Bucks Birders in Sri Lanka
A trip in search of Sri Lanka's endemic bird species plus a few top mammals
The idea for this trip started during chats down the pub, following Bucks Bird Club meetings during 2013. Over a period of time it was apparent that four of us (Jim Rose, Dave Parmenter, Rob Andrews and Neil Fletcher) were up for doing this trip. The idea of trying to see all 33 endemic species plus plenty of other bird species appealed to us. Then in the latter stages of planning it seemed likely that we could also get to see Blue Whales and Leopard, so we were sold!
We decided to make similar arrangements to our birding friends Mike and Rose Collard, who had visited Sri Lanka a year or two earlier, so we obtained quotes directly from a couple of Sri Lankan bird tour operators. We chose to go with “Birding Sri Lanka” due to their competitive price, good reviews and flexibility in tailoring a tour for our needs.
Saturday 8th February 2014 – We took off from Heathrow on a Sri Lankan Airways flight direct to Colombo (The only airline to fly direct).
Sunday 9th February – After a comfortable overnight flight we arrived on time in Colombo at 4.30am and after grabbing our luggage and changing some dollars expecting to be met by Chandima Jayaweer who runs Birding Sri Lanka. Unfortunately Chandima was under the impression that we were due to arrive on the next flight (at 13:00), so he was still tucked upin bed! A quick phone call to him soon changed that and Chamdima was with us within the hour, so no real problem. In the meantime we headed for the only café in the airport for something to drink Our first mistake of the holiday, as the tea was out of a machine and almost undrinkable! Not a good advert for the many tea producers of Sri Lanka!
Chandima ran through the itinerary with us and then as soon as the light started appearing outside we were out birding in the airport entrance. A nice selection of species were present including a few Yellow-billed Babblers, Purple-rumped Sunbirds, Scaly-breasted Munias and an Asian Paradise Flycatcher. We also had a brief view of a Blyth’s Reed Warbler flitting about around an area of bushes (slightly out of habitat).
Soon our guide for the week, Ashoka Jayaratna, arrived, shortly followed by our driver Mahinda and so we said our goodbyes to Chandima and piled into the minibus for the start of what we hoped would be a fantastic holiday.
We had a four hour drive to our first hotel but there were plenty of birds to see along the way with the expected Cattle Egrets, Ring-necked Parakeets and Common Mynas as well as Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, the odd White-throated Kingfisher, Indian Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Spotted Dove and a Greater Coucal. A stop for petrol was productive with a singing Black-hooded Oriole and a female Long-billed (Loten’s) Sunbird in the area and further on we got a small group of Scaly-breasted Munias. Further stops produced great views of 2 Asian Openbills, Little Cormorant, Oriental Honey Buzzard, a pair of Small Minivets, Oriental White-eye, a juvenile Crested Serpant Eagle, Shikra and a pair of Black rumped Flamebacks.
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Below is our itinerary. See the pages for each site for more information on birds seen day by day.
9th Feb – Arrive Colombo. Drive to Kitulgala
Stay at the Platation Hotel.
10th Feb 2014 – Morning birding at Kitugala. PM drive to Singharaja. Birding from late afternoon.
Stay at Rock View Motel.
Below:- Our view from the breakfast table over the tea plantation and forest. Always take binoculars with you to breakfast!
11th Feb – All day birding in the Singaraja National Park
Stay at Rock View Motel.
12th Feb – All day birding in the Singharaja National Park
Stay at Rock View Motel.
13th Feb – AM drive to Mirissa. PM birding at the Matara Wetlands
Stay at the Nawathana Hotel, Matara.
The Nawathana Hotel was very comfortable once they managed to provide another room to save two of us sharing a double bed!
Below:- The lawns where we saw a large Land Monitor and an Asian Koel.
14th Feb – AM Whale watching at Mirissa. PM birding at the Tissa Wetlands
Stay at the Peacock Reach Hotel, Tissa.
Peacock Reach Hotel – Comfortable with friendly staff.
15th Feb – All day visit to Yala National Park.
Stay at the Peacock Reach Hotel, Tissa.
16th Feb – AM birding at Bundala Natioal Park. PM birding at the Tissa Wetlands
Stay at the Peacock Reach Hotel, Tissa.
17th Feb – AM drive to Nuwara Eliya. PM birding Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya
Stay at the Leisure Village, Nuwara Eliya.
Mahinda, Dave, Neil, Jim, Rob and Ashoka enjoying Rob’s birthday cake at the Leisure Village.
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