Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays

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Sri Lanka Junglefowl S R I L A N K A Asian Elephant Junglefowl, Red-faced Malkoha, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling, and the beautiful Ceylon Magpie. Also to be looked for are Black, Rufous-bellied and Mountain Hawk Eagles, Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Brown-throated Needletail and Ceylon Scaly Thrush. Mammals we may encounter include the endemic Purple-faced Leaf Monkey. Day 8 Today we move to Embilipitiya, where we stay for one night. After lunch we visit Udawalawe National Park, an area of grassland and waterassociated forest. Here we may find Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Brown Fish Owl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Forest Wagtail and Blyth’s Pipit. The park is especially good for Asian Elephant. Days 9 to 11 After breakfast we can visit Udawalawe again or bird around some of the “tanks”. These tanks or irrigation reservoirs are a prominent feature of the island’s landscape. It is a reminder of the antiquity of Sri Lanka’s civilization that over 5,000 such tanks had been built by the 12th century to boost the agricultural economy. We have lunch at Embilipitiya, before we proceed to Tissamaharama for a three-night stay. There are many interesting tanks in this area, some with reedy margins suitable for Streaked Weaver and for bitterns (Black, Yellow and Cinnamon are all possible), others with bare muddy banks, which attract large numbers of migrant waders. Longtoed is a possibility among the Little and Temminck’s Stints; Marsh, Wood and Curlew Sandpipers are common and the Broad-billed Sandpiper turns up occasionally. Large shady trees provide roosting sites for Brown Fish Owl and in stands of palm trees we will look for the beautiful White-naped Flameback. We also visit Yala National Park, which comprises scrubland, grass flats, monsoon forest and rock outcrops with waterholes. We shall search for Great Thick-knee, Jacobin Cuckoo, Blue-faced Malkoha and Baya Weaver. Mammals may include Indian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Golden Jackal, Ruddy Mongoose, Sloth Bear and we even stand a chance of seeing Leopard, since in Sri Lanka this species is less nocturnal than in Africa. Days 12 & 13 After breakfast we proceed to Nuwara Eliya town at a cool 1,800 metres (6,000 ft), where we stay for two nights. After lunch a walk in nearby forest should produce several more endemic species including Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and Ceylon White-eye. In the montane forests that surround Horton Plains National Park we shall look for local species including Ceylon Whistling Thrush and Dusky-blue Flycatcher. Victoria Park is a good site for an afternoon stroll, where the bird list includes Pied Ground Thrush, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Indian Blue Robin, Kashmir Flycatcher and the endemics, Yellow-eared Bulbul and Ceylon White-eye. Here we may also find Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Squaretailed Black Bulbul, Black-throated Munia and Hill Swallow. Familiar breeding birds include Indian Blackbird (only recently split from ‘our’ Blackbird), Great Tit and Grey Wagtail, while the engaging Bear Monkey can often be watched and photographed. In the past we have found Spot-winged Ground Thrush, Black Eagle and Mountain Hawk Eagle. Day 14 After an early breakfast we proceed to Kandy where we can visit the Udawettekele Bird Sanctuary that adjoins the city. It is secondary rainforest with vast liana-covered trees, full of strange sounds and birds we may see here include Gold-fronted Leafbird, White-rumped Shama, Indian Blue Robin, Ceylon Scimitar Babbler, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Orange Minivet, Crimson-backed Flameback and Brownbreasted Flycatcher. Later we continue to Colombo where we overnight in a hotel and have our farewell dinner. Day 15 In the morning we transfer to the airport and catch our flight to London, which arrives later the same day. Outline Itinerary Day 1 Depart London Day 2 Colombo Days 3-4 Kitulgala Days 5-7 Ratnapura Day 8 Embilipitiya Days 9-11 Tissamaharama Days 12-13 Nuwara Eliya Day 14 Colombo Day 15 Depart Colombo, arrive London Party Size Maximum of 10 clients. Accommodation Comfortable accommodation in twin/double and single rooms at all the hotels and rest houses, with private facilities. Transport By coach. Includes All flights, meals, accommodation, transport, entry fees, services of the leaders, airport taxes and tips. Gradings Good 220 Mainly Warm Low Special Relaxed Good Moderate Scheduled Green Garden Lizard To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445 75
M O N G O L I A Mongolia Eastern Steppe & Gobi Desert Wednesday 11 June – Wednesday 25 June 2014 Leaders: Dobromir Domuschiev, Simon Boyes and local guides 2014 Cost: £4,499 single room supplement £290 MONGOLIA Ulaanbaatar Tereji National Park Ogii Lake Hustai National Park Baga Bogol Gobi Desert Yoliin Am Dalanzadgad ongolia is situated in the heart of the great continent of Asia, sandwiched between China in the south and Russia in the north and it shares a short Mborder with Kazakhstan to the west. With its size of 1.5 million sq. kms and population of 2.5 million people (with 1.5 million living in Ulaanbaatar), it is one of the least densely populated countries on the planet. The vast open spaces give a wonderful feeling of freedom and loneliness, but also of true wilderness. The nature here is shaped by the climate which, except in the spring, is nothing but harsh. Bitterly cold winters with temperatures as low as -50°C and baking hot summers at over 50°C have resulted in huge deserts and steppes with little vegetation. Mongolia is home to a great variety of wildlife and some of the rarest animals in the world are found here – Snow Leopard, the only true wild camels, Argali Sheep, Wild Ass and the recently re-introduced Przewalski's Horse. But we are here for the birds and what birds they are – Greater Sand and Oriental Plovers, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Greater Black-headed Gull, Altai Snowcock, Asiatic Dowitcher, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Saxaul Sparrow, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Azure Tit, Citrine Wagtail, Saker and Amur Falcons, Demoiselle and White-naped Cranes and many more. To see all this variety we visit various habitats – the vast steppe, some steppe lakes, taiga forests, sand dunes, saxaul forest and some rocky gorges. This itinerary has been designed so it is not too strenuous but will give a real insight into the wilderness of the country and we stay mainly in ger camps to experience the true Mongolian lifestyle. ITINERARY Days 1 to 3 We leave London on a scheduled flight to Ulaanbaatar, where we arrive the following morning. We then transfer to Terelj National Park, east of the capital city, where we stay for two nights. On the way we can visit a couple of wetlands where we could find Demoiselle and White-naped Cranes, Bar-headed Goose, Velvet Scoter and White-winged Tern. Macqueen’s Bustard may also be seen and if we are lucky enough we can spot the rare Argail sheep. We can go birding in the forest behind the hotel – here we can find Red-breasted Flycatcher, Redthroated and Eye-browed Thrushes, Daurian and Common Redstarts, Daurian Jackdaw, Olivebacked Pipit, Long-tailed Tit (the white-headed form) and Black-faced Bunting. Terelj National Park lies at the edge of the tundra and is in fact the only forest habitat we will be visiting during the tour. The next day we can explore the surroundings looking for Siberian Rubythroat, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Chinese Bush Warbler, woodpeckers (Wryneck, Grey-headed, Black, White-backed, Lesser Spotted and possibly Three-toed), Olive-backed Pipit and Oriental Cuckoo. Black-billed Capercaillie occurs here but is very difficult to see. Days 4 & 5 After breakfast we drive west and our destination is another national park – Hustai. On the way we can stop at a couple of sites where we can look for Azure Tit, Hill Pigeon, both Meadow and Pine Buntings, Fork-tailed Swift, some warblers (Twobarred, Yellow-browed, Pallas’s Leaf, Arctic and Dusky), Brown Shrike and Red-billed Chough. We arrive in the national park in the late afternoon and we stay here for two nights in a ger camp. Unlike Terelj, Hustai National Park consists mainly of vast open spaces, with very few trees, low and wide open valleys and small creeks. Tuul River also runs through the park where Long-tailed Rosefinch and White-crowned Penduline Tit can be found. We have a full day to explore the park driving and walking on the trails looking for raptors including Crested Honey Buzzard, Amur and Saker Falcons, Upland and Long-legged Buzzards and both Black and Bearded Vultures. Other birds we can look for include Great Bustard, Yellow-browed and Dusky Warblers, Daurian Redstart, Red-throated and Dusky Thrushes, Mongolian Lark and many more. We shall see the recently re-introduced Przewalski's Horse and with luck Mongolian Gazelle and perhaps even a Wolf. Days 6 & 7 Today we continue further west towards the large Ogii Lake and on the way we visit a few smaller steppe lakes. Birds we may see include Whitenaped Crane, Asiatic Dowitcher, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, Mongolian Gull, Blyth’s Pipit, Pallas’s Reed Bunting, Paddyfield Warbler plus many familiar ducks, grebes and terns. With some luck we will find the smart Falcated Duck. Along the roads we will see Eurasian Black and Eurasian Griffon Vultures, Black-eared Kite, Rock Sparrow, Pere David’s Snowfinch and Hill Pigeon. We arrive at Ogii Lake in the evening and stay in a ger camp for two nights. We have a full Demoiselle Cranes 76 For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 2014 49 Our Forty-Nin
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49 Our Forty-Ninth Year ORNITHOLIDA
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I S O R N I T H O L I D AY S R I G
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L AT E 2 0 1 3 T O U R S Summary of
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T O U R G R A D I N G Tour Grading
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G R E E N TA X E S A N D C A R B O
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Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
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U S A - U TA H & A R I Z O N A USA
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U S A - U TA H & W YO M I N G USA -
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U S A - N E W E N G L A N D USA - N
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U S A - F LO R I D A USA - Florida
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U S A - H A W A I I USA - Hawaii Ii
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M E X I C O Mexico Western Mexican
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Page 35 and 36: G U YA N A Guyana Rainforests, Wate
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F R A N C E France - Wallcreeper To
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F R A N C E France - The Camargue,
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N E T H E R L A N D S Netherlands W
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I C E L A N D Iceland Winter Wonder
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I C E L A N D Iceland Land of Ice &
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T U R K E Y Turkey Turkish Delight
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B E L A R U S Belarus Europe’s La
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F I N L A N D Finland Owls, Woodpec
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H U N G A R Y Hungary Spring Tour S
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H U N G A R Y Hungary at Leisure Cr
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R O M A N I A Romania Danube Delta
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B U L G A R I A Bulgaria at Leisure
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O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Our
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O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Blu
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C A L E N D A R Calendar 2014 JANUA
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C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
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C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 29 Straight Mile Roms
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