Overview
Nuwara Eliya, also called "Little England", is a mountain resort in Sri Lanka. It's an excellent spot to see some rare winter migrants and some of the endemic species of the island. It is also the starting point for excursions to Horton Plains National Park.
Birds
Notable Species
Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush and Indian Pitta can be found in Victoria Park in winter. Yellow-eared Bulbul and Sri Lanka White-eye are common around the town. Sri Lanka Bush Warbler is already harder to find and Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush is getting more and more difficult each year.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Indian Pond Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Little Cormorant, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Pigeon, Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Spotted Dove, Indian Pitta, Brown Shrike, Indian Jungle Crow, House Crow, Cinereous Tit, Barn Swallow, Hill Swallow, Red-vented Bulbul, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Dark-fronted Babbler, Sri Lanka White-eye, Common Myna, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Pied Thrush, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Pied Bushchat, Kashmir Flycatcher, House Sparrow, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Scaly-breasted Munia, Forest Wagtail, Grey Wagtail
Other Wildlife
The endemic Purple-faced Langur can be seen around Nuwara Eliya. Other mammals are rarer like Black-naped Hare.
Site Information
Nuwara Eliya is at about 2000m above sea-level. It can be cold at night and fog and rain are frequent. Leeches are rare but can occur at wetter places.
History and Use
Founded by Samuel Baker in 1846 Nuwara Eliya is also known as "Little England" in Sri Lanka. British colonialists used it to recover from the hot and humid lowlands and to hunt.
Today Nuwara Eliya is a popular tourist spot for Sri Lankans, especially in April. Most birders visit in winter (November to March).
The area around the town consists of tea plantations, vegetable gardens and some remnant forests.
Areas of Interest
Victoria Park
A must for any birder visiting Nuwara Eliya, mainly because of two species: Pied Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher. Both can be found in winter alongside with Indian Pitta, Forest Wagtail and Yellow-eared Bulbul.
The park is open from 6am to 6pm (however, in the morning the gate opens often later) and the ticket costs 300 Rupees. Check the left side for the Flycatcher and the right side (near the toilet) for Pied Thrush.
Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Southeast of Nuwara Eliya Hakgala Botanical Gardens offers all mountain species of Sri Lanka. However, the ticket prices have gone up rather steep in the last few years.
Lake Gregory
An artifical lake with some waterbirds in the middle of Nuwara Eliya.
Bomburella Reservoir
The forest around Bomburella Reservoir is a good place to find Sri Lanka Bush Warbler.
Horton Plains National Park
See the relevant Opus article.
Access and Facilities
Nuwara Eliya can be reached by bus or train (Nanuoya is the next station). Getting along is easiest with a car.
There are many hotels and lodges in Nuwara Eliya in all price ranges.
