Bird Watching in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is known as ‘birds paradise’ and is a well preferred destination by bird watchers. The favorable tropical climate invites birds throughout the year to different parts of the island. Some of the natural habitats in which these birds can be found are, wet lands, forests, lagoons, lakes etc.
Out of a total of about 450 species of birds, about 250 are resident and 23 are endemic of which the majority is found in the lowland wet zone and the rainforests of the hill country and others are migratory.
Muthurajawela Marsh
The first stop on landing would be to Muthurajawela marsh a wonderful marsh land which is also the largest in Sri Lanka, which covers over 6000 hectares. The marsh is home to about 192 species of wild life which includes quite many exotic birds as well. On a guided boat rideone could scrutinize the marsh most profoundly.
The mixing of the sea water with the waters in the midland has been a continuous occurrence over thousands of years. This has created an integrated costal ecosystem brim a biological diversity. Various types of birds, butterflies and fish are found within this natural set up.
Through this you will also find Crocodiles, monitor lizards, and Sri Lanka’s largest snake, the Python.
Some of the feathered habitants and visitors of the Muthurajawela marsh are as follows (a few of the many other birds found),
Chestnut Bittern, Black-headed Ibis, Asian Open-bill, Little Grebe, Lesser Whistling Teal, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, White-breasted Water hen, Purple Swamp hen, Water Cock and Common Moorhen.
Some of the migrants and waders include Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Pintail Snip, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Little Tern and Lesser Crested Tern. Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Pied Cuckoo, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Alexandrian Parakeet, Little Minivet, Plain Prinia, White-rumped and Scaly-bellied Munia, White-bellied Drongo, Red-vented Bulbul, Common Iora, Jungle and House crow
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya is one of the smallest national parks in the country yet it holds great historic values as the famous Minneriya tank is within the park, and elephants gather herein large herds to bathe which is an indispensable sight.
During the dry seasons water dries up, and this phenomenon attracts many birds to feed on the fish that get trapped in the drying water holes in the lake bed. Some of the common birds that can be seen are Cormorants, painted storks, open-bills, pelicans, Indian roller etc.
Udawattakele Sanctuary
The Udawattakele Sanctuary is forest reserve situated on in the hill capital, close to the enchanting city- Kandy. Udawattakale is a very famous bird watching site; Some rare birds such as the Three-toed Kingfisher has been spotted occasionally in the sanctuary, some other birds that can be found are Sri Lanka Myna, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Brown-headed Barbet and Black-backed Kingfisher. Despite the city quite close to the Udawattakele Sanctuary, nature has amazingly blended with the city surrounding, within the sanctuary it is possible to view mammals, many reptiles and other wild life.
Horton Plains
Horton plains is one of the highest points in Sri Lanka where the land rises to 2,500 meters above sea-level, and Windswept high grasslands interspersed with forest. Some of the Montane endemics include Sri Lanka white eye, Sri Lanka wood pigeon, Ceylon hill munia & dull-blue flycatcher. Others are Indian blue robin, grey-headed canary flycatcher, pied bush chat, black bulbul, bar-winged flycatcher-shrike & Indian scimitar babbler & Sri Lanka junglefowl. And birds of prey include the mountain hawk eagle.
Horton Plains is ideal to observe birds from a great panoramic height, giving a different experience in comparison to the other Birding sites.
Bundala National Park
Bundala National is an internationally significant wintering ground for migratory birds in Sri Lanka. You can find a variety of birds within this park, species of birds ranging to 197 species, and the main prominence of it being the greater flamingo which migrates in large flocks. Along with the birds, you may also find some mammals, amphibians and reptiles along the areas.
Yala
Yala is one of the most bragged tourist destinations for Nature lovers and other travelers alike; it is the one of the most Significant National Parks in Sri Lanka. The Yala National Park is mainly famous for its leopards. The best chance to see a leopard is generally first thing in the morning and then again at dusk. Tha male leopards there are very confident animals and they are often seen walking the tracks during the day. Young males in Particular seem to have no fear of the jeep which can lead to some excellent photographic opportunities.
Approximately 215 bird species of the park, six are endemic to Sri Lanka. They are Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, and Brown-capped Babbler. The number of waterbirds inhabiting wetlands of Yala is 90 and half of them are migrants. Waterfowls (Lesser Whistling Duck, Garganey), Cormorants (Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant), large waterbirds (Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork), medium-sized waders Tringa spp., and small waders Charadrius spp. are among the common waterbirds. Black-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant are the rare birds that can be seen in the park. The migrant Great White Pelican and resident Spot-billed Pelican are also have been recorded. Other waterbirds attracted to the Yala lagoons include Lesser Flamingo, and Pelicans, and rare species such as Purple Heron, Night herons, Egrets, Purple Swamphen, and Oriental Darter
By Jeron Daniel
