Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985

Transcription

1 Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info Sri Lanka Jewel of the Indian Ocean We shall be hoping for more views like this of Spot-winged Thrush, a Sri Lankan endemic tour participant Peter Tapsell 2013 NEW DATES! Tuesday 12th - Tuesday 26th November LEADERS Brian Small, Tharanga Herath & local guides A 15-day birdwatching tour in search of Sri Lanka s 30+ endemic birds, including Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Spot-winged Thrush and Serendib Scops Owl - and with Malabar Trogon, Indian Pitta and Pied Thrush among a host of exquisite winter visitors and Southern India specialities. Asian Elephant and good chance of Leopard among mammal highlights, and this is also an excellent trip for butterflies. Superb tropical birding, seeing well over 200 bird species Seeking all of Sri Lanka s 33 endemic birds including Serendib Scops Owl Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, Red-faced Malkoha Sri Lankan Frogmouth and Malabar Trogon among many Southern India specialities Fabulous winter visitors including Indian Pitta, Kashmir Flycatcher and Pied Thrush Asian Elephant, Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel, Leopard and even Sloth Bear possible Excellent trip for butterflies too, many with wonderful English names! Beautiful and varied scenery, from palm-fringed beaches to tropical rainforest and highlands Comfortable hotels and delicious Sri Lankan cuisine Expertly led by Limosa s own ornithologist guides and an experienced Sri Lankan naturalist LIMOSA, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Tour Overview It would be difficult to think of a more perfect destination for birdwatchers to escape the winter blues than the beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka. For despite lying so close to the southern tip of India, this Indian Ocean paradise has been isolated from the rest of Asia for so long as to have evolved more than 30 species of endemic birds. We should see most, if not all, of them on this classic Sri Lanka tour: from Legge s Flowerpecker and the comical Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot through to Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the gorgeous Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. And with the help of our team of expert local naturalists, we will again hope to find the recently described Serendib Scops Owl at its day roost - as we have done with all our recent groups! Sri Lanka s appeal runs much deeper than this however, for the one-time island of Ceylon also has many specialities shared only with southern India. Among them such delights as the peculiar Sri Lankan Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Yellow-browed Bulbul, and Loten s and Purple-rumped Sunbirds. Our February 2012 group also saw Marshall s Iora, an Indian endemic only recently discovered in Sri Lanka. A visit to Sri Lanka is even more welcome during Europe s winter months - not just so we can enjoy some unseasonable sunshine and warmth, but because this bewitching tropical isle is also a winter retreat for large numbers of birds from farther north. Here we may thrill to the likes of Pintail Snipe, Blyth s Reed and Green Warblers, Kashmir Flycatcher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Indian Pitta and the sought-after Pied Thrush. With our return to Yala National Park, we should also encounter some fine mammals during our stay: Asian Elephant, Leopard, Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel and even Sloth Bear are possible. And this is a wonderful trip for anyone wishing to see something of Sri Lanka s abundant and exotic butterflies, with their many appealing English names. Sri Lanka is not only a very beautiful island, but its generally excellent tourist infrastructure allows birdwatchers and naturalists to explore prime habitats whilst, in the main, staying at some extremely good hotels. Those that wish will be able to enjoy a little sightseeing at Kandy, with its famous Temple of the Tooth, and a visit to a tea factory in the hills - with chances of Hill Swallow and Brown Wood Owl. Limosa has been operating bird tours to Sri Lanka for fifteen years now and our finely-honed itinerary is designed to enhance your chances of seeing all 33 of the island s endemic birds, as well as a wide crosssection of the birds typical of this region of the Indian subcontinent. With well over two hundred species likely on this tour, what could be better than spending a winter s fortnight in the tropics, getting to know the birdlife of one of the world s most enchanting island paradises? Outline Itinerary Day 1 Days 2-3 Days 4-5 Day 6 Day 7 Days 8-9 Days Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Fly London-Colombo Morning arrival Colombo. Transfer Kitulgala (2 nts) Sinharaja Forest. Blue Magpie Lodge (2 nts) Sinharaja Forest. Night Embilipitya Udawalawe Nat Park and Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Tissa (3 nts) Yala and Bundala National Parks Hill Country, Horton Plains and Victoria Park. Nuwara Eliya (2 nts) Peradeniya Gardens and the Temple of the Tooth. Night Kandy Udawatakelle Forest. Night Sigiriya Sigiriya, return to airport. Night Negombo Fly Colombo-London 2 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

3 Daily Itinerary Day 1 We depart from London today on an Emirates flight bound for Sri Lanka. TO COLOMBO Days 2-3 KITULGALA FOREST & SERENDIB SCOPS OWL Morning arrival in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. We shall be met by our local guide and transfer by road to our first hotel, at Kitulgala. Along the way, we are likely to encounter a varied selection of the commoner birds of Sri Lanka s Wet Zone. Possibilities include Shikra, Spotted Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Brown-headed Barbet, Oriental Magpie Robin, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Iora and Black-hooded Oriole. In particular we ll hope to find Ashy Woodswallows which are often seen gliding from roadside overhead wires. We should arrive at our destination for two nights in time to enjoy lunch beside the Kelani River, famed as the spot where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed. We ll spend the rest of the afternoon birding at a leisurely pace, perhaps driving to a nearby viewpoint where it s often possible to see species in just a couple of hours, or go in search of our first Sri Lankan endemics such as Green-billed Coucal or Chestnut-backed Owlet. Next morning, having been ferried across the river by dug-out canoe, we shall spend the day exploring Kitulgala s quiet forest trails, which are home to such exciting endemics as Legge s Flowerpecker, Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Orange-billed Babbler and Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill. As well as these unique residents, the forest is rich in other bird life: as Indian Swiftlets swirl overhead, we will look for the shy (but noisy!) Rufous Woodpecker, Crested Goshawk and Crested Treeswift, while the sight of the recently split endemic Crimson-backed Flameback will surely take our breath away if one lands on a nearby trunk! Without a doubt, a major highlight of all our visits to Kitugala in the last few years has been to see Sri Lanka s most recently-discovered and eagerly sought-after endemic, the Serendib Scops Owl, at its daytime roost. First described as a species new to science as recently as 2004, this delightful little bird is still only known from around half a dozen sites and is strictly nocturnal in its habits - so the opportunity to see one during daylight hours is a rare privilege indeed! Although we can t of course guarantee that the birds will be present every time, our local guides have an excellent record in tracking this diminutive forest owl for us in the days before our visit. Strident calls and whistles often herald the arrival of Sri Lankan Crested Drongos, which accompany mixed foraging parties. And as the afternoon cools and the exotic chorus of cicadas and tree-frogs begins, we ll watch for two of the island s rarest and shyest endemics: Green-billed Coucal and Spot-winged Thrush. Chestnut-backed Owlet and Sri Lankan Frogmouth are possible at dusk within just a short drive. Two nights at Kitulgala Lodge. Day 4 TO RATNAPURA & BLUE MAGPIE LODGE Our hotel grounds and nearby gardens and farms are home to a wealth of exciting birds and we will have time to explore these thoroughly before we say our farewells to Kitulgala. The dawn is broken by the songs of Oriental Magpie-robin and Yellow-browed Bulbul. Fruiting and flowering trees hold Legge s and Pale-billed Flowerpeckers, Purple-rumped and Loten s Sunbirds, Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Sri Lankan Green Pigeon, Brown-headed Barbet and many more. Winter visitors here include numerous Green Warblers and, with luck, we could find our first Indian Pitta, calling loudly beneath a tree close to the hotel. After breakfast, we say farewell to Kitulgula and travel south to Ratnapura. Here we ll enjoy a sumptuous lunch, followed by a short walk in the grounds where we may be rewarded with White-browed Fantail 3 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

4 and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, as well as Yellow-fronted Barbets and rufous-chested Sri Lankan Swallows, Indian Robin, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and White-rumped and Scaly-breasted Munias. Refreshed, we continue our journey to Sinharaja, arriving towards dusk, for a two-night stay at the remote Blue Magpie Lodge. This is the only accommodation to offer adequate comfort within a short drive of the magnificent Sinharaja Forest reserve. Recently, the rooms have been upgraded and, although simply furnished, all have en suite facilities. Night at the Blue Magpie Lodge. Day 5 SINHARAJA FOREST Sinharaja is home to more than half of Sri Lanka s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, and all but one of Sri Lanka s wonderful endemic birds. With its wildlife most active between daybreak and midmorning, an early start is essential to reach the higher level just as the forest bursts into life. As the first rays of sunlight filter through the verdant canopy, they may reveal an obliging Sri Lankan Junglefowl foraging on the tangled forest floor. As we enter the forest, we ll be looking carefully for Green Imperial Pigeon, Malabar Trogon, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Sri Lankan Scimitar-babbler, Brown-capped Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling, Sri Lankan Myna and the fabulous Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. From time to time, we may be side-tracked by a myriad of colourful butterflies, including the stunning Tree-nymph and Blue Mormon. Movements in the canopy high above might reveal the presence of a stunning Red-faced Malkhoa - although not all movement may be from birds, but betray the presence of Grizzled Giant Squirrels or the island s two endemic monkeys, Purple-faced Langur and Toque Macaque. After an exciting morning in the forest, we ll return to our lodge for a short siesta or some leisurely birding near the hotel grounds. Lured by the irresistible appeal of Sinharaja s fabulous forest birding, the following day we have further opportunities to try for any Wet Zone specialities we may have missed yesterday. The notoriously elusive Sri Lankan Scaly Thrush and Sri Lankan Spurfowl will both be high on our most-wanted lists - but we shall need to be in place just after dawn to have any real prospect of seeing either species. Night at the Blue Magpie Lodge. Day 6 SINHARAJA FOREST TO EMBILIPITIYA Depending upon what we saw at Sinharaja yesterday, we will use the morning to try again for any of Sinharaja s special birds that may have eluded us. Eventually, it will be with some reluctance that we bid farewell to the Blue Magpie. Passing through neatly-clothed hills of tea plantations, we journey out of Sri Lanka s Wet Zone and drop down towards the Dry Zone, en route to the island s coastal lowlands. Making occasional roadside stops along the way - perhaps to enjoy an impressive Black Eagle as it soars overhead, or to watch a cluster of Ashy Woodswallows gathered on a roadside wire. Our plans for the remainder of the day today retain a degree of flexibility. But our ultimate destination is Embilipitiya, arriving there either for lunch or for dinner this evening (according to how long we decide to spend birding at Sinharaja in the morning). Our hotel at Embilipitiya is situated by a man-made lake, liberally sprinkled with Whiskered and Gull-billed Terns and Little and Indian Cormorants, whilst Spotbilled Pelicans float sedately by and Brahminy Kites soar on thermals. Night Embilipitiya. Day 7 UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK, TRAVEL TO TISSA Our overnight stay at Embilipitya will enable us to spend a full morning exploring the savanna-like dry country of the nearby Udawalawe National Park. Using Land Rovers, we will drive the tracks through the scrub jungle and grasslands, which are surprisingly rich in species variety. One of the most conspicuous is the breathtaking Indian Peafowl (looking even more spectacular in its native haunts), but Black-winged Kite, Crested (Changeable) Hawk-eagle and Malabar Pied Hornbill will also be demanding attention. 4 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

5 Harriers, including both Pallid and Montagu s, are likely over the grasslands, where we ll receive a masterclass in prinia identification with Grey-breasted, Ashy, Plain and Jungle all popping up to sing for us - in addition to that prinia impersonator, the curious Yellow-eyed Babbler! We may also discover that the strange moped-engine sounds coming from the grasslands in fact originate from the pint-sized female Barred Buttonquail! Blyth s Pipits and Blyth s Reed Warblers winter here, a long way from their northern breeding grounds, but if its colour you crave then Coppersmith Barbet, Indian Roller, Plumheaded and Alexandrine Parakeets, Little Green and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, and Orange-breasted Green Pigeons should oblige. Mammals cannot be ignored at Udawalawe, and we shall have time to admire enormous Indian Elephants, while other possibilities include Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal, Chital, Wild Boar and Ruddy Mongoose. We shall return to Embilipitya for lunch and a short break, then continue an hour or so south to the coast to spend the cooler hours of the late afternoon exploring the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Crested, Lesser Crested and Caspian Terns patrol the shoreline, while Kalemetiya s flooded lagoons are home to a wealth of waterbirds. Here, we may find both Yellow-wattled and Red-wattled Lapwings, along with Indian Stone-curlew and Great Thick-knee, Blyth s and Paddyfield Pipits, Pied Kingfisher and the noisy Roseringed Parakeet. Reedbeds are the haunt of the diminutive Yellow Bittern, and wintering waders could include Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Oriental Pratincole, and Pacific Golden and Lesser Sand Plovers. As dusk approaches, we travel a short distance along the coast to our next hotel, at Tissamaharama (more often referred to simply as Tissa ), for the first of a three-night stay. Dinner will be slightly later this evening, at around eight. Night at Tissa. Days 8-9 BUNDALA & YALA WEST NATIONAL PARK Now that Sri Lanka s recent troubled past is behind it, we are once again able to visit the wonderful Bundala National Park and Sri Lanka s first RAMSAR site. We ll also visit Ruhunu (Yala West) National Park, which lies about an hour s drive from Tissa. Better known simply as Yala, Yala West forms part of Sri Lanka s oldest and most famous National Park. Beginning at Bundala, we are in for a real treat this morning! By taking a picnic breakfast with us, we ll be able to make the most of our morning here, before the heat gets up. Although it is quite close to Tissa, it may take quite some time to reach our destination. The access road bisects a wonderful wetland that s simply alive with birds and we ll soon be surrounded by a plethora of herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills and a multitude of waders. Very soon we ll be sifting through the large numbers of spindly-legged Marsh Sandpipers and other shorebirds at Bundala. Picking out Broad-billed Sandpipers amongst the throngs of Little Stints will keep us on our toes as we also strive to identify Greater Sand Plovers amidst the flocks of Kentish and Lesser Sand Plovers. If we re lucky, we should encounter several diminutive Little Pratincoles roosting on the nearby bunds. Up to eight species of tern roost on Bundala s extensive saltpans, ranging from the massive Caspian to the diminutive Little. Here we can see Greater and Lesser Crested Terns standing side by side, and pick out winter-plumaged White-winged Black Terns amongst the numerous Whiskered. The strange Great Thick-knee will be less of an identification challenge, however! Oriental Skylarks, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Larks and the recently-split Jerdon s Bush Lark also occur here, and Clamorous Reed Warblers sing loudly from the stands of tall Papyrus. Tissa is renowned for the concentration of rich wildlife sites within close proximity, ranging from extensive tanks (reservoirs) to orchards and coconut palm plantations, each home to a unique group of species. Here we ll spend some time searching for Cotton Pygmy-goose and Lesser Whistling-duck, Grey-headed Fish and White-bellied Sea Eagles, Jungle Owlet and the scarce White-naped Woodpecker. And with a bit of luck, we will find the impressive Brown Fish Owl, too. 5 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

6 Turning to Yala, we ll save our visit here for our final afternoon at Tissa in part because it s not possible to bird on foot in the park, and also because this is an excellent time to seek out a dozing Leopard, often to be found draped over a tree bough. As we enter the park we can expect to see Mugger Crocodiles, which frequent the river banks and, as we explore the southern sector of the park, we should find plenty of Grey Langurs as we watch for mammals such as Sambar, Chital and, with luck, Leopard. Yala s birds are abundant too, with a fine mix of species to enjoy, from Indian Peafowl, Lesser Adjutant and Black-necked Stork through to Spot-billed Pelican and White-bellied Sea Eagle. Dry country birds include Pied and Grey-bellied Cuckoos, Small Minivet, the exceptionally spotty Yellow-crowned and the minute Brown-capped Woodpeckers, the recently-split Sri Lanka Woodshrike, and both Blue-faced and Sirkeer Malkohas - the latter looking remarkably mongoose-like as it runs between bushes! Marshall s Iora, a species only recently discovered in Sri Lanka, has now been found to be breeding in the park. We were lucky last time and will again hope to see this striking gem, although separating it from the more abundant Common Iora will be something of a challenge one to which we rose on our 2012 tour! As wildlife activity starts to wane towards dusk, we can try for Indian Nightjar. Nights at Tissa Days HILL COUNTRY; HORTON PLAINS & VICTORIA PARK Leaving the heat of the coastal lowlands behind, we shall welcome the more English climate of our next destination, Nuwara Eliya, where we should arrive in time for a late lunch. Set at an elevation of nearly 2000m, this famous hill-station is the hub of Sri Lanka s tea estates. Extensive areas of superb montane forest still remain, holding hill-forest specialities such as Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Sri Lanka White-eye, the extremely secretive Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Black-throated Munia, Dull Blue Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin and the shy Indian Blackbird. But we shall need to be out early next morning to have a chance of seeing what is regarded as the island s trickiest endemic, the rare Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. At nearby Horton Plains, a plateau of moorland inhabited by Pied Bushchats and Paddyfield Pipits, we can scan the forest slopes for Mountain Hawk-eagle or even a Black Eagle, the latter specialising in snatching Giant Squirrels from the tree canopy! We ll also visit Victoria Park in the middle of town, the haunt of montane forest specialities, including the stunning Kashmir Flycatcher and Pied Thrush which winter here, and the highland form of Purple-faced Langur, known as the Bear Monkey. Nights at Nuwara Eliya. Day 12 TO KANDY: PERADENIYA GARDENS & THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH After some optional pre-breakfast birding, we depart from Nuwara Eliya, and traverse the hill country to Kandy, stopping to investigate a working tea factory - for both tea and Hill Swallows! - before arriving at our hotel in Kandy for lunch. In the afternoon we shall visit the lovely Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. Here we shall be looking for Forest Wagtail, Common Hawk-cuckoo, Southern Hill Myna, Indian Pitta and our final endemic, Crimsonfronted Barbet. At dusk, a colony of Indian Flying-foxes comes to life, flapping out across the sunset and looking for all the world like nocturnal Rooks. Before dinner, we shall have time to visit the famous "Temple of the Tooth", Sri Lanka s most famous and important Buddhist site. Night at Kandy. Day 13 TO UDAWATAKELLE FOREST & SIGIRIYA We start the day with an early morning visit to Udawatakelle Forest, where we have further chances to look for Brown-capped Babbler, Gold-fronted Leafbird and other hill-forest birds, such as Crimsonbacked Flameback, Brown-breasted and Tickell s Blue Flycatchers, Stork-billed Kingfisher and that superb songster, the White-rumped Shama. If we are fortunate, we may encounter an Indian Blue Robin hopping along a forest trail, watch a Brown Fish Owl roosting by the lake or glimpse an Oriental Dwarf 6 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

7 Kingfisher as it streaks through the dank forest... but when they land they are one of Asia s brightest jewels! Later in the morning we leave for Sigiriya - a World Heritage Site for Culture and a superb birding spot in its own right - where we will arrive in time for lunch. Best known for the enormous 200m high rock that thrusts up out of the forest floor, for us the attraction will be the Shaheen Falcons, the distinctive Indian race of Peregrine, which have made the rock their home. We have an excellent chance of seeing this dramatic falcon. The nearby forest holds many birds typical of this region: Black-rumped Flameback, Sri Lanka Wood-shrike, Black-headed and Large Cuckoo-shrikes, Indian Pitta, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and White-bellied Sea-eagle, Changeable (Crested) Hawk Eagle, Crested Tree Swift, Tawny-bellied Babbler, and Indian and Grey-bellied Cuckoos are all possible here. As dusk falls, we shall look for Brown Fish Owl and Jerdon's Nightjar. Night at Sigiriya. Day 14 SIGIRIYA & NEGOMBO The birdlife at Sigiriya is always excellent and we will spend the morning here enjoying some more easy birding in this delightfully tranquil idyll, with chances to see anything from Rufous Woodpecker and Jerdon s Leafbird to Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Or perhaps to try for further views of the exotic Indian Pitta, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and elusive Orange-headed Thrush. (Please note that our visit to Sigiriya does not include a sightseeing trip to the World Heritage Site itself. However, if you would prefer to experience this rather than go birding at Sigiriya this morning, our guides will be happy to assist you in making arrangements for a sightseeing visit to the rock; fees for entry and guidance payable locally - not included in our tour price). After lunch at Sigiriya, we board our coach and head back west to Negombo, for a farewell dinner and overnight stay at a hotel convenient for Colombo airport. Night at Negombo. Day 15 FLY COLOMBO TO LONDON After an early breakfast this morning, we transfer to Colombo airport and catch the Emirates morning flight bound for Dubai with onward connection to London. Arrival back in London later the same day. Trip Information Group Size 12 participants & 2 leaders What to Expect This is primarily a birding tour, but mammals are a feature too, with chances of seeing Asian Elephant, Leopard and possibly Sloth Bear. As a bonus, our local guides are also keen lepidopterists and this can be a great trip for exotic butterflies - many with wonderful English names! Birds species Mammals species Accommodation At comfortable tourist hotels. Accommodation more rustic and remote for our two nights at Blue Magpie Lodge, where rooms are simply furnished. All rooms en suite throughout. Meals All included in the price. Food is good-excellent. Dinners usually at the hotels. Some breakfasts and some lunches will be picnics. Walking In common with all wildlife tours to the tropics, be prepared for early starts to get the best from key areas before the day heats up. Options to try for nightjars and owls some evenings. The walking effort 7 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

8 is mostly easy, but the going can be moderate at times along some forest trails. Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or boots, with stout soles and good grip required. Weather Tropical. Although hot and humid (22-33C) in the lowlands, for much of our time here we will be in the shade of the forest. Cooler and more pleasant early and late in the day. Cooler in the mountains, typically 10-20C, falling to below 10C at night with frost a possibility at Horton Plains before the sun warms the day! Rainfall is likely at any season. Flights We use the scheduled services of Emirates or similar from London to Colombo. Ground Transport By minicoach or minibus, switching to 4WD vehicle in some of the National Parks. Insects The usual tropical nuisances are present in Sri Lanka, of course. Mosquitoes: Sri Lanka lies within the malarial region of southern Asia. Away from the north of the island (which we do not visit on our tour), NaTHNaC assess the current risk of malaria as very low in Sri Lanka. Areas of risk can change however, so it is essential that you consult your doctor for the latest advice before you travel. Bring insect repellent. See also Health & Vaccinations section, p10 below. Leeches: expect to encounter leeches in the forests of the Wet Zone where, although harmless, their presence can be distracting! We strongly recommend that you bring with you a pair of leech socks, which will prevent leeches reaching the skin on your feet and lower legs. These are available from the Oriental Bird Club and other outlets on the internet. Photos Some good photographic opportunities (birds, mammals, butterflies and scenery) in more open country but generally difficult in the forested areas Tour Cost 2013 (Nov, 15 days): 2895 (inc flights from London) Deposit: 400 Single Supp: 325 Cost includes Return scheduled flights London-Colombo; all accommodation, meals, surface transport (including 4WD in the parks, as necessary), entrance fees and permits, tips, airport taxes, map, bird and mammal checklist, and services of the leaders and local guides. Cost excludes Insurance, visa costs, drinks & other items of a personal nature. As of 1 Jan 2012, all travellers to Sri Lanka must obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) online prior to travel - see Passport & Visa section, page 10 below. These trips will be operated in conjunction with The Travelling Naturalist 8 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

9 What You Say... Once again our Limosa trip did not disappoint on any level... Rod & Janet Bull, Sri Lanka tour... Both leaders excellent. A very enjoyable visit to a beautiful country. Much effort made to ensure we saw the birds... Nuala Simpson, Sri Lanka tour... Very happy with my first long-haul birding tour. Many thanks... John MacLean, Sri Lanka tour About Your Guides Brian Small Brian is a principal Limosa guide living in Suffolk with his wife and their teenage son. A teacher for 11 years, his true love has always been bird art and he now works full time on his illustrative work - when he s not away guiding for Limosa that is! He has travelled widely around the globe and is the inspiration behind a growing number of Limosa tours, including India for Tigers, Portugal and Madeira, Kuwait and Brazil. Brian s current artwork projects include work on major new guides to birds in Brazil and various parts of Africa. He has lately recovered from a previous affliction that saw him sifting through gull flocks on the local pig fields (something of a solitary occupation we re told!), and he now concentrates on his local patch at Southwold, on the Suffolk coast, where he searches especially for migrants. Brimming with infectious enthusiasm, Brian has been guiding our tours since 2002 and quickly acquired his own Limosa fan club. He regularly joins our guided BirdWalks in Norfolk and Suffolk. Our 2013 tour to Sri Lanka will be Brian s 5th visit to the Indian subcontinent and his 2nd to Sri Lanka. Our expert local naturalist guides in Sri Langa are Tharanga Herath and Dammithra Samarasinghe: Tharanga Herath Tharanga is a Sri Lankan wildlife artist, photographer, naturalist and researcher. He got into birding and wildlife studies at an early age, almost 20 years ago, and now works as a professional birdwatching and wildlife guide for our specialist local agents in Sri Lanka. An active member of several conservation organizations in Sri Lanka, he has led several wildlife research projects there in addition to being an instructor for a bird study group. Tharanga has published several articles on the birds, marine and other wildlife of Sri Lanka, and holds a bachelor s degree in Fisheries and Marine Science. As a professional wildlife artist in Sri Lanka, he has illustrated several publications and a selection of his artwork can be viewed on his website. Dammithra Samarasinghe Dammi for short is an experienced Sri Lankan birdwatching and wildlife guide employed by our specialist local agents. He holds a diploma in Biodiversity Management from Colombo University and is an excellent all-round naturalist, with a specialist knowledge of the islands birds, butterflies and ferns. He combines a sharp eye with an enormous fund of expertise which he delights in sharing with visitors to his country. He is also a gifted photographer and his portraits of Sri Lankan butterflies were featured in an exhibition entitled Silent Wings. Dammi lives in Kandy with his wife and young family. 9 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

10 Limosa Loyalty Discount The success of our business is built upon repeat custom and our Frequent Travel Discount is one way of saying thank you to all who travel regularly with us. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their fifth trip*. Or you can opt to save your discounts up and carry them forward to claim a 10% discount on your 10th trip. The choice is yours - but do please remember to request your discount at time of booking! * Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commission-based trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How to Book Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information found at the back of our current brochure or on our website. Book Online: You can book swiftly and securely online via our website: Book By Post: Please complete both sides of the Booking Form, remembering to sign and date the reverse please. Mail this to us, together with the appropriate Booking Deposit (see above). Telephone bookings: We are happy to accept bookings by telephone and will hold a place for you on a provisional basis for up to 14 days to allow time for your booking form and deposit to reach us by mail. Payments Deposits: The amount of deposit per person is shown above. We accept payment by cheque (drawn in GB Pounds Sterling) and debit card. We also accept most major credit cards (not AmEx). Final Balance: Full payment of the balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure. We will send you an invoice at about this time. We accept payment for final balances by cheque or debit card. Card Charges: Due to escalating credit card charges we are no longer able to absorb the cost of these. A 2% commission charge is made on any final balance paid by credit card, but not on deposits nor on payments made by debit card. Late Bookings In order for us to guarantee airline seats, hotels etc for you, full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). When to Book This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions. And the short answer is as early as possible! Accommodation and flights are much more easily secured well in advance - and there is nothing more frustrating than to know that on paper space is still available on the tour but that hotels and/or flights are full. To encourage early booking therefore, we are pleased to offer an Early Booking Discount - see our current brochure for details. 10 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

11 Our tours are limited to small group sizes, so they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out. It's not unusual to find trips are fully booked around four to six months in advance. Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected late cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks time! Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas All participants must be in possession of a valid passport. Passports must have a minimum of 6 months validity beyond your intended date of return home. A VISA IS REQUIRED for this tour. Note that the old visa system has been replaced by an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). All travellers to Sri Lanka need to go online PRIOR TO TRAVEL to obtain their ETA. With effect from 1 Jan 2013, a fee of US $30 per person is payable online at the time. To access the Sri Lanka ETA website, go to: Holders of non-uk passports should contact their nearest Sri Lankan embassy or consulate to check whether or not they require a visa/s. If a visa/s is required, you will need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an all-inclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None (but yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from infected areas.) Recommended immunisations: polio, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A. Consult your doctor for up-todate advice regarding diphtheria, hepatitis B, Japanese B encephalitis and TB, which may also be recommended in some circumstances. Malaria: Away from the north of the island (which we do not visit on our tour), NaTHNaC assess the current risk of malaria as very low in Sri Lanka. However, please note that areas of risk can change so, again, you must consult your doctor for the latest advice. The above information (together with that contained in our Travel Information sheets - sent to everyone who books) outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-the minute health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC promotes standards in travel medicine, providing travel health information for health professionals and the public, and is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency. Your Safety & Travel Advice Risks to your safety and security are an unavoidable aspect of all travel. The best current advice on such risks is provided for you by the UK s Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice unit. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice to all participants along with their Final Tour Letter (2-4 weeks prior to the trip). 11 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

12 Know Before You Go is a travel safety campaign run by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). It encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the FCO website - both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. Follow the Know Before You Go link or call Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before departing on any overseas trip - and is to be much recommended for UK holidays as well. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all participants must be fully and adequately covered by insurance before setting out on holiday. Your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We strongly recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Be aware that Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under new Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, please note we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries, bird lists, trip reports and the latest Limosa News. It also has useful Links to the FCO and other websites. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the 12 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see:

13 vehicle, at meal times, while watching wildlife and when otherwise in close company of fellow participants. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by fax and . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and look forward to hearing from you again! revck Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) Or see: