Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History

Including Blue Whale extension

Naturetrek Tour Report 5 – 24 November 2016

Avukana Buddha Statue Asian Elephant

Sri Lanka Frogmouth Birding Sigiriya Sanctuary

Report & Images compiled by Mukesh Hirdaramani

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Tour participants Suminda Dodangoda, Devaka Jayamanne and Mukesh Hirdaramani (leaders) With 13 Naturetrek clients

Highlights

A total of 218 species of birds, 27 mammal species and 22 species of reptiles and amphibians were seen throughout the tour, including the extension. A very close encounter with a Leopard and spotting a Sloth Bear on the same day was a thrill. Blue Whales, Bryde’s Whale and Pilot Whales were highlights of the extension.

Day 1 Saturday 5th November

The tour started with a flight from the UK to Sri Lanka.

Day 2 Sunday 6th November

Anuradhapura The flight landed at 1.35pm and after meeting the leaders, we left the airport at 2pm. It was a gloomy day and there were heavy showers until we reached Anawilundawa wetlands. We had tea and biscuits before entering the sanctuary. At the wetlands, sightings included Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Indian Peafowl, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Black-headed Ibis, Indian Pond Heron, Spot-billed Pelican, Little Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Brahminy Kite, White-breasted Waterhen, Red-wattled Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Greater Coucal, Jacobin Cuckoo, Asian Palm Swift, Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown-headed Barbet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Black-hooded Oriole, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Red-vented Bulbul and Yellow-billed Babbler. We also saw some mammals including Indian Flying Fox and Indian Palm Squirrel.

We reached our hotel at 7.30pm and had dinner followed by our first checklist and a briefing about the next day.

Day 3 Monday 7th November

Anuradhapura We started the day with a pre-breakfast birding session and encountered Greater Crested Tern, Spotted Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Little Swift, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenback), Alexandrine Parakeet, White-bellied Drongo, Plain Prinia, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Purple Sunbird, Scaly- breasted Munia and Black-throated Munia.

We returned to the hotel for breakfast at 7.30am and then left for Anuradhapura to visit the ancient site. We visited the Shri Mahabodi sacred tree, Ruwanweli Seya, Twin Ponds, Chetawanaramaya, The Moon Stones and the Guard Stones. During our visit to Anuradhapura, sightings included Coppersmith Barbet, Large Cuckooshrike, Red-rumped Swallow, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard and Loten’s Sunbird, along with Land Monitor, Oriental Garden Lizard, Green Garden Lizard, Common Skink and Giant Grizzled Squirrel.

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

We returned to the hotel at 1.30pm, had lunch and relaxed until 3pm. Our next visit was to the Mihintale Temple where we saw the different ruins and scaled the rock to see the stupa. We enjoyed a rainy walk down the mountain before returning to the hotel at 6pm.

We did the checklist at 7.15pm followed by dinner and the briefing for the next day.

Day 4 Tuesday 8th November

Sigiriya We did a pre-breakfast birding session around the lake once again and encountered many of the birds seen the previous day. Sightings included Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Intermediate Egret, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Iora, Crimson-backed Flameback, Common Tailorbird, and Jerdon’s Leafbird.

We had breakfast and checked out of the hotel at 8.30am. En route to Sigiriya we visited the Avukana Rock Statue Temple where we did some more birding and encountered Gull-billed Tern, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Orange (Scarlet) Minivet, White-browed Bulbul and Indian Blue Robin. We reached Hotel Sigiriya in time for lunch and enjoyed a nice hot meal in the dining room which was open to the hotel garden.

At 3.30pm we drove to a forest patch behind the Sigiriya rock and encountered Brown-capped Babbler, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Purple-rumped Sunbird and Paddyfield Pipit, along with many other birds seen before. Water Monitor, Bronze-back Tree Snake, Grey Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Grey Langur and Torque Macaque were also seen here.

We returned to the hotel and did our checklist followed by the briefing and dinner before calling it a night.

Day 5 Wednesday 9th November

Sigiriya Today a few of the group climbed the Sigiriya rock, while others did a morning birding walk at the base of the rock fortress encountering Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Common Emerald Dove, Oriental White-Eye, Grey- breasted Prinia, Greenish Warbler, Indian Swiftlet, Oriental Hobby and Sri Lanka Swallow. We returned to the hotel for breakfast and then did a birding walk around the hotel garden, encountering Black-capped Bulbul, Indian Pitta, Small Minivet, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and many other birds, mammals and reptiles seen before.

After lunch some of the group visited the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. We started with a brief tour in the museum, and as we left the building we spotted a Common Hawk-Cuckoo perched on a tree. We then proceeded to the ruins of the palace complex followed by a visit to the Kumara ponds and the King’s Audience Chamber. A pair of Bark Geckos was seen on a dead tree as we left the complex. Our next visit was to the Watadage Shrine complex and the surrounding monuments which included Gal Potha (or stone book inscription) and the Hatadage building which once housed the Buddha’s tooth relic. On our way to the bus we watched a herd of Spotted Deer gathering at a water hole.

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Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

We returned to the hotel at 7.30pm and at 8pm had dinner, followed by the briefing for the next day.

Day 6 Thursday 10th November

Kandy We had a pre-breakfast birding session and then, after breakfast, checked out of the hotel to proceed to Kandy. En route we visited the Dambulla Cave Temple, and stopped at the Spice Garden in Matale for lunch. On our way to Kandy we spotted Indian Cormorant, Brown Shrike, India Robin and House Sparrow, along with Crestless Lizard and many Indian Flying Foxes.

We reached Kandy at 3.30pm. Some of the group went to see a traditional cultural dance program. After the dance, we all visited the Temple of the Tooth where we witnessed many devotees in worship.

We returned to the hotel at 7pm and did the checklist and briefing, followed by dinner.

Day 7 Friday 11th November

Kandy We visited Udawattakele forest, once the royal palace gardens, for a pre-breakfast birding session. Sightings included Yellow-fronted Barbet, Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Southern Hill Myna and Tricolored Munia. We also encountered many Muntjac along with Indian Palm Squirrel, Torque Macaque and Hard-shelled Terrapin. We returned to the hotel for breakfast and afterwards enjoyed the hotel facilities.

After lunch we visited Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens and saw many exotic plants and trees. We went to the Orchid House containing many types of orchids, and saw the unique double coconut palm trees with their massive fruit. Many birds including Black Bulbul and Marshall’s Iora, and some mammals, were seen during our walk.

We returned to the hotel at 5.15pm and followed the routine of checklist, briefing and dinner before going to bed.

Day 8 Saturday 12th November

Nuwara Eliya After an early breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and proceeded to Nuwara Eliya. En route we visited a tea factory and its plantation, and enjoyed a selection of their best teas. We did a little birding around the premises before continuing our journey to the hill country. We passed many scenic settings before entering the colourful town of Nuwara Eliya. A hot lunch awaited us at Hotel Heaven Seven.

After lunch we visited Victoria Park and encountered Black Eagle, Great Tit, Green Warbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Orange-headed Thrush, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Bush Chat and Grey Wagtail.

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

We returned to the hotel at 6.15pm and had our briefing about our next day’s programme, followed by dinner, before calling it a night.

Day 9 Sunday 13th November

Nuwara Eliya We started the day at 4.45am with tea/coffee and then set out to Horton Plains. By 6am we were near the main gate and searched for the elusive Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, but we were not in luck. Inside the park our bird sightings included Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Zitting Cisticola, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Hill Swallow, Black- winged Kite, Large-billed Crow, Sri Lanka White-Eye, Dark-fronted Babbler, Pale-billed and Thick-billed Flowerpeckers, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Dull-blue Flycatcher, Himalayan Buzzard and Common Tailorbird. We also saw Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Sambar Deer, Indian (Black-naped) Hare, Brown Mongoose, and Water Buffalo.

A few of the group didn’t visit Horton Plains and they had a city tour, visiting the public library, old racecourse and an Anglican church.

After lunch we visited Hakgala Botanical Gardens and encountered Shikra, Grey Wagtail, Black Eagle, Besra, Red-vented Bulbul, Kashmir Flycatcher, Black Bulbul and a flock of Sri Lanka Blue Magpies. A troupe of 10 Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys were seen descending from the surrounding mountains and coming right to us, only to climb the tree we were under. These rather shy mammals were now sitting a few feet away from us and gave us a good show for the cameras. After our walk in the gardens we visited the Seetha Eliya area, again in search of the elusive Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, but although we saw a silhouette, it wasn’t enough to confirm as a sighting.

We returned to the hotel at 6.30pm and did the checklist followed by the next day’s briefing and dinner.

Day 10 Monday 14th November

Tissamaharama We had breakfast at 7.30am and checked out of the hotel at 8am. En route to Tissamaharama we visited the Surrey Estate Bird Sanctuary and encountered Orange Minivet, Marshall’s Iora, Orange-headed Thrush, Dull- blue Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and Black-hooded Oriole amongst many other birds seen before. Whilst exploring the sanctuary, we discovered the roosting site of the resident Brown Wood Owls and were delighted to see three of them roosting together.

We continued to Ella, and at Ella Motel restaurant we watched more Black Eagles along with a Stripe-necked Mongoose and a Crestless Lizard.

We saw many waterfalls on the way to Tissamaharama, and enjoyed some fresh fruits from wayside stalls before arriving at Debara Wewa tank, where we saw Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Yellow Bitten, Grey-headed (Purple) Swamphen, Eurasian Spoonbill and many kingfishers. We then proceeded to Tissa tank which is right in front of the Rain Tree Hotel, and witnessed a large colony of Indian Flying Foxes roosting on the Rain Trees in the tank. Eurasian Coot and Black Bittern were the two new birds seen here.

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Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

We checked in to the hotel at 6.30pm and did the checklist at 7pm. After a briefing for the next day, we had dinner and then retired to our rooms.

Day 11 Tuesday 15th November

Yala We had an early breakfast and checked out of the hotel at 7.30am. Our first stop for the day was at Bundala National Park and here sightings included Lesser Adjutant, Cinnamon Bittern, Western Osprey, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Watercock, Great Stone-curlew, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Tern, Sooty Tern, Orange- breasted Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Asian Koel, White-browed Fantail, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Rosy Startling and Richard’s Pipit, along with many other birds seen before.

We reached Cinnamon Wild Yala at 2.30pm and enjoyed a nice meal. At 4pm we did a little birding around the hotel garden. In addition to the many bird species seen already, we encountered Flying Snake, Mugger Crocodile, Ruddy Mongoose, Golden Jackal, Grey Langur and Wild Boar.

In the evening we met at 7pm for our usual routine of checklist, briefing and dinner.

Day 12 Wednesday 16th November

Yala We started the day at 5.15am with tea and coffee, and then set out to Yala National Park for our first safari, taking with us a picnic breakfast. We encountered many birds including Crested Treeswift, Ashy Drongo and Brahminy Starling. Mammal sightings included Asian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Golden Jackal, Ruddy Mongoose, Indian Hare, Toque Macaque and Grey Langur. Many Mugger Crocodiles and Land Monitors were seen on the rocks basking in the sun. Our sighting of a Leopard was too close for comfort for some as we saw a young female Leopard chase after a herd of deer just a few feet away from our jeep! We watched her skilfully crawl up to her target, and we enjoyed a direct glance from her before she gave up on the hunt.

The rest of the safari yielded more sightings of big Elephants, along with a young Tusker, before the jeeps left the park. A few members of the group decided to stay inside the park for a full day and encountered Sloth Bear along with Barred Buttonquail, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Jerdon’s Bushlark, White-rumped Shama, Baya Weaver and Indian Silverbill.

Those who returned earlier to the hotel did an evening bird walk around the hotel grounds before we all met up at 7.30pm to do the checklist, followed by dinner.

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Day 13 Thursday 17th November

Embilipitiya After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel at 8.30am and proceeded to Embilipitiya. En route we stopped at Tissamaharama and saw a pair of Indian Scops Owls roosting in a residence front garden. It was raining heavily but by the time we reached Embilipitiya, the rain had ceased.

After lunch at Centauria, we left for Udawalawe National Park for our safari. We were welcomed by many Asian Elephants with their young. Occasionally a lone male Elephant was seen on our path and we were able to get some very close views. Our birds for the day included Montagu’s Harrier, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler and Yellow-eyed Babbler.

We returned to the hotel after the Safari around 7.30pm, and met up at 8.15pm for dinner.

Day 14 Friday 18th November

Sinharaja Our pre-breakfast birding session was around Embilipitiya Lake and sightings included Common Kingfisher, Woolly-necked Stork and Whiskered Tern. The resident pair of Indian Scops Owls was also seen at their roosting site, along with Giant Squirrel and Indian Palm Squirrel.

After breakfast we checked out and left for Sinharaja. En route we stopped a few times for birding and encountered Black-rumped Flameback, Scaly-breasted Munia, White-rumped Munia, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and many more birds.

We reached Blue Magpie Lodge in time for lunch and enjoyed a tasty local meal with many home grown vegetables. At 4.30pm we did a bird walk around the hotel premises and spotted Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Asian Palm Swift, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Black Bulbul, Sri Lanka White-Eye and White-rumped Munia. Heavy rain drove us back to the hotel and we cut short our walk.

We did our checklist in the hotel restaurant as the heavy rains continued, and called it a night after dinner as we had a very early start the next day to go into the rainforest.

Day 15 Saturday 19th November

Sinharaja We had a very early breakfast at the hotel before leaving for the Sinharaja Rainforest. En route to the entrance we encountered Orange-billed Babbler, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and Spot-winged Thrush. During our walk through the forest, sightings included Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Common Emerald Dove, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Giant Millipede, Brown Vine Snake, Common Bronze-back Tree Snake, Common Garden Lizard, Green Garden Lizard and Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard.

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Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

The previous day’s rain and the gloomy weather had impacted on the mixed flocks of birds we usually encounter here; however by the time we reached the research centre we had been able to see Malabar Trogon, more Sri Lanka Crested Drongos, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-browed Bulbuls.

On our return to the forest entrance for a picnic lunch we encountered a Layard’s Striped Squirrel which seemed to be attracted to our meals. After lunch we had a 30-minute walk inside the rainforest before leaving. The decision to re-enter was well worth it as finally a mixed flock of birds was found, and we watched Red-faced Malkoha, Malabar Trogon, Lesser Yellownape, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Black-naped Monarch, Yellow- browed Bulbul, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, White-faced Starling and Golden-fronted Leafbird.

As we walked from the forest entrance towards the ticket counter, we spotted an immature Bronze-back Tree Snake with a freshly caught toad in its mouth. We were disappointed that our star bird, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, had not been seen but as we reached the ticket counters, the familiar screeching call of the Blue Magpie made a well-deserved end to the trail. After enjoying these beautiful birds, we said goodbye to the rainforest and returned to the hotel at 3pm.

At 4.30pm we had a birding walk around the hotel garden, and later we had our usual evening routine of checklist, dinner and briefing.

Day 16 Sunday 20th November

Katunayake We had early tea/coffee and set out to the Sinharaja buffer zone called Ketalapatala. By 6.30am we were able to see the elusive Sri Lanka Spurfowl as it appeared behind a local villager’s house. The Green-billed Coucal was rather hard to spot yet, after a long chase, we were able to see it well.

We returned to the hotel for breakfast and then relaxed until lunchtime. After lunch the group split in three: the main tour group going to Katunayake for their last night, four setting off for their Blue Whale extension, and a couple were having a private extension.

The main group enjoyed a Colombo city tour before going to the Airport Garden Hotel for an overnight stay in Colombo.

The Blue Whale extension group headed to Weligama and en route were lucky to spot a Crested Serpent Eagle in a paddy field which had caught a Common Rat Snake. They reached the Fisherman’s Bay Resort at 5.30pm and did their checklist before dinner.

Main Tour Day 17; Extension Day 1 Monday 21st November Main Tour - in flight; Blue Whale extension - Weligama The main group did a pre-breakfast birding session and were lucky with the sighting of a White Wagtail. After breakfast we left for the airport to catch our flight back to the UK, where the main tour ended.

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

The Blue Whale extension group left their hotel with a picnic breakfast at 6.15am, after having tea/coffee. Intermediate Egret, Red-wattled Lapwing and Barn Swallow were seen before we got to the pier. Our boat trip started at 7.30am, and by 8.15am we were watching our first Blue Whale, and then immediately afterwards there was a second! We stayed with one Blue Whale and were able to see it surface and dive many times before we turned back to shore. Whiskered Tern and Greater Crested Tern, along with a Green Sea Turtle were also seen. As we neared the shore, suddenly a Bryde’s Whale surfaced in front of our boat and gulped a shoal full of krill and repeated this twice before disappearing into the deep.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at Mirissa beach to enjoy the views and take photographs of the Stilt Fisherman. After lunch we had some time to relax in the hotel before setting off to Galle to see the fort. Since it was raining very heavily, we did the Galle Fort tour in the minibus; getting out at a few places to explore. We enjoyed a hot cup of tea in one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean from within the fort as the rain continued. We saw Common Sandpiper on the beach before saying goodbye to Galle.

After returning to the hotel, we did our checklist at 7pm and finished the day with dinner and a briefing about the next day.

Extension Day 2 Tuesday 22nd November Weligama Again, we left the hotel with a picnic breakfast at 6.15am after tea/coffee. Although the weather was threatening rain, we had a very calm and clear day at sea. We had very good views of 30–40 Spinner Dolphins, and then close views of a Blue Whale. Our next sighting was a pod of more than 20 Pilot Whales which stayed close to our boat for a very long time. After a very successful whale-watching excursion, we returned to the hotel and had our lunch.

After lunch we went to Kira Kele forest reserve for some birding. Here sightings included Lesser Whistling Duck, Asian Openbill, Indian Pond Heron, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Little Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Gull-billed Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown-headed Barbet, Lesser Goldenback, Small Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, White-bellied Drongo, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-browed Bulbul, Plain Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Loten’s Sunbird and Scaly-breasted Munia.

Extension Day 3 Wednesday 23rd November Katunayake

After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel at 8.30am. En route to Katunayake we visited Colombo and did a city tour, visiting many important monuments and buildings. We reached Katunayake by 6pm and completed the checklist before our last dinner.

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Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Extension Day 4 Thursday 24th November

We did a pre-breakfast birding session and were lucky with a glimpse of a Striated Heron. After breakfast we left for the airport to catch our flight back to the UK, where another Naturetrek adventure came to an end.

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Species Lists: (endemic or near endemic in bold; some previous names in brackets)

Birds

Common name Scientific name 1 Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica 2 Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus 3 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 4 Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata 5 Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayettii 6 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 7 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 8 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 9 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 10 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 11 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 12 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 13 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 14 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 15 Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 16 Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis 17 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 18 Striated Heron Butorides striata 19 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii 20 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus 21 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 22 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 23 Great Egret Ardea alba 24 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 25 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 26 Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis 27 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 28 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis 29 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 30 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus 31 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 32 Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental Honey-buzzard) Pernis ptilorhynchus 33 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 34 Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Common name Scientific name 35 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis 36 Shikra Accipiter badius 37 Besra Accipiter virgatus 38 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 39 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 40 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 41 White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 42 Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus 43 Himalayan Buzzard (Common Buzzard) Buteo buteo burmanicus 44 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 45 Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca 46 Watercock Gallicrex cinerea 47 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 48 Eurasian Coot (Common Coot) Fulica atra 49 Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator 50 Great Stone-curlew (Great Thick Knee) Esacus recurvirostris 51 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 52 Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus 53 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 54 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 55 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 56 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 57 Lesser Sand Plover (Mongolian Plover) Charadrius mongolus 58 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus 59 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 60 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 61 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 62 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 63 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 64 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 65 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 66 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 67 Sanderling Calidris alba 68 Little Stint Calidris minuta 69 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 70 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 71 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 72 Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Common name Scientific name 73 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 74 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 75 Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 76 Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus 77 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 78 Rock Dove (Common Pigeon) Columba livia 79 Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon Columba torringtoniae 80 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 81 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 82 Common Emerald Dove (Emerald Dove) Chalcophaps indica 83 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinctus 84 Sri Lanka Green Pigeon Treron pompadora 85 Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea 86 Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchos 87 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 88 Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii 89 Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus 90 Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris 91 Jacobin Cuckoo (Pied Cuckoo) Clamator jacobinus 92 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 93 Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Plaintive Cuckoo) Cacomantis passerinus 94 Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius 95 Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus 96 Indian Scops Owl (Collared Scops Owl) Otus bakkamoena 97 Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica 98 Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger 99 Crested Treeswift ( Gray-rumped Treeswift) Hemiprocne coronata 100 Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor 101 Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 102 Little Swift (House Swift) Apus affinis 103 Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus 104 Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 105 Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 106 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 107 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 108 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 109 Green Bee-eater (Little Green Bee-eater) Merops orientalis 110 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Common name Scientific name 111 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti 112 Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus 113 Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis 114 Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus 115 Yellow-fronted Barbet Psilopogon flavifrons 116 Crimson-fronted Barbet Psilopogon rubricapillus 117 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 118 Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis 119 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus 120 Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenback) Dinopium benghalense 121 Crimson-backed Flameback (Crimson-backed Goldenback) Chrysocolaptes stricklandi 122 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 123 Oriental Hobby Falco severus 124 Layard's Parakeet Psittacula calthrapae 125 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria 126 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 127 Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus 128 Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura 129 Sri Lanka Woodshrike Tephrodornis affinis 130 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 131 Marshall's Iora Aegithina nigrolutea 132 Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei 133 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus 134 Orange Minivet (Scarlet Minivet)(Flame Minivet) Pericrocotus flammeus 135 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 136 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus 137 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 138 White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens 139 Sri Lanka Drongo (Sri Lanka Crested Drongo) Dicrurus lophorinus 140 White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola 141 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 142 Indian Paradise Flycatcher (Asian Paradise Flycatcher) Terpsiphone paradisi 143 Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata 144 House Crow Corvus splendens 145 Indian Jungle Crow (Large-billed Crow) Corvus culminatus 146 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 147 Great Tit Parus major 148 Jerdon's Bush Lark Mirafra affinis

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Common name Scientific name 149 Black-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus 150 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 151 Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus 152 White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus 153 Yellow-browed Bulbul Acritillas indica 154 Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus 155 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 156 Hill Swallow Hirundo domicola 157 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 158 Sri Lanka Swallow Cecropis hyperythra 159 Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus 160 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 161 Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris 162 Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus 163 Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum 164 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 165 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 166 Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica 167 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis 168 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata 169 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 170 Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus melanurus 171 Grey-headed (Purple) Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus 172 Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra 173 Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps 174 Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillus 175 Orange-billed Babbler Turdoides rufescens 176 Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis 177 Ashy-headed Laughingthrush Garrulax cinereifrons 178 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 179 Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense 180 Oriental White-Eye Zosterops palpebrosus 181 Sri Lanka White-Eye Zosterops ceylonensis 182 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis 183 Southern Hill Myna (Lesser Hill Myna) Gracula indica 184 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 185 Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum 186 White-faced Starling Sturnornis albofrontatus

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

Common name Scientific name 187 Rosy Starling Pastor roseus 188 Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina 189 Spot-winged Thrush Geokichla spiloptera 190 Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus 191 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 192 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 193 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica 194 Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui 195 Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae 196 Dull-blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordidus 197 Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea 198 Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra 199 Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata 200 Jerdon's Leafbird Chloropsis jerdoni 201 Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons 202 Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile 203 Legge's Flowerpecker (White-throated Flowerpecker) Dicaeum vincens 204 Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos 205 Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 206 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 207 Loten's Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius 208 House Sparrow Passer domesticus 209 Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus 210 Indian Silverbill (White-throated Silverbill) Euodice malabarica 211 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 212 Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata 213 Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti 214 Tricolored Munia (Black-headed Munia) Lonchura malacca 215 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 216 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 217 Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi 218 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Mammals: Common name Scientific name 1 Toque Macaque Macaca sinica 2 Grey Langur Semnopithecus (Presbytis) entellus 3 Purple-faced Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus (Presbytis) vetulus 4 Golden Jackal Canis aureus

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

5 Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus 6 Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii 7 Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii 8 Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis 9 Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus 10 Leopard Panthera pardus kotiya 11 Asian Elephant Elephas maximus 12 Wild Boar Sus scrofa 13 Muntjac Muntiacus muntjac 14 Spotted Deer Cervus axis 15 Sambar Cervus unicolor 16 Water Buffalo Bubalus Bubalis 17 Indian Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum 18 Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura 19 Layard's Striped Squirrel Funambulus layardi 20 Dusky Striped Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus 21 Indian Hare (Black-naped Hare) Lepus nigricollis 22 Indian Flying Fox Pteropus gigantea 23 Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus 24 Bryde's Whale Balaenoptera edeni 25 Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata 26 Spinner Dolphin Stenella mulla 27 Pilot Whale sp. Globicephala sp.

Reptiles & Amphibians: Common name Scientific name 1 Green Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasuta 2 Brown Vine Snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta 3 Common Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus maximus 4 Common bronze-back Tree Snake Dendrelaphis tristis 5 Indian Cobra Naja naja 6 Bengal (Land) Monitor Varanus bengalensis 7 Asian Water Monitor Varanus salvator 8 Oriental (Common) Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor 9 Green Garden Lizard Calotes calotes 10 Black-cheek Lizard Calotes nigrilabris 11 Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis wiegmanni 12 Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris 13 Hard-shelled Terrapin Melanochelys trijuga parkeri 14 Green Turtle Chelonia mydas 15 Common House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus 16 Common Skink Eutropis carinata 17 Round-Snout Pygmy Frog Pseudophilautus femoralis 18 Spotted Tree Frog Polypedates maculatus

Sri Lanka - Wildlife & History Tour Report

19 Indian Star Tortoise Geochelone elegans 20 Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschenaultii 21 Crestless Lizard Calotes liocephalus 22 Sri Lanka Flying Snake Chrysopelea taprobanica

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