Overview
For sheer concentration of bird life in proportion to land
area Sri Lanka has no rival.There are 426 species on the island's
avifaunal list, 227 are residents of which 26 are endemic species.
Additionally, between August and April there is a regular influx of
about 100 migrants who seek sanctuary in Sri Lanka from the harsh
northern winter.
The wide variations in elevation from sea
level to 2,530 meters & rainfall from 100 cm in the arid zones of
north & south to 500 cm in the central mountains create a variety of
climatic conditions within short distances rarely found in other
countries.
As a result, the country has birds everywhere, in woods, hills and along the seashore. But there are special places which harbor a wealth of bird life - the national parks, the bird sanctuaries, the precincts of man-made reservoirs and tanks, river banks, the lagoons, the slatterns and the rain forests. Forest birds and Wetland birds are found throughout the dry & wet zone.
Bird life can be seen throughout the year with the added bonus of migrants during the period August - April. Sri Lanka is the southern most point of a vast migration of bird life from the colder northern areas of Siberia, Scandinavia & Western Europe.
Bundala for example, is a national park in the south of the country well known for migrants including large flocks of migrant flamingoes and several flocks of shore birds..
Though the programme is planned primarily for bird watching a few of the main places of historical, cultural & scenic interest have been included in order to give exposure to some of the other interesting facets of Sri Lanka.
ENDEMIC BIRDS OF SRI LANKA
The majority of endemic bird life is found in the wet zone
area of the country. The best areas to see them are the Sinharaja Rain
Forest and the Horton Plains National Park. At Sinharaja in particular,
almost all the endemic species are regularly seen.
The endemic birds are listed below, with the names based on “Annotated Checklist of The Birds of the Oriental Region” by Tim In skip, Nigel Lindsey and William Duckworth published by the Oriental Bird Club. The Ceylon Small Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul and Sri Lanka Hill Munia are recognized as endemics by the Ceylon Bird Club but this is still pending wider acceptance
PROGRAMME TOUR 01
Day 01
Arrival & transfer to Waikkal/Negombo Transfer to
Ranweli Village Resort. This Eco friendly beach resort is
Internationally popular with nature lovers Overnight Ranweli Village
Resort, Negombo.
Day 02
Visit to Muthurajawela marshes for a boat excursion through
this prime example of Sri Lankan wetlands.Overnight Ranweli Village
Resort, Negombo.
Day 03
Leave for Habarana visiting the Elephant Orphanage en route
Bird watching in the vicinity of the hotel and the Habarana
reservoir.Overnight The Lodge, Habarana.
Day 04
Excursion to the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya & Kaudulla
Forest.There are many varieties of Forest Birds & Raptors in the dry
zone forest, which surrounds the Rock & the reservoir.Overnight The
Lodge, Habarana
Day 05
Excursion to the medieval capital Polonnaruwa.This ruined
city which flourished between 11th & 13th centuries is today
covered by several patches of dry zone forest, which abound with Forest Birds.Overnight The Lodge, Habarana.
Day 06
Leave for Kandy visiting a Spice Garden en-route.PM -
Sightseeing of Kandy including a visit to the Temple of the Tooth,
Overnight The Citadel, Kandy.
Day 07
More sightseeing in and around Kandy including a visit to
The Royal Botanical Gardens and the Udawattekale Bird Sanctuary.
Overnight The Citadel, Kandy.
Day 08
Leave for Nuwara Eliya visiting a Tea plantation and factory en-route.Overnight Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
Day 09
Excursion to Horton Plains.Overnight Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
Day 10
Visit Hakgala Gardens a fragment of elfin forest well known
for endemic.Proceed to Ratnapura the Gem city & watch ancient
methods of extraction.Overnight Ratnaloka Tour Inn, Ratnapura.
Day 11
Excursion to the Sinharaja Rainforest.Overnight Ratnaloka Tour Inn, Ratnapura.
Day 12
Leave for Hambantota via Udawalawe & Weerawila.Overnight Oasis Hotel, Hambantota.
Day 13
A.M. Jeep excursion to the Bundala National Park probably
the best for Migrants.P.M. Jeep excursion to Yala National Park, Sri
Lanka’s most popular park.Overnight Oasis Hotel, Hambantota.
Day 14
isit Kalametiya which is best known for shore birds.Return to Negombo Overnight Ranweli Village Resort, Negombo.
Day 15
Transfer to airport.
PROGRAMME TOUR 02
Day 01
Arrival & transfer to Waikkal/Negombo Transfer to
Ranweli Village Resort. This Eco friendly beach resort is
Internationally popular with nature lovers.Overnight Ranweli Village
Resort, Negombo.
Day 02
Visit to Muthurajawela marshes for a boat excursion.Overnight Ranweli Village Resort, Negombo.
Day 03
Leave for Kandy visiting the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage en
route in time to watch the bottle feeding & bathing of baby
Elephant.PM - Sightseeing of Kandy including a visit to the Royal
Botanical Gardens.Overnight The Citadel, Kandy.
Day 04
A.M. Visit Udawattekale Bird Sanctuary.P.M. Leave for Nuwara
Eliya visiting a Tea plantation and factory en-route.Overnight Grand
Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
Day 05
Excursion to Horton Plains.Overnight Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
Day 06
Visit Hakgala Gardens.Proceed to Hambantota Overnight Oasis Hotel, Hambantota.
Day 07
Visit to Bundala & Kalametiya.Overnight Oasis Hotel, Hambantota
Day 08
Visit to Weerawila Afternoon Jeep excursion to Yala National Park.Overnight Oasis Hotel, Hambantota
Day 09
More Bird Watching at Weerawila & proceed to Udawalawe
P.M. jeep safari of Udawalawe National Park Proceed to Ratnapura
Overnight Ratnaloka Tour Inn, Ratnapura
Day 10
Full day excursion to Singharaja Rain Forest Overnight Ratnaloka Tour Inn, Ratnapura
Day 11
Morning Bird Watching in Singharaja Forest Leave for
Bodhinagala/Ingiriya. Bird Watching and proceed to Colombo Overnight
Mount Lavinia Hotel or similar, Colombo
Day 12
Visit Attidiya & Bellanwila Sanctuary Overnight Ranweli Village Resort, Negombo.
Day 13
Transfer to Airport