14-Day Birding Paradise

Location: Airport ➝ UdaWalawe

• Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport.
• Meet naturalist guide and transfer to UdaWalawe (3 hours).
• Check-in to eco-lodge and evening briefing about the birding adventure.

Location: UdaWalawe National Park

• Full-day game drive at UdaWalawe - the only park in the world with guaranteed wild elephant sightings.
• Spot raptors: Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Black-winged Kite, Crested Hawk-eagle, Crested Serpent-eagle, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Shikra, Common Kestrel, Brown Fish-owl, Western Marsh Harrier.
• Notable species: Malabar Pied Hornbill, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Plum-headed Parakeet, Common Hoopoe, Sirkeer & Blue-faced Malkohas, Little Green Bee-eater.

Location: UdaWalawe National Park

• Morning and afternoon game drives exploring different park sections.
• Focus on locating any missed species and observing elephant behavior at waterholes.
• Migrant species (winter): Black-capped Kingfisher, Blyth's Pipit, Orange-headed Thrush.

Location: UdaWalawe National Park

• Full day with flexible timing to maximize birding opportunities.
• Visit different waterholes and grassland areas.
• Evening at leisure to review bird checklist.

Location: UdaWalawe National Park

• Afternoon game drive for dry zone birding and Asian Elephant sightings.
• Final opportunity to photograph raptors and dry zone specialities.
• Prepare for transfer to Yala.

Location: UdaWalawe ➝ Yala

• Early morning safari at UdaWalawe for dry-zone specialities.
• After breakfast, drive to Yala for three nights.
• Afternoon birding at Palatupana Salt Pans for shorebirds.
• Waders (migrant season): Ruddy Turnstone, Little-ringed, Kentish, Lesser Sand, Greater Sand, Grey and Golden Plovers, Little Stint, Curlew, Common & Marsh Sandpipers, Common Redshank.
• Open patch species: Indian Stone-curlew, Great Thick-knee, Ashy-crowned Finch-lark.

Location: Yala National Park

• Morning and afternoon game drives for dry-zone birding.
• A day's birding can yield 100 species during northern winter!
• Dry zone specialities: Indian Stone-curlew, Great Thick-knee, Sirkeer & Blue-faced Malkohas, Malabar Pied Hornbill.
• Waterholes: Painted Stork, Lesser Whistling-duck, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great, Median & Little Egrets, rare Black-necked Stork.
• Endemics: Ceylon Swallow, Ceylon Woodshrike, Ceylon Junglefowl.
• Wildlife: Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Mugger Crocodile, Sambar, Jackal.

Location: Bundala & Yala National Parks

• Early-morning game drive at Bundala National Park.
• Large waterbirds: Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis, Woolly-necked Stork.
• Many wader species during northern winter.
• Afternoon: final safari at Yala for birding and other wildlife.

Location: Yala ➝ Nuwara Eliya

• After breakfast, drive to Nuwara Eliya for two nights.
• Afternoon visit Victoria Park for Himalayan migrants: Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, Indian Pitta, Indian Blue Robin.
• Endemics: Yellow-eared Bulbul, Ceylon White-eye, Dusky-blue Flycatcher.
• Visit nearby wetland for proposed endemic Black-throated Munia, Paddyfield Pipit, Pied Bush Chat, Pintail Snipe, Zitting Cisticola, Plain Prinia, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (if lucky).

Location: Nuwara Eliya ➝ Horton Plains ➝ Hakgala

• Morning visit Horton Plains National Park for montane endemics.
• World's End - stunning viewpoint with 870m (2,850ft) sheer drop.
• Montane endemics: Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Ceylon Woodpigeon, Ceylon White-eye, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, scarce Ceylon Whistling-thrush.
• Wildlife: Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Bear Monkey - northern race), Dusky Squirrel, Sambar.
• Afternoon: Hakgala Botanical Gardens for habituated Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys and montane birds.

Location: Nuwara Eliya ➝ Kithulgala

• After breakfast, drive to Kithulgala for two nights.
• Afternoon: cross Kelani River in dugout canoe to Kelani Valley Forest Reserve.
• Lowland rainforest rich in endemic fauna and flora.
• Lowland endemics: Ceylon Hill-myna, Green-billed Coucal, Spot-winged Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Spurfowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Red-faced Malkoha.

Location: Kelani Valley Forest Reserve

• Morning and afternoon endemic birding at Kelani Valley Forest Reserve.
• Full day dedicated to finding remaining endemics.
• Enjoy rich lowland rainforest birdlife with photography opportunities.

Location: Kithulgala ➝ Waikkal

• After breakfast, drive to Waikkal.
• Late afternoon boat trip at Waikkal for waterbirds.
• Highlights: Black, Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns, Little Green Heron, migrant Black-capped Kingfisher.

Location: Waikkal ➝ Airport

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for departure flight.