lanka yellow-eared bulbul, Sri Lankan white eye, Sri Lanka wood pigeon, Sri Lanka scimitar babbler, Sri Lanka yellow-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka bush warbler, and most importantly, the endangered Sri Lanka whistling thrush and Sri Lanka scaly thrush. The resident species include pied bush chat, black bulbul and great tit. You may spot some migrant species too, such as Indian blue robin, Indian pitta, brown-breasted flycatcher and Kashmir flycatcher. Horton Plains hosts also 24 species of mammals including elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine, leopard and the endemic purple-faced monkey.
Day 4
Day 04 - Yala
SCHEDULE
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Birding safari at Yala National Park.
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Return to the campsite / hotel for breakfast.
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In the evening, visit to a nearby lake for bird watching.
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Dinner and overnight stay at campsite / hotel (HB).
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Optional night walk by the borders of the park after dinner.
Yala National Park, situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Boasting the highest leopard density in the world and fantastic bird life (215 different species!), the Yala National Park is a real haven for wildlife enthusiasts !
Leopards are the stars in Yala National Park, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The numerous endemic bird species include Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, pompadour green pigeon, and crimson-fronted barbet, little green bee-eater, chestnut-headed bee-eater, white-browed bulbul, common kingfisher, barred buttonquail, paddyfield pipit. Also, the migratory birds Indian pitta, Indian paradise flycatcher and brown-breasted flycatcher can be spotted here.
Day 5
Day 05 - Yala – Bundala – Sinharaja (200 kms / Approx. 05 hrs)
SCHEDULE
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Birding safari at Bundala National Park early in the morning with packed breakfast.
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On conclusion, transfer to Sinharaja.
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Check in at the campsite / hotel.
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Evening, birding tour by the border of the rainforest.
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Dinner and overnight stay at campsite / hotel (HB).
Bundala National Park is a fantastic wetland sanctuary that shelters thousands of colourful birds ranging from little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed stalks. In total, this wildlife wonderland covering 62-sq-km area, is home to 150 species of birds with many imigrating species arriving between August and April. It’s also a winter home to the greater flamingo, and it is possible to see over 1500 flamingos at once!
During the birding safari in Bundala National Park, you will be encounter many endemic bird species including Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka yellow fronted barbet and Sri Lanka grey hornbill, painted stalk, Asian open-bill stalk, Eurasian spoonbill and greater thick-knee. During the winter period Bundala is very much popular for migrating water-birds such as the rare greater flamingo and glossy ibis.
From Bundala, you will head to Sinharaja Forest Reserve, designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The forest reserve has an exceptional importance in terms of its biodiversity and fragility. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka! During the evening trail by the borders of forest reserve, you will have a chance to spot Sri Lanka Legge’s flowerpecker, crimson-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka blue magpie among others. When in Sinharaja, you may go for a bird trail at night time also and discover some of Sri Lanka’s nocturnal species including the Sri Lanka chestnut-backed owlet and serendib scopes-owl.
Day 6
Day 06 - Sinharaja
SCHEDULE
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Early breakfast at the campsite / hotel.
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Full day birding trail in Sinharaja Forest Reserve with packed lunch.
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Lunch to be taken in a suitable location.
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On conclusion, return back to the camp / hotel.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the campsite / hotel (FB).
Today, enjoy a full day birding trail in the beautiful Sinharaja rainforest that is home to wet lowland forest birds including many endemic species. Depending on your interest, our guide will help you to identify many butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and forest mammals too.
A specialty of this forest are world’s largest mixed-species bird flocks, averaging up to 42 individual species. The endemic birds of this region include the Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka spurfowl, Sri Lanka green-billed coucal, Sri Lanka hanging parakeet, Sri Lanka layard’s parakeet, Sri Lanka red-faced malkoha, Sri Lanka blue magpie, Sri Lanka white-faced starling, crested drongo, serendib scopes owl, Sri Lanka spot winged thrush and Sri Lanka scaly thrush. Also, greater flameback woodpecker, Oriental dwarf kingfisher, plum-headed parakeet, Oriental scopes owl, and emerald dove can be found in Sinharaja. During the migratory season, Indian pitta, Indian blue robin, brown-breasted flycatcher, brown flycatcher and large-billed leaf warbler take part in the diverse avifauna of Sinharaja.
