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Sri Lanka, November – December 2000 |
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Report by Stijn De Win |
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ITINERARY :
November - December 2000
Sun. 19 :Meet with Abey Deera outside airport at 10.30u. Drive to Citizens Rest,
arrive at 13.30u. Visit Bodhinagala forest from 14.15u till dark.
Mon. 20 :Leave from Ratnaloka Tour Inn at 5.20u to visit Gilimale forest.
Afternoon drive to Sinharaja (Martin’s Place) took 1.30u + 40 min. jeep
Start birding 4.00u, walk to forest station.
Tues. 21 :Full day Sinharaja 4.30u start for Frogmouth.
Wed. 22 : Full day Sinharaja.
Thu. 23 : Start 5.00u for Spurfowl outside park. Drive to Embilipitya.
14.00u leave from Centauria Inn to Kalametya wetland. (1.15u drive)
Fri. 24 :VisitUdaWalaweNational Park. At 10.00u leave for Tissa birding enroute
and near Hambantota, outside Bundala park. (Priyankara hotel)
Sat. 25 :Visit Bundala National Park. Afternoon around Tissa tanks.
Sun. 26 :VisitYalaNational Park and road to YalaPark.
Mon. 27: Leave for hill country birding enroute. Drive through Yala B53 road. Visit
Surrey Tea Estate. Evening arrive at Rock Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Tues. 28 :Leave at 4.00u to Horton Plains Whistling Thrush. (only heard) At noon
visit Victoria Park. AfternoonHakgalaBotanical garden.
Wed. 29 :Leave at 4.30u to Horton Plains Whistling Thrush. (great views). Visit
Galleway road Nuwara Eliya and Hakgala Bot. garden. (Bush Warbler)
Drive to Kandy Queens Hotel (takes 3.00u) visit Tea Factory enroute.
Thu. 30 :Visit Uda Wattakele Sanctuary and Peredenya Bot. Garden in Kandy.
Fri. 1 : Drive to Kitulgala Plantation Hotel. Afternoon visit rubber plantation.
Sat. 2 : Kitulgala forest. Drive to Citizens Rest again for Collared Scops Owl.
Then drive via Attidiya to hotel Sirimedura near Airport.
Sun. 3 : Morning departure.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Baurs
By far the best way to go birding in Sri Lanka is to hire a vehicle and driver/birdwatching-guide. The best company to get there is :
A.Baur & Co. (Travel) Ltd.
E-mail : tourism@baurs.com
Website :http://www.baurs.com/
Maybe still better is to go for a all included package tour with them. I did. It was 1520 $ (one person) for a 14 day birdwatching tour and this price includes :
-Transport with Toyota-minibus with driver/birdwatching-guide.
-Accomodation on full board basis in 2-3 star hotels.
-All entrance fees, Tipping & Porterage.
- Jeep hires where applicable.
Not included are DepartureAirport tax of Rs. 500 (approx. $ 7), and BEER.
Doing like this will save you from many unexpected expensive surprices like many tips, entrances, just anything Sri Lankans could find to get money from you.
Baurs provide also transport services only with driver/birding-guide for Rs. 22 per running mile (50 miles minimum per day) and Rs. 550 drivers subsistence per day.
I organised and booked everything with Baurs via E-mail.
Guide and birds
My guide was Abey Deera and he was fantastic. He knows many sites you could never find yourself, knows the bird calls and best of all he is working very hard to get you all the endemics. I saw them in 8 days. Interrupted by 3 days of birding at the southern coast which is very good but not for endemics. The last 3 days of my trip there was almost nothing left to see for me! I ended my trip with 245 species from which 78 were lifers.
Getting there
I flew with Martinair directly from Amsterdam to Colombo. The flight takes about 11 hours.
My return ticket booked with Connections cost me approx. 26000 BEF/ 645 EUR.
Baurs will reconfirm the flight during your visit.
Money
1 USD = 78 Rupees at the airport in november 2000
I changed 100$ and this was enough for the whole trip. (Beer and soft drinks, souvenirs)
Sri Lanka has a two-level cost. There is an official policy of charging visitors a much higher price than local residents. This applies at places like national parks, botanical gardens, hotels etc… The charges for overseas visitors here can be two to ten times what local residents pay!
Also locals try to overcharge tourists for anything from a bus fare, a souvenir to a soft drink.
Sri Lanka normally has to be an incredibly cheap country for foreign visitors!!! It is NOT !!
Language
Almost everybody speaks English!
Food
Good and save but somewhat dull.
Safety
All the endemics and good birds can be seen in the south were it is a safe country. Problems are in the north.
Getting around
Definitely rent a car. (See Baurs)
Traffic is very slow and chaotic. Expect to get around at only 40-50 km per hour.
Roads are very bad with many potholes, winding, etc.
Total kms of my trip was 3457 km.
Weather
I was lucky and had only few (tropic) showers the first days of the trip.
Its not unlikely to have rain almost every day there. Bring your umbrella!
So, hot and wet in the wet zone (Sinharaja, Kitulgala, etc.) and hot and dry in the dry zone (Tissa, Bundala, Uda Walawe, etc.)
Cold early morning at Horton Plains. Nice at noon Nuwara Eliya.
Health
Sri Lanka is generally a pretty safe country. Drink bottled drinks.
Be sure you have the right vaccinations before leaving for Sri Lanka, consult your doctor.
Check on the last situation for malaria as several (not to bad) mosquitoes will be encountered.
Leeches
Several at Sinharaja and many, many at Kitulgala. It’s a good idea to bring leeches socks.
Literature and optic instruments
A field guide to the birds of Sri Lanka, John Harrison.
This book is very good and complete.
Lonely Planet travel guide.
Nelles Map Sri Lanka 1:450000
Booklet of Oriental Bird Club ; A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Sri Lanka.
Several reports from the internet from witch Steve Webb’s report dec’99-jan’00 is very usefull.
Field Guide to the Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent. Gurung &Singh ISBN 0 12 3093503
A telescope is very useful at Kalametya lagoon, Hambantota, Tissa area.
Tapes are essential for some endemics, frogmouth, owls, etc. Baurs guides have them.
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SITE DETAILS AND BIRDS
All information you need can be found in the Oriental Bird Club booklet. I only give here a short overview.
Bodhinagala forest :
This is a small tract of secondary lowland rain forest adjoinging a buddhist monastery.
Good site for Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. We heard Green-billedCoucal here. It’s a difficult place to see them, Sinharaja is better.
The only place were I saw Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.
Citizens Rest Ratnapura:
I saw 2 Collared Scops Owl near the stream in front of the resthouse at there regular dayroost
GilimaleForest :
A low-elevation wet zone forest close to Ratnapura. All birds that occur here (and Bodhinagala) can also be seen at Sinharaja.
The only place of the trip were Layard’s Parakeet was seen very well. Also Brown-cappedBabbler, White-throated Flowerpecker, Sri Lanka Myna and Spot-winged Thrush.
Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve:
The most important site in Sri Lanka (endemics) and internationally important for its biodiversity. The reserve encompasses some of the few remaining sizeable tracts of undisturbed primary lowland rainforest.
By far the best place to stay is at Martin’s place. All birds can be seen between here and the forest station, including the few side trails.
I saw Green-billed Coucal about halfway between Martin’s place and the forest station. First passing a large clearing at the RHS, then about 100 meters after a right hand bend were an ugly yellow plate says ‘The Beauty of this forest crowns it a king’. Maybe bit of a stake-out because other birders have also seen them there and I heard them often in this vicinity.
Sri Lanka Frogmouth by playing tape few hundred meters before the Coucal.
I heard Sri Lanka Spurfowl often in Sinharaja, both morning and evening and had two brief views, both evening. They are not uncommon here but very difficult to see because of its behaviour. I saw 2 females an 1 male walking slowly over the road near a roosting site about halfway between Kudawa Forest Department office and the main road, at a sidetrack. This was at first light in the morning and we had incredible views.
I saw six Scaly Thrushes at Sinharaja. Most other endemics were fairly easily seen and we had a few great flocks. Chestnut-backed Owlet heard only here. Indian Pitta below Martin’s place.
UdaWalaweNational Park :
Contents of grassland, scrub jungle and riverine forest. Entrance by vehicle only and with guide= expensive jeep rides.
By far the best place to see Elephants in Sri Lanka. We had min. 30 ex. on a 2 hours jeep drive. (Only one at Yala in 6 hours)
Malabar Pied Hornbill was much easier here than in Yala with several sightings. Also Brown Fish Owl, Blue Faced Malkoha, Sikeer Malkoha, Forest Wagtail, etc…
Kalametiya lagoon :
A wetland with two brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps and open areas with pockets of scrub jungle. A very pleasant site to go birding. I had ± 60 species in less than 2 hours.
Many migrant/wintering shorebirds. I saw here 2 Caspian Plovers among many others.
I had also Eurasian and Great Thick-knee, Brahminy and Rosy Starlings, Ashy-crowned Finch Lark, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Glossy Ibis.
Hambantota :
Close to town are several Lewayas (= salt pans) which regularly host congregations of birds.
We only visited Karagan Lewaya and stopped also at another site with viewpoint from the road before Hambantota.
Hundreds of Terns (7 species), many shorebirds and two Small Pratincole.
Bundala :
Scrub jungle bordering the sea together with large shallow pools. A salt pan on the edge can be visited from both inside and outside the reserve. Access by vehicle only. Expensive jeep rides.
I saw Black-necked Stork (probably a bird which came over from Yala), Lesser Adjudant, Painted Stork, Terek Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Indian Pitta, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, etc…
Yala :
The most visited national park comprising a diversity of habitats including scrub jungle, tanks, brackish lagoons and riverine habitat. Access by vehicle only. Expensive jeep rides.
I saw Barred Buttonquail, Pallid Harrier, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjudant, Indian Pitta, Brahaminy Starling, Brown-capped Woodpecker, Malabar Pied Hornbill, etc… Also a Rusty-spotted Cat.
Tissa Tanks area: Including roads to Yala and Bundala.
Good area to go birding if you know the sites.
I saw 2x2 Small Pratincoles, 4 Red-necked Phalarope, 5 Painted Snipe, White-naped Woodpecker, Ashy Woodswallow, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Indian Nightjar, Jerdon’s Nightjar, rice field full of (hundreds/thousands??) Black-tailed Godwit, etc…
Road through Yala and further north, B53:
Interesting road to drive slowly and bird en-route. Passes through tall forest of Yala and more open country further north.
I saw here 3 Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, 2 Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-rumped Shama, Crimson-fronted Barbet and Jungle Owlet on a side road. The area just north of the park is known as a good site for Streaked Weaver.
Following 5 sites are in the Hill country which became virtually one tea plantation. Looking
around here was making me really sad. Very, very little forest remains. There is some above
HakgalaBotanical garden and along the road from here to Nuwara Eliya. (protected?????)
Horton Plains is beautiful and perhaps to high up and cool for a tea plantation?
Surrey Tea Estate:
A very small piece of remnant forest within this place is the best site for Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon. We had great views of them together with a roosting BrownWoodOwl
HakgalaBotanical Garden:
Nice garden with an important fragment of elfin forest situated above the garden. Entrance rate for foreigners here is 11 times higher than for locals, being R130 and R 12 !!!
We saw here Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Scaly Thrush, Forest Wagtail, Dull-blue Flycatcher, Brown Wood Owl (flying at dusk), Yellow-eared Bulbul, etc…
Victoria Park:
In the centre of Nuwara Eliya.
Pied Thrush along the stream, also male Kashmir Flycatcher, we do not saw Indian Pitta here, maybe because we were there at noon.
Galleway road:
Road through small patch of forest at the edge of Nuwara Eliya.
We saw Indian Pitta, Indian Blue Robin, Large-billed Leaf Warber.
Horton Plains:
A highland plateau comprising montane grassland and elfin forest.
This is the best placefor Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush which we saw at our second morning try. Look early morning at a long thin pool on the RHS several km up the road from Pattipola.(Already passed a pool before which is not a thin long pool) I saw the bird one hour after dawn in a bush near the pool. It was very close, less than 2 meter, I was not able to use my binoculars for this! I heard the bird only the first morning.
In this vicinity also 2Black-throated Munia, Blackbird (first bird at dawn giving some confusion for the Whistling Thrush), Dull-blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, etc…
Hill Swallow in and near Pattipola village. (railway station)
Also Eurasian Otter playing in the thin long pool and several Sambar.
Uda Wattakele Sanctuary Kandy:
A tract of rainforest very close to town that has enjoyed protection from historical times. The most beautiful forest I have seen in Sri Lanka. Note that you can hear the noisy city Kandy almost from everywhere in this reserve! Many birds but certainly not an important site to get Sri Lankan specialities.
We saw Brown Fish Owl, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Brown Capped Babbler, Emerald Dove, Indian Blue Robin, Indian Pitta heard, etc…
Peradeniya Botanic Gardens Kandy:
Garden with only high trees and lawns. Definitely not a good place to go birding.
Thousands of Fruit Bats (Flying Fox), Crimson-fronted Barbet, Asian Palm Swift.
KitulgalaForest:
Secondary lowland rainforest supporting many of Sri Lanka’s endemic fauna and flora.
Take the ferry from the Rest House across the river to reach the forest.
We saw Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Spot-winged Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler, Sri Lanka Spurfowl heard, Indian Pitta, Plum-headed Parakeet, etc…
At the other side of the road a small road leads up to a rubber plantation. This is a good site for Chestnut-backed Owlet. We saw also Black Eagle, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, etc..
Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary:
Just do not go there. This place is Colombo’s waste bin. Very dirty, I had one Yellow-bittern in a sewage-canal.
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SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS
The list follows the sequence and scientific nomenclature of ‘ A field guide to the birds of Sri Lanka’ . John Harrison.
ISBN 0 19 854960 1
Subspecies found only in Sri Lanka mentioned in Latin names.
Used abbreviations :
SIN Sinharaja Man and BiosphereReserve
UDAUdaWalaweNational Park
KAL Kalametiya wetland
TIS Tissamaharama area including Yala, Bundala, Tanks
WAT UdawattakeleSanctuaryKandy
KITKitulgalaForest Reserve
1.Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
small numbers Tank near Embilipitiya, TIS, Kandy lake
2.Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
few TIS
3.Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
common
4.Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
small numbers TIS, few tank near Bellanwila
5. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
few throughout
6. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
approx. 10 near Bundala
7.Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
few throughout
8.Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
few TIS, KAL
9.Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
fairly common
10.Great Egret Casmerodius albus
fairly common
11.Little Egret Egretta garzetta
common
12.Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
very common
13.Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
very common
14.Striated Heron Butorides striatus
one KAL, one TIS
15.Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
3 evening flight Tissa Tank
16.Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
one tank near Embilipitiya, few TIS, one Bellanwila-Attidiya
17.Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
one Ratnaloka Tour Inn, one tank near Embilipitiya, KAL, few TIS
18.Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
fairly common TIS
19.Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
fairly common dry zone
20.Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
Several TIS, UDA
21. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
one Bundala, two Yala
22.Lesser Adjudant Leptoptilos javanicus
two Bundala, one Yala
23. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
several KAL
24.Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephala
fairly common
25.Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
good numbers TIS
26.Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
common throughout
27.Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica
common TIS, KAL
28.Common Teal Anas crecca
few TIS
29.Garganey Anas querquedula
several TIS
30.Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
one SIN, one UDA
31.Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
one Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary
32.Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
fairly common dry zone
33.Besra Accipiter virgatus
few throughout
34.Shikra Accipiter badius
one near Hambantota
35.Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
only one near Tissamaharama
36.Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
one Yala
37.Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
SIN, UDA, TIS, WAT
38.Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
one SIN, 4 enroute SIN-Embilipitya, one KIT rubber plantation
39.Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis
common UDA, few Bundala and Yala
40.White-bellied Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
one KAL, 4 Yala
41.Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
one Yala
42.Booted Eagle Hieraaeteus pennatus
few Yala
43.Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
one Bundala
44.Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator leggei
one outside Yala, 2 pairs inside Yala National Park
45.Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata
Great views of 2 females and 1 male crossing the road outside SIN, on a side-track
from the road to the Kudawa Forest Department offfice, 30 min. after dawn.
Also very poor view of one crossing trail and one flushed SIN, many others heard.
heard only KIT
46.Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayettii
one SIN, several TIS, one KIT, UDA
47.Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
common dry zone
48.White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
common paddy’s, wetlands
49.Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
several Tissa tank
50.Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
common vegetation covered tanks and wetlands
51.Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
common vegetation covered tanks and wetlands
52.Eurasian Oystercatcher Haemotopus ostralegus
one Bundala, one Yala
53.Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
common TIS, Hambantota area
54.Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus
two KAL, Yala
55.Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris
fairly common KAL, TIS, Hambantota area
56.Small Pratincole Glareola lactea
two Karagan Lewaya near Hambantota, two saltpans and two near lagoon on the Yala
entrance road. Surprisingly beautiful bird.
57.Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
fairly common KAL, TIS
58.Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
common
59.Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialus fulva
fairly common KAL, TIS
60.Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
few Hambantota, TIS
61.Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
several TIS, Hambantota
62.Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
several TIS
63.Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
several TIS, Hambantota
64.Mongolian Plover Charadrius mongolus
very common KAL, TIS, Hambantota
65.Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
few KAL, Hambantota
66.Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
two KAL
67.Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
common TIS
68.Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
few TIS
69.Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
one Bundala
70.Common Redshank Tringa totanus
several KAL, TIS, Hambantota
71.Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
few TIS, Hambantota
72.Marsh Sandpiper Tringa Stagnatilis
UDA, very common KAL, TIS, Hambantota
73.Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
few UDA, TIS
74.Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
several TIS, etc.
75.Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
several TIS, etc.
76.Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
two Bundala
77.Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
several throughout
78.Ruff Philomachus pugnax
one KAL
79.Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
fairly common KAL, Hambantota, TIS
80.Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
4 ex. saltpan along Yala entrance road
81.Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
2 males and 3 females seen from room in rice-fields behind Priyankara hotel Tissa
82.Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
one Common certain TIS, several Common-Pintails TIS
83.Sanderling Calidris alba
few Bundala
84.Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
fairly common KAL, TIS, Hambantota
85.Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
few TIS
86.Little Stint Calidris minuta
common TIS, Hambantota
87.Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
± 20 ex. Bundala-Yala area
88.Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
few near Bundala
89.Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
fairly common KAL, Hambantota, Bundala-Yala area
90.Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii velox
fairly common Hambantota, Bundala-Yala area
91.Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
several Hambantota, Bundala
92.Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
fairly common Hambantota, Bundala
93.Common Tern Sterna hirundo
common TIS
94.Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
common throughout
95.White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
few TIS
96.Little Tern Sterna albifrons
common Hambantota, Bundala-Yala area. maybe also Saunders’s Tern ?
97.Sri Lanka Woodpigeon Columba torringtoni
great views of two birds Surrey Tea Estate
98.Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
common
99.Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica robinsoni
several SIN, WAT, UDA, Gilimale forest
100.Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicincta leggei
common UDA, Bundala, Yala
101.Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora
several UDA, Yala, Gilimale forest
102.Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
several throughout
103.Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus
fairly common SIN, Bodhinagala, Gilimale, KIT, WAT
104.Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
several WAT
105.Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
common UDA, TIS
106.Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
one KIT
107.Layard’s Parakeet Psittacula calthropae
pair Gilimale forest, one SIN, 3 flight near Hakgala Botanical Garden
108.Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus
several SIN
109.Blue-faced Malkoha Rhopodytes viridirostris
two UDA, several enroute near Ambalantota, Yala
110.Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaccea
fairly common UDA, KAL, TIS
111.Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii
one UDA, one Yala
112.Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchus
SIN one seen very well for 10 min. , others heard SIN and Bodhinagala
113.Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
several thoughout, one in Bodhinagala forest !
114.Pied Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus
several Bundala-Yala area
115.Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterius
several UDA, Bundala
116.Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
fairly common UDA, Bundala, Yala
117.Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena
two day-time roost Citizens Rest Ingiriya
118.Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
two at dusk Citizens Rest Ingiriya
119.Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
one daytime in forest near Konketiya
120.Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanonotum
one seen Bodhinagala, heard SIN, one seen KIT rubber plantation
121.Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger
one seen very well at dusk SIN, more heard (also daytime) SIN
122.Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus eidos
several before dawn entrance road to Yala
123.Jerdon’s Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis aequabilis
one seen, another heard at dusk near Tissamaharama
124.Brown Fish Owl Bubo zeylonensis zeylonensis
one day-time UDA, one day-time WAT-pond
125.Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica ochrogenys
one day-time Surrey Tea Estate, one flight only at dusk Hakgala Bot. garden
126.Barn Owl Tyto alba
one at dusk Tissa tank
127.Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Tockus gingalensis
Bodhinagala, Yala, KIT
128.Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus
6 ex. UDA, 2 flight only Yala
129.House Crow Corvus splendens
very common at coast around Colombo
130.Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
common
131.Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus fasciatus
one male Bodhinagala, several SIN
132.Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis
one UDA, two TIS, one KIT
133.White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
common
134.Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
fairly common
135.Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
two Hambantota, few TIS
136.Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis ceylonicus
common dry zone
137.Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
several throughout
138.Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
fairly common throughout
139.Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
several UDA, TIS, one near Ingiriya
140.Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
several UDA, TIS
141.Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
several north of Yala enroute B53
142.Crimson-fronted Barbet Megalaima rubricapilla rubricapilla
Endemic race, considered by some authorities as separate species. Not in Clements
fifth edition 2000. Entrance road SIN, north of Yala B53, Peradenya Bot. gardens
143.Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica
common
144.Yellow-fronted Barbet Megalaima flavifrons
SIN, KIT, enroute SIN-Embilipitya
145.Brown-capped Woodpecker Picoides moluccensis gymnophthalmus
one Yala (Dendrocopus nanus gymnophthalmus)
146.Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Picoides mahrattensis
one Bundala, one north of Yala enrute B53
147.Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus wellsi
Gilimale forest, SIN
148.Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense psarodes
red-backed race, SIN, KAL, TIS
149.Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus stricklandi
one UDA, one WAT
150.White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus tantus
one pair coming to tree hole in a palm plantation near Tissamaharama tank at 16.30u
151.Rufous-winged Lark Mirafra assamica
very common UDA, also Yala
152.Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Eremopterix grisea
common KAL, Bundala-Yala area
153.Forest Wagtail Dendromanthus indicus
common UDA, few Hakgala Botanical Garden
154.Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
few KAL
155.Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
few throughout
156.Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
few KAL, TIS
157.Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
SIN, UDA, Yala
158.Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
few near Ingiriya, Peradeniya Bot. Garden, rubber plantation near KIT
159.Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
SIN several evenings
160.Little Swift Apus affinis
few north of Yala enroute B53
161.Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor
common
162.Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
fairly common
163.Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica hyperythra
several throughout, all Sri Lanka Swallow
164.Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus affinis
one near Hambantota
165.Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus leggei
two enroute SIN-Embilipitiya
166.Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
several WAT
167.Flame Mivivet Pericorcotus flammeus
several throughout
168.Black-headed Cuckooshrike Coracina melanoptera
one female north of Yala enroute B53, one male rubber plantation near KIT
169.Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
common
170.Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
several Tissa tank
171.Black-headed Yellow Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus melanicterus
Endemic race, considered by some authorities as seperate species. Not in Clements
fifth edition 2000. Fairly common, mainly wet zone.
172.Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer cafer
common
173.Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus
Fairly common around Nuwara Eliya.
174.White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus insulae
several dry zone
175.Yellow-browed Bulbul Hypsipetes indicus guglielmi
Bodhinagala, SIN, KIT, WAT
176.Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus humii
SIN, Hakgala Bot. garden
177.Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
fairly common, SIN, UDA, TIS etc.
178.Jerdon’s Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis
SIN, UDA
179.Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis
fairly common dry zone
180.Indian Blue Robin Erithacus brunneus
several SIN, WAT, Galleway road N. Eliya, near Hakgala Bot. garden, Gilimale forest
181.White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus leggei
UDA, TIS, north of Yala enroute B53
182.Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
several throughout
183.Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
common around Nuwara Eliya
184.Black-backed Robin Saxicoloides fulicata leucoptera
common KAL, Bundala, Yala
185.Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush Myophonus blighi
Horton Plains pool. One male seen very well in bush at two meters distance, to close
to use binoculars ! One hour after dawn the second morning we had a try at it. Heard
only the first morning.
186.Pied Thrush Zoothera wardii
One male Victoria Park at noon. Not so easy to see very well. Better in morning ?
187.Spot-winged Thrush Zoothera spiloptera
Gilimale forest, SIN, KIT. On tracks in morning and evening.
188.Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma imbricata
SIN two along Waturama trail on the ground, four in trees at dusk along main track,
Hakgala Botanic garden ; one high in trees with Black Bulbul at noon !
Very different race, probably only a matter of time before this form is given specific status.
189.Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula kinnisii
One coming to the road at Horton Plains pool at first light. Very confusing while looking for Whistling Thrush in bad
light. Yellow eye-ring and bill !!
190.Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura
Very common dry zone, less wet zone. Many heard throughout. Seen at Martin’s Place, enroute SIN-Embipitilya,
Bundala, Yala, Galleway road Nuwara Eliya, KIT. Not in Victoria Park at noon !
191.Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillum
Gillimala forest, SIN, WAT. Always close to the ground, not too difficult.
192.Indian Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii melanurus
SIN, Horton Plains
193.Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps siccata & nigrifrons
KIT, Horton Plains, north of Yala along B53, SIN, Bodhinagala
194.Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra phillipsi
Citizens Rest Ingiriya, near Bundala, Yala
195.Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense nasale
several TIS
196.Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens
fairly common SIN, KIT
197.Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis taprobanus
fairly common
198.Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons
few SIN
199.Sri Lanka Bush-warbler Bradypterus palliseri
Two at the edge of the indigenous forest above the Hakgala Botanical garden. Tried
this species for hours at Horton Plains without succes.
200.Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
fairly common, SIN, KIT, Horton Plains etc…
201.Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus meridionalis
Bundala, near Tissa
202.Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
KAL, TIS
203.Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii leggei
KAL, TIS
204.Plain Prinia Prinia subflava insularis
fairly common
205.Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis brevicauda
TIS, common UDA
206.Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica valida
KAL
207.Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius sutorius
several throughout
208.Bright-green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
fairly common throughout
209.Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
Bodhinagala, Yala forest near river ; distinctive call
210.Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea ceylonensis
Bodhinagala, SIN, WAT
211.Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis
fairly common SIN, WAT, Bodhinagala, KAL, UDA, TIS, KIT ; also paradisi
212.White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola
only few : Ratnaloka Tour Inn garden, TIS
213.Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
few Horton Plains
214.Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra
one male Victoria Park
215.Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordida
Surrey Tea Estate, Hakgala bot. garden, Horton Plains
216.Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
SIN, KIT, WAT
217.Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
fairly common
218.Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Niltava tickelliae jerdoni
one male Bodhinagala forest
219.Great Tit Parus major
common around Nuwara Eliya
220.Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
Horton Plains, Hakgala bot. garden, WAT
221.Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos ceylonense
common
222.Tick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile zeylonicum
several TIS
223.White-throated Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens
two Gilimale forest, several SIN
224.Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica zeylonica
common
225.Long-billed Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia lotenia
several throughout (Ratnaloka Tour Inn, SIN, etc…)
226.Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica
few TIS
227.Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosa
several throughout
228.Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis
few SIN, common around Nuwara Eliya
229.White-throated Silverbill Lonchura malabarica
5 ex. entrance road to Yala Park
230.White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
few SIN
231.Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
several throughout
232.Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti kelaarti
Endemic race, considered by some authorities as separate species. Not in Clements
fifth edition 2000. two Horton Plains, near pool
233.Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca
fairly common throughout
234.House Sparrow Passer domesticus
common near habitation
235.Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
fairly common UDA, TIS
236.Grey Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
one SIN, one KIT
237.Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus ceylonicus
Bodhinagala, SIN lophorhinus
238.White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens leucopygialis
common insularis
239.Sri Lanka Magpie Urocissa ornata
one on two days near SIN forest station
240.Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum
KAL, Yala
241.Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus
two juv. near Ingiriya, large groups KAL, several TIS
242.White-faced Starling Sturnus senex
SIN ± 10, also in flock
243.Sri Lanka Myna Gracula ptilogenys
Flyby Gilimale forest, two perched SIN, more flying over.
244.Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
common WAT
245.Common Myna Acridotheres tristis melanosturnus
fairly common
245.Serendib Scops Owl (not seen)
Ready to be discovered on 23 January 2001, weeks after I got home from this trip!!! Euh, yep, I cleaned up on endemics during my trip…hehe
Mammal list
Grey Langur (Hanunan Langur) Presbytis entellus
Purple-faced Leaf Monkey Presbytis vetulus
Toque Macaque ?
Golden Jackal Canis aureus
Eurasian Otter (Common Otter) Lutra lutra
Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica
Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii
Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus
Indian Elephant Elephas maximus
Wild Boar Sus scrofa
Chital (Spotted Deer) Cervus axis
Sambar Cervus unicolor
Water Buffalo (introduced) Bubalus arnee
Indian Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum
Northern Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennantii
Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica
Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis
Fruit Bats (Flying Fox)
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Stijn De Win / Birding2asia.com has published this information page on 3 September 2009. | |
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