2025
Looking at a map, Sri Lanka appears like a large teardrop falling into the ocean from the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. This verdant and beautiful island attracts many visitors, and for the bird photographer, the country's 30+ endemic bird species are of particular interest. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia will be concentrating on obtaining high-quality photographic images of around 20 of these endemic species including the possibility for close photographic encounters with the secretive Sri Lanka Spurfowl, the spectacular Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the tiny Sri Lankan White-eye and the splendid Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill.
Endemics: 15+
Raptors: Changeable Hawk Eagle / Crested Serpent Eagle / Grey-headed Fish Eagle / White-bellied Sea Eagle / Shikra / Osprey
Bee-eaters: Blue-tailed Bee-eater / Asian Green Bee-eater / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Owls: Brown Hawk Owl / Brown Fish Owl / Serendib Scops Owl / Indian Scops Owls / Collared Scops Owl / Chestnut-backed Owlet / Jungle Owlet
Nightjars / Frogmouths: Indian Nightjar / Jerdon’s Nightjars / Sri Lanka Frogmouth
Waterbirds: Oriental Darter / Spot-billed Pelican / Painted Stork / Woolly-necked Stork
Others: Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill / Malabar Pied Hornbill / Indian Pitta / Rose-ringed Parakeet
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Day 1-2 West Province (1N / 0D / 1S). Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Targets: Fulvous Whistling Duck / Asian Openbill / Purple Heron.
Days 19-20 West Province (1N / 0D / 1S). Drive 4-5 hours 170-km to Western Province for international departures from Colombo.
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Nick, a UK National, has been living in Asia for over 15-years and in this time has conducted over 125 bird photography trips across the whole of the Asian continent ranging from Kazakhstan in the west, through India and China to Japan in the east, and from the Kamchatka coastline in the north to as far south as Indonesia. In China alone Nick has photographed to portrait-quality standard over 1,200 of China's bird species taking him to all of China's provinces as well as most of those nations bordering China. These bird photography trips have ranged in length from a few days to many months, including a three-month bird photography expedition to China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, becoming quite possibly the most travelled foreigner in this region over the past decade. Nick has also conducted a four-month bird photography trek across the Himalayas, ranging from the Indian States of Ladakh and Kashmir in the west, into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, then onto the Indian States of West Bengal and Sikkim, ending in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the eastern Himalayas. Nick has had his images published across numerous media channels including the BBC and Chinese state-owned media outlets, various bird magazines and journals including the Oriental Bird Club's BirdingASIA. He has his own website on the Birds of China at www.BirdingInChina.com and his book 'Portraits of the Birds of China' is due for publication in 2026. Furthermore, Nick has presented films on photographing birds both in Asia and Europe, has his bird images published across many social media platforms within and outside Asia, and has led a number of bird photography lectures and walks, particularly targeted at children. Consequently, Nick has accumulated significant experience of photographing birds within the Asian continent and this expertise has formed the backdrop to setting up Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, trips designed by bird photographers for bird photographers.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
