Paux

Just returned from a 2-week birding trip in Sri Lanka. Started from Colombo, we visited :
- Kitulgala Rainforest
- Nuwara Eliya (Victoria Park)
- Horton Plains National Park
- Yala National Park
- Bundala Ramsar Wetland
- Udawalawa National Park
- Sinharaja Rainforest
- Mirissa (whale watching)
Here are some bird photos from Sinharaja Rainforest :
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (endemic) - even though it's not the national bird, yet it's one of the most popular birds of Sri Lanka

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19/02/2015 18:44

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19/02/2015 18:44

[ Last edited by Paux at 21/02/2015 14:02 ]

Paux

Sri Lanka Junglefowl (endemic) - National bird of Sri Lanka

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19/02/2015 18:56

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19/02/2015 18:56

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19/02/2015 18:56

[ Last edited by Paux at 21/02/2015 14:02 ]

Paux

Sri Lanka Frogmouth (F)

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19/02/2015 19:08

Another pair deep inside the rainforest, female on the left & male on the right

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19/02/2015 19:08

Paux

Male

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19/02/2015 19:12

Female

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19/02/2015 19:12

(to be cont'd)

Paux

Sri Lanka Myna (endemic)

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21/02/2015 13:56

White-faced Starling (endemic)

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21/02/2015 13:56

White-bellied Drongo

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21/02/2015 13:56

Paux

Orange-billed Babbler (endemic)

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21/02/2015 14:16

Sri Lanka Drongo (endemic)

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21/02/2015 14:16

Paux

Malabar Trogon

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21/02/2015 14:35

Black-hooded Oriole

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21/02/2015 14:35

Paux

Crimson-backed Flameback (endemic)

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21/02/2015 14:55

Early morning at Sinharaja Rainforest

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21/02/2015 14:55

(bird photos of other areas will be posted in a new thread)

[ Last edited by Paux at 21/02/2015 15:00 ]

aenckli

I and my wife also went to Sri Lanka in last 2.5 weeks. There is a little bit difference in destinations. We went to Colombo, Mirrisa, Sinharaja, Uda Walawe, Bundala, Yala, Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plain and Victoria Park, Dambulla, Sirigiya and Polonnaruwa. We did not do much in Bundala because the jeep was jammed in mud for few hours. Sinharaja is a great place and we stayed in Martin's Lodge (at the edge of forest) for 3 days. We photoed around 120 species, include 20 endemics and some HK common birds. Perhaps we met somewhere in Sri Lanka and didn't know. Although Sri Lanka is a small island, it is a good place for birding.

Paux

Jimmy, thank you for your response.
Our itinerary was suggested by the tour company to meet our target to see as many bird species as possible, in particular, the endemics. And we end up with a record of 228 bird species, including 32 endemics in this 2-week trip. Of course I just managed to photo a fraction of this no. of species. We enjoyed this trip very much and I absolutely agree that Sri Lanka is a good country for birding, for both novice and experienced birders.

At Sinharaja, we stayed at Rock View Motel for 3 days as well (13-15 Feb). At Bundala, it's unlucky for your jeep to stall in mud for such long hours. Actually we saw a no. of waterbirds there, among them the Lesser Adjutant & Glossy Ibis were the most impressive. We also met a pair of Indian Golden Jackals at dusk there. Here is a photo :

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3/03/2015 20:51

[ Last edited by Paux at 3/03/2015 20:54 ]