Subject: [Oversea] Sri Lanka 2.2015 [Print This Page] Author: Paux Time: 19/02/2015 18:44 Subject: Sri Lanka 2.2015
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
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. Author: Paux Time: 3/03/2015 20:51
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 :