Sri Lanka Endemic Birding
11 nights/12 days Bird Watching Experience

Arrival in Bandaranayake International Airport in Colombo and transfer to Hotel for overnight.  Scheduling an arrival in Colombo in the morning, means that you will have a chance for birding in the afternoon at Talangama Wetlands. There, you will see many water birds, where around 50 species in total of migrants & endemics have been recorded especially during November & April. Highlights include Cinnamon, Black and Yellow Bitterns, while the endemic Ceylon Swallow may also be sighted usually in the late afternoons. As dark falls, look for the Brown Hawk Owl & Collared Scopes Owl.

After breakfast, leave for Sinharaja for the next two nights. Enroute, visit Bodhinagala Forest Reserve for endemics. This reserve is a small tract of secondary lowland rainforest dominated by a thick undergrowth of bamboo. Bodhinagala is famous as the ‘Coucal Forest’ among birders as the rare endemic Green-billed Coucal is the highlight. Continue to Sinharaja Rainforest.

Spend the morning & afternoon visiting Sinharaja Rainforest (a UNESCO world heritage site) for lowland endemics and mixed species bird flocks. Birding highlights.include Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-faced Starling,  Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, the sub continental endemic Sri Lanka Frogmouth & also look for the endemic owls Chestnut-backed Owlet and newly discovered Serendib Scops Owl in day roost.

In the morning, do some local birding before leaving for Kitulgala for two nights. in the afternoon visit Kelani Valley Forest Reserve for another look for the lowland endemic species. The tour will take you across the Kelani River in a dugout canoe to enter the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, which is a lowland tropical rainforest, rich in endemic fauna and flora.

Continue enjoying the morning & afternoon, birding and owl watching at the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve for endemics.

After breakfast, leave for Nuwara Eliya for two nights.
In the afternoon, visit Victoria Park for highland species,  such as the Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Hill White-eye and Dull Blue Flycatcher. Also visit a nearby wetland for proposed endemic Black-throated Munia, Paddyfield Pipit, Pied Bush Chat, Pintail Snipes, Zitting Cisticola, Plain Prinia, Blyth's Reed Warbler and if you are lucky, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler.

In the morning, visit Horton Plains National Park for its cloud forests and rare montane fauna and also observe the endemic Rhino-horned Lizard. In the afternoon, visit Hakgala Botanical Garden for highland endemics. The real draw here for birdwatchers are the montane endemics like Sri Lanka Hill white-eye, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Ceylon Hill Mynah and Dull-blue Flycatcher.

After breakfast leave for Kandy for one night. In the afternoon, visit Udawattakelle Forest Reserve. The endemics here, includes the noisy Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul and Brown-capped Babbler, etc.

After breakfast, leave for Sigiriya for two nights. In the afternoon, visit Kaludiya Pokuna by Kandalama Lake for looking for the dry lowland endemic birds.

After breakfast, visit Polonnaruwa (a UNESCO world heritage site).
Birding highlights include seeing a large colony of Rose-ringed Parakeets which holds the lion's share of the nest holes found on the tall Colon Trees (Adina cordifolia). You might also have a chance at seeing the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, and the well-camouflaged Blue-winged Leafbird, etc.
In the afternoon, take a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park, which is dominated by the Minneriya tank. The tank provides water to 8900 hectares of paddy field and is thriving with fresh water fish. As well as providing water for irrigation, this tank and its environs have provided the necessary resources for various wildlife and plant.

Spend the morning birding at Sigiriya Sanctuary.
Birding here will be your final chance to get any dry zone birds that you may have missed. Look for the Orange-headed Thrush, Purple Sunbird, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama and Shahin. Perhaps there is a chance to see the rare Blue-eared Kingfisher around the Sigiriya Moat. You may also visit the World Heritage Site of Sigiriya Rock Fortress to see frescos of celestial nymphs. On completion, proceed to Katunayake for one night.

Transfer to Bandaranayake International Airport for departure.
**If you need PCR test negative result for your returning journey, please do not hesitate to ask us. We can arrange and reschedule your program.