Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Kitulgala, a small town about 80km east of Colombo, are highly recommended for twitchers. Sinharaja is home to 147 bird species, including 20 of the 26-rainforest species of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds. The serendib scops owl was discovered here as recently as 2001. Just after dawn is the best place to look for the Sri Lanka Rufues Babblers, Red-faced Malkoha’s, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. There are usually some parakeets screeching in the early hours, nature’s morning alarm call.
In the wet zone rainforests you will get a chance to see the `Mixed Species Feeding Flock’, a unique wildlife phenomenon which only occurs here in Sri Lanka. During this time, more than six species of birds move together in one direction at all levels of the forest from the forest floor to the canopy and each species has its own niche to find its food. This feeding flock is mainly for insectivorous birds. Birds of prey include the Black Eagle, Crested Growshok, Oriental Honey-buzzard and Shaheen Falcon.
Wander through this muggy and mysterious environment and absorb the utterly tranquil atmosphere whilst listening to the sound of echoing birdcall. Discover the other best places to go for ‘Birdwatching in Sri Lanka’.
