SRI LANKA (Ceylon) TOUR

18 days

The political atmosphere in Sri Lanka has calmed down a bit and we're pleased to be operating in this lovely tropical garden island once again. We'll be birding in lowland and montane rain forest, coastal lowlands, highland tea plantations, acacia scrub, marshes, mudflats and sandflats. The northern winter is the prime time for birding there as the resident birds are mostly singing then and there are plenty of Palearctic migrants present. We routinely see most of Sri Lanka's 35 endemic bird species, including:  Ceylon Spurfowl,  Ceylon Junglefowl,  Ceylon Green Pigeon, Ceylon Hanging-Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Serendip Scops-Owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Flameback, Ceylon Swallow, Ceylon Woodshrike, Black-capped Bulbul, Ceylon Whistlingthrush, Spot-winged Thrush, Ceylon Blackbird, Ceylon Scimitar-Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling, Ceylon Drongo, Ceylon Magpie, etc. Some other interesting species are: Spot-billed Pelican, Black Bittern, Black-necked Stork, Crested Hawk-Eagle, Indian Peafowl, Indian and Great Thick-knees, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Sirkeer and Blue-faced Malkohas, Ceylon Bay Owl, Jerdon's Nightjar, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Hill Swallow, Blyth's Pipit, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Orange Minivet, Sooty Bulbul, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Pied Thrush, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Jungle Prinia, Kashmir Flycatcher, Rosy Starling, etc. There are some fine mammals to be seen: Spotted Deer, mongoose, Water Buffalo, Wild Boar and maybe even a leopard. Get away from winter and join us for a tropical treat. Leader: Deepal Warakagoda.