Udawattakele Bird Watching Tour
Udawattakele Forest Reserve often spelled as Udawatta Kele, is a historic forest reserve on a hill ridge in the city of Kandy. It is 104 hectares (257 acres) large. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawattakele was known as “Uda Wasala Watta” in Sinhalese meaning “the garden above the royal palace”. The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs, and small trees. There are several giant lianas. Many of the small and medium-sized mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might be seen. Udawattakele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938
Introduction Udawattakele
Flora And Fauna
460 plant species were growing in the forest, 135 tree and shrub species, and 11 lianas. These include 9 endemic species
Udawattakele is a famous birdwatching site. About 80 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary] The endemic bird species are Layard’s parakeet, yellow-fronted barbet, brown-capped babbler and Sri Lanka hanging parrot . The rare three-toed kingfisher Ceyx erythacus has been observed occasionally at the pond. Common hill myna, golden-fronted leafbird, blue-winged leafbird, spotted dove, emerald dove, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, white-rumped shama, crimson-fronted barbet, brown-headed barbet crested serpent eagle, and brown fish owl are regularly seen and heard in the forest.
Despite the forest reserve being completely surrounded by Kandy and its suburbs, there are many kinds of mammals, most of which are nocturnal. Endemic mammals that live in the sanctuary are the pale-fronted toque macaque (Macaca sinica aurifrons), golden palm civet, mouse deer (Moschiola meminna), slender loris, and the dusky palm squirrel. Other mammals are the Indian muntjac, Indian boar, porcupine (Hysterix indica), Asian palm civet, small Indian civet, ruddy mongoose, Indian giant flying squirrel, greater bandicoot rat, Indian pangolin, greater false vampire bat, and Indian flying-fox.
Several kinds of reptiles and amphibians, including endemic species, inhabit the forest. There are snakes Lizards that can be seen include the green forest lizard (Calotes calotes), Sri Lanka kangaroo-lizard (Otocryptis wiegmanni) and the whistling lizard (Calotes liolepis). Many species of skinks, geckos, frogs and toads also inhabit the forest.Some Sri Lanka wet zone butterflies are
present. Other invertebrate include giant forest scorpions Heterometrus spp., spiders such as the poisonous Sri Lankan ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria fasciata), fireflies, beetles, jewel bugs, bees and wasps. At least nine species of endemic land snails such as the large Acavus superbus live in the forest.
Tour Plane
After breakfast or take away the breakfast, leave your hotel in Kandy around 6.30.
With your private guide and stay fresh for your trek in the Udawattakele Forest Reserve. Exploring ruins from the Kingdom of Kandy, visit a cave where a hermit supposedly lived, and discover a wealth of bird, plant, and perhaps also animal life.Spot birds, plants, and so much more in the historic Udawattakele sanctuary.
Hike among nature and historic ruins and by the end of the day, we take you back to your hotel.
