Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon |
Green-billed Coucal |
Black-rumped flameback |
|
White-naped woodpecker |
Yellow-eared bulbul |
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel |
Introduction
There are many reports written which detail trips to Sri Lanka, but most of these concern trips made during the ‘high season’ of December-March. I knew that wintering species such as Indian pitta and pied thrush would not be present in August, but there was very little information available on what I could expect. The following report does not go into detail about the logistics of this trip or describe the sites as this has been done in many other reports. It does give the reader some idea of what they may expect of a trip made in August.
Species list
There seems to have been some pretty liberal splitting going on concerning the Sri Lankan endemics. I am not in a position to comment on the validity of these splits. Of the (current) 34 endemics we saw 33 (and heard and glimpsed the 34th!) and managed an incredible 201 species overall. The full list is given at the end of the report.
Logistics
Flights booked with Ebookers – Sri Lankan Airlines (£700 per person). Tour booked through Anytime Tours (www.anytimetours.co.uk) with Baurs – two people sharing with ornithological guide (Dhammi), driver (Abey), air-con minibus (£1100 per person).
I would not recommend undertaking a trip like this without a guide and/or driver. I am a big advocate of independent travel and I’m certainly used to finding my own way around and finding the birds myself. In Sri Lanka, however, the driving is far from easy and the birds do not always give themselves up willingly. Hire the services of Baurs and relax! You can still do your own bird-finding and I always asked ‘why is it that species’ if I thought it was not clear. This was not because I did not trust our guide, Dhammi, but because I wanted to learn and be sure.
Our guide and driver were truly superb. They knew their birds (especially from calls etc.) and had several sites for most species so that we had back-ups should the first site fail. I would recommend them without hesitation.
Tapes
I have never used tapes before to help locate birds and was unsure what I thought about their use, having never seen them in action. Dhammi asked if we were OK with the use of tapes and I explained that if they were not used excessively I felt it would be OK. Tapes were used only for a few difficult to see species and there were very few, if any, times where I felt they were used excessively. I’m still unsure how I feel about their use; although ideally I would prefer to see the birds without using tapes, I was surprised to see how relaxed the birds seemed to be. They would fly in or call back, enabling us to locate them, we would then stop all use of the tapes and the birds would often sit and preen or feed or continue to sing before taking themselves off again. I expected to see birds frantically searching out the impostor and becoming obviously agitated. This was not the case. For me, the jury’s still out on this one.
Itinerary and notes.
Listed below are some of the main points for each day. A full species list is given at the end. Birds with *asterisks are Sri Lankan endemics.
Day 1. ARRIVAL / KITULGALA
01/08 Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake by UL506 and transfer to Kitulgala visiting Ingiriya Forest Reserve (Bodinagala) en route.
Delayed arrival by 1½ hours but met efficiently and taken off out of Colombo quickly via a cash point and stop for water.
Birds en route were typical of those seen from the vehicle for the rest of the trip (Common myna, house and jungle crows, white-throated kingfishers, white-bellied drongos, cattle, little, intermediate and great egrets, Indian pond heron, red-vented bulbuls, yellow-billed babblers). Less usual were a spot-billed pelican in the top of a tree (!) and ashy woodswallow. We made a special stop for the latter as it is not always guaranteed. (Other wildlife – water monitor)
In and around Ingiriya, notched up our first endemics (*Sri Lankan swallow, *brown-capped babbler, *crimson flameback). (Other wildlife – purple-faced leaf-monkey, toque macaque, giant squirrel, giant millipedes)
Birding around the Kitulgala Rest House grounds produced other species including 4 more endemics (*Layard’s parakeet, green imperial pigeon, *pompadour pigeon, greater coucal, *Sri Lankan hanging parrot, bulbuls, *orange-billed babbler). (Other wildlife – palm squirrels)
Day 2. KITULGALA
02/08 Before and after breakfast full day birding in Kitulgala Forest Reserve.
Up at first light – flocks of green imperial pigeons moving over, stork-billed kingfisher and oriental honey buzzard seen while having breakfast.
Off to another part of the forest where a swift burst of tape produced *chestnut-backed owlet which preened and sat quietly for 15 mins or so. A walk around this area produced *spot-winged thrush, shikra, crested treeswifts, dark-fronted babbler, oriental honey buzzard, mountain hawk-eagle.
Walk through the ‘home-gardens’ and in the rainforest after lunch – long-billed sunbird, *Sri Lankan crested drongo, *orange-billed babblers, *Sri Lankan grey hornbill. We sheltered under some farmers’ lean-tos while it rained but then the leeches appeared. Not too much of a problem and the anti-leech socks from the Oriental Bird Club really worked! The grey hornbill was a difficult species on this trip. We had good views with a lot of effort and Dhammi seemed to think they were more difficult than usual. (Other wildlife – palm squirrel, giant squirrel, green garden and common garden lizard)
Day 3. KITULGALA
03/08 Full day birding in Kitulgala Forest Reserve.
Before breakfast, back to the same area as yesterday morning for a stake-out for black-backed dwarf kingfisher. Arrived to calling *Sri Lankan jungle fowl with excellent views of some confiding birds. Excellent views of the kingfisher and of Tickell’s blue flycatcher.
Narrow boat crossing to Kitulgala forest. *Orange-billed babbler and almost immediately, calling spurfowl, but despite hearing them frequently and trying with a tape, no views. Did connect with a flock which included *Sri Lankan crested drongo, lesser yellownape, Malabar trogon. Also heard Sri Lankan blue magpie but no views. (Other wildlife – palm squirrel, dusky striped squirrel, giant squirrel, water monitor)
After lunch (when we saw black eagle over the distant hillside) we travelled up through a rubber and tea plantation. Excellent views of changeable hawk-eagle. One small group of trees attracted a number of birds inc. *Yellow-fronted and *crimson-fronted barbets, tawny-bellied babbler, bar-winged flycatcher shrike, lesser yellownape, *Layards parakeet and *Sri Lankan hanging parrot.
Day 4. KITULGALA / RATNAPURA / SINHARAJA
04/08 After breakfast proceed to Sinharaja via Ratnapura, birding in the garden of Ratnaloka Tour Inns before having lunch.
Up early when I had superb views of a range of common species around the hotel (scarlet minivet, stork-billed kingfisher, black-rumped flameback etc.)
Walk around Ratnaloka Hotel gave excellent views of *Sri Lankan swallow, palm swift and swiftlets, low over lawns, white-browed bulbul, waterhen, long-billed sunbird, *yellow-fronted barbet, white-browed fantail. (Other wildlife – palm squirrel, water monitor, green garden lizard)
Drive to Sinharaja produced crested serpent eagle, *Sri Lankan hill munia. On arrival, had good views of changeable hawk-eagle and nesting *Sri Lankan hill myna near to the Blue Magpie Lodge. A walk and drive to the top of the hill near Martin’s Place produced distant views of *white-faced starling, and superb views of *spot-winged thrush. Back at the Blue Magpie Lodge, had good views of brown-backed needletails hawking with the swiftlets. (Other wildlife – giant squirrel, purple-faced leaf monkey)
After dinner, went out to tape in and spotlight Sri Lankan frogmouth amongst the glow worms and fireflies. Were successful and had quite brief views – I was impressed how, once the two of us had seen the bird, the light was turned off and we moved away so as not to cause any more disturbance.
Day 5. SINHARAJA
05/08 After breakfast full day excursion to Sinharaja World Heritage Wilderness Area.
To enter Sinharaja, everyone must employ a local guide. The preferred is called Thandula, but we got Ratna, who was not much use. Fortunately our Baurs guide knew what he was doing and it didn’t matter.
Quickly saw green imperial pigeon, *white-faced starling, *Sri Lankan wood pigeon (excellent views above a path) and had poor views of *Sri Lankan blue magpie and *Sri Lankan grey hornbill. After that we searched for a long time without seeing much except *Legge’s flowerpecker. Finally, at midday, we found a flock and had some excellent views of *Sri Lankan crested drongo, *orange-billed, dark-fronted and *Sri Lankan scimitar- babblers, *Layard’s parakeets, *white-faced starling, Malabar trogon, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, lesser yellownape, *crimson flameback and finally, the stunning *red-faced malkoha (4 or 5 birds).
After lunch and a snooze, we put in a lot of effort looking for Sri Lankan scaly thrush without any sign of it but did get good views of *spot-winged thrush, *Sri Lankan jungle fowl, lots of stunning butterflies and heard a lot of very vocal spurfowl without a glimpse. We then walked part way down the hill and struck gold with another flock containing *red-faced malkoha, about 5 *ashy-headed laughingthrush and superb views of around 8 *Sri Lankan blue magpies. (Other wildlife – purple-faced leaf monkey, dusky striped squirrel, giant squirrel, kangaroo lizard)
Day 6. SINHARAJA
06/08 Full day birding in Sinharaja Heritage Wilderness Area.
Tried for green-billed coucal and spurfowl before breakfast. No coucals at the first site but we did have excellent views of stork-billed kingfisher. At a second site we had brilliant views of 2 *green-billed coucals. Tried for spurfowl using a tape and they came close but did not show. However, we did connect with a mixed flock of passerines and managed 6 *Sri Lankan blue magpies, 3 *ashy-headed laughingthrush and *Sri Lankan crested drongo. (Other wildlife – ruddy mongoose, water monitor)
After breakfast had a leisurely morning around the lodge and managed excellent views of hooded oriole, *yellow-fronted barbet and *Sri Lankan hill munia. Over head there were 2 changeable hawk-eagles and a besra.
After lunch we headed back up to the reserve and eventually caught up with a flock. I didn’t linger, however, as I went off to try to find (unsuccessfully) Sri Lankan scaly thrush. I did see *Layard’s parakeet (drinking/feeding from pitcher plants), *white-faced starling, *orange-billed babblers and *Sri Lankan jungle fowl. Heard *chestnut-backed owlet calling and then caught up with another flock containing lesser yellownape, *crimson flameback, *red-faced malkoha, Malabar trogon, *orange-billed babblers and *Sri Lankan crested drongo. Walking back to the gate and then to Martin’s Place for a cuppa we saw *Sri Lankan wood pigeon and heard two brown wood owls. (Other wildlife – purple-faced leaf monkey, palm squirrel, dusky striped squirrel, giant squirrel, kangaroo lizard)
After our cup of tea, when it was dark, we went looking for *Serendib Scops-owl using a tape. It started well when an owl soon responded and moved closer to the road… but not close enough. I managed to obtain very poor views of an owl flying away. We then encountered some local guides making their way to Martin’s Place. Amongst them, we were told, was Sinharajah’s premier owl-finder and Dhammi told us that if anybody could get us the ‘new owl’, it was him. We agreed and did eventually get reasonable views of the bird. Better views were obtained by the guides but by then we had refused to participate further and left the area as we felt the bird was being harassed significantly, being chased from tree to tree for our benefit. Dhammi tried to stop the ‘owl-finder’ and explain that we were not happy. I do sincerely feel that the owl-finder was concerned we had not seen the bird well and just wanted to keep the visitors (us) happy. He did not have any understanding of our concern for the bird’s welfare. This is a very rare species and I am somewhat ashamed that through our actions we caused it such disturbance. The enthusiasm of the locals meant this was a very different experience from that with the frogmouth a few days previously where the welfare of the bird was paramount.
Day 7. SINHARAJA / EMBILIPITIYA
07/08 After breakfast leave for Embilipitiya. Afternoon visit to Kalametiya.
Before breakfast, tried again for *Sri Lankan spurfowl and finally succeeded with good views of a pair feeding and calling near some bamboo with other birds calling in the area – a common bird but so difficult to see!
After breakfast we drove out of the hills to the dry zone and our hotel for one night in Embilipitiya. On the way we saw 3 oriental honey buzzards and an immature black eagle.
After lunch at the hotel,. We had a whistle-stop tour of Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Most birding was done from the vehicle and there was little time to linger over any bird in particular. I would have liked more time to study the sandplovers… but there was always something else to look at! New or significant birds were paddyfield pipit, Jerdon’s bush lark, ashy-crowned finch lark, Asian koel, little green bee-eater, pheasant-tailed jacana (many in breeding plumage), great thick-knee, lesser whistling duck, yellow-wattled lapwing, peafowl, Indian black robin and many herons and waders including hundreds of lesser and greater sandplovers. From the beach there were a few distant terns but I could only positively identify great crested tern. (Other wildlife – Hanuman langur monkey, Indian grey mongoose, water buffalo, palm squirrel)
Day 8. EMBILIPITIYA / TISSAMAHARAMA
08/08 Birding in Uda Walawe National Park & proceed to Tissamaharama.
An early start saw us on a jeep safari in Udawalawe NP where the highlight had to be the elephants which were seen well. Bird highlights were ashy, plain and jungle prinias, black-headed munia, orange-breasted green pigeon (our only ones!), yellow-eyed babbler, white-bellied sea-eagle, black-shouldered kite, coppersmith barbet, sirkeer and blue-faced malkoha (quite fleeting views), woolly-necked and painted stork, grey-headed fish-eagle, brown fish-owl (stunning views at a roost), *Sri Lankan woodshrike, barred buttonquail (just one dashing in front of the jeep) and white-throated silverbill.
After lunch and a snooze in our excellent hotel in Tissamaharama, we explored the Deborawewa tank where highlights were lots of herons and egrets, purple swamphen, shikra, ashy woodswallow, pheasant-tailed jacana, baya weaver, *Sri Lankan woodshrike and flocks of Indian shag.
Towards evening, we went to the palm grove where white-naped woodpecker can be seen but were informed that they were less reliable now and we did not see them. We did see black-rumped flameback, little swift and alexandrine parakeet. (Other wildlife – Indian flying fox, Hanuman langur, Asian elephant, spotted deer, water buffalo, giant squirrel, palm squirrel, soft-shelled terrapin, marsh crocodile, land monitor.)
Day 9. TISSAMAHARAMA
09/08 Jeep safari in Yala National Park.
Another early start for a jeep safari in Yala NP. Unfortunately, no leopards for us but we did see more elephants extremely well and the following birds (amongst others); painted stork, grey-headed fish-eagle, white-bellied sea-eagle, lesser adjutant, pied cuckoo, (Sri Lankan) paradise flycatcher, yellow-crowned woodpecker (briefly), large cuckoo-shrike and blue-faced malkoha (only one, but better views than yesterday). (Other wildlife – Hanuman langur, golden jackal, Asian elephant, wild boar, spotted deer, water buffalo, palm squirrel, common garden lizard, soft-shelled terrapin, marsh crocodile, estuarine crocodile land monitor.)
In the afternoon we returned to the Deborawewa tank and quite incredibly discovered white-naped woodpecker immediately on getting down from the minibus! We watched it for a while in a tree beside the tank before it flew off. The birds are obviously still in the area even if they are no longer reliable at the roost site. Lots of other birds as per the previous afternoon and a couple of flight views of black bittern. (Other wildlife – Indian flying fox, Hanuman langur, water buffalo, palm squirrel, soft-shelled terrapin)
Day 10. TISSAMAHARAMA
10/08 Tanks around Tissa, edges of Yala and Bundala National Park.
Before breakfast, headed out to a couple of different tanks near Tissa where we saw Eurasian thick-knee (much darker, quite different race from that in Europe; indicus), Oriental skylark, cotton pygmy goose, marsh sanpiper and various waders, storks and herons.
After breakfast we did quite a lot of driving around the edges of Yala NP trying, principally, to locate Malabar pied-hornbill which was proving exceptionally difficult. Dhammi was very surprised we had not encountered it on either of our jeep safaris and unfortunately we did not connect with it today. We had to stay close to the minibus at all times because of the threat of leopard and elephant, but we did see white-browed fantail, little minivet, a stunning male white-rumped shama, blue-face malkoha (good views this time), woolly-necked stork and shaheen (local race of peregrine). (Other wildlife – Hanuman langur, common garden lizard.)
In the afternoon we drove to Bundala NP stopping on the way to see a collared scops-owl in a scraggy bush in someone’s garden! Excellent views. At Bundala there were lots of pheasant-tailed jacanas out on the mud with the many waders, storks and herons as well as very large numbers of lesser whistling duck. We eventually found a sand-spit with a few terns coming and going. Commonest were gull-billed and whiskered terns (20-30 each), there were about 6 Caspian terns, 3 little terns and 2 Saunder’s terns. Generally difficult to separate, we used a combination of head and primary pattern to pick out at least 2 birds. On perched birds the reduced white/increased black of the head pattern was quite noticeable but we then confirmed with the large area of sharply blackish primaries. This was fairly straight forward with little terns for comparison, but I would have been much less confident without them there! This proved to be a challenging spot for identification as there were a couple of distant egrets which I am pretty sure were western reef-egrets, but I haven’t added them to the list. A little further on, we had pied kingfisher, clamorous reed warblers and streaked weavers as well as a strange pond-heron with a very dark, slatey mantle like Chinese pond-heron but without the chestnut head and breast. I presume that this was just a dark Indian pond-heron. We went back along the road, seeing more elephants (very unusual here) and taped in Indian and Jerdon’s nightjar obtaining very good views of both. (Other wildlife – Indian flying fox, Hanuman langur, toque macaque, Indian grey mongoose, Asian elephant, spotted deer, water buffalo, palm squirrel, black-naped hare, estuarine crocodile)
Day 11. TISSAMAHARAMA / SURREY ESTATE / NUWARA ELIYA
11/08 After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya, visiting Surry Estate en route.
Not far short of leaving the Yala area, on our way to Nuwara Eliya in the highlands, we finally connected with Malabar pied-hornbill and got excellent views of a bird above the minibus in a dead tree. We also connected with crested serpent-eagle beside the road and had superb close views of adult black-eagle hunting in the canopy. (Other wildlife – Hanuman langur)
A walk in the Surrey Tea Plantation (famous for its roosting brown wood owls) produced coppersmith barbet, thick-billed flowerpecker and chestnut-headed bee-eater. Dhammi located a pair of brown wood owls which we saw but the views were rather silhouetted and obscured by branches.
We drove on to a cold, wet Nuwara Eliya and after lunch in our hotel, explored forests near to the town. Birds included pied bushchat, great (grey) tit, grey-headed canary-flycatcher, *Sri Lankan white-eye, *Sri Lankan scimitar-babbler, exquisite *yellow-eared bulbuls, (Indian) blackbird (with blue-glossed plumage, more orange bare-parts and triangular ‘wattle’ behind eye), *Sri Lankan wood pigeon and dark-fronted babblers. We also heard dull blue flycatcher and the elusive Sri Lankan scaly thrush. The giant squirrels and purple-faced leaf monkeys were certainly much furrier here to deal with the cold! (Other wildlife – Purple-faced leaf monkey, palm squirrel, giant squirrel)
We then went on to a small stream nearby immediately behind a vegetable-seller’s shack and quickly had good, close views of *Sri Lankan whistling thrush. This is traditionally a very difficult species to see and seeing it here meant we did not need to get up at 4am to travel to the Horton plains site for dawn!
Day 12. NUWARA ELIYA
12/08 Horton Plains National Park
A later start for us. Drove up towards the plains seeing pied bushchat, hill swallow and bar-winged flycatcher shrike on the way.
Stopped and birded behind Piattipola station – *Dull blue flycatcher, *Sri Lankan bush warbler and a pair of (Indian) blackbirds. These last two endemics meaning we had seen 33 of the 34. A little further on we saw *Sri Lankan white-eye, *yellow-eared bulbul, *orange-billed babbler and dark-fronted babbler.
In the late afternoon, we went back to the forest where we had heard the Sri Lankan scaly thrush the previous day. Here we saw more *Sri Lankan white-eyes, *yellow-eared bulbuls, 2 *dull blue flycatchers, grey-headed canary flycatcher and added velvet-fronted nuthatch. The scaly thrush was quite vocal again (a thin ‘seeee’ like that given by robins and blackbirds in the UK) and creeping about beneath the canopy I managed to hear it a lot and even saw a bird that was obviously it fly away in the corner of my eye, twice. However, nothing I felt I could tick. We gave it a good go for over an hour and there were obviously two birds which could well have been nesting. Dhammi did suggest we could return the following morning and try again but time was going to be tight. I decided to leave it as one to come back for on my next visit to Sri Lanka and save the birds the extra disturbance. By now, two brown wood owls were dueting and one eventually flew in and called from a tree above the path – good, un-obscured, if rather dark and dusky, views. (Other wildlife – Purple-faced leaf monkey, palm squirrel)
Day 13. NUWARA ELIYA / KANDY
13/08 After breakfast leave for Kandy. Visit Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya.
Now that we had seen all the endemics we were going to see, we concentrated on more cultural things (Tea factory – very interesting, Kandyan dancers – hmm, Temple of the tooth – fascinating). However, there was still time for some birding from the vehicle as well as a little on foot. Species of note in the botanical gardens included *yellow-fronted barbet and *Sri Lankan swallow, Indian swiftlet, Asian palm swift and little swift all feeding low over the lawns. After lunch we went to Dhammi’s house where we saw grey-breasted prinia, 3 black eagles and a crested serpent-eagle. Finally, we travelled up through a tea plantation above the city of Kandy and finally caught up with plum-headed parakeet. (Other wildlife – Indian flying fox, toque macaque, palm squirrel, water monitor)
Day 14. KANDY / AIRPORT
14/08 After breakfast proceed to Airport.
Today consisted of a rapid and bumpy drive to the airport with a number of ‘shortcuts’ (detours) to avoid road closures. Still managed some birds from the minibus including ashy woodswallow, greater coucal, little swift. (Other wildlife – Toque macaque, palm squirrel)
Number indicates total number of days the sp. was seen (max 14)
Species underlined = Sri Lankan endemic
Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis, Little Grebe 4
Pelecanus philippensis, Spot-billed Pelican 8
Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, Great Cormorant 1
Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Indian Cormorant 6
Phalacrocorax niger, Little Cormorant 13
Anhinga melanogaster, Oriental Darter 5
Ardea cinerea, Grey Heron 5
Ardea purpurea manilensis, Purple Heron 6
Ardeola grayii grayii, Indian Pond-Heron 9
Bubulcus ibis, Cattle Egret 8
Dupetor flavicollis flavicollis, Black Bittern 1
Egretta alba, Great Egret 7
Egretta garzetta , Little Egret 6
Mesophoyx intermedia intermedia, Intermediate Egret 11
Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax, Black-crowned Night-Heron 3
Anastomus oscitans, Asian Openbill 8
Ciconia episcopus episcopus, Woolly-necked Stork 2
Leptoptilos javanicus, Lesser Adjutant 1
Mycteria leucocephala, Painted Stork 3
Platalea leucorodia leucorodia, Eurasian Spoonbill 3
Threskiornis melanocephalus, Black-headed Ibis 7
Dendrocygna javanica, Lesser Whistling-Duck 5
Nettapus coromandelianus, Cotton Pygmy-goose 1
Accipiter badius badius, Shikra 5
Accipiter virgatus besra, Besra 1
Elanus caeruleus vociverus, Black-winged Kite 3
Haliaeetus leucogaster, White-bellied Fish-Eagle 4
Haliastur indus Indus, Brahminy Kite 7
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle 2
Ictinaetus malayensis perniger, Black Eagle 5
Pernis ptilorhyncus rufficollis, Oriental Honey-buzzard 3
Spilornis cheela spilogaster, Crested Serpent-Eagle 4
Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis, Changeable Hawk-Eagle 6
Spizaetus nipalensis kelaarti, Mountain Hawk-Eagle 1
Falco peregrinus peregrinator, Peregrine Falcon (shaheen) 1
Galloperdix bicalcarata, Sri Lanka Spurfowl 1
Gallus lafayetii, Sri Lanka Junglefowl 6
Pavo cristatus, Indian Peafowl 4
Turnix suscitator leggei, Barred Buttonquail 1
Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus, White-breasted Waterhen 10
Fulica atra atra, Common Coot 1
Gallinula chloropus indica, Common Moorhen 3
Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus, Purple Swamphen 4
Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Pheasant-tailed Jacana 5
Himantopus himantopus himantopus, Black-winged Stilt 4
Burhinus oedicnemus indicus, Eurasian Thick-knee 1
Esacus recurvirostris, Great Thick-knee 3
Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrines, Kentish Plover 3
Charadrius dubius jerdoni, Little Ringed Plover 1
Charadrius leschenaultii , Greater Sand Plover 3
Charadrius mongolus atrifroms, Mongolian Plover 3
Vanellus indicus lankae, Red-wattled Lapwing 10
Vanellus malabaricus, Yellow-wattled Lapwing 3
Calidris ferruginea, Curlew Sandpiper 3
Calidris minuta, Little Stint 2
Limosa limosa limosa, Black-tailed Godwit 1
Numenius phaeopus phaeopus, Whimbrel 1
Tringa erythropus, Spotted Redshank 3
Tringa glareola, Wood Sandpiper 3
Tringa hypoleucos, Common Sandpiper 3
Tringa nebularia, Common Greenshank 3
Tringa stagnatilis, Marsh Sandpiper 2
Tringa totanus eurhinus , Common Redshank 3
Chlidonias hybridus hybridus, Whiskered Tern 2
Sterna albifrons sinensis, Little Tern 1
Sterna bergiivelox, Great Crested-Tern 1
Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern 1
Sterna nilotica nilotica, Gull-billed Tern 2
Sterna saundersi, Saunders's Tern 1
Chalcophaps indica robinsoni, Emerald Dove 6
Columba livia intermedia, Rock Pigeon 10
Columba torringtoni, Sri Lanka Wood-Pigeon 4
Ducula aenea pusilla, Green Imperial-Pigeon 9
Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis, Spotted Dove 14
Treron bicincta leggei, Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon 1
Treron (pompadora) pompadora, Sri Lanka (Pompadour) Green-Pigeon 3
Loriculus beryllinus, Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot 5
Psittacula calthropae, Layard's Parakeet 7
Psittacula cyanocephala, Plum-headed Parakeet 1
Psittacula eupatria eupatria, Alexandrine Parakeet 2
Psittacula krameri manillensins, Rose-ringed Parakeet 8
Centropus chlororhynchus, Green-billed Coucal 1
Centropus sinensis parroti, Greater Coucal 8
Eudynamys scolopacea scolopacea, Asian Koel 4
Oxylophus jacobinus jacobinus, Pied Cuckoo 1
Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii leschenaultia, Sirkeer Malkoha 1
Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus, Red-faced Malkoha 2
Phaenicophaeus viridirostris, Blue-faced Malkoha 3
Glaucidium castanonotum, Chestnut-backed Owlet 1
Ketupa zeylonensis zeylonensis, Brown Fish-Owl 1
Otus bakkamoena bakkamoena, Collared Scops-Owl 1
Otus thilohoffmanni, Serendib Scops Owl 1
Strix leptogrammica indranee, Brown Wood-Owl 2
Batrachostomus moniliger, Sri Lanka Frogmouth 1
Caprimulgus asiaticus eidos, Indian Nightjar 1
Caprimulgus atripennis aequabilis, Jerdon's Nightjar 1
Apus affinis, Little Swift 5
Collocalia unicolor, Indian Swiftlet 14
Cypsiurus balasiensis balasiensis , Asian Palm-Swift 9
Hirundapus giganteus indica, Brown-backed Needletail 3
Hemiprocne coronate, Crested Treeswift 10
Harpactes fasciatus fasciatus, Malabar Trogon 3
Alcedo atthis taprobana , Common Kingfisher 4
Ceryle rudis leucomelanura, Pied Kingfisher 2
Ceyx erithacus erithacus, Black-backed Kingfisher 1
Halcyon smyrnensis fusca, White-throated Kingfisher 13
Pelargopsis capensis capensis, Stork-billed Kingfisher 6
Merops leschenaulti leschenaultia, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 4
Merops orientalis orientalis, Little Green Bee-eater 5
Coracias benghalensis indica, Indian Roller 4
Upupa epops ceylonensis, Eurasian Hoopoe 1
Anthracoceros coronatus, Malabar Pied-Hornbill 1
Ocyceros gingalensis, Sri Lanka Grey-Hornbill 2
Megalaima flavifrons, Yellow-fronted Barbet 4
Megalaima haemacephala indica, Coppersmith Barbet 2
Megalaima rubricapilla, Crimson-fronted (Sri Lanka Small) Barbet 2
Megalaima zeylanica zeylanica, Brown-headed Barbet 8
Chrysocolaptes festivus tantus, White-naped Woodpecker 1
Chrysocolaptes (lucidus) stricklandi, Crimson (Greater) Flameback 3
Dendrocopos mahrattensis mahrattensis, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker 1
Dinopium benghalense psarodes, Black-rumped (red-backed) Flameback 9
Picus chlorolophus wellsi, Lesser Yellownape 3
Alauda gulgula gulgala, Oriental Skylark 1
Eremopterix grisea, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark 1
Mirafra assamica ceylonensis, Rufous-winged Lark 5
Hirundo (daurica) hyperythra, Sri Lankan (Red-rumped) Swallow 11
Hirundo tahitica domicola, Pacific (Hill) Swallow 3
Anthus rufulus malayensis, Paddyfield Pipit 6
Coracina macei layardi, Large Cuckooshrike 1
Coracina melanoptera sykesi, Black-headed Cuckooshrike 1
Hemipus picatus leggei, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike 2
Pericrocotus cinnamomeus cinnamomeus, Small Minivet 1
Pericrocotus flammeus flammeus, Scarlet Minivet 3
Tephrodornis (pondicerianus) affinis, Sri Lanka (Common) Woodshrike 1
Hypsipetes leucocephalus humii , Black Bulbul 5
Iole indica indica, Yellow-browed Bulbul 6
Pycnonotus cafer haemorrhousus, Red-vented Bulbul 14
Pycnonotus luteolus insulae, White-browed Bulbul 5
Pycnonotus melanicterus, Black-capped Bulbul 5
Pycnonotus penicillatus, Yellow-eared Bulbul 2
Aegithina tiphia multicolour, Common Iora 5
Chloropsis aurifrons insularis, Golden-fronted Leafbird 3
Chloropsis cochinchinensis jerdoni, Blue-winged Leafbird 2
Copsychus malabaricus leggei, White-rumped Shama 1
Copsychus saularis ceylonensis, Oriental Magpie-Robin 11
Myiophonus blighi, Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush 1
Saxicola caprata atrata, Pied Bushchat 2
Saxicoloides fulicata leucoptera, Indian Robin 6
Turdus merula kinnisii, Eurasian Blackbird 2
Zoothera (dauma) imbricata , Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush (heard only)
Zoothera spiloptera , Spot-winged Thrush 5
Chrysomma sinense nasale, Yellow-eyed Babbler 1
Dumetia hyperythra phillipsi, Tawny-bellied Babbler 2
Garrulax cinereifrons, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush 2
Pellorneum fuscocapillum, Brown-capped Babbler 4
Pomatorhinus (horsfieldii) melanurus, Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler 2
Rhopocichla atriceps siccata, Dark-fronted Babbler 4
Turdoides affinis taprobanus, Yellow-billed Babbler 12
Turdoides rufescens, Orange-billed Babbler 6
Acrocephalus stentoreus meridionalis, Clamorous Reed-Warbler 1
Bradypterus palliseri, Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler 1
Cisticola juncidis cursitans, Zitting Cisticola 1
Orthotomus sutorius sutorius, Common Tailorbird 6
Prinia hodgsonii leggei, Grey-breasted Prinia 1
Prinia inornata insularis, Plain Prinia 4
Prinia socialis brevicauda, Ashy Prinia 1
Prinia sylvatica vailda, Jungle Prinia 1
Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher 2
Cyornis tickelliae jerdoni, Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher 3
Eumyias sordid, Dull-blue Flycatcher 1
Hypothymis azurea ceylonensis, Black-naped Monarch 3
Rhipidura aureola compressirostris, White-browed Fantail 5
Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher 1
Parus major mahrattarum, Great (Grey) Tit 2
Sitta frontalis frontalis, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 1
Dicaeum agile zeylonicum, Thick-billed Flowerpecker 1
Dicaeum erythrorhynchos ceylonense, Pale-billed Flowerpecker 7
Dicaeum vincens vincens, Legge's Flowerpecker 2
Nectarinia asiatica asiatica, Purple Sunbird 2
Nectarinia lotenia lotenia, Loten's Sunbird 5
Nectarinia zeylonica zeylonica, Purple-rumped Sunbird 8
Zosterops ceylonensis, Sri Lanka White-eye 2
Zosterops palpebrosus egregia, Oriental White-eye 8
Lonchura kelaarti, Sri Lanka Hill Munia 2
Lonchura malabarica malabarica, Indian Silverbill 1
Lonchura Malacca, Black-headed Munia 2
Lonchura punctulata punctulata , Scaly-breasted Munia 6
Lonchura striata striata, White-rumped Munia 4
Ploceus manyar flaviceps, Streaked Weaver 1
Ploceus philippinus philippinus, Baya Weaver 3
Passer domesticus indicus, House Sparrow 7
Acridotheres tristis melanosternus, Common Myna 13
Gracula ptilogenys, Sri Lanka Myna 4
Gracula (religiosa) indica, Southern Hill Myna 5
Sturnus senex, White-faced Starling 3
Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis, Black-hooded Oriole 6
Dicrurus caerulescens insularis, White-bellied Drongo 8
Dicrurus (paradiseus) ceylonicus, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo 4
Artamus fuscus, Ashy Woodswallow 3
Corvus (macrorhynchos) levaillantii culminates, Jungle (Large-billed) Crow 13
Corvus splendens protegatus, House Crow 10
Urocissa ornate, Sri Lanka Magpie 2
201 species seen in total
1 species heard only