Norfolk Birders

Norfolk Birdwatching and beyond!

Sri Lanka 2015

                                                                       Trip Report to Sri Lanka             by Sue Bryan

 

March 2015

 

Sue Bryan

Pura Mohsenzaheh

Sally Wallington

Mark Wallington

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

This was a birding holiday organised by Naturetrek www.naturetrek.co.uk . It was a late booking as I had a few days holiday to use up before the end of March, so I grabbed the Naturetrek brochure to see where I could get to. Paul had expressed a desire to go to Fair Isle in late May instead and so I joined the small group on my own. Sri Lanka offered 33 endemic birds as well as a few other lifers for me. I was assured that the trip would run even though there were only 4 participants.

 

Guide Saman Kumara

 

Itinerary

 

28th February Heathrow - Colombo      

 

1st March      Colombo - Kitugala

 

2nd March      Kitugala

 

3rd March      Kitugala – Nuwara Eliya

 

4th March      Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plain

 

5th March     Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Embilipitiya

 

6th March     Embilipitiya- Uda Walawe- Sinharaja

 

7th March     Sinharaja

 

8th March    Sinharaja - Colombo

 

9th March    Colombo - Heathrow   

 

Flights

 

International flights to Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka Airlines

 

Visa

 

I applied for a Sri Lankan visa on-line at a cost of US$30 (about £20)

.

Money

 

As this was a ‘package tour’ (cost £2245 ) with all accommodation and food provided I exchanged about £100 to 20,000 Sri Lanka Rupees at Colombo airport when I arrived. Most of this money went on tips which the tour guide collected at the end of the trip that he had given to helpers throughout the trip. I also bought a few fizzy drinks, yogurts, biscuits and antibiotics as three out of four of us had gone down with food poisoning after the meal on the first evening. Naturetrek provided free bottles of water throughout the tour but this does get a bit boring after 4 or 5 days.

 

Climate

 

The climate of Sri Lanka is dependent on two monsoon periods. May to September for the South West and November to February for the North-East.

 

The weather was hot (30°+ C) and sunny for the most part but we also had some heavy rain showers and some cloud covering on a few days.

 

Habitat

 

Sri Lanka has a mix of wet zone rain forest in the South-West, scrub in the dry zone and sub-montane forest in the hill zone which is sandwiched between the wet and intermediate zones. Much of the land is covered in tea plantations. We were based in the south of the country.

 

Daily Log

 

28th February

 

After dropping my car off at The Renaissance Airport Hotel at Heathrow I jumped on the Hoppa Bus and checked in for my evening flight to Colombo Sri Lanka.

 

1st March

 

After arriving in Colombo just after midday, Sally, Mark and I met up with our guide, Saman.  Pura, who had arrived from Australia was also waiting and together we set off in our vehicle for Kitugala. The route was more urbanised than I was expecting but we logged Brahminy Kite, Common Myna, Open-billed Stork, White-throated Kingfisher, House Crow and Indian Pond Heron. Once we had got rid of our bags at the hotel we logged our first two endemics in the shape of Yellow-fronted Barbet (1) and Sri-Lanka Hanging Parrot (2) in the hotel grounds. A short walk along the busy road produced Yellow-billed Babbler, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Indian Swiftlet, Purple Sunbird and Green Imperial Pigeon.

 

Yellow-billed babbler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd March

 

Orange-billed Babbler

 

We were all up for 6am and walked down the road again. We quickly logged another three endemics, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (3), Brown-capped Babbler (4) and Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (5). Grey-breasted Flycatcher was also a tick for me as was Long-billed (Loten’s) Sunbird. After breakfast we walked into the forest where our next four endemics were Orange-billed Babbler (6), Chestnut-backed Owlet (7), Black-capped Bulbul (8) and Sri Lanka Myna (9) Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher was a popular sighting . We added a few common species in the form of Common Iora, Common Tailorbird, Emerald Dove, White-bellied Drongo and Purple-rumped Sunbird. Jerdon’s Leafbird was a lifer for me. We had permission to go into a private property where we had help finding an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher. Sadly the light was extremely poor in the dense vegetation and my photo is not good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               White-bellied Drongo                                                             Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Sri Lanka (Pompadour) Green Pigeon                                  Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher

 

After a lunch-break in the hotel and a delightful swim in the hotel swimming pool watching Blue-tailed Bee-eaters overhead, we crossed a rope bridge and entered the forest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                    Hotel Swimming pool at Kitugala                                                    Kelani River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Rope bridge across the Kelani River                                   Lesser Yellownape

 

 

Here we watched a Black Eagle pass overhead as well as seeing a Malabar Trogon which as a lifer, I was delighted with. I also life-ticked Yellow-browed Bulbul after adding Asian Brown Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch and Black Bulbul to the list.  Another three endemics, Spot-winged Thrush (10), Sri Lanka Crested Drongo (11) and Sri Lanka Swallow (12) soon followed. We walked out of the forest and watched two workers harvesting some rice. It seemed a back-breaking job. A Grey Wagtail made the most of the available insects. The forest was certainly full of birds as we watched a Lesser Yellownape hammer one of the trees. A Crested Hawk Eagle flew above us as we searched for new species. An Oriental White-eye, Golden-fronted Leafbird and Little Cormorant added themselves to the growing list as we turned back towards the hotel.

 

3rd March

 

We had a pre-breakfast walk across the river which produced Shikra, Alexandrine Parakeet and another two endemics Sri Lanka Junglefowl (13) and Green-billed Coucal (14). Pura and I had both been up in the night with a stomach upset which was making life a bit difficult for us both to say the least!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shikra                                                       Sri Lanka Junglefowl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast (what little Pura and I had of it) we had a three hour drive to Nuwara Eliya. We stopped at Ginigathhena to admire a sitting Crested Serpent Eagle before setting off to stop once again to look at a tea plantation being picked by Tamil workers near Bogahawatta. Here we added our fifteenth endemic, a Sri Lanka White-eye (15).

 

Crested Serpent Eagle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          Tea Plantation                                                                    Sri Lanka White-eye

 

A little further along the road we stopped again at Bogahawatta to admire a waterfall and to visit a tea shop where I purchased a sample of Ceylon tea to bring home. Very tasty it is too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     Waterfall at Bogahawatta                                     Looking over Lake Gregory at Nuwara Eliya

 

We arrived at Nuwara Eliya where once we were divested of our suitcases at our hotel, we had many free hours. I went for a wander around the arable fields and village where I watched a Pied Bush Chat. Above the village a Scaly-breasted Munia posed at the top of a bush for a photograph.

 

Scaly-breasted Munia

 

Pura and I were both still suffering from food poisoning and we both refused lunch. Later in the afternoon we walked along a track in the forest where there were many Eucalyptus trees. We were greeted by a showy Yellow-eared Bulbul (16) and a Dull-blue Flycatcher (17) both endemics. Mark enjoyed the Scarlet Minivet as it flitted around. We added Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike before we realised that we had a small bird wave coming through the trees. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and Greenish Warbler were also added to the list as well as other common species already mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 Yellow-eared Bulbul                                               Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        Dull-blue Flycatcher                                         Scarlet Minivet

 

Another endemic gave itself up with good views but there was no light for a photograph. The Sri Lanka Woodpigeon (18) was good to see well. We walked back up the track and stood around some roadside vegetation. After playing a tape we had good views of Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (19) darting around deep in the vegetation. Before we reached the hotel we admired a Jungle Crow and a White-bellied Sea Eagle.

 

4th March

 

We left the hotel at 5am and drove for an hour to Horton Plain, as it was critical to be in the park by 6am. After Saman had obtained the ticket at the entrance, we drove for a few minutes and then walked back to a small pool by the roadside. Soon we were watching a pair of Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (20). I rushed back to the van to fetch my camera but there was not enough light for a photograph and all too soon the birds had disappeared. A couple of minutes later we had our twenty-first endemic a Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (21). We added Indian Blackbird before returning to the van. I felt sorry for Pura who was too poorly to join us and had stayed in bed. I still felt rough but was managing on no food and a diet of sugary fizzy drink! The prospect of a long walk with no knowledge of toilet facilities did not fill me with joy! Sally had said she felt better and so we went along with Saman’s plans to walk to ‘Little World’s End’. We journeyed on towards a car park after watching Pied Bush Chat in the early morning mist, Paddyfield Pipit, Jungle Crow, Hill Swallow and Brown Shrike. We watched Sambar Deer near the car park and took no pride in the knowledge in the fact that Elephants once roamed free here before the British shot them all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                Pied Bush Chat                                                      Sambar Deer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                Hill Swallow                                                                                Jungle Crow

 

After parking the vehicle we set off along a track way. It was a pleasant walk in the sun along a track that had some tricky parts to it but except for Alpine Swift and Zitting Cisticola we saw very little else. I felt sorry for Mark who had wanted to walk further but with Sally and I in precarious health he kindly agreed to return to the van.

 

We played tourist and watched the trains that were blocking our route home and eventually arrived at the hotel just as the thunder and lightning struck. The rain was torrential. I spent the time writing up notes and sorting through a few photos. Once the rain had eased a bit, we ventured out to Victoria Park. It was still raining and worse still, the park was crowded with hundreds of school children. Not ideal birding conditions! I was maddened as I really wanted to see the target bird well in good light! Pittas are a favourite of mine, but they are never the easiest to see or photograph because of the habitat they like.

We searched an area that Saman knew held an Indian Pitta but it was still raining hard as we sheltered under a bandstand-like shelter. It was not to be. We walked up the side of the park and added a few life ticks for me that included Pied Thrush, Forest Wagtail and Kashmir Flycatcher. A Common Sandpiper flew along a stream and landed for us to see. The light was abysmal and hopeless for taking photographs. We returned to the corner of the park and Mark spotted the pitta. It took a couple more minutes before I life-ticked Indian Pitta almost at dusk! Thank you Mark!

 

Pura and I were still suffering badly and persuaded our driver to take us into town for some emergency supplies of fizzy drink and something we felt might ease our stomachs. Spicy food at evening meals was out of the question!

 

5th March

 

Saman returned us to Victoria Park where I managed to photograph the other Indian Pitta that lurks on the other side of the park. I had to push the ISO up very high but managed some shots of my much-wanted target bird.

 

Indian Pitta

 

We wandered around for an hour or so in much better weather in the early morning light. Oriental Magpie Robin and Paddyfield Pipit posed for photos. I managed to see a Booted Warbler but it soon flitted away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  Paddyfield Pipit                                                                  Oriental Magpie Robin

 

Soon it was time to leave and we got back in the vehicle for a long drive to Embilipitiya. We had not been travelling for long before we stopped at a private garden where the owner allowed us to wander through the thick vegetation down a trail. Here we watched a White-browed Bulbul, Black-rumped Flameback, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Black-hooded Oriole and Brown Fish Owl in flight. Birds were obviously mobbing something in one of the trees and with a bit of manoeuvring we managed to stand so that we could see the Brown Wood Owl lurking deep in the vegetation of a tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Black-rumped Flameback                                                               Black-hooded Oriole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             Brown Wood Owl                                                                           Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike

 

We continued on our way stopping at Ella for lunch. As Pura and I were still suffering we didn’t eat much but enjoyed the panoramic views over the valley below. A Coppersmith Barbet was calling from a tree in the garden as Asian Palm Swift were flying overhead. A Legge’s Hawk Eagle kindly flew above us as we enjoyed the relaxation of watching from our chairs soaking up the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                Ella                                                                                                        Purple-rumped Sunbird

 

Another couple of brief stops produced a photo opportunity for Chesnut-headed Bee-eater, Red-wattled Lapwing, Wool-necked Stork and Malabar Pied Hornbill besides adding Painted Stork, Indian Peafowl and Little Egret to our lists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Chestnut-headed Bee-eater                                                                      Woolly-necked Stork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red-wattled Lapwing

Malabar Pied Hornbill

 

 

 

 

 

 

We begged Saman to stop by a marshy area where we only had a few brief moments where there were many trip ticks. Saman was keen to get going as he wanted to reach the hotel before dusk so that we had a chance of seeing an owl. So I called out the birds to the others as quickly as I could (Sorry Sally!). We logged Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Great White Egret, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Darter, Lesser Whistling Duck, Whiskered Tern, Grey Heron, Indian Pond Heron and Common Kingfisher.

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                   Indian Pond Heron                                              Grey-headed Fish Eagle

 

We motored on through road-works and arrived at the hotel just before dusk. Saman soon located the Indian Scops Owl roosting in the tree not far from the hotel reception at Embilipitiya. It was rather a posh hotel and Sally and Mark went down to the buffet-style evening meal. Pura and I were still suffering but after a while I thought, given that it was a choice of meal, I might find something without any spice in it, so I joined Mark and Sally and enjoyed a light pudding.

 

6th March

 

We left at 5.30 am for Uda Walawe National Park. We were all looking forward to the day as it was a safari-style morning sitting on a jeep. It was a glorious morning that was full of promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               Sally Saman Mark and Pura                                                                                   Jerdon’s Bushlark

After only a few metres I had my first lifer of the day in the form of Jerdon’s Bushlark. It sang beautifully as we admired an Indian Peafowl sitting up a tree. We all enjoyed the Little Green Bee-eater that posed for its photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Indian Peafowl                                                                                           Little Green Bee-eater

 

A Plain Prinia and Black-winged (shouldered) Kite were trip ticks as were Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Yellow-eyed Babbler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Black-winged (shouldered) Kite                                                  Yellow-eyed Babbler

 

We added Indian Black Robin, Barn Swallow, Blyth’s Pipit, Jungle Prinia, Orange-breasted Pigeon, Plum Parakeet before Saman could relax as we enjoyed good views of several Sri Lanka Woodshrike (22).

 

Jungle Prinia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   Sri Lanka Woodshrike                                                                                 Orange-breasted Pigeon

 

I added Marshall’s Iora and Blue-faced Malkoha as lifers before Mark picked out a movement in the grass beside us. We seemingly stared at nothing before suddenly we found ourselves watching a Jungle Cat lurking. It caused great excitement amongst us as it sloped off deeper into the vegetation not to be seen again. Other wildlife came in the form of Water Buffalo that were cooling down in the lakes or deep puddles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       Jungle Cat                                                                                        Water Buffalo

 

We stopped at the lakeside for breakfast. The sun was shining as we enjoyed the warmth and the views. We added Asian Koel, Spot-billed Pelican and Tawny-billed Babbler before turning around and heading back.

 

Uda Walawe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         Uda Walawe                                                                                       White-bellied Sea Eagle

 

We stopped to admire a White-bellied Sea Eagle who had a chick in a nest atop a tree in the distance before watching a White-throated Kingfisher. The park also had Elephants present and we watched several as they fed upon nearby bushes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              White-throated Kingfisher                                                                       Elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    Indian Roller                                                                                       Coppersmith Barbet

 

 

 

On the lakes Intermediate Egret, Purple Heron added to the heron list before we watched a White-browed Fantail, Yellow Wagtail, Little Tern and Common Kestrel. I delighted at the photography opportunities taking pictures of Indian Roller, Coppersmith Barbet, Painted Stork and Crested hawk Eagle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                       Crested Hawk Eagle                                                                                            Painted Stork

 

Just before we reached the exit we located a Brown Fish Owl sitting in the shade up one of the trees.

 

Brown Fish Owl

 

After leaving the park we started the drive to Sinharaja Forest. We stopped at Potupitiya to look at a Crimson-fronted Barbet (23) another endemic as well as adding Great Cormorant to the list.

 

The journey to Sinharaja was a long one and we sat back and relaxed in the vehicle admiring the hillside scenery covered in either tea plantations or thick vegetation. At one point there was some local excitement as an Elephant had wandered away from a forest and was causing concern in a tea plantation. We also stopped for some antibiotics for Pura and I, not that Pura ended up with any, but that is another story!

 

Stopping en route to Sinharaja Forest we were guided up a hillside into a thickly vegetated forest where we added Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Layard’s Parakeet (24) and a perched Sri Lanka Frogmouth. It was far too dark for photographs. Grrrr..

 

We eventually arrived at our birding lodge in Sinharaja Forest and after unloading our suitcases made our way down for the evening checklist. Pura and I were still too poorly to eat. I have lived off sugary drinks for the duration of this holiday that has managed to keep me alive and birding!

7th March

 

Sadly, I don’t have any photos for today as I was simply too poorly to carry my camera. We had been told that we would be on our feet all day after the initial jeep ride up the rough track and I knew it would be all I would be able to do to carry myself. This was unfortunate as there were still 9 endemics still to go and I would have liked some photos.

 

Our day started with a jeep ride up a very rough track. I have done many rough tracks over the years but on a bad stomach it is not great!! We had also become entangled with another fourteen-strong birding group which is not good for forest birding. I hoped that this situation was not going to last all day as it would drive me crazy. We failed to see our first target bird but Saman was confident he would find it later in the day or tomorrow. We continued on up the hill in the jeeps where we watched White-faced Starling (25) at the top of the hill.

 

Luckily we left the other group and drove back down a little to walk the trail into the forest. Along the path Ashy-headed Laughingthrush (26) crossed the path in front of us. We watched for a while before continuing on. A spot for the Scaly Thrush drew a blank despite our best efforts. A pair of Red-faced Malkoha (27) kept company with a bird wave of birds that we had seen before. At the research station Mark was delighted when a Sri Lanka Magpie (28) left his calling card on him as he sat beneath it as it perched on the rafters. In nearby vegetation a Legge’s Flowerpecker (29) showed all too briefly before flitting off.

 

After lunch (more sugary drink for me, as I gave my lunch away) we made our way down to the stream where once again we merged with the other group. I had a short view of the Scaly Thrush (30) before Saman suggested that we move away and go back down to the stream later. We crossed the stream and went in search of the Crimson-backed Flameback. We heard drumming and sure enough there was the Crimson-backed Flameback (31). We had good views before creeping silently back down to the stream where we had excellent views of the Scaly Thrush scratching around in the leaf litter. We were all picking off leeches from ourselves but it was nowhere as bad as other Asian forests that I have been in.

 

We walked back to the jeeps and were taken to the other side of the forest where a guide took us to see a very special bird. Mr Deepal Warakagoda had discovered a new bird for Science and in January 2001 and here he was going to take us up a hillside to show us it. I scrambled up the hillside along with Mark, Sally, Pura and Saman and fighting off all the vegetation. I tried desperately to follow the instructions on where the bird was perched. It took me a while to realize that it was sat one and a half metres in front of my nose! Here was the famous Serendib Scops Owl (32) Sally managed a photograph with her digital camera which I have then taken a photograph of.

 

Serendib Scops Owl (Sally Wallington)

 

We were all thrilled with our sighting, especially being so close and did not care about the leeches we had on our clothes!

 

 

 

This only left one more endemic to see. Across the road Saman had obtained permission to go into the house. Out of the back window we watched Ski Lanka Spurfowl (33) darting in and out of the forest edge feeding on food put down for the owners chickens. I was ecstatic at having seen all 33 endemics plus my much-wanted Indian Pitta. We all returned to the lodge as happy bunnies!

 

8th March

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                    Sinharaja

 

 As the pressure was now off, having seen all 33 endemics, Saman arranged a pre-breakfast walk along the lane by the lodge. We ambled along watching Purple-faced Leaf Monkey in the trees before watching Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Crested Treeswift and Sri Lanka Swallow back at the lodge collecting nest material.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        Purple-faced Leaf Monkey                                                               Crested Treeswift

 

I found it incredibly difficult to take a picture of the Crested Treeswift as they were just so fast.

 

At breakfast a Red-vented Bulbul was more intent on having our breakfast than we were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     Asian Paradise-flycatcher                                                                 Sri Lanka Swallow

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              Red-vented Bulbul                                                                                      Brown Shrike

 

After breakfast we wandered the lanes again admiring a Brown Shrike as well as having a look at a few plants. All too soon it was time for group and individual photos and saying goodbye to Sinharaja.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        Sue at Blue Magpie Lodge Sinharaja                                                                                   Mark Sally Sue Saman Pura

 

After lunch we drove to the airport hotel near Colombo and thanked Saman for a wonderful endemic trip. We thought he did well to show us all 33 endemics. We said our goodbyes to him and enjoyed a swim in the hotel pool before having a good (non-spicy) evening meal with just the four of us. I had been lucky to have such wonderful company and a good guide.

 

9th March

 

Mark, Sally, Pura and I agreed to meet at dawn and we wandered around the hotel grounds. We admired a Shikra that had roosted overnight amongst the palm trees. Red-vented Bulbul were around as were Cattle Egret. We made our way into breakfast before saying goodbye to Pura who was on a later flight back to Australia. Mark, Sally and I were picked up and taken to the airport where we boarded our flight to Heathrow. Thanks to Naturetrek for organizing a wonderful trip once again.

 

 

Species List

 

Birds

 

  1. Little Cormorant           Phalacrocorax niger      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  2. Indian Cormorant         Phalacrocorax fuscicollis           02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  3. Great Cormorant          Phalacrocorax carbo carbo       06/03/2015      Potupitiya        
  4. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster   05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  5. Spot-billed Pelican        Pelecanus philippensis   06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  6. Little Egret        Egretta garzetta 05/03/2015      Ella      
  7. Grey Heron      Ardea cinerea   05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  8. Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea            06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  9. Great White Egret         Egretta alba      05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  10. Intermediate Egret        Mesophoyx intermedia  06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  11. Cattle Egret      Bubulcus ibis    01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  12. Indian Pond-heron        Ardeola grayii   01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  13. Painted Stork   Mycteria leucocephala  05/03/2015      Ella      
  14. Asian Openbill  Anastomus oscitans      01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  15. Woolly-necked Stork   Ciconia episcopus         05/03/2015      Ella      
  16. Black-headed Ibis        Threskiornis melanocephalus [aethiopicus]         01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  17. Lesser Whistling-duck  Dendrocygna javanica   05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  18. Black-shouldered Kite  Elanus caeruleus           06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  19. Brahminy Kite  Haliastur indus  01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  20. White-bellied Sea-eagle            Haliaeetus leucogaster   03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  21. Grey-headed Fishing-eagle       Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus          05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  22. Crested Serpent-eagle  Spilornis cheela 03/03/2015      Ginigathhena    
  23. Shikra  Accipiter badius            03/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  24. Indian Black Eagle        Ictinaetus malayensis     02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  25. Booted Eagle    Hieraaetus pennatus      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  26. Changeable Hawk-eagle           Spizaetus cirrhatus        02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  27. Legge's Hawk-eagle     Nisaetus kelaarti           05/03/2015      Ella      
  28. Common Kestrel          Falco tinnunculus          06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  29. Ceylon Spurfowl           Galloperdix bicalcarata 07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  30. Ceylon Junglefowl         Gallus lafayetii   03/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  31. Common Peafowl         Pavo cristatus   05/03/2015      Ella      
  32. Barred Buttonquail        Turnix suscitator           06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  33. White-breasted Waterhen         Amaurornis phoenicurus            02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  34. Pheasant-tailed Jacana  Hydrophasianus chirurgus         05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  35. Black-winged Stilt        Himantopus himantopus            05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  36. Red-wattled Lapwing   Vanellus indicus            05/03/2015      Ella      
  37. Common Sandpiper      Tringa hypoleucos         04/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  38. Little Tern         Sterna albifrons 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  39. Whiskered Tern            Chlidonias hybridus       05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  40. Feral Pigeon     Columba livia 'feral'       08/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  41. Ceylon Wood-pigeon   Columba torringtoni      03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  42. Spotted Dove   Streptopelia chinensis    01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  43. Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps indica       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  44. Orange-breasted Green-pigeon Treron bicincta 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  45. Pompadour Green-pigeon         Treron pompadora       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  46. Green Imperial-pigeon  Ducula aenea    01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  47. Ceylon Hanging-parrot Loriculus beryllinus       01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  48. Alexandrine Parakeet    Psittacula eupatria         03/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  49. Rose-ringed Parakeet   Psittacula krameri         02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  50. Plum-headed Parakeet  Psittacula cyanocephala            06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  51. Layard's Parakeet         Psittacula calthropae     06/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  52. Asian Koel       Eudynamys scolopacea 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  53. Blue-faced Malkoha     Phaenicophaeus viridirostris      06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  54. Red-faced Malkoha      Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus            07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  55. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis        02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  56. Green-billed Coucal      Centropus chlororhynchus         03/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  57. Serendib Scops-owl     Otus thilohoffmanni       07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  58. Indian Scops-Owl        Otus bakkamoena bakkamoena            05/03/2015      Embilipitiya      
  59. Brown Fish-owl            Ketupa zeylonensis       05/03/2015      Bird Sanctuary 
  60. Brown Wood-owl        Strix leptogrammica      05/03/2015      Bird Sanctuary 
  61. Chestnut-backed Owlet            Glaucidium castanonotum          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  62. Ceylon Frogmouth        Batrachostomus moniliger         06/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  63. Crested Treeswift         Hemiprocne coronata   08/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  64. Indian Swiftlet   Collocalia unicolor        01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  65. Asian Palm-swift           Cypsiurus balasiensis [parvus]   05/03/2015      Ella      
  66. Alpine Swift      Tachymarptis melba      04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  67. Little Swift        Apus affinis       01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  68. Malabar Trogon           Harpactes fasciatus       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  69. Common Kingfisher      Alcedo atthis    05/03/2015      Tamalvila Lake
  70. Black-backed Kingfisher          Ceyx erithacus  02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  71. White-breasted Kingfisher        Halcyon smyrnensis      01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  72. Little Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis          06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  73. Blue-tailed Bee-eater    Merops philippinus       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  74. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater      Merops leschenaulti      01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  75. Indian Roller     Coracias benghalensis   06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  76. Ceylon Grey Hornbill    Ocyceros gingalensis     02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  77. Malabar Pied-hornbill   Anthracoceros coronatus          05/03/2015      Ella      
  78. Brown-headed Barbet  Megalaima zeylanica     08/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  79. Yellow-fronted Barbet  Megalaima flavifrons     01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  80. Crimson-fronted Barbet            Megalaima rubricapilla  06/03/2015      Potupitiya        
  81. Coppersmith Barbet     Megalaima haemacephala         05/03/2015      Ella      
  82. Lesser Yellownape       Picus chlorolophus        02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  83. Black-rumped Flameback         Dinopium benghalense  02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  84. Crimson-backed Golden(Flame)back Woodpecker      Chrysocolaptes stricklandi        07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest 
  85. Indian Pitta       Pitta brachyura 04/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  86. Jerdon's Bushlark         Mirafra affinis   06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  87. Barn Swallow   Hirundo rustica 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  88. Hill Swallow     Hirundo domicola        04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  89. Sri Lanka Swallow       Cecropis hyperytha       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  90. Paddyfield Pipit            Anthus rufulus   04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  91. Blyth's Pipit      Anthus godlewskii         06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  92. Forest Wagtail  Dendronanthus indicus  04/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  93. Yellow Wagtail             Motacilla flava  06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  94. Grey Wagtail    Motacilla cinerea          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  95. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus  03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  96. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike   Hemipus picatus           03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  97. Black-capped Bulbul    Pycnonotus melanicterus           02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  98. Red-vented Bulbul        Pycnonotus cafer benghalensis  01/03/2015      Ruwanwella     
  99. Yellow-eared Bulbul     Pycnonotus penicillatus 03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  100. White-browed Bulbul   Pycnonotus luteolus      05/03/2015      Bird Sanctuary 
  101. Yellow-browed Bulbul  Iole indica         02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  102. Black Bulbul     Hypsipetes leucocephalus [madagascariensis]    02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  103. Common Iora   Aegithina tiphia 02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  104. White-tailed Iora          Aegithina nigrolutea [tiphia]       06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  105. Jerdon's Leafbird          Chloropsis jerdoni        02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  106. Golden-fronted Leafbird           Chloropsis aurifrons      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  107. Oriental Magpie-robin  Copsychus saularis       01/03/2015      Ruwanwella     
  108. Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata           03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  109. Indian Robin     Saxicoloides fulicata      06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  110. Ceylon Whistling-thrush            Myiophonus blighi         04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  111. Pied Thrush      Zoothera wardii            04/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  112. Spotted-winged Thrush Zoothera spiloptera       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  113. White's Thrush  Zoothera dauma           07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  114. Indian Blackbird           Turdus simillimus           04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  115. Ceylon Bush-warbler    Bradypterus palliseri     04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  116. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis           04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  117. Jungle Prinia     Prinia sylvatica  06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  118. Ashy Prinia       Prinia socialis    03/03/2015      Bogahawatta   
  119. Plain Prinia       Prinia inornata 06/03/2015        Uda Walawe   
  120. Blyth's Reed-warbler    Acrocephalus dumetorum         06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  121. Booted Warbler           Hippolais caligata          05/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  122. Common Tailorbird      Orthotomus sutorius      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  123. Greenish Warbler         Phylloscopus trochiloides trochiloides    03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  124. Asian Brown Flycatcher            Muscicapa dauurica dauurica    02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  125. Brown-breasted Flycatcher       Muscicapa muttui          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  126. Kashmir Flycatcher       Ficedula subrubra [parva]         04/03/2015      Victoria Park   
  127. Dull-blue Flycatcher      Eumyias sordida           03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  128. Tickell's Blue-flycatcher            Cyornis tickelliae          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  129. Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher            Culicicapa ceylonensis  03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  130. White-browed Fantail   Rhipidura aureola          06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  131. Black-naped Monarch  Hypothymis azurea       02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  132. Asian Paradise-flycatcher          Terpsiphone paradisi     02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  133. Ashy-headed Laughingthrush    Garrulax cinereifrons     07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  134. Brown-capped Babbler            Pellorneum fuscocapillum          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  135. Sri Lanka Scimitar-babbler       Pomatorhinus melanurus            03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  136. Tawny-bellied Babbler  Dumetia hyperythra       06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  137. Dark-fronted Babbler   Rhopocichla atriceps     03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  138. Yellow-eyed Babbler    Chrysomma sinense      06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  139. Orange-billed Babbler  Turdoides rufescens      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  140. Yellow-billed Babbler   Turdoides affinis           01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  141. Great Tit           Parus major major        03/03/2015      Bogahawatta   
  142. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch           Sitta frontalis     03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  143. Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica      02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  144. Purple Sunbird  Nectarinia asiatica         01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  145. Long-billed Sunbird      Nectarinia lotenia          02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  146. Thick-billed Flowerpecker        Dicaeum agile   06/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  147. White-throated Flowerpecker   Dicaeum vincens           07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  148. Pale-billed Flowerpecker          Dicaeum erythrorhynchos          01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  149. Ceylon White-eye         Zosterops ceylonensis   03/03/2015      Bogahawatta   
  150. Oriental White-eye       Zosterops palpebrosus  02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  151. Black-hooded Oriole    Oriolus xanthornus        01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  152. Sri Lanka Woodshrike  Tephrodornis affinis      06/03/2015      Uda Walawe   
  153. Brown Shrike   Lanius cristatus 04/03/2015      Horton Plain    
  154. Crested Drongo            Dicrurus forficatus         02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  155. Black Drongo   Dicrurus macrocercus   02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  156. White-bellied Drongo   Dicrurus caerulescens   01/03/2015      Ruwanwella     
  157. Ceylon Magpie Urocissa ornata            07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  158. House Crow     Corvus splendens         01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  159. Jungle Crow     Corvus  macrorhynchos            03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   
  160. White-faced Starling     Sturnus senex   07/03/2015      Sinharaja Forest          
  161. Common Myna            Acridotheres tristis        01/03/2015      Nigambo         
  162. Ceylon Myna    Gracula ptilogenys        02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  163. House Sparrow            Passer domesticus        01/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  164. White-rumped Munia    Lonchura striata            02/03/2015      Kitulgala          
  165. Scaly-breasted Munia   Lonchura punctulata      03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya   

 

 Mammals

 

  1. Toque macaque Macaque sinica 01/03/15 Kitulgala
  2. Grey Langur Presbytis entellus 05/03/15
  3. Purple-faced Leaf Monkey 02/03/15 Kitulgala
  4. Jungle Cat 06/03/15 Uda Walawe
  5. Indian Elephant 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe
  6. Sambar 04/03/2015     Horton Plain
  7. Water Buffalo Cervus Unicolor 06/03/2015      Uda Walawe
  8. Indian Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum 01/03/15 Kitulgala
  9. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura 07/03/2015     Sinharaja Forest
  10. Dusky Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus 03/03/2015      Nuwara Eliya
  11. Indian hare Lepus nigricollis 06/03/2015           Uda Walawe

                                                                                                          

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