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Birdwatching holiday in Sri Lanka

Birdwatching, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Birdwatching Holiday in Sri Lanka

If you are interested in a birdwatching holiday in Sri Lanka?

The Island is a great place to spend some time to discover the birds that visit here.

Birdwatching in Sri Lanka is something that you can do in all parts of the Island however there are spots where you will see a wide variety of species.

The Island of Sri Lanka is truly a birdwatching paradise.

You don’t have to be a ‘twitcher’ or ‘birder’ to enjoy and learn about the residents and migrants to the Island.

Our interest in birdwatching at GlenMyu Estate has increased as it is hard to ignore the wonderful creatures that enjoy the 5 acre estate.

Where is Sri Lanka on the map?

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean is tropical island in the situated 10 degrees north of the equator.

On the Map it looks like a teardrop falling from the southern coast of India.

The Island boasts diverse and favourable climatic conditions for a wide range of birdlife.

It also has a range of natural habitats including forests, scrublands, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural lands.

Being surrounded by the Indian Ocean and close to the tip of India it plays host to various migrant birds at different times of the year.

Sri Lanka at 65,610 km 2 (similar in size to the Republic of Ireland) is quite small but has a great range of birds for your to see.

What Birds visit the Island?

It is home to 439 species of birds:

236 are breeding residents

203 migrants and the rest vagrants.

There are 34 endemic species of birds in Sri Lanka.

There are also somewhere near to 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic.

They travel to get away from the Northern winter from as far as Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe.

They arrive around August -September and leave around April-May.

What are the Endemic birds in Sri Lanka?

Ceylon Jungle Fowl – (Gallus lafayetii)

Ceylon Wood Pigeon – (Columba torringtoniae)

Ceylon Green Pigeon – (Treron pompadora)

Ceylon Spurfowl – (Galloperdix bicalcarata)

Layard’s Parakeet – (Psittacufa calthropae)

Ceylon Hanging Parrot – (Loriculus beryllinus)

Red-Faced Malkoha – (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus)

Green-Billed Coucal – (Centropus chlororhynchos)

Serendib Scops-Owl – (Otus hoffmanni)

Chestnut-Backed Owlet – (Glaucidium Castanonotum)

Ceylon Grey Hornbill – (Ocyceros gingalensis)

Yellow-Fronted Barbet – (Megalaima flavifrons)

Ceylon Small Barbet – (Megalaima rubricapillus)

Crimson-Backed – (Chrysocolaptes stricklandi)

Ceylon Swallow – (Hirundo hyperythra)

Ceylon Wood-Shrike – (Tephrodornis affinis)

Black-Capped Bulbul – (Pycnonotus melanicterus)

Yellow-Eared Bulbul – (Pycnonotus penicillatus)

Ceylon Whistling-Thrush – (Myophonus blighi)

Spot-Winged Thrush – (Zoothera spiloptera)

Ceylon Scaly Thrush – (Zoothera imbricata)

Sri Lanka Bush Warbler – (Elaphrornis paljiseri)

Dusky Blue Flycatcher – (Eumyias sordidus)

Brown-Capped Babbler – (Pellorneum fuscocapilius)

Ceylon Scimitar Babbler- (Pomatorhinus melanurus)

Ceylon Rufous Babbler – (Turdoides rufescens)

Ceylon White-Eye -(Zosterops ceylonensis)

Ashy-Headed Laughing Thrush – (Argya cinereifrons)

Legge’s Flowerpecker – (Dicaeurn vincens)

Ceylon Crested Drongo – (Dicrurus lophorhinus)

Ceylon Blue Magpie – (Uroc’ssa ornata)

White-Faced Starling -(Sturnornis albofrontatus)

Ceylon Hill-Myna – (Gracula ptilogenys)

Birdwatching on holiday at GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Sri Lanka

We do not offer birdwatching tours however it is hard not to get enthralled with the different types of birds that visit the 5 acre estate during the year.

Our interest in birdwatching has been elevated since we have been living in the Hill Country.

We have also found our guests to be fascinated by the birds that they discover whilst staying here.

Here are some photos and videos of what we have seen at the Glenmyu Estate to whet your appetite. No doubt you have a better camera than we do and therefore should get better pictures and videos than we do!

For more videos of the birds that visit GlenMyu Estate please click on our YouTube Link.

GlenMyu Estate YouTube Channel

If you want to find out more about GlenMyu Estate please visit our website.

Where can I go on a Birdwatching Holiday in Sri Lanka?

Kumana National Park

The main bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka is the Kumana National Park which has 18,149 hectares and is located in the South East part of Sri Lanka in the Easter sector of Yala National Park..

It has a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, called the Kumbukkan Oya.

This is a Mangrove swamp where many water birds nest in May and June.

You can regularly see Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, White Ibis, Herons, Egrets and Little Cormorants.

Sinharaja Rain Forest

This forest is located in the South West of Sri Lanka and it houses a tropical rain forest.

It covers 8,864 hectares and is at an altitude of between 300 – 1,170 metres.

60%of the trees in the forest are endemic to Sri Lanka and many of those would be considered rare.

The forest attracts a lot of endemic wildlife – especially birds.

It is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies.

There are also many types of insects, reptiles and amphibians.

Some of the birds found in the forest are as follows:

Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Columba Torringtoni)

Green-billed Coucal (Centropus Chlororrhynchus)

Sri Lanka White-headed Starling (Sturnus senex)

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Cissa ornate)

The Ashy-headed Babbler (Garrulax Cinereifrons)

Sri Lanka Broad-billed Roller (Eurystomus orientalis irisi).

Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary

Kalametiya is a coastal wetland area that has an especially rich bio-diversity and is great for a birdwatching holiday in Sri Lanka.

Is located on the South Eastern coast of Sri Lanka, in tHambantota district.

The sanctuary has a mix of marine and birdlife due to the coastal lagoons, mangrove swamps, scrub jungles and open grassy areas.

Large lakes in the dry zone mostly attract a large number of ducks .

The wetlands such as Weerawila, Kalamatiya and Bundala national park are where larger aquatic birds such as Storks, Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, Pelican, and ibis can be seen.

Migrant birds arrive during mid-August nd settle along the lagoons and salterns of the coast areas.

The types of birds that can be seen include Sandpipers, Stints, Plovers, Terns and Harriers.

Bundala National Park

Bundala National Park lies on the Southern Coastof Sri Lanka and stretches across nearly 20 kilometres along a coastal strip between Kirinda and Hambantota.

September to March are the best months to visit the Park

There are around 200 species to be found at the park.

You are likely to see the following birds whilst own a birdwatching holiday in Sri Lanka.

Greater Flamingo

Common Redshank,

Petite Blue Tailed Bee-eaters

Indian Peafowl

Bodinagala Forest Reserve

Peak Wilderness Sanctuary

Kitulgala Forest Reserve

Yala National Park

Wilpattu

Udawalawe

Wagamuwa

Wasgamuwa

So, if you are considering a Birdwatching Holiday in Sri Lanka, we hope that this post has been helpful to you.

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It’s good for the soul

Holiday, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

It's good for the soul.

I was walking up the stairs to my balcony this morning and as I looked out at the view and the thought that came into my mind was “this is good for the soul”.

Sweeping over the specular scenery that the valleys and hills below us invigorate my senses and enters deeply into my body.

I stand, inhale deeply taking in the freshest of air that has been warmed by the morning sun and I feel a sense of calm within.

Sometimes I stand there feeling like I am the luckiest man alive to be able to experience this every day.

A new landscape every day it just warms your heart.

I remember staying with a friend of our in the heart of London with spectacular views of the banking and insurance district of the capital.

The Gherkin, Tower-42, The Walkie Talkie 20 Fenchurch Street, the once futuristic Lloyds of London and the Cheese Grater The Leadenhall Building reflect the tradition and innovation keeping the financial district at the top of the pile.

Another view takes in St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The London Eye and the meandering River Thames.

We were lucky enough to spend a New Years Eve at the apartment and watched the fireworks dancing across the night sky as we welcomed in the start of the new calendar.

I remember a remark about perhaps you could get bored with the view after a while.

However, the London landscape is constantly evolving with cranes littering the vista building new towers changing the view. The light and weather also changes through the year providing a variety of sights to enjoy.

I think that it easy to get complacent leading to your senses dampening and not being alert to what is in front of you.

Same old, same old?

The landscape that we look out to every morning as we are awoken by the morning light gives us a jolt every so often to electrify our eyes and emotions.

It really is good for the soul.

A flash of pink in the morning sky, a sweep of yellow reflecting on the hills below and flashes of swallows littering the scene provides variety.

A clear view of Udawale Tank looking like it is floating in the sky or a thick mist wrapping itself around us is natures way of keeping us alert.

A change in weather bringing clouds that paint pictures for us to interpret and flashes of rain providing different shades for the greenery that surrounds us.

Catching the sun setting and delivering a kaleidoscope of colours warms the heart at the end of a wonderful day.

I admit I do have to kick myself every so often so that I appreciate what nature has given to us but, I am thankful when it does.

Experience the variety for yourself and revive your soul.

No visit to GlenMyu Estate is the same as the flora, fauna and vista are ever changing.

We have three king size on suite double bedrooms that look out onto this extraordinary view.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

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New Life Arrives

Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate / By Mikeez

New Life Arrives

We get very excited when new life arrives at GlenMyu Estate.

Today (5th March 2022) our wonderful Mama Duck has done it again!

We have some new life arrivals at the Estate in the form of the cutest ducklings.

Our Mama Duck does it again.

Our Black Muscovy Mama Duck is a proud mother looking after her new offspring.

Feeling uplifted after a bad week - thankfully new life arrives

Unfortunately one of our dogs went missing on the 21st February and we have been in mourning since. We have searched the Estate and further, driven for many kilometres and spread the word over the internet and by printing lost dog posters to try to find him.

We have not given up hope and have come to the conclusion that someone really wanted our beautiful dog and he is in a new caring home. Other outcomes we can’t bear thinking about.

The new life arriving today at the Estate has given us a bit of a lift.

Mama Duck was not very successful with her last batch as only one egg hatched.

We were really concerned that this solitary duck would be lonely not having siblings.

However, Mama duck looked after her until she was old enough to join the rest of the mature ducks and she has just fitted in very well and is part of the family.

Here is a picture of the new ducklings that hatched this morning.

As you can see there are more eggs to hatch. We will have to wait and see whether all ten eggs are successful.

We just love watching our ducks wander about the estate

One of the joys of being at GlenMyu Estate is to be closer to nature, switch off and enjoy the little things in life.

We really get a lot of satisfaction out of spending half an hour or so just watching our ducks go about their business.

They waddle from their duck house down to the stream for bathing and then forage around the grounds looking for something to eat. Even watching them have a snooze perched on one leg is just very soothing.

The new life that arrived today will give us more interesting things to watch and pass the time.

I often say that watching the ducks is a kind of therapy.

If you want to spend your holiday in Sri Lanka closer to nature GlenMyu Estate is great choice.

Please click on the following link for more information.

We had three sets of guests here today to witness the new life arrive at the Estate. Maybe you will also be able to experience this if Mama Duck times it with your visit.

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