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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Sri Lanka, 6 - 21 January 2001,

Peter Collaerts

Participants

Collaerts Erwin, Belgium
Collaerts Peter, Belgium : Upupa.epops@village.uunet.be
Dusar Vera, Belgium
Princen Yvon, Belgium : yvon.princen@ovam.be

The birds

The target of this birding trip was to see all the 26 endemic bird species of Sri Lanka. We thought that we reached our target but a few weeks after our return, we heard the news of the discovery of a new owl species in Sri Lanka, just one day after we left the island.

Flight

We took a flight from Brussels to London with British Midlands. In London we took the flight to Colombo with a short stop-over at Bahrain. On our flight back, we had a short stop at Muscat and a break of 8 hours in Bahrain before flying to London and Brussels. We booked our flight from London with Gulf Air and paid 24320 Bfr.(= 602.88 Euro) for a return flight.

Transport

We hired a mini-bus and a driver/birdguide through Baurs. They picked us up from and brought us back to the airport.

A. Baur & Co. Ltd
P.O. Box 11
Colombo 1
E-mail : baurs@eureka.lk

Our driver was Sunil de Alwis. He is highly recommended. Ask for him when you are contacting Baurs. He is a very good birdwatcher and he knows the stake-outs for the endemics and the other special birds. He will also arrange cheap accomodation during the trip. The prices are low. We had to pay 500 roepies (= 12.39 Euro) for the driver/guide a day and 25 rps (= 0.62 Euro)/mile for the whole group. We drove 834 miles. Outside Colombo driving is slow but the distances are small.

Jeeps are necessary when you are visiting the parks of Sinharaja, Yala and Bundala. They are more expensive and costs about 1500 rps (= 37.18 Euro) for half a day.

Accomodation and food

We stayed at the following cheap hotels :
Bodhinagala : Citizen Rest House , 850 rps/double room/night
Sinharaja : Martin's Place , 500 rps/per person/night (see below)
Uda Wattakele : ??? , 850 rps/dr/night
Tissamaharama : Vikum Lodge Hotel , 900 rps/dr/night
Nuwara Eliya : ??? , 1000 rps/4 persons/night
Kitulgala : Ceylon Hotel , 900rps/dr/night. This hotel was very good and much cheaper than the hotels in Kitulgala. It is nearly 10 km behind Kitulgala on the main route in the direction of Colombo.

Only the accomodation in Sinharaja is more expensive. You have to stay at Martin's Place at 500 rps per person per night. The rooms are very basic and animals are running everywhere in the rooms at night. You have to bring your own food and water at Martin's Place. It will be cooked by Martin's wife and daughter. Candels are also recommendable.

Overall food is good and very cheap (never more then 100 bht).

Used bird trip reports, guide and tapes

*Sri Lanka - Steve Webb ;
http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/sri-lanka/sri1/report.htm
*Two weeks in Sri Lanka - Keith Martin ;
http://www.esat.kuleuven.ac./~martin/srilankahtml.htm
*Trip report: Sri Lanka, december 1 -20, 1997 - Chris Bowden and Angela Schmid
http://matrix.crosswinds.net/~birdtrips/SriLankaCB97.html
*Trip report: Sri Lanka, march 28 - april 10, 1999 - Ian Mills
http://www.crosswinds.net/~birdtrips/SriLanka99.html

*Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent - R. Grimmett, C. and T. Inskipp
*A field guide to the birds of Sri Lanka - mentions the subspecies and their distribution

*Oriental Bird Club extra edition about Sri Lanka

We used the Steve Smith's and Deepal Warakagoda's tapes which are especially usefull for the Sri Lanka Spurfowl and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler.

Visited sites and the birds observed:
You will find a lot of information of the parks in the other trip reports.

Bodhinagala

Black-rumped Flameback, Brown-headed Barbet, Ceylon Small BarbetE,  Sri Lanka Grey HornbillE, Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotE, Indian Swiflet, Asian Palm Swift, Crested Treeswift, Indian Scops Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Grey Nightjar, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black-hooded Oriole, Scarlet Minivet, White-bellied Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Iora, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Black-capped BulbulE, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Dark-fronted Babbler, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Loten's Sunbird.

Sinharaja

Sri Lanka SpurfowlE, Sri Lanka JunglefowlE, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Flameback, Brown-headed Barbet, Yellow-fronted BarbetE, Sri Lanka Grey HornbillE, Malabar Trogon, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Red-faced MalkohaE, Green-billed CoucalE, Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotE, Layard's ParakeetE, Indian Swiftlet, Crested Treeswift, Chestnut-backed OwletE, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Crested Goshawk, Black Eagle, Idian Pitta, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Brown Shrike, Sri Lanka Blue MagpieE, Black-hooded Oriole, Scarlet Minivet, White-bellied Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Iora, Spot-winged ThrushE, Scaly Thrush subspecies imbricata, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, White-faced StarlingE, Sri Lanka MynaE, Southern Hill Myna, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Black-capped BulbulE, White-browed Bulbul, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Red-rumped Swallow, Sri Lanka White-EyeE, Oriental White-Eye, Large-billed Warbler, Green Warbler, Ashy-headed LaughingthrushE, Brown-capped BabblerE, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Dark-fronted Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Yellow-billed BabblerE, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Legge's FlowerpeckerE, Purple-rumped Sunbird, White-rumped Munia.

Uda Walawe

Malabar Pied Hornbill, Pied Cuckoo, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Asian Palm Swift, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pintail Snipe, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Pacific Golden Plover, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Little Cormorant, Purple Heron, Intermediate Egret, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Indian Pitta, Blue-winged Leafbird, Black-hooded Oriole, Indian Robin, Rosy Starling, Great Tit, Red-rumped Swallow, Zitting Cisticola, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Rufous-winged Lark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Forest Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Paddyfield Pipit, Baya Weaver, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-headed Munia.

Tissamaharama-area

Lesser Whistling Duck, Black-rumped Flameback, White-naped Woodpecker, Coppersmith Barbet, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Asian Koel, Blue-faced Malkoha, Sirkeer Malkoha, Layard's ParakeetE, Brown Fish Owl, Watercock, Pintail Snipe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Whiskered Tern, Black-shouldered Kite, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Darter, Little Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow Bittern, Black Bittern, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Brown Shrike, Ashy Woodswallow, White-browed Fantail, Common Iora, Indian Robin, Red-rumped Swallow, Grey-breasted Prinia, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Baya Weaver.

Yala National Park

Sri Lanka JunglefowlE, Indian Peafowl, Barred Buttonquail, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Common Hoopoe, Chestnut-headed Bea-eater, Pied Cuckoo, Sirkeer Malkoha, Brown-backed Needletail, Little Swift, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Marsh Sandpiper, Great Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Sand Plover, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Darter, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Yellow Bittern, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Black-necked Stork, Indian Pitta, Black-hooded Oriole, White-browed Fantail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Iora, Indian Robin, Brahminy Starling, Red-rumped Swallow, White-browed Bulbul, Plain Prinia, Oriental Skylark, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Forest Wagtail, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill, Black-headed Munia.

Bundala National Park

Chestnut-headed Bea-eater, Pied Cuckoo, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown-backed Needletail, Jerdons' Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Watercock, Pintail Snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Great Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Caspian Plover, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Brown-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Great Crested Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Black-shouldered Kite, Brahminy Kite, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Darter, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Purple Heron, Intermediate Egret, Yellow Bittern, Greater Flamingo, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Lesser Adjutant, Indian Pitta, Black-hooded Oriole, Common Iora, Indian Robin, Red-rumped Swallow, White-browed Bulbul, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Oriental Skylark, Streaked Weaver, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-headed Munia.

Surrey Tea Plantation

Brown Wood Owl, Sri Lanka Wood PigeonE, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Common Tailorbird, Indian Scimitar Babbler.

Victoria Park - Nuwara Eliya

Chestnut-headed Bea-eater, Slaty-legged Crake, Indian Pitta, Sri Lanka Whistling ThrushE, Pied Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird ssp. kinnisii, Kashmir Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin, Yellow-eared BulbulE, Dark-fronted Babbler, Pale-billed Flowerpecker.

Horton Plains

Sri Lanka JunglefowlE, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl (heard), Sri Lanka Wood PigeonE, Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Buzzard, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Whistling ThrushE, Eurasian Blackbird ssp. kinnisii, Dull-blue FlycatcherE, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Pied Bushchat, Hill Swallow, Yellow-eared BulbulE, Zitting Cisticola, Sri Lanka White-EyeE, Sri Lanka Bush WarblerE, Hill Munia.

Kitulgala

Sri Lanka SpurfowlE, Lesser Yellownape, Black-rumped Flameback, Brown-headed Barbet, Sri Lanka Grey HornbillE, Green-billed CoucalE, Sri Lanka Hanging ParrotE, Little Swift, Emerald Dove, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Indian Pitta, Scarlet Minivet, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, White-bellied Drongo, Common Iora, Spot-winged ThrushE, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Red-rumped Swallow, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Forest Wagtail, White-rumped Munia, Hill Munia.

Itinerary

5 January
Early morning flight from Brussels to London. Thereafter a flight to Bahrain and then the flight to Colombo.

6 January
We arrived at Colombo at 6.30h in the morning. One of the employees of Baurs and our driver Sunil were waiting for us. There was a little problem with the car so first we drove to Baurs' garage in Colombo. After a short brake, we drove to Bodhinagala. On the road we stopped near a small tank and a place for Indian Pitta along the road. At 11.00h we arrived at the Citizen Rest House. We took a meal and watched some birds in the surroundings of our hotel. At 16.00h we drove to the forest around the monastery in Bodhinagala. We watched birds here untill dark.

7 January
Woke up at 4.00h and after breakfast we drove to Sinharaja. We arrived there around 7.00h. We arrange permission and paid the entry fees at the headquater near the river. We saw some birds near the river and in the trees behind the headquater. We hired a jeep and drove to Martin's Place. Just before noon and at late afternoon we watched birds at the trail to the Forest Centre. You have to be accompanied  by a local guide from the Forest Department.

8 January
Woke up at 5.00h. After a small breakfast we went to the forest and did the trail between Martin's Place and the Forest Centre. From 10.00h untill 14.30h we stayed around the lodge. In the late afternoon, it started raining. In the evening, we searched for Sri Lanka Frogmouth.

9 January
We did nearly the same as yesterday. It was raining harder then the day before but this turned out to be good for Scaly Thrush. We saw a few of them on the trail.

10 January
We watched birds outside the park in the village between Martin's Place and the headquaters, around the headquaters and along the river. We had excellent vieuws of Sri Lanka Spurfowl. Another guide of the Forest Department showed us the place. It is the hill on the other side of the road opposite the headquater. Just before dark and in the rain, we went back uphill.

11 January
At 7.00h in the morning we left Martin's Place by jeep. In the village, we picked up our van and drove to Uda Walawe Park. Along the road, we saw a lot of species. At 11.00h, we arrived in Uda Walawe. We stayed in a hotel closeby the dam. In the afternoon we did some birding in the grassarea near the dam. We stayed outside the park and this seems to be sufficient to see all the birds. In the hotel's garden we saw an Indian Pitta very well.

12 January
Untill 9.00h we stayed around the dam outside the park. After that we drove to Tissa-maharama. We arrived there around 12.30h. We stayed in the Vikum Lodge Hotel. This hotel is very good with very clean rooms and excellent food. Try the local dessert. In the evening we visited a tank in the neighbourhood of Tissamaharama.

13 January
We stayed in Yala National Park during all the day. It is necessary to hire an expensive jeep for going inside the park. In the evening, we returned at the tank close to Tissamaharama.

14 January
In the morning, we tried the Jerdons' Nightjar at the entrance of Bundala National Park. We just heard the birds. Before noon we went inside the park. You have to hire a jeep to enter Bundala National Park. In the afternoon we did some birdwatching on the lagoons and tanks outside Bundala National Park and in the evening we tried the Jerdons' Nightjar again.

15 January
Early morning, we tried the Jerdons' Nightjar again at the entrance of Bundala National Park. This time we saw the birds. After that we drove to Nuwara Eliya. On our way to Nuwara Eliya we stopped at the Surrey Tea Plantation. This is a small private garden and a small forest. This place is famous for the Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon and Brown Wood Owl. After this successful stop, we drove to Nuwara Eliya. We stayed in one of the hotels close to Victoria Park. In the evening, we went to that park and did some birdwatching for a few hours.

16 January
Around 4 o'clock in the morning we drove to the Horton Plains. We tried the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush but we just heard the typical whistling. After that we went to a place outside the park for Sri Lanka Bush Warbler. In the afternoon we went back to Nuwara Eliya. On our way back we saw a Hill Swallow in one of the villages. Late afternoon and in the evening we did some birdwatching in Victoria Park again.

17 January
Around 4 o'clock in the morning we drove to the Horton Plains again. But we were unsuccessful again, we just heard the Whistling Thrush. The rest of the day, we stayed around the Horton Plains and tried for Dull Blue Flycatcher and saw Mountain Hawk Eagle. Late afternoon we went back to Nuwara Eliya. Along the river on the other side of the street at the Hakgala, we had a glimpse of Sri Lanka Whisling Thrush.

18 January
In the morning we went back to the Horton Plains. It was raining so we decided to leave the highlands and around 10 o'clock we drove to Kitulgala. At 14.00h we arrived at the Ceylon Hotel, 10 km behind Kitulgala in the direction of Colombo. We did some birdwatching along the river near our hotel.

19 January
At 6.00h we drove to Kitulgala and took the small boat to cross the river. The area behind the river is and excellent birding place, even in the small village. The trees around the small store are a very good spot for Green-billed Coucal. Late afternoon we went back to our hotel and the rest of the day we stayed around the hotel where we saw a Rufous-bellied Eagle.

20 January
At 9.00h we drove to Colombo. Around 13.00h we arrived in Colombo and left Vera in the town. She took another plane then we did. She went to India for a few more weeks of holiday. We went to a hotel in the neighbourhood of the airport. In the evening we hired a boat with the locals in one of the villages and did some birdwatching in the marshes around Colombo.

21 January
Early in the morning we drove to the airport. Our flight to Muscat was leaving at 7.45h. In Muscat we had a break of one hour, then we had a flight to Bahrain. In Bahrain we had to wait 13 hours. They took us to a hotel. We did some birdwatching along the beach but without any success.

22 January
At 1.40h we had our flight to London. We arrived there at 6.25h and had our flight to Brussels at 8.30h. At 10.35h we were back in Belgium.

Species

1.   Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata E
Frequently heard at Kitulgala and Sinharaja. We saw 2 birds 500 metres inside the forest on the trail from Martin's Place to the Forest Station. Below in the village, on the hill on the otherside of the road of the headquarters, we saw 1 male and 3 females crossing the road at noon.

2.   Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayetii E
Regulary seen and heard at Sinharaja, Yala and Horton Plains.

3.   Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Common at Yala

4.   Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
Two birds at a tank from Colombo to Bodhinagala and also observed at the Tissamaharama-area.

5.   Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
A pair at a tank from Colombo to Bodhinagala.

6.   Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Bundala and Yala.

7.   Garganey Anas querquedula
Bundala and Yala.

8.   Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator leggei
Two birds at Yala on 13/1.

9.   Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus wellsi
One bird observed at Sinharaja on 8/1 and another at Kitulgala on 19/1.

10. Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense psarodes
Observed at Bodhinagala, Kitulgala and the Tissamaharama-area.

11. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus stricklandi
One bird at Sinharaja on 7/1.

12. White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus tantus
One female in Tissamaharama in the palmtrees near a tank at the famous spot.

13. Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica zeylanica
Common at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

14. Yellow-fronted Barbet Megalaima flavifronsE
Regulary seen at Sinharaja. Good spot are the trees behind the headquarter.

15. Ceylon Small Barbet Megalaima rubricapilla E
Just one bird seen at Bodhinagala at the start of the trail to the monastery. Not treated as a full species by Clements.

16. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
One bird in the Tissamaharama-area.

17. Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis E
Two birds in Bodhinagala, one bird along the river upstream the headquarter in Sinharaja and a few birds at Kitulgala.

18. Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus
A male and female gave very close views at the road at the border at Uda Walawe Park. More then 10 birds were observed at Yala around the Elephant Rock.

19. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops ceylonensis
Yala

20. Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus fasciatus
A female was seen behind the Forest Station on 7/1 and another along the trail from Martin's Place to the Forest Station on 9/1, both in Sinharaja.

21. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Frequently seen during the trip.

22. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis taprobana
Frequently seen during the trip.

23. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus
One bird was near the stream behind the headquater in Sinharaja.

24. Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis
Three birds on a tank in the Tissamaharama-area on 12/1.

25. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis fusca
Common.

26. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
A few birds in the Tissamaharama-area and in the marshes near Colombo.

27. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis orientalis
Common.

28. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
Observed most of the days, although in small numbers.

29. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti leschenaulti
One bird on 13/1 and 2 birds on 14/2  in resp. Yala and Bundala. Another two birds in the mountains on the way to Nuwara Eliya on 15/2 and 2 birds along the road from Kitulgala to Colombo on 19/2.

30. Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus jacobinus
One bird outside Uda Walawe on 11/1, 2 birds in Yala on 13/1 and 1 bird in Bundala on 14/1.

31. Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus
Observed outside Uda Walawe on 12/1 and in Bundala on 14/1. Not treated as a full species by Clements.

32. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
Observed in and around Colombo, outside Uda Walawe and the Tissa-area.

33. Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
One bird in the garden of the Vikum Hotel in Tissamaharama on 12/1 and 3 birds in Bundala on 14/1.

34. Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii leschenaultii
Two birds on the road from Uda Walawe to Tissa on 12/1 and 1 bird in Yala on 13/1.

35. Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus E
Two birds seen on 7/1 and 9/1 in Sinharaja and 2 birds in Kitulgala on 19/1.

36. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis parroti
Regulary seen along the trip.

37. Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlorohynchus E
One bird seen for just a few seconds in Sinharaja just before the Forest Station on 7/1 and one bird gave excellent views for more then 10 minutes in Kitulgala near the small store in the top of a palm tree on 19/1.

38. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus E
Regulary observed in Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and a few in Kitulgala. Most of them were fly-overs.

39. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria eupatria
Three birds along the road from Sinharaja to Uda Walawe on 11/1.

40. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri manillensis
Seen daily.

41. Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
Observed on 11/1. Place???

42. Layard's Parakeet Psittacula calthropae E
Regulary observed in Sinharaja and Tissa-area.

43. Indian Swiflet Collocalia brevirostris
Common.

44. Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus indicus
Five birds in Yala around the Elephant Rock on 13/1 and one bird in Bundala on 14/1.

45. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis balasiensis
One bird observed in Bodhinagala, Uda Walawe and on the road Kitulgala -Colombo.

46. Alpine Swift Apus melba bakeri
One bird in Kitulgala on 18/1.

47. Little Swift Apus affinis singalensis
Very small numbers observed between Colombo - Bodhinagala, at Yala and Kitulgala.

48. Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata
Observed at Bodhinagala and Sinharaja.

49. Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena bakkamoena
Two birds in a roosting-tree along the small river in Ingiriya near the Citizin Rest House on 6/1.

50. Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis
One bird was heard far away at Horton's Place closeby the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush place on 16/1.

51. Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis zeylonensis
One bird near a tank in Tissamaharama on 13/1.

52. Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica ochrogenys
Two bird in the Surrey Tea Plantation on 15/1.

53. Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanonotum E
One bird near Martin's Place in the afternoon on 8/1 gave very close views in full day. Another one was heard on the same day.

54. Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batraschostomus moniliger
Common in Bodhinagala and Sinharaja. Just one bird seen in Sinharaja, all the others just heard.

55. Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus
One bird was calling in Bodhinagala and one in Sinharaja.

56. Jerdons' Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis aequabilis
Observed in the morning and the evening along the road a few 100 metres past the entrance of Bundala National Park on 14/1 and 15/1.

57. Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus eidos
Observed in the morning and the evening on the road to the entrance of Bundala National Park on 14/1 and 15/1.

58. Rock Pigeon Columba livia intermedia
???

59. Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon Columba torringtoni E
More then 5 birds observed in the Surrey Tea Plantation on 15/1 and a few birds were heard and seen at the Horton Plains near the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush-pool.

60. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Common.

61. Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Observed in Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Tissa - Nuwara Eliya and Kitulgala.

62. Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicincta leggei
Small numbers observed in Yala and Bundala.

63. Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora pompadora
Two birds on the road Bodhinagala - Sinharaja, 3 on the road Uda Walawe - Tissa and 2 in Kitulgala.

64. Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea pusilla
Regulary observed in Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Uda Walawe and one bird in Kitulgala.

65. Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
One bird gave very good vieuws in Victoria Park/Nuwara Eliya on 16/1 and 17/1. It was in the bushes near the river on the left side of the entrance.

66. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Common.

67. Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
One female at a tank near Bundala on 14/1 and in the marshes near Colombo on 20/1.

68. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus
Bundala and Yala.

69. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Bundala and Yala.

70. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
Observed at Uda Walawe, at a tank in Tissa and at Bundala.

71. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Bundala and Yala.

72. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Bundala.

73. Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Uda Walawe and Bundala.

74. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Bundala and Yala.

75. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Bundala and Yala.

76. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Uda Walawe, Bundala and Yala.

77. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Uda Walawe.

78. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Yala.

79. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Colombo - Bodhinagala, Yala, Bundala and Victoria Park.

80. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Bundala.

81. Little Stint Calidris minuta
Bundala and Yala.

82. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Bundala and Yala.

83. Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Bundala and Yala.

84. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Tissa-area.

85. Eurasian Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Uda Walawe.

86. Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris
Regulary observed in Yala and Bundala.

87. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Bundala and Yala.

88. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Uda Walawe and Bundala.

89. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Bundala.

90. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Uda Walawe.

91. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Bundala.

92. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi
Two birds along the beach in Bundala.

93. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
Common in Yala and Bundala.

94. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Observed in small numbers in Bundala.

95. Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
One bird in Bundala on 14/1.

96. Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
Observed at Uda Walawe, Bundala and Yala.

97. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus lankae
Common.

98. Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
More then 5 birds at Bundala on 14/1.

99. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Tissa-area, Yala and Bundala.

100. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Yala and Bundala.

101. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
Eight birds at Bundala at 14/1.

102. Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii velox
Twenty-two birds at Bundala at  14/1.

103. Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Two birds in Bundala at 14/1.

104. Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Observed in Yala and Bundala.

105. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
Along the road between Colombo-Bodhinagala and common in the Tissa, Yala and Bundala area. Also very common in the marshes near Colombo.

106. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Yala and Bundala.

107. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
Observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Uda Walawe, Horton Plains and Kitulgala.

108. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Uda Walawe, Tissa, Bundala and Kitulgala-Colombo.

109. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
Along the road Colombo-Bodhinagala, >4 at Yala, Bundala, 3 Kitulgala.

110. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
One along the road Sinharaja-Uda Walawe, 3 Uda Walawe, 2 Yala.

111. Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
One in Bundala and Yala.

112. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela spilogaster
One along the road Bodhinagala-Sinharaja, 1 along the road Uda Walawe-Tissa, 1 at Yala, on at the Horton Plains.

113. Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
One bird in the marshes near Colombo.

114. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus layardi
Two birds in Sinharaja.

115. Shikra Accipiter badius badius
Uda Walawe, Tissa-Nuwara Eliya and Kitulgala.

116. Besra Accipiter virgatus besra
Along the road Uda Walawe-Tissa.

117. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo japonicus
One bird observed at the Horton Plains.

118. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
One bird in Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

119. Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii kienerii
One bird in Kitulgala, flying over our hotel.

120. Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis
Observed at Uda Walawe and at Tissa.

121. Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis kelaarti
Two birds at the Horton Plains.

122. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus objurgatus
Uda Walawe and Tissa-area.

123. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
At a tank from Colombo-Bodhinagala, Yala and Bundala.

124. Darter Anhinga melanogaster
Tissa, Yala and Bundala.

125. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Common at Uda Walawe, Tissa, Yala, Bundala and the marshes near Colombo.

126. Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Yala and Bundala.

127. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Two at Uda Walawe and Yala.

128. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common at Uda Walawe, Yala, Bundala and the marshes near Colombo.

129. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Common at Uda Walawe, Yala, Bundala and the marshes near Colombo.

130. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
One along the road Colombo-Bodhinagala, Uda Walawe, Yala, Bundala and the marshes near Colombo.

131. Great Egret Casmerodius albus
One at Yala.

132. Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
Common at Uda Walawe, Yala, Bundala, Kitulgala and the marshes near Colombo.

133. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common.

134. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Common.

135. Little Heron Butorides striatus
One at Yala.

136. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
One at a tank near Tissa.

137. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
One along the road Colombo-Badhinagala, Tissa, Yala, Bundala and the marshes near Colombo.

138. Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis
Five at a tank near Tissa.

139. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Common at Bundala.

140. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephala
Common at Tissa, Yala and Bundala.

141. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Observed at Tissa, Yala and Bundala.

142. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
More then 20 birds at Uda Walawe. Regulary observed at Yala and Bundala. More than 50 birds at a roosting tree at a tank in Tissa. Also 1 in Colombo, close by the centre.

143. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Regulary observed in Uda Walawe, Tissa, Yala and Bundala.

144. Asian Openbill Anastornus oscitans
Regulary observed at Uda Walawe, Tissa, Yala and Bundala and 1 bird in the marshes near Colombo.

145. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
One bird in Yala and 4 bird on the roadfrom Tissa to Nuwara Eliya.

146. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
One bird in Yala on 13/1.

147. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus One bird in Bundala on 14/1.

148. Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura
Two birds along the road Colombo-Bodhinagala, heard at Sinharaja, one in the garden of our hotel in Uda Walawe, a few birds at Yala and also heard at Bundala, one bird in Victoria Park and one bird at Kitulgala.

149. Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis jerdoni
One bird in Uda Walawe.

150. Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons insularis
Observed at Sinharaja.

151. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus cristatus and lucionensis
Common throughout. Also the subspecies lucionensis at Sinharaja and the Tissa-area.

152. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata E
Observed around the Forest Station in Sinharaja. Four birds at 7/1 and 3 birds at 8/1.

153. House Crow Corvus splendens
Common.

154. Large-billed Crow Corvus machrorhynchos culminatus
Common.

155. Ashy Woodswallow Artarnus fuscus
Two birds along the road Colombo-Bodhinagala and >10 in the Tissa-area.

156. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis
Observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Uda Walawe, Yala and Bundala.

157. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus cinnamomeus
One male at Uda Walawe on 11/1.

158. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus flammeus
Small numbers observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

159. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
One bird at the Surrey Tea Plantation and 2 birds at Kitulgala.

160. White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola compressirostris
A few birds at the Tissa-area and Yala.

161. White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens leucopygialis
Regulary observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

162. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus lophorhinus
Regulary observed at Bodhinagala and Sinharaja.

163. Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea ceylonensis
Three birds observed at Sinharaja.

164. Asian Paradise Flycatcher Tersiphone paradisi ceylonensis and paradisi
White and brown morph observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Yala, Horton Plains and Colombo.

165. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia multicolor
Observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Tissa, Yala, Bundala and Kitulgala.

166. Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus affinis
One bird observed in the bushe opposite the Vikum Lodge in Tissa.

167. Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush Myophonus blighi E
Heard every morning at Horton Plains near the pool at 16, 17 and 18/1. One bird observed for just a few seconds at dusk near the river at the other side of the Hakgala Botanical Gardens at 17/1 after descending a deep slope.

168. Pied Thrush Zoothera wardii
One male observed at Victoria Park on 15/1 underneath the bushes near the river.

169. Spot-winged Thrush Zoothera spiloptera E
Common at Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

170. Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma imbricata
Two birds observed at late afternoon on the trail at Sinharaja on 9/1.

171. Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula kinnisii
One pair gave excellent vieuws at Victoria Park on 15/1. Also observed at the pool at the Horton Plains.

172. Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
One bird observed at Sinharaja.

173. Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
Small numbers observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and Kitulgala.

174. Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra
A male gave very good vieuws at Victoria Park on 16/1.

175. Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordida E
At least 4 birds at the Horton Plains.

176. Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae
One male at the monastery at Bodhinagala.

177. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis
One bird at the Horton Plains.

178. Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea
One male at Sinharaja, a pair at Victoria Park and 1 female near the river at the other side of the Hakgala Botanical Gardens.

179. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis ceylonensis
Just a few birds observed at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja and Tissa-Nuwara Eliya.

180. Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata leucoptera
Small numbers observed at Uda Walawe and the Tissa, Yala and Bundala-area.

181. Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata atrata
Two birds at the Hortons Plains on 16/1.

182. White-faced Starling Sturnus senex E
Two birds in a great dead tree behind the Forest Station at Sinharaja on 8/1.

183. Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum
Observed in small numbers at Yala.

184. Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus
Hundreds of birds in Uda Walawe and smaller numbers at Yala.

185. Common Myna Acridoteres tristis melanosternus
Common.

186. Sri Lanka Myna Gracula ptilogenysE
Small numbers at Sinharaja behind the headquaters near the river.

187. Soutern Hill Myna Gracula indica
A few birds along the road a few kilometres before the headquaters at Sinharaja.

188. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
A few birds at Sinharaja.

189. Great Tit Parus major mahrattarum
Two birds along the road from Sinharaja to Uda Walawe on 11/1.

190. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common.

191. Hill Swallow Hirundo domicola
On bird observed in a small village between Nuwara Eliya and the Horton Plains on 16/1 and 17/1.

192. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
Observed at Sinharaja, Uda Walawe, Tissa, Yala, Bundala and Kitulgala. Just a few birds were of the hyperythra subspecies.

193. Black-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus E
Two birds observed at Bodhinagala and very small numbers at Sinharaja. Not treated as a full species by Clements

194. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Common.

195. Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus E
Fairly common at Victoria Park and Horton Plains.

196. White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus insulae
Just a few birds at Sinharaja, Yala and Bundala.

197. Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica guglielmi
Fairly common at Bodhinagala and Sinharaja.

198. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephlus humii
Fairly common at Bodhinagala and Sinharaja.

199. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis omalura
Observed at Uda Walawe and Horton Plains.

200. Grey-breasted Prina Prinia hodgsonii leggei
A few birds at Tissa.

201. Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis brevicauda
Small numbers at Uda Walawe.

202. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata insularis
Observed at Uda Walawe and Yala.

203. Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonensis E
Two birds near Martin's Place at Sinharaja and small numbers at Horton Plains.

204. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
Two birds at Sinharaja.

205. Sri Lanka Bush Warbler Bradypterus palliseri E
Observed at Horton Plains. Most of them just heard. One bird gave very good views.

206. Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
Very small numbers observed at the Tissa-area and at Horton Plains.

207. Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus meridionalis
One bird observed at Bundala.

208. Common Tailorbird Orthotornus sutorius sutorius
Observed at Bodhinagala and at the Surrey Tea Plantation.

209. Large-billed Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
Small numbers at Sinharaja.

210. Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
Small numbers at Sinharaja.

211. Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons E
Two small flocks observed at Sinharaja.

212. Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillum E
Three birds observed at Sinharaja.

213. Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii melanurus
Six birds observed at Sinharaja and 1 bird at the Surrey Tea Plantation.

214. Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra phillipsi
Two birds observed at Tissa along the road.

215. Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps nigrifrons
Two birds observed at Bodhinagala, a few at Sinharaja and 1 at Victoria Park.

216. Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense nasale
Observed at Uda Walawe and Bundala.

217. Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens E
Common at Sinharaja.

218. Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis taprobanus
Common.

219. Rufous-winged (Jerdon's) Bushlark Mirafra (affinis) affinis
A few birds observed at Uda Walawe.

220. Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Eremopterix grisea
More then 20 birds observed at Uda Walawe.

221. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
Observed in small numbers at Tissa, Yala and Bundala.

222. Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorynchos ceylonense
Common at Sinharaja, also on bird observed at Yala and Nuwara Eliya.

223. Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile zeylnicum
Two birds at Kitulgala.

224. Legge's Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens E
Small numbers at Sinharaja. Martin's Place is a very good spot.

225. Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica zeylonica
Fairly common at Bodhinagala, Sinharaja, Tissa-area and Kitulgala.

226. Loten's Sunbird Nectarinia lotenius lotenius
Very small numbers observed at Bodhinagala and the Tissa-area.

227. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Small numbers observed.

228. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
Small numbers observed at Uda Walawe near the hotel, Yala, Kitulgala and marshes near Colombo.

229. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Small numbers at Uda Walawe and Tissa-area.

230. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Fairly common.

231. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
One male observed at Uda Walawe.

232. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
Common.

233. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar flaviceps
One or two birds observed very close near Bundala Park.

234. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus philippinus
Observed at Uda Walawe and Tissa, Yala and Bundala-area.

235. Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica
Yala and Bundala.

236. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata striata
Two birds at Sinharaja and >5 at Kitulgala.

237. Hill Munia Lonchura kelaarti E
Two birds observed at Hortons Plains and >7 at Kitulgala in the paddyfields behind the village. Not treated as a full species by Clements

238. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
Fairly common at Uda Walawe and Bundala.

239. Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca malacca 
Fairly common at Uda Walawe, Yala and Bundala

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