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Limosa Holidays Tour Report 2015 ,Led by Our Director/ Bird Tour Leader Tharanga Herath as local Tour Leader

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A Tour Report, led by OrnithVacations Tour Leader/Director Tharanga Herath.
http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-4.html…

Limosa Holidays,UK 2016 Sri Lanka Tour Report,

OrnithVacations Director/Tour Leader Tharanga Herath as Local Tour Leader.

Endemic Birds Of Sri Lanka

4.Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum)

This endemic is an uncommon species seen from lowlands to high hills of the wet zone. it is an barred small owlet,in  size of a collard scopes owl and similar to Jungle Owlet except the bright Chestnut Colour on its back,scapulars and wing coverts.  
This shy owlet prefers tops of the tall trees, and very diurnal in its behavior and sometimes seen hunting and calling in day light too. It mainly feeds on Insects,Mice, small lizards, and birds. Breeding season occurs from March to May and lays about 02 glossy white eggs in a hole of a tree trunk or a limb.

Coloration /ID

About 20 am in size. Bright Chestnut back,scapulars and wing coverts. White underparts with heavily streaked with blackish streaks. Head dark brown and barred with whitish. Feet pale yellow and irides Bright Yellow.

 

Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka

3. Serendib Scops Owl- Otus thilohoffmanni

Serendib Scops owl is a recent addition to Sri Lanka's endemic list and a very rare and elusive species found in wet low lands up to mid hills.
This small owl is well camouflaged in his uniform rufous colour upper parts with tiny black spots and orange/yellow eyes.
This species is nocturnal and territorial, and prefers dense forests. Seen in Pairs or single .when exited it forms a false ear tufts but not seen while resting.
Call is soft and short but far caring.
This species is listed as globally threatened

Colouration/ID

Rufous upper parts with tiny black spots, under parts pale rufous with black spots, Whitish Bill, and Pinkish white legs. Face is also Rufous but misses the black markings. Ear tufts are seen only when exited or in alert. Eyes Orange or Yellow
Juveniles and females got Yellow Iris while males got orange.

Our Tour Leaders - Chaminda Dilruk

Chaminda is a well-known name in bird tour circles and has been in bird tours field for about 18 years. He has a great reputation specially in locating and spotting elusive bird species, including one of the most looked for Serendib Scops Owl. With a long held full time wilderness experience and expertise as a guide, OrnithVacations is proud to receive his service. Chaminda would be an excellent companion for anyone who is willing to traverse anywhere in Sri Lanka looking for all these elusive birds.
We highly recommend him as your tour leader, as he would make your visit a great success. 

Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka 

2.Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot ( Ceylon Lorikeet) - 

loriculus beryllinus

This very little parrot (14cm) is a fairly common species in wet lowlands to mid hills, and restricted to the foot hills, of Sri Lanka.You can hear their high frequency call, made by flying birds, while walking in forested areas . This species Mostly prefers to be  paired or seen single and seen resting up side down on branches like bats in wooded areas.
Lorikeets mostly feeds on Fruits and seeds there are records of them found dead inside local toddy pots as they are fond of drinking toddy.
They make nests in holes of the tree trunks,mainly in March to June and also in August and September.
 
Coloration/ID
Adult male has a crimson crown, Golden tinged nape,blue throat,orange cast to mantle,Crimson rump and upper tail-coverts and a orange bill. The  females are little duller in colors and less blue on throat. Juveniles has more green on the head and no blue on throat at all.Tail is short and rather square in shape. 


Hanging Parrot is surly a joyful sight to a bird watcher.

 

This beautiful and very photogenic species is also one of the highlights in our birding tours. 

                     Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is rich with 34 endemic Bird species and We are planning on a series of articles about the endemic Birds of Sri Lanka  and This is the First One of it.

01. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata)

Perfectly colored Sri Lanka Blue magpie is an Medium sized  omnivorous bird with strong bill and feet, found in wet zone and mountain forests of Sri Lanka .
 Even though it is not very common, you will hear it's very  loud noisy, far carrying calls when a bird is available around  and mostly found in pairs or small groups.This species show very social behaviors, hopping through the foliage, seeking food and also can be seen feeding on the ground.
Nesting/Breeding season occurs from January to May and nesting high in forest trees.

Colouration/ID-
Cobalt Blue Body, Chestnut colour head,neck and wings and Red Bill. Long blue tail with black and then white tip. Red eye-ring.
Sexes alike.
Juveniles are paler and shorter tailed.

Global Status-
Endemic to Sri Lanka and Globally Threatened

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Few highlights from our endemic Tours

Sri Lanka is home to 34 beautiful endemic Bird Species,which mostly  distributed in the wet zone rain forests of the island.Ornithvacations has an tailor made 10 Days endemic finder tour, which we mainly target these endemics, while watching other wonderful resident and migrant bird species.

We also have 08 days short visit birding trip, for those who cannot afford 10 or 14 days but still want to see these beauties.

Please Visit our website www.ornithvacations.com for more info or inquire via info@ornithvacations.com 

extremely colourful Sri Lanka Blue Magpie

Serendib Scops Owl. A rare addition to Sri Lankan endemic list,but usually seen in our Tours

Sri Lanka Hill Myna

Beautiful Kashmir Flycatcher is rarely seen at Motherland and a rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka and a usual sight at our  tours.

Lorikeet or Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot

Chestnut-backed Owlet