Birding on the Hill

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne & Helen Macdonald

Journey to spectacular Malabar Hill for a birding walk with writers and naturalists Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Helen Macdonald. The bird watching will begin atop the hill in the terraced area with us scanning the sky for birds of prey (Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-eagle, etc) and swallows and swifts.  We will then walk the shaded paths to examine the canopy for the endemic Sri Lanka Green-pigeon and Sri Lanka Small Barbet. Migrant birds including Brown Flycatcher and Brown Shrike may be heard. We may encounter a White-browed Fantail dancing madly (the tea planters named it the Drunken Piper). Sunbirds, flowerpeckers and loud Sri Lanka Grey Hornbills are possible. We then walk down to the wetlands to see herons, egrets, rails, stilts and kingfishers.

Starting with a coffee and an introductory talk about the area’s abundant birdlife, this event also concludes with a sundowner on the hotel’s sensational terrace. If you already have a pair of binoculars, please bring them with you. Photographers are welcome to bring their cameras. A field guide is not essential, but feel free to bring your copy. 

Please do get in touch with the team at Malabar Hill in advance if you would like to book a table for dinner afterwards.