TikaWeeks #09/2024: Sri Lanka update
Posted by John on 28th February 2024
Beautiful plumage! Sri Lanka is home to well over 500 species of exotic birds with names to match, like the White-throated Flowerpecker, Blue-faced Malkoha and Sri Lanka Paradise-flycatcher. The joy of bird watching on the island is to see them wherever you travel, although some areas are better than others. You don’t need to be a dedicated ‘twitcher’ to enjoy the bird life across the country as the little peckers seem to come to you! Our new Birdwatching Tika Taster is a comprehensive guided introduction to the diverse bird life of Sri Lanka.
To date, there are 528 recorded bird species in Sri Lanka with 33 classified as endemic (some say 34!), with November to April the best time to spot endemics, particularly in the Kitulgala, Sinharaja and Horton Plains areas. You will also visit Bundala, the first Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance) in the country, which is the most significant wetland for birds on the island outside of Northern Province. Other highlights are Yala and Wilpattu National Parks, two of the largest wildlife reserves and both Dry Zone regions.
With the help of an expert naturalist guide, you will spot a great number and variety of birds while on this specialist birding tour in Sri Lanka, visiting the most important nesting sites, migratory routes and overwintering grounds in the country. Previous wildlife holidays have seen more than 170 bird species with us, and another couple of avid birders managed 125 different species in a week! Quite rightly, Sri Lanka is renowned as an ornithologist’s Garden of Eden.
Of particular note, Sinharaja is the single most important site for endemic birds and mixed species bird flocks on the island. According to a study of the mixed species bird flocks in the area, 42 individual birds on average occur in the flocks, which makes this flock the world's largest mixed species bird flock.
Other significant birding sites, such as Mannar Island and Giant’s Tank in the northwest, or Gal Oya and Kumana National Parks as well as Kokkilai Bird Sanctuary in the east, may be included, on request, since the itinerary is flexible and may be adapted to your own particular birding interests.
Categories: Accommodation, News, Sri Lanka, Travel tips, Wildlife
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