Coming out of the Cyclone that hit Sri Lanka just two days before the start of the tour, we were worried about major changes to the program and mainly the safety of the group. However, despite these challenges, our relentless team pressed forward and enjoyed the birding and the wildlife whilst been very mindful of the situation on the ground.
We recorded 210 birds, 27 mammals, and 13 reptiles and amphibians during the tour.
Our two nights stay in Sigiriya was extended to three nights and we maximized the opportunity go all out birding in the early mornings and going on night safaris to see the elusive species.
We had Sri Lanka Swallow, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Red-backed Flameback, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill and Brown-capped Babbler during our stay here and also had good sightings of Indian Scops Owl, Indian Pitta, Brown Fish Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Jerdon’s Nightjar.
During our night drive we had fantastic views of Grey Slender Loris, Small Indian Civet, Golden Jackal and Indian Gerbil.
The journey to Kandy was cautious with land slide warnings still active. The Tree of Life resort became our refuge with birds surrounding us as we entered. Yellow-fronted Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet and Sri Lanka Green Pigeon were the endemics we saw here. Our late evening stroll became intensive with the call of the Brown Wood Owl and after scaling the nearby hills for a sighting, we were rewarded with a pair perched at the hotel entrance. They obliged as we clicked away in different angles, sometimes together and sometimes on their own. The night continued with sightings of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel with fantastic observations of it in preparation for its forage of the fruiting trees in the garden. Walking back to the hotel restaurant, we froze to the call of the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl screech and just in time laid our eyes upon it on a distant tree. It didn’t stay long for the paparazzi but gave us good views before its screeching call faded into the distance.
Having delayed our stay in Kandy in hopes for clearance to travel to Nuwara Eliya, we were informed that it was impossible to cross over from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. With heavy hearts we decided to take the safest route out and travelled all the way via the southern highway to Kataragama where we extended our stay by one more night. During our drive we were lucky to spot a few Knob-billed Duck, Spot-billed Pelican, Eurasian Spoonbill amongst a plethora of Lesser Whistling Duck, & Purple Swamphen.
We had some of the best views of Jungle Owlet, Brown Boobok and Indian Scops Owl, all a few feet away from our faces. If not for the heavy rains that followed, we would have had the Barn Owl too.
Our full day safari in Lunugamwehera National Park was slow although there were sightings of Sloth Bear and Leopard by others in the park. We had beautiful sightings of Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Yellow Crowned Woodpecker and Crimson-backed Flameback. Elephants were plentiful as Stripe-necked Mongoose, Grey Mongoose and Ruddy Mongoose made their presence felt.
At Bundala National Park, we had good sighting of Pin-tailed Snipe, Grey Plover, Caspian Tern, and Little Tern amongst many other birds. As we were leaving the park a Black-winged Kite perched on a dead branch with a lizard in its talons.
We reached Sinharaja late in the evening and immediately set off to see the Serendib Scops Owl. We saw all our target endemics during our three days here and had some fantastic views of the Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Spot-winged Thrush, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Myna, Green-billed Coucal and many more. Returning from the village at the forest buffer zone we were lucky to be in the midst of a mixed flock where the usually shy Red-faced Malkoha showed itself beautifully. Amongst the flock we also had an amazing sighting of an Orange-headed Thrush.