Another Sussex Birder's Observations: Sri Lanka Endemic Birds and Big Game with Rockjumper Tours Part 3 Sinharaja Forest

Sinharaja Forest

Wednesday 29th November Arriving mid afternoon on the outskirts of The Sinharaja Forest, we checked into the Rock View Lodge our accommodation for the next 3 nights.

Rock View Lodge

Once unpacked we were due to go into the forest to look for a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl unfortunately due to a torrential thunderstorm it was cancelled.

Thursday 30th November and early start again as we got into the bus and headed for the Sinaharaja Forest Gate when at 6.00am we transferred into Jeeps and ascended the hills on a very rough road. We here got our first views of the endemic Sri Lanka Blue Magpie.

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (E)

Other birds seen were:- Several of which were endemic.

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Layard's Parakeet

Malabar Trogon

Serendips Scops Owl (E)

Black-capped Bulbul

Another couple of Sri Lanka Blue Magpies put in an appearance (bird of the trip for me)

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (E)

Besra

Sri Lanka Drongo (E)

Sri Lanka Frogmouth (E)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (E)

Sri Lanka Hill Myna (E)

Sri Lanka Spurfowl (E)

Sri Lanka Spurfowl (female)

Sri Lanka Spurfowl (E)

Sri Lanka Swallows (E)

Unidentified

Black-capped Bulbul (E) and Yellow-browed Bulbul

Yellow-browed Bulbul

Friday 1st December our last day so with a packed breakfast we left the lodge again at 5.45 am. and headed for a site for the endemic Ashy-headed Laughingthrush. A couple of hours wait and after breakfast we eventually had a brief sighting but no photos. Meanwhile we had views of other birds and a couple of reptiles.

Common Emerald Dove

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Common Green Forest Lizard

Oriental Rat Snake

Layard's Parakeet

Legge's Flowerpecker (E)

Crimson-backed Flameback (Goldenback) (E)

Back at the lodge for lunch, I finally got a good view of a Yellow-fronted and Brown-headed Barbets on the feeding table.

Yellow-fronted Barbet (E)

Brown-headed Barbet

Also a White-browed Bubul put in an appearance.

White-browed Bulbul

Back out again after lunch we were taken to see a Sri Lanka Bay Owl, this had been looked for since the early hours and we were fortunate to get a view. Sadly as with all the owls seen on this trip I was unable to get a picture of the complete owl.

Sri Lanka Bay Owl (NE)

Sri Lanka Bay Owl (NE) (with an eye open)

We still had 1 more endemic to see but it wasn't till the end of the day we finally saw a Green-billed Coucal but only briefly and no photos. But while we were searching I managed a couple more photos

Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (E)

Common Green Forest Lizard

Our final stop of the tour was to see a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl come into roost but alas it wasn't to be so we headed back to the lodge for dinner.

Saturday 2nd December - a lie in then breakfast and we all headed off dropping Alan and the guides off at the airport, me at The Jetwing Blue Hotel and others at another hotel? Next morning I had breakfast overlooking the beach,

Restaurant by the beach.

I checked out at 09.15 and my taxi was on time to take me to the airport.

Hotel Lobby

The flight home was delayed by an hour and half. I arrived back at Heathrow at 8.00pm and transferred to the Premier Inn for the night. A great English breakfast and then the underground to Victoria and the train to Ore. I arrived back home around 12.30 pm.

I saw all 33 endemic birds sadly some were brief views. Plus many other birds I had not seen before.

A really great trip, I met some nice people and a couple of prats. (those on the trip will know who) Birding was incredible, the hotels were good, the food was ok if you like curry, the country was beautiful and the people were friendly. Yes I would recommend going there and yes I would go again.

My second favourite bird we saw was the endemic Red-Faced Malkoha unfortunately I didn't get a photo that resembled the bird, however Mary-Ann on the trip did and passed these images on to me.