Another Sussex Birder's Observations: Sri Lanka Endemic Birds and Big Game with Rockjumper Tours Part 1 Kithulaga, Nuwara Elya, and Horton Plains

Kithugala Rain Forest

Monday 20th November I took the train to Heathrow Airport at midday to connect with the flight to Colombo due to leave at 20.30 A delay of 45 minutes and the 11 hour flight arrived on time around mid day in Sri Lanka. My taxi was waiting and within the hour I was at the Jetwing Blue Hotel Negombo.

Hotel Pool

My Room

Early evening sitting in the bar I met with 2 others from the group Gerry and Peter both from Australia and sampled what was to be the only beer in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Beer

Early next morning the restaurant opened for breakfast, where I was the first in and had the place to my self

Breakfast Counter

With the coach collecting us at 11.00 am I took a walk along the beach, very little was out at sea but hundreds of house crows were around especially at the fishing boats. A Brahminy Kite flew overhead and a Little Egret was in some flood water.

Landing the catch

House Crow

Brahminy Kite

Little Egret

Our next accommodation was at The Plantation Kithulaga

The Plantation

Plantation Pool

The restaurant overlooked the river where Bridge over the river Kwai was filmed

After lunch we took a walk into the rain forest with light showers the leeches made their presence to many but I got away with just 1 and the only one of the tour for me. A good start to the tour with a selection of birds seen with the first of the endemics a Crimson-fronted Barbet

Crimson-fronted Barbet (E)

A bird high on my wish list especially as I had missed it when in India earlier in the year was the Indian Pitta and surprised to see it so early on the trip. Photos were hard to get in the forest due to light and skulking birds however

Indian Pitta

Indian Scops Owl

White-bellied Drongo

Thursday 23rd November, we spent two sessions birding around the area and at Sisira Lodge highlights being

Chestnut-backed Owlet (E)

Brown-breasted Flycatcher

Black-capped Bulbul (E)

Common Myna

Indian Brown Mongoose

Millipede

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Red-backed Flameback (E)

Square-tailed Bulbul

Square-tailed Bulbuls

Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (E)

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (E)

Yellow-browed Bulbul

Friday 24th another early start birding around Kithulaga finding some more endemics.

Spot-winged Thrush (E)

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl (E)

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl female (E)

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl (E)

White-throated Kingfisher

Red-vented Bulbul

Imperial Green Pigeon

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Purple-faced Languar

Back at the lodge mid morning we packed our bags and headed to Nuwara Elya stopping off at The Castle Tea Plantation for the rest rooms and a look around the gardens.

Castle Tea Plantation

While in the gardens a Changeable/Crested Hawk Eagle flew over

Changeable / Crested Hawk Eagle

On the way we passed a roost of 60+ Flying Foxes.

Flying Foxes

Our hotel for the next two nights was the Ashford Hotel on the outskirts of Nuwara Elya

Ashford Hotel

After lunch we headed into Victoria Park for some comfortable birding highlights being

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

Common Tailorbird

Indian Pond Heron

Kashmir Flycatcher

Oriental Magpie Robin

Pied Thrush

Sri Lanka White Eye (E)

Saturday 25th, an early start at 4.45 am. as we headed for The Horton Plains national park. With the roads being steep and winding we transferred to small mini buses. Arriving at the gates at 6.00 am we headed into the park the main target Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, about an hour of searching views were had through the scope. Moving away to let others look I managed a part photo, but should have stayed there as others got a full shot of the bird.

Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (E)

Other birds seen included the endemic Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and more White Eyes.

Sri Lanka White Eye (E)

Sambar (Deer)

Red-wattled Lapwing

While having breakfast a Pied Bushchat and Jungle Crow entertained us.

Pied Bushchat

Jungle (large billed) Crow

Heading back late morning we stopped for something (I cant remember what) but a mixed flock flew through the trees where we had sightings of Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Orange Minivet, Brown Shrike and Dull-blue Flycatcher plus a family party of Toque Macaque.

Brown Shrike

Dull Blue Flycatcher

Toque Macaque

Back to the Ashford Hotel for lunch and then out again to the Pedro Scout road. Our main target was the Sri Lanka (Scaly) Thrush. After a lot of searching we got limited views as it crept along the stream in the undergrowth. A few other birds and reptiles were seen including

Indian Blue Robin

Rhino-horned Lizard

Pied Thrush

Sunday 26th, today was to be a travel day but before breakfast we went into Victoria Park again arriving at 6.00 am. Plenty of birds were around including

Scimitar Babler (E)

Loten's Sunbird

Indian Pond Heron

Grey Wagtail

Forest Wagtail

Changeable Hawk Eagle

Brown Shrike

Returning back to the hotel for breakfast we then headed south stopping at The Surrey Hills Reserve for the Brown Hawk Owl

Brown Hawk Owl

Our next stop was at a restaurant for lunch in a town named Ella that had outstanding views.

View from the restaurant

A near by waterfall.

After stopping at the waterfall for some photos we headed out of the highlands and on to Tissamaharra locally known as Tissa. We stopped at some wetlands briefly and then on into Tissa for a few specialities.

Little Cormorant

Spot-billed Pelican

Whiskered Tern

Woolly-necked Stork

Arriving in Tissa late afternoon we met with a local who took us to his home to show us the Brown Wood Owl roosting in his garden. Sadly I couldnt get the camera to focus on it within the time we had to view.