South India & Sri Lanka birding trip report 2010


South India & Sri Lanka 10 Feb. - 2 March 2010
Birding trip report - John van der Woude - www.jvanderw.nl

1. text report with maps and species list (this page) 2. photos of birding sites South India 3. photos of birding sites Sri Lanka 4. for photos of cultural highlights in South India (Mysore, Belur, Halebid), click here
On this well-guided private trip we saw all 27 endemics of the Western Ghats of South India and all 33 endemics of Sri Lanka. In South India we were guided by Jijo Mathew of Kalypso (www.birdskerala.com, contact mr. Thomas Zacharias) with Prasad as driver, and in Sri Lanka we were guided and driven by Sunil de Awis of Baur's (http://travel.baurs.com/bird_watching.htm; note 2012: at present Sunil is free lance, contact him at sunil.de152 at gmail.com). Obviously, as we saw all endemcics, I can recommend both guides. Jijo is an energetic and lively man, who not only helped us to find the Western Ghats endemics, but also practically all the semi-endemics shared by South India and Sri Lanka. So in Sri Lanka we could fully concentrate on the endemics of that island, and Sunil is a master in finding them. Gladly, both Prasad in India and Sunil in Sri Lanka were careful drivers. In general, the accommodation was very reasonable and the food very nice. Mostly, beer was available too. We had no health problems, and there were practically no leeches. We had brillliant weather all the time.
We flew with Emirates airlines from Düsseldorf (Amsterdam was not yet possible then) to Dubai, where we took a three-day stopover to find some lifers in the desert and on the coast (see report). From Dubai we flew directly to Kochi/Cochin where the Western Ghats endemics tour normally (and ideally) starts. This trip ended near Mysore, and in stead of driving back to Kochi we drove on, along some stunning cultural highlights of India, towards Bangalore. From Bangalore we had a Sri Lankan Airlines flight to Colombo, where the Sri Lanka endemics tour starts and ends. From Colombo we flew back to Düsseldorf via Dubai, with Emirates again. The four-leg Emirates flight was 750 euro pp, and the one-leg Sri Lankan flight 80 euro pp.
Both tours had roughly the same structure (see also the regional maps below): first a few days in the moist tropical lowlands (India: Thattekad; Sri Lanka: Kitulgala), then the moist hill region (India: Munnar; Sri Lanka: Sinharadja), then via a drier-climate zone (India: Chinnar reserve; Sri Lanka: Tissa) to the mountains (India: Ooty; Sri Lanka: Nuwara Elyia). The dry zone has only a few endemics (India: 2; Sri Lanka: 1), and in India we stayed there very shortly, but in Sri Lanka we chose to stay there longer in order to see coastal birds and the wildlife of the beautiful Yala national park. For a detailed description of the standard endemics tours, see the websites of Kalypso and Baurs.
More details of how we fared at the different birding sites are given in the photo sections (South India, Sri Lanka). For the species list, see below.

Our flights for this combined trip. 1, 2, 4 and 5 with Emirates, 3 with Sri Lankan Airways.
Western Ghats endemics trip plus a few 'culture days' (10 - 19 Feb. 2010): 1. airport of Kochi/Cochin 2. Thattekad - moist tropical lowlands 3. Munnar - moist hill region 4. Chinnar wildlife sanctuary - dry climate zone 5. Ooty - highlands 6. Mudumalai NP (briefly, roadside; end of endemics trip) 7. Mysore - Maharadja palace 8. Sravanabelgola - Jain statue 9. Belur and Halebid - Hoysala temples 10. airport of Bangalore
Sri Lanka endemics trip (20 Feb - 1 March 2010): 1. Colombo airport 2. Kitulgala - moist tropical lowlands 3. Sinharadja - moist hill region 4. Tissa + Yala & Bundala national parks - dry climate zone 5. Nuwara Eliya highlands (+ Horton Plains NP) 6. Kandy
Species list (all species seen; names according to IOC) sIn = South India sIn = Western Ghats endemic SL = Sri Lanka SL = Sri Lanka endemic For all lifers also the birding site is given (last column). This is always the first site where we saw it, and for most species also the only site, and for the endemics practically always the classical site to see it.
South India: Tha = Thattekad Mun = Munnar Chi = Chinnar & other dry areas Oot = Ooty	Sri Lanka: Kit = Kitulgala Sin = Sinharadja Tis = Tissa NaE = Nuwara Eliya	Status: LC = of least concern NT = near-threatened VU = vulnerable EN = endangered
status country site Perdicula erythrorhyncha LC Painted Bush Quail sIn Mun Galloperdix spadicea LC Red Spurfowl sIn Tha Galloperdix bicalcarata LC Sri Lanka Spurfowl SL Sin Gallus sonneratii LC Grey Junglefowl sIn Tha Gallus lafayetii LC Sri Lanka Junglefowl SL Kit Pavo cristatus LC Indian Peafowl sIn SL Dendrocygna javanica LC Lesser Whistling Duck sIn SL Tadorna ferruginea LC Ruddy Shelduck SL Nettapus coromandelianus LC Cotton Pygmy Goose sIn SL Anas poecilorhyncha LC Indian Spot-billed Duck sIn Anas clypeata LC Northern Shoveler sIn Anas querquedula LC Garganey SL Tachybaptus ruficollis LC Little Grebe sIn SL Mycteria leucocephala NT Painted Stork SL Anastomus oscitans LC Asian Openbill SL Ciconia episcopus LC Woolly-necked Stork sIn SL Threskiornis melanocephalusNT Black-headed Ibis sIn SL Pseudibis papillosa LC Red-naped Ibis sIn Platalea leucorodia LC Eurasian Spoonbill SL Ixobrychus sinensis LC Yellow Bittern SL Dupetor flavicollis LC Black Bittern SL Tis Nycticorax nycticorax LC Black-crowned Night Heron SL Ardeola grayii LC Indian Pond Heron sIn SL Bubulcus ibis LC Western Cattle Egret sIn SL Ardea cinerea LC Grey Heron sIn SL Ardea purpurea LC Purple Heron sIn SL Ardea alba LC Western Great Egret sIn Egretta intermedia LC Intermediate Egret sIn SL Egretta garzetta LC Little Egret sIn SL Egretta gularis LC Western Reef Heron sIn Pelecanus philippensis NT Spot-billed Pelican sIn SL Microcarbo niger LC Little Cormorant sIn SL Phalacrocorax fuscicollis LC Indian Cormorant sIn Anhinga melanogaster NT Oriental Darter sIn SL Aviceda leuphotes LC Black Baza sIn Pernis ptilorhynchus LC Crested Honey Buzzard sIn SL Elanus caeruleus LC Black-winged Kite SL Milvus migrans LC Black Kite sIn Haliastur indus LC Brahminy Kite sIn SL Haliaeetus leucogaster LC White-bellied Sea Eagle SL Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus NT Grey-headed Fish Eagle SL Spilornis cheela LC Crested Serpent Eagle sIn SL Circus aeruginosus LC Western Marsh Harrier sIn Circus macrourus NT Pallid Harrier sIn Circus pygargus LC Montagu's Harrier sIn Accipiter trivirgatus LC Crested Goshawk sIn Accipiter badius LC Shikra sIn SL Accipiter virgatus LC Besra sIn SL Accipiter nisus LC Eurasian Sparrowhawk sIn Buteo vulpinus Steppe Buzzard sIn Ictinaetus malayensis LC Black Eagle sIn SL Aquila fasciata LC Bonelli's Eagle sIn Hieraaetus pennatus LC Booted Eagle SL Lophotriorchis kienerii LC Rufous-bellied Eagle sIn Chi Nisaetus cirrhatus LC Crested Hawk-Eagle SL Nisaetus kelaarti Legge's Hawk-Eagle sIn Mun Falco tinnunculus LC Common Kestrel sIn Amaurornis phoenicurus LC White-breasted Waterhen SL Porphyrio porphyrio LC Purple Swamphen sIn SL Gallinula chloropus LC Common Moorhen sIn SL Fulica atra LC Eurasian Coot sIn Turnix suscitator LC Barred Buttonquail SL Burhinus oedicnemus LC Eurasian Stone-curlew SL Esacus recurvirostris LC Great Stone-curlew SL Himantopus himantopus LC Black-winged Stilt SL Vanellus malabaricus LC Yellow-wattled Lapwing sIn SL Vanellus indicus LC Red-wattled Lapwing SL Pluvialis fulva LC Pacific Golden Plover SL Pluvialis squatarola LC Grey Plover SL Charadrius dubius LC Little Ringed Plover SL Charadrius alexandrinus LC Kentish Plover SL Charadrius mongolus LC Lesser Sand Plover SL Charadrius leschenaultii LC Greater Sand Plover SL Rostratula benghalensis LC Greater Painted Snipe sIn Hydrophasianus chirurgus LC Pheasant-tailed Jacana sIn SL Metopidius indicus LC Bronze-winged Jacana sIn Limosa limosa NT Black-tailed Godwit SL Numenius arquata LC Eurasian Curlew SL Tringa totanus LC Common Redshank SL Tringa stagnatilis LC Marsh Sandpiper SL Tringa nebularia LC Common Greenshank SL Tringa ochropus LC Green Sandpiper sIn SL Tringa glareola LC Wood Sandpiper sIn SL Actitis hypoleucos LC Common Sandpiper sIn SL Arenaria interpres LC Ruddy Turnstone SL Calidris minuta LC Little Stint SL Calidris ferruginea LC Curlew Sandpiper SL Phalaropus lobatus LC Red-necked Phalarope SL Glareola lactea LC Small Pratincole SL Chroicocephalus brunnicephaLC Brown-headed Gull SL Gelochelidon nilotica LC Gull-billed Tern SL Hydroprogne caspia LC Caspian Tern SL Thalasseus bengalensis LC Lesser Crested Tern SL Sternula albifrons LC Little Tern SL Sterna aurantia LC River Tern sIn Chlidonias hybrida LC Whiskered Tern sIn SL Columba livia LC Common Pigeon sIn SL Columba elphinstonii VU Nilgiri Wood Pigeon sIn Mun Columba torringtoniae VU Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon SL NaE Stigmatopelia chinensis LC Spotted Dove sIn SL Stigmatopelia senegalensis LC Laughing Dove sIn Chalcophaps indica LC Common Emerald Dove sIn SL Treron bicinctus LC Orange-breasted Green Pigeon SL Tis Treron pompadora LC Sri Lanka Green Pigeon SL Kit Treron affinis Grey-fronted Green Pigeon sIn Tha Treron phoenicopterus LC Yellow-footed Green Pigeon sIn Ducula aenea LC Green Imperial Pigeon sIn SL Loriculus vernalis LC Vernal Hanging Parrot sIn Loriculus beryllinus LC Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot SL Kit Psittacula eupatria LC Alexandrine Parakeet SL Psittacula krameri LC Rose-ringed Parakeet sIn SL Psittacula cyanocephala LC Plum-headed Parakeet sIn Psittacula columboides LC Blue-winged Parakeet sIn Tha (1) Psittacula calthropae LC Layard's Parakeet SL Kit Centropus chlororhynchos VU Green-billed Coucal SL Kit Centropus sinensis LC Greater Coucal sIn SL Taccocua leschenaultii LC Sirkeer Malkoha SL Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalVU Red-faced Malkoha SL Sin Phaenicophaeus viridirostriLC Blue-faced Malkoha sIn SL Chi Eudynamys scolopaceus LC Asian Koel sIn SL Cacomantis passerinus LC Grey-bellied Cuckoo sIn SL Chi Surniculus lugubris LC Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo sIn Hierococcyx varius LC Common Hawk-Cuckoo sIn Tha Phodilus assimilis Sri Lanka Bay Owl sIn Tha Otus thilohoffmanni EN Serendib Scops Owl SL Kit Otus bakkamoena LC Indian Scops Owl sIn Tha Ketupa zeylonensis LC Brown Fish Owl sIn Strix ocellata LC Mottled Wood Owl sIn Tha Glaucidium radiatum LC Jungle Owlet sIn Glaucidium castanonotum NT Chestnut-backed Owlet SL Kit Ninox scutulata LC Brown Hawk-Owl sIn Batrachostomus moniliger LC Sri Lanka Frogmouth sIn SL Tha Eurostopodus macrotis LC Great Eared Nightjar sIn Caprimulgus atripennis LC Jerdon's Nightjar sIn Tha Caprimulgus asiaticus LC Indian Nightjar SL Tis Hemiprocne coronata LC Crested Treeswift SL Aerodramus unicolor LC Indian Swiftlet sIn SL Tha Zoonavena sylvatica LC White-rumped Spinetail sIn Hirundapus giganteus LC Brown-backed Needletail sIn SL Cypsiurus balasiensis LC Asian Palm Swift sIn SL Tachymarptis melba LC Alpine Swift sIn SL Apus affinis LC Little Swift sIn SL Harpactes fasciatus LC Malabar Trogon sIn SL Tha Coracias benghalensis LC Indian Roller sIn SL Eurystomus orientalis LC Oriental Dollarbird sIn Pelargopsis capensis LC Stork-billed Kingfisher sIn SL Halcyon smyrnensis LC White-throated Kingfisher sIn SL Alcedo atthis LC Common Kingfisher sIn SL Ceryle rudis LC Pied Kingfisher sIn SL Merops orientalis LC Green Bee-eater sIn SL Merops philippinus LC Blue-tailed Bee-eater sIn SL Merops leschenaulti LC Chestnut-headed Bee-eater sIn SL Upupa epops LC Eurasian Hoopoe SL Ocyceros griseus LC Malabar Grey Hornbill sIn Tha Ocyceros gingalensis LC Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill SL Kit Ocyceros birostris LC Indian Grey Hornbill sIn Anthracoceros coronatus NT Malabar Pied Hornbill SL Tis Megalaima zeylanica LC Brown-headed Barbet sIn SL Megalaima viridis LC White-cheeked Barbet sIn Tha Megalaima flavifrons LC Yellow-fronted Barbet SL Kit Megalaima rubricapillus LC Crimson-fronted Barbet SL Kit (2) Megalaima malabarica Malabar Barbet sIn Mun Megalaima haemacephala LC Coppersmith Barbet sIn SL Dendrocopos nanus LC Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker sIn SL Tha Dendrocopos mahrattensis LC Yellow-crowned Woodpecker SL Picus chlorolophus LC Lesser Yellownape sIn Dinopium benghalense LC Lesser Goldenback sIn Chrysocolaptes lucidus LC Greater Goldenback sIn Chrysocolaptes stricklandi Crimson-backed Goldenback SL Kit (3) Hemicircus canente LC Heart-spotted Woodpecker sIn Pitta brachyura LC Indian Pitta sIn SL Tha Tephrodornis sylvicola Malabar Woodshrike sIn Tha Tephrodornis affinis Sri Lanka Woodshrike SL Tis Artamus fuscus LC Ashy Woodswallow sIn SL Aegithina tiphia LC Common Iora sIn SL Coracina macei LC Large Cuckooshrike sIn Coracina melanoptera LC Black-headed Cuckooshrike sIn SL Tis Pericrocotus cinnamomeus LC Small Minivet sIn SL Pericrocotus flammeus LC Orange Minivet sIn SL Lanius cristatus LC Brown Shrike sIn SL Lanius schach LC Long-tailed Shrike sIn Oriolus kundoo Indian Golden Oriole sIn Tha Oriolus chinensis LC Black-naped Oriole sIn Oriolus xanthornus LC Black-hooded Oriole sIn SL Dicrurus macrocercus LC Black Drongo sIn SL Dicrurus leucophaeus LC Ashy Drongo sIn Dicrurus caerulescens LC White-bellied Drongo sIn SL Dicrurus aeneus LC Bronzed Drongo sIn Dicrurus remifer LC Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo sIn Dicrurus lophorinus Sri Lanka Drongo SL sev Rhipidura albicollis LC White-throated Fantail sIn Rhipidura aureola LC White-browed Fantail SL Hypothymis azurea LC Black-naped Monarch sIn SL Terpsiphone paradisi LC Asian Paradise Flycatcher sIn SL Urocissa ornata VU Sri Lanka Blue Magpie SL Sin Dendrocitta vagabunda LC Rufous Treepie sIn Dendrocitta leucogastra LC White-bellied Treepie sIn Tha Corvus splendens LC House Crow sIn SL Corvus culminatus Indian Jungle Crow sIn SL Tha Culicicapa ceylonensis LC Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher sIn Parus major LC Great Tit sIn SL Parus aplonotus Indian Black-lored Tit sIn Mun Mirafra affinis LC Jerdon's Bush Lark sIn SL Chi Galerida malabarica LC Malabar Lark sIn Mysore Eremopterix griseus LC Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark sIn SL Pycnonotus priocephalus LC Grey-headed Bulbul sIn Mun Pycnonotus melanicterus LC Black-capped Bulbul SL Kit Pycnonotus flaviventris Black-crested Bulbul sIn Pycnonotus gularis Flame-throated Bulbul sIn Tha Pycnonotus jocosus LC Red-whiskered Bulbul sIn Pycnonotus cafer LC Red-vented Bulbul sIn Pycnonotus xantholaemus VU Yellow-throated Bulbul sIn Chi Pycnonotus penicillatus NT Yellow-eared Bulbul SL NaE Pycnonotus luteolus LC White-browed Bulbul sIn Tha Acritillas indica LC Yellow-browed Bulbul sIn SL Tha Hypsipetes ganeesa Square-tailed Bulbul sIn SL Mun (4) Hirundo rustica LC Barn Swallow sIn SL Hirundo domicola LC Hill Swallow sIn SL Mun Ptyonoprogne concolor LC Dusky Crag Martin sIn Cecropis daurica LC Red-rumped Swallow sIn Cecropis hyperythra Sri Lanka Swallow SL sev Phylloscopus affinis LC Tickell's Leaf Warbler sIn Phylloscopus nitidus Green Warbler SL NaE Phylloscopus trochiloides LC Greenish Warbler sIn Phylloscopus magnirostris LC Large-billed Leaf Warbler sIn Tha Phylloscopus tytleri NT Tytler's Leaf Warbler sIn Mun Acrocephalus stentoreus LC Clamorous Reed Warbler SL Acrocephalus dumetorum LC Blyth's Reed Warbler sIn SL Iduna aedon LC Thick-billed Warbler sIn Tha Iduna caligata LC Booted Warbler sIn Schoenicola platyurus VU Broad-tailed Grassbird sIn Mun Elaphrornis palliseri NT Sri Lanka Bush Warbler SL NaE Cisticola juncidis LC Zitting Cisticola SL Prinia hodgsonii LC Grey-breasted Prinia sIn Prinia socialis LC Ashy Prinia sIn SL Prinia inornata LC Plain Prinia sIn SL Orthotomus sutorius LC Common Tailorbird sIn SL Pellorneum fuscocapillus LC Brown-capped Babbler SL Kit Pomatorhinus horsfieldii LC Indian Scimitar Babbler sIn Mun Pomatorhinus melanurus Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler SL Sin Rhopocichla atriceps LC Dark-fronted Babbler sIn SL Tha Turdoides subrufa LC Rufous Babbler sIn Tha Turdoides striata LC Jungle Babbler sIn Turdoides rufescens NT Orange-billed Babbler SL Kit Turdoides affinis LC Yellow-billed Babbler sIn SL Tha Garrulax cinereifrons VU Ashy-headed Laughingthrush SL Sin Garrulax delesserti LC Wynaad Laughingthrush sIn Tha Garrulax cachinnans EN Black-chinned Laughingthrush sIn Oot (5) Garrulax fairbanki NT Kerala Laughingthrush sIn Mun Sylvia curruca LC Lesser Whitethroat sIn Zosterops palpebrosus LC Oriental White-eye sIn SL Zosterops ceylonensis LC Sri Lanka White-eye SL NaE Irena puella LC Asian Fairy-bluebird sIn Sitta frontalis LC Velvet-fronted Nuthatch sIn SL Gracula ptilogenys NT Sri Lanka Hill Myna SL Sin Gracula religiosa LC Common Hill Myna SL Gracula indica Southern Hill Myna sIn Tha Acridotheres fuscus LC Jungle Myna sIn Acridotheres tristis LC Common Myna sIn SL Sturnia blythii Malabar Starling sIn Tha Sturnia pagodarum LC Brahminy Starling sIn Sturnornis albofrontatus VU White-faced Starling SL Sin Pastor roseus LC Rosy Starling SL Myophonus blighi EN Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush SL NaE Myophonus horsfieldii LC Malabar Whistling Thrush sIn Mun Zoothera wardii LC Pied Thrush SL NaE Zoothera citrina LC Orange-headed Thrush sIn Zoothera spiloptera NT Spot-winged Thrush SL Kit Zoothera neilgherriensis Nilgiri Thrush sIn Oot Zoothera imbricata NT Sri Lanka Thrush SL Sin (6) Turdus simillimus Indian Blackbird sIn SL Mun Luscinia brunnea LC Indian Blue Robin sIn Mun Copsychus saularis LC Oriental Magpie-Robin sIn SL Copsychus malabaricus LC White-rumped Shama SL Saxicoloides fulicatus LC Indian Robin sIn SL Myiomela major VU Nilgiri Blue Robin sIn Oot Myiomela albiventris White-bellied Blue Robin sIn Mun Saxicola caprata LC Pied Bush Chat sIn SL Monticola solitarius LC Blue Rock Thrush sIn Monticola cinclorhynchus LC Blue-capped Rock Thrush sIn Mun Muscicapa dauurica LC Asian Brown Flycatcher sIn Muscicapa muttui LC Brown-breasted Flycatcher sIn SL Tha Muscicapa ruficauda LC Rusty-tailed Flycatcher sIn Tha Ficedula subrubra VU Kashmir Flycatcher SL NaE Ficedula nigrorufa NT Black-and-orange Flycatcher sIn Mun Eumyias sordidus NT Dull-blue Flycatcher SL NaE Eumyias albicaudatus NT Nilgiri Flycatcher sIn Mun Cyornis pallipes LC White-bellied Blue Flycatcher sIn Tha Cyornis tickelliae LC Tickell's Blue Flycatcher SL Cyornis rubeculoides LC Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher sIn Chloropsis sonnerati LC Greater Green Leafbird sIn Chloropsis jerdoni LC Jerdon's Leafbird sIn Tha Chloropsis aurifrons LC Golden-fronted Leafbird SL Dicaeum vincens NT Legge's Flowerpecker SL Kit Dicaeum erythrorhynchos LC Pale-billed Flowerpecker SL Dicaeum concolor LC Nilgiri Flowerpecker sIn Tha Leptocoma zeylonica LC Purple-rumped Sunbird sIn SL Tha Leptocoma minima LC Crimson-backed Sunbird sIn Tha (7) Cinnyris asiaticus LC Purple Sunbird sIn SL Cinnyris lotenius LC Loten's Sunbird SL Kit Arachnothera longirostra LC Little Spiderhunter sIn Passer domesticus LC House Sparrow sIn SL Gymnoris xanthocollis LC Yellow-throated Sparrow sIn Ploceus manyar LC Streaked Weaver SL Tis Ploceus philippinus LC Baya Weaver SL Amandava amandava LC Red Avadavat sIn Euodice malabarica LC Indian Silverbill sIn Lonchura striata LC White-rumped Munia SL Lonchura punctulata LC Scaly-breasted Munia SL Lonchura kelaarti LC Black-throated Munia SL NaE Lonchura malacca LC Tricolored Munia SL Kit Dendronanthus indicus LC Forest Wagtail SL Motacilla flava LC Western Yellow Wagtail SL Motacilla cinerea LC Grey Wagtail sIn SL Motacilla maderaspatensis LC White-browed Wagtail sIn Anthus richardi LC Richard's Pipit SL Anthus rufulus LC Paddyfield Pipit sIn SL Anthus nilghiriensis NT Nilgiri Pipit sIn Mun Carpodacus erythrinus LC Common Rosefinch sIn Alternative names: (1) Malabar Parakeet (2) Small Barbet (3) Crimson-backed Flameback (4) Black Bulbul (split) (5) Nilgiri Laughingthrush (6) Ceylon Scaly Thrush (7) Small Sunbird

See also: 2. photos of birding sites South India 3. photos of birding sites Sri Lanka