TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

What a fantastic trip seeing ALL the Sri Lanka endemic birds and much more. Highlights have to include our walk up a dry waterfall to a patch of Bamboo where the recently discovered Serendib Scops-Owl posed nicely for us on its day roost. Other owls included super day time views of a pair of Brown Wood Owls, Indian Scops-Owl, Brown Hawk Owl and the endemic Chestnut-backed Owlet. We had a great time at Sinharaja one of the islands hotspots and got to see Green-billed Coucal, White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Thrush, Sri Lanka Frogmouth on a day roost, and Red-faced Malkohas. The elusive laty-
legged Crake showed well and we met very confiding Sri Lanka Blue Magpies, and even Sri Lanka Spurfowl that came to a house for scraps! At Newera Eliya we got superb close views of both Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler and Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush, and the nearby Victoria Park gave us Pied Thrushes and Indian Pitta as well as Kashmir Flycatcher and Dull-blue Flycatcher. At Udawalawe we had great views of Sri Lanka Elephant and a fabulous Jungle Cat and birds such as Malabar Pied Hornbill, Sirkeer Malkoha and Sri Lanka Woodshrike. Other non birding delights included Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel and thousands of Indian Flying Foxes. Spinner Dolphins, Orca and Bryde’s Whale on our extension and lots of great dragonflies and butterflies.MWe cannot wait to return to this fabulous island and its truly outstanding wildlife.