SRI LANKA 2006
“For the first time in years Serendib Scops Owl, or ‘Deepal’s
Scops Owl’ as it’s often affectionately known, was seen
during the daytime with Deepal showing us a roosting bird on our very
first afternoon in the field!
Inclement weather (which in Sri Lanka means rain)
meant that we still had to work hard however for some of the island’s other birds
and a couple of Sri Lanka’s recently reclassified 33 endemics
proved remarkably recalcitrant. The ever-elusive Green-billed
Coucal had us visiting Ingiriya for the first time in several years
but the trip was certainly worth it and as usual Red-faced Malkoha
gave us the run-around before we finally saw it well at Sinharaja.
Among the early stars of the tour was a nesting
Chestnut-backed Owlet and the first of several co-operative Indian
Pittas, both right in the garden of the first of our two Kitulgala
Guest Houses. Several
gorgeous Sri Lanka Mynas, Malabar Trogons and a posing Spot-winged
Thrush were also enjoyed there while the tea estate immediately behind
our next hotel held numbers of Plum-headed Parakeets and more.
Sinharaja, often Sri Lanka’s crowning jewel as far as birds
are concerned, lived up to expectations. Deepal found us a party
of Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes minutes into the park, then a pair
of cavorting Red-faced Malkohas and shortly afterwards a large flock
of White-headed Starlings. A Mountain Hawk-eagle sat long enough
for us all to appreciate it fully and then there was the Sri Lanka
Frogmouth on its nest right over the main path and within minutes of
that we were watching a party of three Ceylon Blue Magpies.
From there we took a jeep drive through Uda Walawe
National Park. Elephants
were in abundance and Malabar Pied Hornbills in similar profusion. Other
goodies included a fine male Pallid Harrier, no less than nine well-seen
Barred Button-quails, Indian Roller, Blyth’s Pipit and our first
encounter with several, very elusive, Blue-faced Malkohas.
The following morning saw us watching a couple
of Watercock, lots
of breeding plumaged Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and then a myriad of shorebirds
and terns on a couple of bird-thronged roadside pools on route to Tissa. After
another hearty meal we headed out to arguably Sri Lanka’s most
famous national park, Yala. Despite the jeeps having to be covered,
Yala was enormous fun with good numbers of both birds and mammals. Deepal
even treated us to fine views of an Indian Nightjar on the drive back
to the hotel!
The next morning our third and final jeep drive
took us through Bundala Wildlife Sanctuary. Greeted by more Mugger Crocodiles and more
Great Thick-knees, we went on to log impressive numbers of both shorebirds
(including two Red-necked Phalaropes and several nesting pairs of Small
Pratincoles) and terns. A daytime roosting Brown Fish Owl (we’d
see another bird equally well later in the tour near Kandy) and a pair
of Indian Scops Owls contributed to the afternoon’s entertainment,
as did yet another posing Indian Pitta.
Climbing up into the hills we reached Nuwara
Eliya and Victoria Park where we saw both Slaty-legged Crake and
a couple of male Pied Thrushes, while the following morning saw us
searching for the island’s
remaining endemics up in the magnificent forests of the Horton Plains.
The resident Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (second
only to Deepal’s
Owl in terms of rarity status) performed superbly, as did Dull-blue
and Kashmir Flycatchers and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler. Descending
from Nuwara Eliya our next port of call was the historic city of Kandy. Our
journey took us via an enjoyable guided tour around a tea factory while
that evening Deepal led us on an equally informative tour around the
Sacred Temple of the Tooth.
Our second Brown Fish Owl, plus memorable encounters
with Indian Blue Robins and Brown-capped Babblers ensued the following
morning and then we were into shopping mode. Stops at a batik
factory and spice garden were enjoyed before lunch, which we shared
with a mischievous troop of Toque Macaques at the foot of Sigiriya
rock.
Moments after arriving at our hotel in Polonnaruwa,
Deepal took us back out on a successful final trip in search of Jerdon’s Nightjar
and the following day’s excursion around the old city was fun – and
interspersed with some good birds such as Alexandrine Parakeet and
Grey-headed Fish Eagle. Then all too soon it was time to head back
to Colombo for the following day’s flight home.” Paul
Holt
BIRD LIST