Jonathan Francis Uren's Trip Report

Pauline Ann Heath & Stephen David Heath - our guide- Christina Maria Uren & Jonathan Francis Uren (Jon and Chris) - Silva

Sri Lanka was our chosen destination for this year’s (2013) holiday for 4 of us and after some investigation of various options we decided to go with Walk With Jith http://www.walkwithjith.com/ who had been at the Birdfair and who had impressed us and seems genuinely interested in providing a holiday that gave us the opportunity to see all the endemics, lots of other bird species and included some other wildlife and some cultural sites.

3-4/11

So on 3rd Nov Chris and I left with our friends Steve and Pauline for an overnight BA flight to Colombo via the Maldives. The flight left 1 hour late and was uneventful with most of the passengers leaving in the Maldives so that there were only about 30 of us who arrived in a hot and humid Colombo about 1 hour behind schedule at about 14:40 local time on 4th Nov . We managed 4 common bird species from the aircraft in the Maldives but did not have the hoped for Frigate bird flying past. As there were few passengers landing in Colombo the trip through customs and immigration was completed fairly quickly and we were met by the Walk With Jith representative Mr Colima in the arrivals lounge. After changing some money into Rupees we were off in the van that was taking us to our hotel in Kitagula (Kitagula Rest House).

Roadside birding produced the expected Herons and Egrets but little else of note. We arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon and managed to find a few common species in the grounds before it got dark. Mr Cotina and the driver left as at this hotel as we were being met by our guide and driver for the holiday at the hotel later in the evening.

We were pleasantly surprised with the standard of the hotel and the spectacular view of the river and rain-forest that were on the other side of the river the river “Kwai” (the film Bridge over the River Kwai was filmed near here). After dinner we met up with our guide who was to be our guide throughout the holiday. He set out the plan for the next morning:- up early, a boat trip over the river and some birding during the morning.

Blue Tailed Bee-eater

5/11

Up early the next morning for the trip across the river into the rain-forest. After a trip across on the local ferry we walked through the village on the other side of the river you eventually reach the Makandawa Rain Forest Reserve which is maintained mainly for the various species of birds that are there. Amongst the more common species seen we also had Hill Mynah, Spot–winged Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler(E), Brown Capped Woodpecker, Layards Parakeet(E), Black-capped Bulbul(E), Sri Lankan Green Pigeon(E), Yellow-fronted Barbet(E), Ceylon Grey Hornbill(E), Scarlet Minivet and Ceylon Hanging Parrot(E) so we had already seen 6 of the 33 endemics in our first morning. Whilst in the forest we stopped at some paddy-fields for an hour or so whilst our guide went searching for Serendip Scops Owl roosting without success. We eventually returned to the hotel for lunch and in the late afternoon we crossed the river again to search for Serendip Scops Owl at dusk. We spent a fruitless couple of hours without any success and eventually returned in the pitch black to get the boat back to the hotel.

Green Garden Lizard

6/11

Off early in the van after meeting Silva who would be our driver for the holiday and we travelled the short distance to a suspension foot bridge over the river. More birding on the other side and we had good views of a Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Hanging Parrot(E), Indian Pitta, Ceylon White Eye(E), Orange-Billed Babbler(E), Spot-winged Thrush(E) and the more common species before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast we left the hotel for the trip to Sigiriya where we were to stay at the Sigirya Village Hotel arriving in mid-afternoon to find another decent hotel with both good accommodation and food. In the late afternoon we climbed the rock at Sigiriya as it would be a cooler climb than in the morning. Despite the cooler weather the climb was hard work but the view from the top in the late afternoon light was spectacular and the ruined palaces and historic art were worth the effort needed to see them.

View from the top of Sigiriya Rock

7/11

We had a pre breakfast birding trip around the base of the rock which proved to be very productive and we have our only views of a number of species including Orange headed Thrush, White-rumped Sharma, Coppersmiths Barbet, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike and Plain Prinia amongst a selection of more common species. After breakfast we went for a trip to Polonnaruwa to have a tour around the extensive ruins that cover a large area and show much of the history of Sri Lanka when the capital was at these inland sites. After this we went for an unplanned visit to a nearby Elephant Reserve at Kaudulla where we had a couple of hours watching wild Asian Elephants in their natural surroundings. Lots of photos were taken by everyone and we had excellent views of lots of different Elephants before one less happy individual took a dislike to a couple of other vehicles and they had to move on rapidly as it charged them and it then turned on our vehicle and charged us before we moved on to leave him enough space. It was starting to get dark so we returned to the hotel at Sigiriya for our evening meal and a few beers. Not much birding was done today after the early morning trip

Elephant at Kaudulla National Park

8/11

After breakfast we were off again to travel to Kandy which is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and in the mountainous area in the centre of the country. Stopping along the way to briefly look at a Golden Buddha statue in Dambula, we then stopped at a Spice Garden and had a tour. All the various spices were explained and we then had an opportunity for an Ayurvedic massage before progressing on to our hotel in Kandy (Nature Walk) which was OK but not up to the standard of the previous ones. As it got dark we went to a traditional Dance Show and then on to the Temple of the Tooth which is the most important Buddhist Shrine in the country and was full of tourists and locals, a most impressive site but too crowded to appreciate it fully. Back to the hotel for a reasonably good meal and a couple of beers. We didn’t see many bird species but we did manage to catch up with our first Hill Swallows of the trip

Blue Tailed Bee-eater

9/11

Up early for a morning walk in Udawattakelle Forest reserve before breakfast, the reserve is inside the city of Kandy but is an extensive area of Tropical Forest with a number of good birds to be seen including Brown Fish Owl, Crimson Backed Flameback(E) and Forest Wagtail. Back to the hotel for breakfast and then off to Nuwara Eliya in the centre of the country to look for the birds of the high mountainous areas and to visit a tea plantation.

We arrived at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya in the early afternoon. The hotel and many other buildings in Nuwara Eliya are relics of colonial Ceylon and the hotel still looks and feels much as hotels must have done in that era. Both the food and accommodation are excellent and this is the best hotel we stayed in during the trip.

We explored the hotel and its grounds before going for a walk around Victoria Park which is in the centre of the town. Despite lots of people using the park it is still a good birding location and is famous as a wintering spot for Kashmir Flycatcher which we saw well. We also had Dull Blue Flycatcher(E) and both Slaty-legged and Ruddy-breasted Crakes but we had no success with both Pied and Scaly Thrush which do frequent the area. After touring the park we went to a location beyond Gregory Lake for Ceylon Whistling Thrush(E) which we saw in the gathering gloom after some effort.

Pink trumpet flower

10/11

We were away from the hotel at c.4:30am after collecting packed breakfasts and lunches as we were going to be out for most of the day. We were in a different van today as the roads we would be travelling to get to Horton Plains were rougher so we had a new driver/guide for the day as well as our guide. After a couple of hours we reached the entrance to the national park but we had to wait for the gate to be opened so we wandered around the entrance area for a while and managed to find Ceylon Bush-warbled(E), a good start to the day. Eventually the gate opened and we drove for a short distance and then stopped at a location for Ceylon Whistling Thrush (E) which after about an hour of searching revealed itself. We had our packed breakfast and drove on to the car-park at the centre of Horton Plains where a tame Sambar provided everyone with photo opportunities. We then started the walk to World’s End and back which should hopefully produce some good birds as well as being spectacular scenery. Unfortunately it was cloudy and misty for much of the walk but we did get to see our first Sri-Lankan Wood Pigeon(E) as well as Green Warbler, Pied Bushchat, Indian Blackbird , Black Throated Munia and our only Spotted Flycatcher of the trip. We also had both Toque Macaque and Grey Langur monkeys and we heard Purple-faced Leaf Monkey but we didn’t manage to see them through the mist..

When the cloud/mist lifted the scenery was spectacular but we didn’t get to see the view from Worlds End due to the cloud but we did get to see the spectacular Baker’s falls where Sri Lankan Junglefowl(E) were incredibly tame and were looking for food provided by the tourists. We also saw evidence of Leopard with footprints in the sand on a riverbank. We returned in the late afternoon and had more good food at the “Sri Lankan Night” buffet dinner in the hotel.

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl

11/11

Pre breakfast birding in Victoria Park added Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler(E) to the list before returning to the hotel and preparing to move on to our next hotel in Tissamaharama. The drive was broken up with a stop at Surrey Bird Sanctuary where we were shown the resident pair of Brown Wood Owls and we also saw Mountain Hawk Eagle and then later we went searching for Streak-throated Woodpecker at a known spot in a tea plantation without success.

Eventually we reached the Hibiscus Gardens Hotel at Tissa and after checking in we went to look for birds around the local tanks (lakes). Yellow Bittern was the highlight of a selection of the more common water birds that we saw before the rains arrived and we abandoned birding for the day due to the downpour. The normal evening routine followed with the added interest of an upstairs restaurant and a torrential downpour whilst we had our meal. Again the hotel was of reasonable standard and the food was generally good.

Brahminy Kite

Yellow Bittern

12/11

Another early morning with a trip by Safari Jeep to Yala Wildlife Sanctuary today with the primary objective of seeing Leopard. Lesser Whistling Duck and Greater Thick-knee were seen by the entrance road and we added more new birds within the first few hours in the park including Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Pheasant Tailed Jacana and Lesser Adjutant. Animals seen included a single bull Elephant, lots of Spotted Deer, Grey Langur and Toque Macaque Monkeys, 5 stripped Squirrel, Sambar, Monitor Lizards, Grey Mongoose, Warthog, Water Buffalo and a few large Mugger Crocodiles.

More birds were added to the list including Barred Buttonquail, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Orange Breasted Green Pigeon, Sirkeer Malkoha, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Jacobin Cuckoo and some photogenic Peafowl before we stopped for our packed breakfast. The designated area was next to the ocean and it has a memorial to the 47 people who were killed by the Tsunami in Yala and the foundations of a house that is all that remains of it

After breakfast we went back into the park looking for Leopards and adding birds and other animals to the list without any success with the Leopard and we returned to the same location by the ocean for lunch. After lunch the same routine was followed but eventually as the afternoon wore on we came across other people who had seen Leopard and as the dusk approached we eventually came across one sat in a very distant tree to digest its recent meal. Without a scope we would only have had views of a distant brown “blob” but with the scope you could see that it was a Leopard and could get a reasonable view but all the pictures we took are inevitably of poor quality. It soon started to rain heavily so we left the park and returned to the hotel for the normal meal and beers

Indian Darter tossing a fish into its mouth

13/11

We left at 06:00 for Bondala reserve in the same vehicle as yesterday. Bondala is a bird reserve rather than a game reserve but it is close to Yala so I suspect some of the game does appear in the park at times. Whilst the driver dealt with getting entrance tickets for the park we found Blue-faced Malkoha(E) in trees close to the entrance. We also had White-napped Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Ashy Prinia, Brahminy Starling, Pied Kingfisher and Black Bittern in the reserve. Much of the reserve was inaccessible due to the flooding and so we toured the parts you could access and then moved on to the adjacent Salt Pans to see the birds there. Large numbers of terns and waders were present with a selection of raptors and we spent a couple of hours working through the available species and having our breakfast whilst added Small Pratincole, Greater and Lesser Sand Plover and many more common wader species as well as Caspian, Lesser and Greater Crested Terns and Spot-billed Pelican to our lists. Raptors were represented by Osprey, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Shikra, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and White-bellied Sea Eagle.

We returned to the hotel for lunch and then went for another walk around the local tanks where there is a huge roost of Indian Flying Fox. We managed to get more good views of Black and Yellow Bitterns, Night Heron and Purple Gallinule and we also saw Clamorous Reed Warbler, Baya Weaver, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Cotton Pygmy Geese and eventually after much searching by our guie he found a Watercock which gave good but distant views.

Greater Thick-knee

14/11

A lie in until 06:30 followed by a huge breakfast and then we were off to our next destination, the Rock View Motel near Sinharaja. A stop on the way at a known roost for Indian Scops Owl at the Elephant Orphanage broke up the trip and we arrived at the hotel at lunchtime. After lunch we went for a walk locally to see what we could find. We are back in tropical rain forest so the species seen reflected this with Orange-breasted Pigeon, Orange-billed Babbler and Lesser Yellow-nape seen amongst a good selection of common species.

15/11

We were out of the hotel in the early morning to transfer to the Blue Magpie Lodge where we had planned to stay on 14th but it was full. After dropping off our bags we were off in a local Jeep for a trip to Sinharaja reserve up the very difficult entrance track. On the way we had a diversion to a local site for Serendip Scops Owl where we failed to find them but we did see Green-billed Coucal(E). We stopped after a short while and the driver, park guide and our guide all were off searching the local area. Eventually we were beckoned forward to the location where they had found two Tawny Frogmouths roosting which gave us the opportunity for some close photos. On up the track again and the process was repeated and this time we had excellent views of Ceylon Spurfowl(E) feeding on the forest floor. Back into the vehicle and we stopped at the famous and very basic Martins Simple Lodge for a cold drink. On again to the reserve itself where we left the vehicle at the entrance and walked the main track. Here we had views of Chequered Keel backed Water Snake which was catching fish in a small stream and also Yellow Fronted Barbet(E), Tricoloured Munia, Bright Green Leaf Warbler, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Ceylon Myna(E), Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush(E)and Sri Lankan Drongo(E). The Ceylon Blue Magpie(E) are very tame and will come to investigate you and provide excellent photo opportunities. We also had good views of a Green Vine Snake and a brief view of the back of a Purple-faced Leaf Monkey.

We walked back down the track in the afternoon and saw many of the same species and a few new ones but failed with 3 main remaining target species Serendip Scops Owl, Scaly Thrush and White-faced Starling. It was almost dark as we arrived back at the entrance and the drive down provided a chance view of a Mouse Deer walking down the track in the headlights in front of us. A shower, beers, food and bed were all welcome at the end of a long days birding.

Sri Lanka Frog Mouth

16/11

Up early again with a trip to search the local area for Serendip Scops Owl before it got fully light, as one of us stepped out of the Jeep they stepped over a snake which then proceeded to attempt a strike but fortunately they were just too far away and it didn’t make contact. Photos allowed it’s identification as a Merrem’s hump-nosed Viper, only a small snake (c.12-15 inches long) but apparently venomous so they were fortunate not to be bitten. After moving the snake off the track all three of the guides/drivers with us searched the precipitous hillside for the Serendip without success so we were off back to the reserve. No stopping on the entrance track this time and we were soon walking the track again looking in particular for Serendip Scops Owl, Scaly Thrush and White-faced Starling.

Many of the same birds were seen but we also had Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel, Spot-winged Thrush(E), White-throated Flowerpecker, views of the Water Snakes and another close encounter with the Magpies. Eventually our guide heard the call of the Starling and found one high up in some trees and we all got reasonable views of this difficult to get species and we also finally got a reasonable view of Purple-faced Leaf Monkey. After lunch we tried one last time for Scaly Thrush finding a nest but no birds. Eventually as the light faded to a strange orange glow everywhere we made our way back down and it started to rain heavily again as we arrived at Blue Magpie Lodge and we had a spectacular thunderstorm to accompany our last meal here.

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie

17/11

Up early for one last try for Serendip Scops without success but we did see an Atlas Moth and both Dusky and Layards squirrel and had more good views of Spot-winged Thrush(E), Orange-billed Babbler(E) and Lesser Yellownape. After breakfast we said goodbye to Silva as he was going to start another trip and we had a different van to take us to the hotel near the airport. The drive to the final hotel was uneventful with a brief stop to look at a Black Eagle. The Tamarind tree Hotel at Negombo was fine and provided a good lunch when we arrived. We then had a wander round the grounds without seeing any birds of note before we ventured outside the grounds and purchased a few souvenirs and presents from a local shop.

Kangaroo Lizard

18/11

Up for breakfast after a lie in and we were ready to leave for our flight in plenty of time. The trip to the airport only took 10 minutes and then after saying goodbye to our guide and getting through the normal processes at the airport we had a coffee before boarding our early afternoon flight to the UK which arrived at Gatwick on time at c.21:45

 

An excellent holiday with good company, lots of good birds with some culture and other wildlife as well. The organisation was perfect and the guide our guide and driver Silva both proved themselves to be experts in their jobs. We missed a few birds but they were all un-gettable so we cannot be disappointed. I will happily go back to Sri Lanka at some point hopefully to get back the species we missed – Serendip Scops, Scaly Thrush and Pied Thrush and maybe to try for Blue Whale at the same time

Indian Pea Fowl

 

 

Birds Seen

Lesser Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna javanica	Bundala and Yala
Cotton Pygmy-Goose	Nettapus coromandelianus	Bundala
Ceylon Spurfowl	Galloperdix bicalcarata	Sinharaja
Ceylon Junglefowl	Gallus lafayetii	Horton Plains, Yala and Sinharaja very easy to see in some locations
Indian Peafowl	Pavo cristatus	Common in Yala
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Tissamaharama Lake
Asian Openbill	Anastomus oscitans	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Black Stork	Ciconia nigra	Seen en-route to Sigiriya
Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus	Bundala and Yala
Lesser Adjutant	Leptoptilos javanicus	A single bird at Yala
Painted Stork	Mycteria leucocephala	Seen en-route to Sigiriya and at both Bundala and Yala
Indian Cormorant	Phalacrocorax fuscicollis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Little Cormorant	Phalacrocorax niger	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Spot-billed Pelican	Pelecanus philippensis	Seen en-route to Sigiriya and at both Bundala and Yala
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis	Tissamaharama Lake and at Bundala
Black Bittern	Ixobrychus flavicollis	Tissamaharama Lake and in the hotel grounds at Tissamaharama
Gray Heron	Ardea cinerea	Sinyriya, Tissamaharama, Bundala and Yala
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Sinyriya, Tissamaharama, Bundala and Yala
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Intermediate Egret	Mesophoyx intermedia	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Indian Pond-Heron	Ardeola grayii	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Tissamaharama Lake and in the hotel grounds at Tissamaharama
Black-headed Ibis	Threskiornis melanocephalus	Sinyriya, Tissamaharama, Bundala and Yala
Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Sinyriya, Tissamaharama, Bundala and Yala
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Bundala
Oriental Honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	See at Sigaiya and en-route to Kandy
Crested Serpent-Eagle	Spilornis cheela	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Changeable Hawk-Eagle	Nisaetus cirrhatus	Seen fairly regularly in suitable habitat
Mountain Hawk-Eagle	Nisaetus nipalensis	Sigiriya and at Horton Plains
Black Eagle	Ictinaetus malayensis	Kitagula and from the road whilst driving near Sinharaja
Crested Goshawk	Accipiter trivirgatus	One sighting en-roue to Tissamaharama
Shikra	Accipiter badius	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Brahminy Kite	Haliastur indus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
White-bellied Sea-Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster	Sigiriya, Bundula and Yala
Gray-headed Fish-Eagle	Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus	Only Bundula and Yala
Slaty-legged Crake	Rallina eurizonoides	One Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Watercock	Gallicrex cinerea	One sighting on a lake at Tissamaharama
Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Eurasian Thick-knee	Burhinus oedicnemus	Bundula and Yala
Great Thick-knee	Esacus recurvirostris	Bundula and Yala
Yellow-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus malabaricus	Bundula and Yala
Red-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus indicus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Bundula Salt Pans
Pacific Golden-Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Bundula Salt Pans
Lesser Sand-Plover	Charadrius mongolus	Bundula Salt Pans
Greater Sand-Plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	Bundula Salt Pans
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	Bundula Salt Pans
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	Bundula Salt Pans
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Pheasant-tailed Jacana	Hydrophasianus chirurgus	Bundula and Yala
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Bundula and Yala
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Bundula Salt Pans
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Bundula and Yala
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Bundula and Yala
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Bundula Salt Pans
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Bundula Salt Pans
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Bundula Salt Pans
Pin-tailed Snipe	Gallinago stenura	Bundula
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Bundula Salt Pans
Barred Buttonquail	Turnix suscitator	Yala
Small Pratincole	Glareola lactea	Bundula Salt Pans
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Bundula Salt Pans
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Bundula Salt Pans
Great Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii	Bundula Salt Pans
Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis	Bundula Salt Pans
Lesser Crested Tern	Thalasseus bengalensis	Bundula Salt Pans
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Sri Lanka Wood-Pigeon	Columba torringtoniae	Horton Plains and Sinharaja
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	See on the road to Kitagula
Spotted Dove	Streptopelia chinensis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Emerald Dove	Chalcophaps indica	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Orange-breasted Pigeon	Treron bicinctus	Yala and Sinharaja
Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon	Treron pompadora	Kitagula
Green Imperial-Pigeon	Ducula aenea	Kitagula, Yala and in Sinharaja
Pied Cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	A single bird at Yala
Banded Bay Cuckoo	Cacomantis sonneratii	A single bird at Sinharaja
Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Sinharaja
Blue-faced Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus viridirostris	Horton Plains and Yala
Sirkeer Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii	Yala
Red-faced Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus	Sinharaja
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	Kitagula, Yala and in Sinharaja
Green-billed Coucal	Centropus chlororhynchus	Sinharaja
Indian Scops-Owl	Otus bakkamoena	Sinharaja
Oriental Scops-Owl	Otus sunia	Sigariya
Brown Fish-Owl	Ketupa zeylonensis	Seen in flight at Kandy and at a roost site en-route to Tissamaharama
Chestnut-backed Owlet	Glaucidium castanonotum	Kitagula and heard at Sinharaja
Brown Wood-Owl	Strix leptogrammica	Seen on road to Tissamaharama
Ceylon Frogmouth	Batrachostomus moniliger	A pair a roost in Sinharaja
Indian Nightjar	Caprimulgus asiaticus	Common throughout the trip
Indian Swiftlet	Aerodramus unicolor	Seen most days throughout the trip
Alpine Swift	Apus melba	A single bird Sinharaja
Little Swift	Apus affinis	Seen most days throughout the trip
Asian Palm-Swift	Cypsiurus balasiensis	Yala and Bundala
Crested Treeswift	Hemiprocne coronata	Kitagula
Malabar Trogon	Harpactes fasciatus	Sinharaja
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Stork-billed Kingfisher	Pelargopsis capensis	Yala
White-throated Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Yala
Green Bee-eater	Merops orientalis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Blue-tailed Bee-eater	Merops philippinus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Bundala and Yala
Ceylon Gray Hornbill	Ocyceros gingalensis	Kitahula
Malabar Pied-Hornbill	Anthracoceros coronatus	Kitagula, Bundala and Yala
Brown-headed Barbet	Megalaima zeylanica	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Yellow-fronted Barbet	Megalaima flavifrons	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Little Barbet	Megalaima rubricapillus	Udawattakelle Forest
Coppersmith Barbet	Megalaima haemacephala	Kandy
Brown-capped Woodpecker	Dendrocopos moluccensis	Kitagula and Sigiriya
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker	Dendrocopos mahrattensis	Yala
Lesser Yellownape	Picus chlorolophus	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Black-rumped Flameback	Dinopium benghalense	Kitagula and Sigiriya
Crimson-backed Flameback	Chrysocolaptes stricklandi	Horton Plains, Yala, Bundula and Sinharaja
White-naped Woodpecker	Chrysocolaptes festivus	Bundala
Alexandrine Parakeet	Psittacula eupatria	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Plum-headed Parakeet	Psittacula cyanocephala	Kitagula
Layard's Parakeet	Psittacula calthropae	Kitagula and Sigiriya
Ceylon Hanging-Parrot	Loriculus beryllinus	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Indian Pitta	Pitta brachyura	Kitagula, Kandy and Yala
Sri Lanka Woodshrike	Tephrodornis affinis	Kitagula
Ashy Woodswallow	Artamus fuscus	Kitagula and Yala
Common Iora	Aegithina tiphia	Kitagula, Sigiriya, Kany and Yala
Small Minivet	Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	Sigiriya
Scarlet Minivet	Pericrocotus flammeus	Kitagula and yala
Black-headed Cuckooshrike	Lalage melanoptera	Siniriya
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike	Hemipus picatus	Udawattakelle and Horton Plains
Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Black-hooded Oriole	Oriolus xanthornus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
White-bellied Drongo	Dicrurus caerulescens	Kitagula
Sri Lanka Drongo	Dicrurus lophorinus	Sinharaja
White-browed Fantail	Rhipidura aureola	Kitagula and Yala
Black-naped Monarch	Hypothymis azurea	Udawattakelle
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone paradisi	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Ceylon Magpie	Urocissa ornata	Sinharaja
House Crow	Corvus splendens	Regarlarly seen away from rain forests
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Jerdon's Bushlark	Mirafra affinis	Yala
Oriental Skylark	Alauda gulgula	Horton Plains and Yala
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Seen in large numbers at Yala and Bundala
Hill Swallow	Hirundo tahitica	Kandy and Horton Plains
Sri Lanka Swallow	Cecropis hyperythra	Kitagula and Yala
Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis	Nuwara Ellia and Horton Plains
Great Tit	Parus major	Horton Plains
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch	Sitta frontalis	Horton Plains
Black-capped Bulbul	Pycnonotus melanicterus	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Seen regularly
Yellow-eared Bulbul	Pycnonotus penicillatus	Udawattakelle and Horton Plains
White-browed Bulbul	Pycnonotus luteolus	Bundala
Yellow-browed Bulbul	Iole indica	Kitagula, Yala and in Sinharaja
Square-tailed Bulbul	Hypsipetes ganeesa	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Bright Green Warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus	Horton Plains and Sinharaja
Large-billed Leaf-Warbler	Phylloscopus magnirostris	Seen regularly in suitable habitat
Clamorous Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	Horton [plains
Ceylon Bush-Warbler	Bradypterus palliseri	Horton [plains
Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	Sigariya and Horton Plains
Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	Sigariya, Udawattakelle and Horton Plains
Ashy Prinia	Prinia socialis	Bnundata
Plain Prinia	Prinia inornata	Sigiriya
Ceylon White-eye	Zosterops ceylonensis	Kitagula, Udawattakelle and Horton Plains
Oriental White-eye	Zosterops palpebrosus	Sigiriya, Kandy and Sinharaja
Brown-capped Babbler	Pellorneum fuscocapillus	Kitagula, Sinharaja and Udawattakelle
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush	Garrulax cinereifrons	Sigiriya
Orange-billed Babbler	Turdoides rufescens	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Yellow-billed Babbler	Turdoides affinis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler	Pomatorhinus melanurus	Tissamaharama
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	Horton Plains
Asian Brown Flycatcher	Muscicapa latirostris	Kitagula, Sigiriya and Udawattakelle
Brown-breasted Flycatcher	Muscicapa muttui	Sinharaja
Indian Robin	Copsychus fulicatus	Seen regularly in suitable habitat
Oriental Magpie-Robin	Copsychus saularis	Seen regularly in suitable habitat
White-rumped Shama	Copsychus malabaricus	Sigiriya and at Horton Plains
Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher	Cyornis tickelliae	Kitagula and Kandy
Dull-blue Flycatcher	Eumyias sordidus	Nuwaya Eliya and Hotrton Plains
Indian Blue Robin	Larvivora brunnea	Tissamaharama
Ceylon Whistling-Thrush	Myophonus blighi	Udawattakeele and Nuwara Ellya
Kashmir Flycatcher	Ficedula subrubra	Victoria Park, Nuwara Elita
Pied Bushchat	Saxicola caprata	Nuwara Eliya
Spot-winged Thrush	Geokichla spiloptera	Kitagula and Sinharaja
Orange-headed Thrush	Geokichla citrina	Sigiriya
Indian Blackbird	Turdus simillimus	Udawatakelle and Horton Plains
Southern Hill Myna	Gracula indica	Kitagula and Udawattakelle
Ceylon Myna	Gracula ptilogenys	Sinharaja
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
White-faced Starling	Sturnia albofrontata	Sinharaja
Brahminy Starling	Temenuchus pagodarum	Bundala
Jerdon's Leafbird	Chloropsis jerdoni	Kitagula
Golden-fronted Leafbird	Chloropsis aurifrons	Sinharaja
White-throated Flowerpecker	Dicaeum vincens	Sinharaja
Pale-billed Flowerpecker	Dicaeum erythrorhynchos	Sinharaja
Purple-rumped Sunbird	Leptocoma zeylonica	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Purple Sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Long-billed Sunbird	Cinnyris lotenius	Tissamaharama
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Bundala
Gray Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Seen occasionally in suitable habitat
Oriental Pipit	Anthus rufulus	Sigiriya, Yala and Bundala
Forest Wagtail	Dendronanthus indicus	Udawattakelle and in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Baya Weaver	Ploceus philippinus	Tissamaharama
White-rumped Munia	Lonchura striata	Kitagula and Tissamaharama
Black-throated Munia	Lonchura kelaarti	Nuwara Eliya and Bundala
Nutmeg Mannikin	Lonchura punctulata	Bundala and Sinharaja
Tricolored Munia	Lonchura malacca	Sinharaja

 

Other Species seen

Asian Elephant	Kaudulla and Yala
Leopard	Yala
Wild Boar	Yala
Black backed Jackal	On road to Yala
Water Buffalo	Yala
Sambar	Horton Plains Bundula and Yala
Spotted Dear	Yala
Mouse Deer (Chevrotain)	Sinharaja
Indian Muntjac	Yala
Tufted Grey Langur	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Toque Monkey	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Purple faced leaf monkey	Sinharaja
Indian Grey Mongoose	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Grizzled Giant Squirrel	Sinharaja
Dusky Palm Squirrel	Sinharaja
Layards Palm Squirrel	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Indian Flying Fox	Tissamaharama
Indian (black napped) Hare	Yala
Green Vine Snake	Sinharaja
Hog nosed viper	Sinharaja
Chequered keel Backed Water snake	Sinharaja
Common Krait	Kitagula
Mugger Crocodile	Bundula and Yala
Water Monitor	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Green Garden Lizard	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Garden Lizard	Regularly seen in suitable habitat
Kangaroo Lizard	Sinharaja
Rhino-horned Lizard	Horton Plains
Gecko sp
Indian Moon Moth	Sinharaja
?? Butterflies