Report from Danish Group 10

Sri Lanka Birdtrip – report from Danish group 10. - 27. February 2017

Map of Southern Sri Lanka with numbers indicating areas visited.

1. Kitulgala

2. Horton´s Plain and Nuwara Elyia 3. Surrey Bird sanctuary 4. Udawalawe National Park

5. Tissamarama area 6. Bundala National Park 7. Yala National Park 8. Sinharaja Forest Reserve

9. Mirissa

Front-cover photo: Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sinharaja / Hans

Back-cover photos: Peafowl, Bundala / Bodil

Questions and comments about this report or travelling in Sri Lanka to Hans Christophersen – [email protected]

together was very good with good hotels (serving Foreword good food). When being in Sri Lanka, we could miss This year our birdinggroup (established long ago) some more information about the plan for the day, was heading for Sri Lanka. This was a new the birds and so on. This caused some frustration to destination for most of the group. Many of us have a start, but as we found out that we had to keep on been to India, but Sri Lanka is a place of its own asking about the plan and the birds, things worked with the combination of a very diverse landscape out better and better. Chandima also had many with mountains as well as the ocean, its own good contacts in the different areas. He also had a (mainly Buddhist) culture and a population that in deal with some boys in the Tissa area – he paid spite of tsunami and civil war is so positive and them if they have found special birds (for us owls friendly that you feel at home once you set foot on and nightjars) when he arrived. This is a good way this splendid island. Apart from this the island has of protecting species. Transport with our bus was some splendid birds, among others its own 34 very good, in some areas – national parks and endemic species – a number that will possibly rise others – transport was with jeeps. Here and in as more species are being split. other situations we brought walkie-talkies to be in contact in case of change of plans or a good bird, a Planning leopard or whatever. Not to forget Chandima Hans visited Sri Lanka and some of the birding areas chartered a whaling-boat just for us! one year prior to this trip. It seemed obvious, that on a two weeks trip you have to choose a few Our itinerary birding areas and not the whole island – not to be in a constant rush. Choosing the southern part of the island gives you the chance to visit mountain areas, rainforest, lowland, coasts, some of the main national parks and the possibility of a whaling trip in the end. And in this area you also have a very good chance of seeing all of the countrys endemic bird species. It is quite easy to travel independently alone or as a couple in Sri Lanka, but being twelwe people you have to work together with a local guide and transport. Hans and Chandima at Horton´s Plain / Christian

Ferry-crossing, Kitulgala / Vagn

Kitulgala

Lying about three hours from Colombo Kitulgala is an area of rainforest and villages around the river Kelani and the spot where the film “River Kwai” was filmed in 1957. The area has quite a high density of birds and many endemics can be seen here. Among others the Serendip Scops Owl, which is probably easier to find here than in Sinharaja. Together with Sinharaja this area is the main birding-rainforest- As guide we found Chandima Jayaweera - site in the country. We stayed at the Plantation [email protected] / www.birdingsrilanka.com Hotel well situated at the river and within walking Chandima provided the group with a very good bus, distance of a suspention bridge crossing the river. skilled driver and one more helper to make things Apart from this river-crossings were often by a small work out. During the planning communication was “ferry” carrying a maximum of six people. The area smooth and quick and the itinerary we worked out is a popular area for wide-water-rafting as well.

Warbler and Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush are not difficult to find here – best before the entrance.

Surrey Bird Sanctuary

We passed this small patch of forest on the way from Nuwara Eliya towards the lowlands. A fine spot for a couple of hours for some rainforest birds.

Udawalawe National Park

This national park does not boast a long list of endemics but is anyway indeed worth a visit. It is a big open park bordering a big dammed lake and with many other wet areas, pools etc. The density The foundation for the “River-Kwai-bridge” / Hans of birds is very high with many storks/herons, birds of prey and many other species that is easier to see Nuwara Eliya and Horton´s Plain here than in other areas. The park has also many animals and is the place with most Elephants in the This is the highlands. Nuwara Eliya is a typical southern half of the country. Outside the park itself highland English town with many old colonial are fine areas for birding. We stayed at the Athinga buildings. Climate is cool and often wet. We stayed Hotel in a nearby village opposite to an Elephant at Leisure Village hotel a little outside the town orphanage. centre. The main birding spot in the town is the Victoria Park, which often contains som interesting birds, locals as well as migratory. We visited this site twice.

Elephants and people in Udawalewe / Anton

Tissa

The whole area around the town Tissamaharama Horton´s Plain / Hans (daily spoken Tissa) consists of wetlands – so called Horton´s Plain one hour south of the town is a must tanks. Many of these have lots of birds, herons, see. Not just because of its special birds, but also waterhens etc. But in between there are wooded because of the whole impressive scenery. We are areas with for instance Owls and Woodpeckers. 2200 meter above sea-level. This highland plain is Tissa is also placed strategically between Bundala mainly undulating grassland with scattered wooded and Yala. While being in Tissa a good cultural option areas dropping a steep 900 meters down at World´s is to visit the temple area of Kataragama. Together End. The birdlife (and animallife) here is different to with Kandy these are the most important of such in many other places and the endemics Sri Lanka Bush the country. While visiting Tissa, Bundala and Yala we stayed at the majestic “Peacock Reach Hotel”.

yourself, if “you” find it! However this is a very beautifull park and the birdlife is rich as the landscape is very diverse with waterholes, lakes as well as coast. We had one whole day in the park – ideal!

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

This is the prime rainforest area in Sri Lanka and the biggest patch of forest left in the country. Any birding trip to Sri Lanka must include this forest, as many of the endemics are found here easier than elsewhere – the alternative being Kitulagala for several species. Birding around the entrance is good Bundala National Park / Hans for Sri Lanka Blue Magpie but to walk in the forest you are accompanied by local rangers. Several of Bundala National Park these are very clever on the birds in the area and were a great help! We spend three days birding the This is a great birding area bordering the coast forest and the surroundings staying at “Rock View southwest of Tissa. Few visiters especially Motel” some 20 minutes from the entrance. compared to Yala probably because there are fewer animals and no Leopards. But lots of birds. Of special interest are the salt-pans that host a lot of terns and waders, many of which migrating from Sibiria and elsewhere. We spent half a day here, but one full day would be better if all groups of waders should be scanned properly.

Early morning in Sinharaja / Hans

Mirissa

The whalewatch town of Sri Lanka. After having mainly met other foreigners occasionally you suddenly are among other tourists staying on the Yala National Park / Hans coast. This place also has some splendid beaches. Many tour-companys go on whale-trips. Some you Yala National Park should avoid. They have boats that look like This is the most famous of the national Parks in Sri overfilled refugee-vessels. We had no problems as Lanka – and the most crowded. This is partly we were provided by our very own boat and crew. because the beauty of the landscape (which was Mirissawatersports can be recommended. By the flooded during the tsunami) but to a higher extent way the whaletrip is a great thing with Blue Whale, because it is not difficult to spot animals, the area Dolphins, Sea-turtle and Marlins. Birdlife there is - being perhaps the place in the whole world where it but not to a great extend, mainly terns – among is most easy to see Leopard – not that it is others Sooty and Bridled. We stayed right on the guaranteed. And you will not have the cat for beach in Paradise Club Hotel – isn´t that a name!

Weather Our group in Sri Lanka Weather as a whole was nice. Apart from Nuwara Eliya area where we had some rain and Susanne Boutrup temperatures ranging from 12 to 22 degrees most Christian Andersen Jensen days were dry and pleasantly warm, sometimes Bodil Lauridsen very warm. Nights 20-24 and daytimes mostly 28-32 John Nielsen Schmidt degrees. Anders Høybye Rasmussen Vagn Freundlich Anders Isaksen Anton Thøger Larsen Esben Sloth Andersen Kenneth Bach Christensen Hans Christophersen Søren Kristoffersen

Litterature Nice weather in Kitulgala / Susanne The main birding guide for Sri Lanka is Birds of Sri Lanka (2012) from Helm Field Guides. As Taxonomy Leeches and (no) other nuisances and splits changes “almost daily” these days, this Leeches are common in Sinharaja if you walk away book mentions 33 endemics and 68 subspecies. The from broader tracks, in Kitulgala very few. Leech- number of endemics will probably rise as some of socks a good idea! Apart from this we were not troubled by ticks etc. Mosquitos are not plentiful these subspecies become species. In February the and Sri Lanka is now declared a malaria-free-zone. “official” number of endemics was 34. Sri Lanka has the highest death rate caused by This book also has a 18 pages about the most snake-bites. This is due to incidents in the tea important birding areas in the country. plantations, when people harvesting tea are not properly covered. Actually only a few of the almost Travel guides –most publishers have their edition hundrede different snakes in the country are about this well-visited country. venomous. We were lucky to see a few snakes. All in all Sri Lanka is a very safe and pleasant country This trip report is made by… for travelleres. The local people are an important Hans who put the whole thing together with the part of feeling comfortable with their very friendly text for each day written by the various members of and helpful attitude to visitors. A real pleasure! the group, birdlist by Esben and Hans. Anders R kept the birding-logbook and delievered this for this report. List of mammals is compiled by Søren. The beautiful pictures are taken by different members of the group – photographers name mentioned below the pictures.

Breakfast with leech-socks / Hans Birding Abu Dhabi / Christian

Day by day Onward flight to Sri Lanka is not until 2 pm, so we This is written and told by the different members of hope to be able to spend some time outside the the group, thus very different in focus and details. airport, discovering Abu Dhabi. Following the text is the birdlist for each day. This is We soon find out that we can leave the airport, compiled by Anders Rasmussen. Species like however, not until having spent time for luggage Common Myna, Red-vented Bulbul, Spotted Dove, control as well as being registered with photos and Green Imperial Pigeon, Largebilled Crow, House scan of eyes. Crow, Barn Swallow, Cattle Egret and Indian Swiftlet We find a place for temporary storage of some of are all very common and are not noted the cabin luggage, purchase water and engage a continuously. Yellow-billed Babbler, Purple-rumped couple of large taxi's to ferry us around. Sunbird and Purple Sunbird are allso very common, We ask the drivers to take us to some of the seaside but are noted – when remembered. areas outside the town, hoping to discover a Crab- Plower (Dromas ardeola), but alas, the drivers are not well known in the areas outside the city, so no big hope for that. After cruising around for some time without finding any suitable bird-areas, we decide to be dropped off and walk back to the airport, which turns out to be a very good idea, as we spot quite a few interesting species, among which some shorebirds and seagulls, which all are enjoying a large fountain in the middle of a roundabout.

Our group with Chandima / Birding Sri Lanka

February 10th – Anders I Eight of us arrived at Aalborg Airport at 4 pm. Four others met us in Amsterdam (From Billund). Kenneth had a fever of 39. We had a quick layover in Amsterdam - perhaps a bit too quick. This resulted in Esbens luggage went missing, and therefore did not make it on the flight to Abu Dhabi. Aba Dhabi / Hans

When returning to the airport we naturally again th have to pass the extensive security check before February 11 – Anton being readmitted. We also find time for a light lunch Abu Dhabi 06.00 – 14.00 and a bit of duty free shopping, before we can Colombo – Kitulgala 19.45 – 23.30 embark the plane and set off for next destination - Sri Lanka. Weather: Sunny, 18-28 C (Abu Dhabi) and Colombo At 8 pm we touchdown in Colombo, that is we do, 27 C. but not all the luggage. Esben is without luggage, so we spend time to fill out PIR etc. and others are Its early morning when we are woken up on the then using the time to exchange some hard plane in order to have breakfast before the plane is currency into the local rupee. landing at 06:05 am in Abu Dhabi airport. Our guide, Chandima Jayaweera, who will be with us for the entire trip, is luckily ready outside in the arrival hall and eagerly waiting for us. We have a 7 long ride in front of us for Kitulgala, and to our great Slender-billed Gull 5 relief we find that the bus we will be using during Collared Dove 5 the stay is in an acceptable order = very good. After Palm Dove 25+ half an hour drive, we have a break for supper, Rose-ringed Parakeet + which bring along the nice surprise, that the best thing about Lion beer is that it is served in bottles of Pallid Swift 10 62.5 cc, however, the food is delicious. Little Swift 5 On the forward bus journey we pass a large parade Hoopoe 1 with music, dressed up people and many elephants Arabian Green Bee-eater 10 which are decorated in different colours. We are no Crested Lark 10-15 longer in doubt that we have reached a very Red-rumped Swallow 1 exciting country. White Wagtail 10 Around midnight we arrive at Plantation Hotel, a quite stunning hotel located directly at the bank of Bluethroat 1 river Kelani, actually very close to where the scenes Desert Wheat-ear 1 of 'The bridge over River Kwai' was shot many years Graceful Warbler 5 ago. Red-tailed Shrike 1 The hotel even has its own Rolls Royce museum as Common Myna 10-15 well as a swimming pool, so after unpacking, we are Red-vented Bulbul 20 ready for the bird watching early in the morning. White-eared Bulbul 25+ Purple Sunbird 20 Indian Silverbill + House Sparrow +

Hoopoe, Abu Dhabi / Christian

Birdlist Abu Dhabi

Teal 1 Arabian Green Bee-eater, Abu Dhabi / Christian

Cattle Egret 20 th Grey Francolin 50+ February 12 - Søren Marsh Harrier 1 Kitulgala whole day Longlegged Buzzard 1 Kestrel 2 Weather: Sunny, 23-30 C Black-winged Stilt 5 Red-wattled Lapwing 8 No more waiting – it is time for birding! We were ready to go birding at sunrise, despite the Common Sandpiber 2 long journey. That is, Vagn and Anton were not Black-headed Gull 60 quite ready – still asleep when the rest of us were Caspian Gull 10 ready at 6 o´clock for a thin cup of coffee and some Lesser Black-backed Gull 25

after species, the recently discovered Serendib Scops Owl should be looked for. But this day the search did not give anything. We would have to wait to the next day for another try. However, other birds were found, among others Malabar Trogon and Indian Pitta! Common supper with chicken cordon bleu and curry chicken with fried rice followed by fruit salad or caramel pudding – and a couple of Lion Beer. The first “birdcall” of the trip was conducted with a firm hand by Anton and Anders R.

Ferry-queue, Kelani River / Hans nicer Ceylon tea. A good piece of advice – drink tea in Sri Lanka. It is good, the coffee is not! We started off with a short ride in the bus to a village, from where we set off for some hours walking. At once different local and endemic species turned up. The first endemic babblers and bulbuls showed aswell as Lesser Hill myna and Orange Minivet – and the first discussions began about species, race, possible and definite splits. Was it Scarlet or Orange Minivet we saw in the treetop? Helping each other we found many new species already before breakfast, some of the Laundry, Kelani River / Vagn highlights being Spot-winged Thrush and Chestnut- backed owlet. A very good morning indeed, but Plantation Hotel and Kitulgala-area breakfast was waiting at the hotel. During the midday heat, we relaxed or did some Sri Lanka Junglefowl 1 birding in the hotel-area or along “River Kwai”. Later we were ferried across the river. Southside is Black Bittern 1 the best birding area. Asian Openbill 9 Grey Heron 1 Indian Pond Heron 5 Cattle Egret 20 Great White Egret 4 Little Egret 1 Little Cormorant 7 Shahin Falcon 2 Brahminy Kite 3 Shikra 3 Oriental Honey Buzzard 6 Himalayan Buzzard 1 Crested Serpent Eagle 3-5 Chestnut-backed Owlet, Kitulgala / Christian Black Eagle 3 An area of forest, tea-plantations, villages and Legges Hawk Eagle 2 finally real jungle, where one of the most sought- White-breasted Waterhen 1

Scarlet Minivet 15 Common Iora 3 Golden-fronted Leafbird 4 Black-hooded Oriole 12-14 Sri Lanka Swallow 9 White-bellied Drongo common Sri Lanka Drongo 5 Grey Wagtail 1 Black-capped Bulbul 16 Yellow-browed Bulbul 10 Red-vented Bulbul common Square-tailed Bulbul 15 Tailorbird 10 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 4 Orange-billed Babbler 3 Yellow-billed Babbler 30 Lesser Hill Myna 3 Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback and squirrel / Bodil Common Myna common Spot-winged Thrush 3-4 Spotted Dove 4 Oriental Magpie Robin 4 Emerald Dove 10 Sri Lanka Green Pigeon 6 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 3 Tickells Blue Flycatcher 3 Imperial Dove 15+ Purple-rumped Sunbird common Alexandrine Parakeet 5 Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 30+ Oriental White-eye 17 Pale-billed Flowerpecker 4 Indian Cuckoo 1 White-rumped Munia 2 Banded Bay Cuckoo 1 Greater Coucal 4 In the evening migration for overnight at the Chestnut-backed Owlet 4 suspension-bridge - Indian Pond Heron 4, Cattle Indian Swiftlet 250+ Brown-backed Needletail 27 Egret 100, Intermediate Egret 10 and Little Egret 5

Asian Palm Swift 4-5 House Swift 2 Crested Treeswift 20 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 11 Stork-billed Kingfisher 1 White-throated Kingfisher 3 Malabar Trogon 1 (female) Brown-headed Barbet common Yellow-fronted Barbet common Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill 4 Lesser Yellownape 1 Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback 8 Greater Sri Lanka Flameback 1 Spot-winged thrush / Vagn Indian Pitta 2

Small Minivet 14 10

February 13th - Kenneth While Kenneth took a long nap and tried to get rid of the last fever, the others didn't waste time with Kitulgala whole day that kind of nonsense and got to see the Chestnut- headed Bee-eater from the large balcony of the Weather: Sunny, 23-30 C hotel.

This morning everyone was up before the break of Mid-afternoon we drove to the forest in the dawn - even Anton who unfortunately forgot his attempt to ensure us some endemic species. We scope. ended up wasting our time driving to an area where the road was blocked due to roadwork which our After everyone had safely passed the aging guide had failed to mention. After this we went suspension bridge we spent the rest of the morning over the suspension bridge to the village once birding the village on the other side of the river. We more. The amount of birds was limited and we saw didn't see a lot of birds but after some time some no new ones. We however saw a beautiful Purple- new species appeared including Layard's Parakeet faced Leaf Monkey. and Brown-Capped Babbler. The day ended with some cold beers down by the river at our hotel. The beers were sponsered by Esben who was on cloud nine because his suitcase had finally made its way to Sri Lanka.

Kitulgala-area birdlist – 13th Feb

Junglefowl 10 Open-billed Stork 35 Black-headed Ibis 7 Brown-capped Babbler / Christian Black Bittern 1 Indian Pond Heron 20 Before noon we were sailed back over the river. Just Cattle Egret 70 before entering the bus we found two Layard's Parakeets in a tree - everyone was able to see them Intermediate Egret 30 clearly. Little Egret 12 Back at the hotel breakfast and coffee was ready for Little Cormorant 5 us. After this we were ready to relax and some Brahminy Kite 5 bathed in the muddy river-water. Shikra 4 Oriental Honey Buzzard 7-8 Crested Serpent Eagle 11 Black Eagle 5 White-breasted Waterhen 2 Rock Pigeon 2 Spotted Dove 10 Emerald Dove 7 Sri Lanka Green Pigeon 8-10 Green Imperial Dove common Hanging Parrot 30+ Alexandrine Parakeet 30 Layards Parakeet 12 Kelani River suspension-bridge / Hans Asian Koel 2 Greater Coucal >8 11

Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill 4 Lesser Yellownape 5 Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback 6-7 Black-headed Cuckooshrike 2 Small Minivet 7 Scarlet Minivet 10 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 8 Common Iora 4-6 Black-headed Oriole 8 Large-billed Crow 10 Sri Lanka Swallow 15 Barn Swallow 3 White-bellied Drongo common Grey Wagtail 3 Black-capped Bulbul 10 Yellow-browed Bulbul 5 Plain Prinia 1 Ashy Prinia 2 Brown-backed Needletail / Anders Tailorbird 5 Green-billed Coucal 1 Brown-backed Needletail 6 Asian Palm Swift 5 Alpine Swift 2 House Swift 4 Crested Treeswift 10-15 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 2 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 10 Stork-billed Kingfisher 3 White-throated Kingfisher 3 Common Kingfisher 1 Brown-headed Barbet 3 Asian Paradise Flycatcher / Christian Yellow-fronted Barbet 10+ Greenish Warbler 2-3 Green Warbler 4 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 2 Brown-capped Babbler 5 Orange-billed Babbler 12 Yellow-billed Babbler common Lesser Hill Myna 3 Magpie Robin 3 Asian Brown Flycatcher 6 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 3 Tickells Blue Flycatcher 8 Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill / Christian Legges Flowerpecker 8-10

Pale-billed Flowerpecker 3 Purple-rumped Sunbird common had got the message that the Serendip Scops Owl Lotens Sunbird 2 had been seen in the forest on the other side of the Oriental White-eye 12 river. White-rumped Munia 10 He was there to search for it and we were of course ready to change plans in order to join him and hopefully get a glimpse of the owl. But this was not the only surprise this morning. An Indian Pitta jumping around in the little garden between the reception and the restaurant gave a break in the breakfast meal and the chance for good pictures for the photographers and an excellent view for all of this nice bird.

After breakfast we once again passed the river and walked through the forest to the same place as yesterday where we had been searching for the owl without success. We meet few birders on the walk Oriental White-eye / Christian through the forest; they wished us good luck and th looked a bit on the sandals some of us wore. We February 14 – Susanne found out why they looked on the sandals when we Kitulgala morning were in the forest and followed Chandima to the Transport (train) to Nuwara Eliya place where the owl should be – a part of it was Victoria Park late afternoon steep climbing in the forest. But unfortunately, when we reached the place the owl could not be Weather: A few showers ending with rain in Nuwara relocated. We all looked for a long time, but no Eliya – 16 C there owl….until Anton suddenly said that he might have the owl in the telescope. And he was right. The owl The plan for today was to leave the destination in was found sitting under a leaf on a branch in the the lowland around Kitungala, the next destination middle of a tree and now that it was found it was was Nanu Oya and Nuwara Eliya in the highland. clearly seen of all of us. We all enjoyed the view of We had planned to leave and head for Nuwara Eliya the Serendip Scops Owl for a while and felt lucky immediately after breakfast. But the plan was that we succeeded to see this endemic and “newly” changed because Chandima earlier this morning (2001) discovered owl.

Anton just found Serendip Scops Owl / Hans Train travel to Nanu Oya / Hans

unfortunately it didn’t turn up on the expected place.

The weather had changed from the high temperatures in Kitulgala to cold and rainy weather so it was nice to be received at Hotel Leisure Village with a tasty hot welcome drink made of coriander and ginger boiled in water. We enjoyed the good meal served by the hotel and that we were sitting inside while we could hear the storm and rain outside the whole evening and night until we fell asleep.

Birds – 14th Feb Nanu Oya Station / Bodil Kitulgala-area birdlist On the way back we had another good experience. From the trail along the owl-forest we had excellent Painted Stork 1 view to the nest of Legge’s Hawk Eagle in one of the Black Bittern 1 high trees on the other side of the grass field. In the Legges Hawk Eagle 1 juv telescope we could see that an almost full grown Rose-ringed Parakeet 2 chick was in the nest. This was a very good morning. Layards Parakeet 4-6 After leaving the owl and the hawk eagle, we once Greater Coucal 2-4 again and for the last time crossed the river. We Serendib Scops Owl 1 then had a couple of hours drive in the bus to the Crested Treeswift 10 city Nawalapitiya from where we took the train the Stork-billed Kingfisher 2 rest of the way to Nanu Oya. Nawalapitiya is a busy Indian Pitta 1 city especially around the bus station but without Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike 3 any problems we got the tickets for the train and didn’t have to wait very long. In the waiting time Sri Lanka Drongo 1 the station master spent time to proudly tell us Ashy Prinia 1 about the Sri Lanka train system which is as it was Dark-fronted Babbler 8 before in England. The train was full when it arrived Lesser Hill Myna 2 but after some time we all succeeded in getting White-rumped Munia 10 seats at different places in the train and we therefore had different experiences to tell each other afterwards. What we shared was the fantastic scenery from the train, a scenery which often was hill sides covered with tea, and we shared the kindness we were met with by the other passengers.

The bus picked us up at the train station Nanu Oya. The rest of the day was spent in Victoria Park in the center of Nuwara Eliya. We hadn’t been in the park for long time before we saw another endemic, Sri Lanka White Eye, and later among the many other birds in the park the very rare but not endemic, Pied Thrush in the northeastern corner of the park. Another highly wished rare bird, Kashmir Indian Pitta, Kitulgala / Christian Flycatcher, should also be in the park but

Kitulgala – Nuwara Eliya birdlist Sri Lanka White-eye 2 Black-headed Ibis 10 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 2 Cattle Egret 75 Black-winged Kite 1 Brahminy Kite 4 February 15th – John Crested Serpent Eagle 6-7 Horton´s Plain 06.00-13.00 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 4 Nuwara Eliya/Victoria Park afternoon Brown Shrike 2 Sri Lanka Swallow 5 Weather: Morning with fog and rain, quickly clearing and mainly sunny for the rest of the day. Hill Swallow 1 12-20 C White-browed Fantail 1 We were ready at 4.30 AM. During the night we had listened to the rain and wind outside and the night in the hotel was cold too. This morning the rain continued and even fog came in with very limited vision. This time transport was in a very old bus and it was a challenge for the driver to find the way to Horton´s Plain – our destination. Finally we reached our destination 2200 meters above sea-level. Still fog and rain. Despite this we quickly found the endemic Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler. Both species were found in the area before reaching the main entrance.

Forest Wagtail / Anders R

Victoria Park birdlist Pond Heron 20 Cattle Egret 25 Little Cormorant 4 Crested Serpent Eagle 1 White-breasted Waterhen 2 Green Sandpiper 1 Common Sandpiper 1 A wet start at Horton´s Plain / Susanne Oriental Turtle Dove 5 Spotted Dove 10 Brown Shrike 1 Large-billed Crowe 15 Forest Wagtail 10 Grey Wagtail 15-20 Paddyfield Pipit 1 Yellow-eared Bulbul 1 Blyths reed Warbler 10 Pied Thrush 4 (2 m + 2 f) Oriental Magpie Robin 10 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 2 Lotens Sunbird 1 …but soon fog and rain disappeared / Hans

We decided to split into two groups, one birding the Back to the hotel for a quick and late lunch. Again entrance-area and one decided to walk the eight we split – one group for Victoria Park and the other kilometers round the plain. Quickly the weather left Nuwara Elyia for a visit in a tea-factory. In the started clearing and conditions improved. The park several fine birds were found………XXXXXXXXX group walking the plain moved through fantastic The tea- factory was quite touristy and having scenery with high grass, rhododendron and waited too long for a guided tour, we had a cup of windblown trees in many forms and colours. Clouds tea and left for the town again. Dinner at the hotel and fog and sun changed the light and scenery ended a superb day! constantly. During the walk many fine birds were th seen, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Grey tit, Velvet-fronted Birdlist 15 Feb nuthatch, Dull-blue flycatcher. Grey headed canary Horton´s Plain flycatcher, Sri Lanka Wood pigeon and the most common bird of the open, grassy areas Pied Junglefowl 6 Bushchat. Birding was important, but the scenery in Kestrel 2 itself was even more impressing with waterfalls, the Black-winged Kite 1 view from World´s End, a steep cliff standing 900 Brahminy Kite 3 meters high. Oriental Honey Buzzard 2 Crested Serpent Eagle 3 Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon 11 Alpine Swift 5-10 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 2 Large Cuckooshrike 1 Scarlet Minivet 3 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike 6 Brown Shrike 3 Large-billed Crow common Sand Martin 3 Barn Swallow 100+ Hill Swallow 50+ Sambar, Horton´s Plain / Hans Grey Wagtail 5 Paddyfield Pipit 30+ The other group walked around the main entrance Blyths Pipit 1 and along the road. Though the scenery was not so Oriental Skylark 2 dramatic, birding was even better here with Black- winged kite, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler and others. Yellow-eared Bulbul 10 Zitting Cisticola common Tailorbird common Sri Lanka Bushwarbler 6-8 Sykes Warbler 2 Greenish Warbler 2 Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler 3 Dark-fronted Babbler 1 Orange-billed Babbler 5 Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush 5 Indian Blackbird 5 Pied Bushchat common Tea-time / Anton Dull-blue Flycatcher 4 Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 14-16

Pale-billed Flowerpecker 20 Nuwara Eliya (apart from Victoria Park) Purple Sunbird 3 Grey Heron 1 Lotens Sunbird 1 Cattle Egret 300 – for night Sri Lanka White-eye 50 White-bellied Sea Eagle 1 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 8-10 Crested Serpent Eagle 2 Great Tit 10-15 Black Eagle 1 Black-throated Munia 2 Hill Swallow 5

Victoria Park White-breasted Waterhen 9 Green Sandpiper 2 Common Sandpiper 5 Oriental Turtle Dove 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet 2 Indian Pitta 1 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 1 Brown Shrike 1 Market, Nuwara Eliya / Susanne Forest Wagtail 5 Grey Wagtail 25 February 16th – Bodil Yellow-eared Bulbul 2 Tailorbird common Nuwara Eliya morning Blyths Reed Warbler 10+ Transport to Udawalawe via Ella and Surrey Pied Thrush 7 (4 m + 3 f) Udawalawe afternoon Indian Blue Robin 2 Weather: Morning sunny 20 C. Udawalawe 32 C Magpie Robin common afternoon and late evening 27 C. Brown-breasted Flycatcher 3 After a good night`s sleep in Hotel Leisure Village in Pale-billed Flowerpecker 1 Nuwara Eliya, we started off with some morning- Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 2 birding in nearby Bohnory Elle. A couple of hours Great tit 2 along a road through some “semi-forest” with among others endemics like Dull blue flycather, Sri Lanka White- eye, Yellow- eared Bulbul and Scarlet Mininvet, Crimson- backed Goldenback, Common Hawk Cockoo, Dark fronted Babbler, Pied Buschat – and a White-bellied Sea -Eagle disappearing through the trees. A nice and pleasant morning also with Layards squirrel and Leaf Monkey.

View of Adam´s Peak / Anders R Pied Thrush, Victoria Park / Anders R

We had breakfast at the hotel with nice views of Purple Sunbird. Back to the hotel for a nice buffet tea-plantations, peanut-fields and in between small and the traditional Birdcall after an eventful day. patches with leek and other vegetables. Birdlist – 16th Feb After breakfast it was farewell to the highlands and a trip of 4-5 hours to Udawalawe National Park lies Nuwara Eliya ahead. We pass the beautiful area around Ella with Grey Heron 6-8 the breathtaking views south through the Ella-gap Cattle Egret 200+ and a stop at a very beautiful waterfall. Later we Little Cormorant 25 have another stopover at a small patch of forest called Surrey.

We didn´t find Brown Wood Owl, which is sometimes seen here. Instead we saw Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Brown headed Barbet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill and Scarlet minivet. Later we stop and buy goods for the traditional beloved lunch – bread, banana, cola. Coming closer to Udawalawe we see Green beeeater, Black-winged Kite and the only Osprey of the trip. Later in the afternoon we arrive at Udawalawe and now temperatures have changed to more than 30 C, so first thing is a swim in the pool for the major part of the group. Hill Swallow / Anders R

White-breasted Waterhen 3 Whiskered Tern 1 Brown Shrike 1 Hill Swallow 5 Ashy Prinia 5 Blyths Reed Warbler 3 Pied Bushchat 4 Purple Sunbird 4 Great Tit 1 Sri Lanka White-eye 3

Bomburuella – forest near Nuwara Eliya White-bellied Sea Eagle 1 Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon 1 Emerald Dove 2 Common Hawk Cuckoo 2 Crimson-backed Goldenback 2 Greenish Warbler 2-3 Black-shouldered Kite with Crow / Anders R Dark-fronted Babbler 6 After this we had a late-afternoon trip in the area. Brown-breasted Flycatcher 1 We saw the first of many elephants, but the area Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 3 had lots of birds – among others Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Roller, White-bellied Sea eagle, Surrey forest Coppersmith Barbet, Yellow -browed Bulbul and Shikra 1

Crested Serpent Eagle 1 Whiskered Tern 25+ Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 2 Green Bee-eater 5 Rose-ringed Parakeet 10 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 25 Layards Parakeet 4 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 1 Brown-headed Barbet 3 White-throated Kingfisher 4 Yellow-fronted Barbet 3 Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill 3 Scarlet Minivet 5-8 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 2 Black-hooded Oriole 2 Forest Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail 3 White-browed Bulbul 3 Blyths Reed Warbler 1 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1 Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler 2 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 1 Dull-blue Flycatcher 3 Tickells Blue Flycatcher 2 Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 3 Pale-billed Flowerpecker 10 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 1 White-rumped Munia 5

Brahminy Kite / Anders R

Udawalawe Indian Peafowl 10 Black-headed Ibis 1 Grey Heron 4 Indian Cormorant 500+ Kestrel 1 Brahminy Kite 15 White-bellied Sea Eagle 4 Shikra 1 Oriental Honey Buzzard 2 Crested Serpent Eagle / Anders R Booted Eagle 1 Black-winged Stilt 2 En route: Yellow-wattled Lapwing 2 Painted stork 1 Red-wattled Lapwing 4 Spot-billed Pelican 1 Marsh Sandpiper 1 Brahminy Kite 11 Common Greenshank 3 Black eagle 3 Wood Sandpiper 1 Osprey 1 Whiskered Tern 125+ White-bellied Sea Eagle 2 Emerald Dove 1

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon 75-100 Indian Robin 6 Imperial Dove 10 Thick-billed Flowerpecker 1 Rose-ringed Parakeet 25 Purple Sunbird 5 Common Hawk Cuckoo 1 Oriental White-eye common Grey-bellied Cuckoo 1 Scaly-breasted Munia 10 Asian Koel 1 Asian Palm Swift 5 House Swift 25+ Crested Treeswift 5 Indian Roller 2 Green Bee-eater 25 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 10 White-throated Kingfisher 2 Coppersmith Barbet 5-8 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 1 Brown Shrike 1 Common Iora 4 Jeep-birding / Anton Black-hooded Oriole 1 Barn Swallow 1000+ February 17th - Vagn Sri Lanka Swallow 1 Udawalawe whole day Jerdons Bushlark 6-8 Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark 450 Weather: Sunny 23-32 C. White-browed Bulbul 2 The alarm clock was (again) set to 05.00, it is early Grey-breasted Prinia 4 but we were all set to go at 05.30.Two safari jeeps Ashy Prinia 2 were waiting for us in front of the hotel. In the Plain Prinia 4 darkness we drove the 10 km to Udawalewe Blyths Reed Warbler 3 National Park entrance. Others had the same idea White-browed Fantail 3 as us to visit the national Park this Friday morning Asian Paradise Flycatcher 2 because 10-15 other jeeps were there. Our driver Yellow-eyed Babbler 6-8 did the paperwork and 10 minutes later we were ready to go exploring. The sky was starting to get Yellow-billed Babbler common pink and daylight would soon be here. We went Rosy Starling 400+ into the park and turned off the main road. The first birds were spotted and also some elephants and we had also a great stop at a pool. Lots of white egrets were the first we saw there, but looking closer we spotted Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork and Spot- billed Pelican. Breakfast was served at 9 o’clock under a big tree, which we had the pleasure of sharing with four elephants and a monkey in the tree. The monkey was trying to grab a lunch pack if possible. We were sitting there in peace and enjoying life but a Crested Hawk Eagle got us up on our feet again. The eagle landed in the tree, just three meters above our heads. What a treat! After 30 minutes we were off Rosy Starling / Anton again, but we had to stop quite quickly because another Crested Hawk Eagle was sitting on the 20 ground eating a prey just five meters from the car. of new birds and lovely nature. We were tired after It took off into a small tree but we could still see it. a long day so we all went to bed quite early. The birds were not as active now as in the early morning, but we were still active watching the ground, the trees and the sky. Suddenly a Blue- faced Malkoha flew from the ground and into a tree. It took us some time to find it again in the tree but then it took off again into another tree and now we could all see it much better. Nothing new was spotted after this but we saw some Brown Shrikes along the road and we were back at the gate at 11 o'clock and now it was hot – 32 C. We drove back to Athinga Hotel, got lunch and had a break until 15.30.

Storks and Herons, Udawalawe / Vagn

Birdlist – 17th Feb

Udawalawe-area Barred Buttonquail 1 ad + 2 pullus Indian Peafowl 25+ Lesser Whistling Duck 45 Painted Stork 28 Open-Billed Stork 11 Woolly-necked Stork 2 Lesser Adjutant 2 Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Udawalawe / Hans Black-headed Ibis 35 Spoonbill 20 Back into the jeeps again and ready for yet another adventure. After 10 minutes we stopped outside a Black-crowned Night Heron 12 five star hotel and we were all wondering why? We Yellow Bittern 1 jumped out of the jeeps and went to the parking Black Bittern 3 area and in the top of a big tree we saw two Purple Heron 6 Collared Scops Owls. They sat side by side looking Cattle Egret 75 down at us. I think we were the ones that were Intermediate Egret 60 most happy about that meeting. Little Egret 20 Into the jeeps again and off to a wetland. New birds were spotted here, Caspian Tern, Purple Spot-billed Pelican 7 Swamphen, Citrine Wagtail and Pheasant-tailed Great Cormorant 1 Jacana. We walked along the road for about one Darter 27 hour. Back to the hotel. A few went into the hotel, Black-winged Kite 8 and the rest of the group went on a short night trip. Brahminy Kite 8 We waited in the dark and the first thing that flew White-bellied Sea Eagle 7 over us was flying foxes followed by a few Black- crowned Night Herons. We heard the Nightjars in Grey-headed Fish Eagle 2 the distance and suddenly one flew very low over Crested Serpent Eagle 4 our heads and was gone in a blink of an eye. Back to White-breasted Waterhen 2 the hotel at 19.30 for dinner at 20.00 followed by Purple Swamphen 4-6 birdcall. What an exciting day it had been with lots Pheasant-tailed Jacana 8-10

Pied Kingfisher 2 Brown-headed Barbet 4 Coppersmith Barbet 10+ Malabar Pied Hornbill 18 Lesser Goldenback 1 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 1 Large Cuckooshrike 1 Small minivet 2 Brown Shrike 10+ Common Iora 8 Marshalls Iora 3 Barn Swallow 200 Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Udawalawe / Hans Red-rumped Swallow 2 Black-winged Stilt 32 Sri Lanka Swallow 2 Red-wattled Lapwing 20 Yellow Wagtail 20 Green Sandpiper 2 Citrine Wagtail 3 Wood Sandpiper 6 Paddyfield Pipit common Little Ringed Plover 2 Jerdons Bushlark common Kentish Plover 1 Ashy-Crowned Sparrow Lark 10 Lesser Sandplover 1 Jungle Prinia 1 Marsh Sandpiper 4 Ashy Prinia 4 Common Greenshank 6 Plain Prinia 10 Green Sandpiper 1 Blyths Reed Warbler 5 Wood Sandpiper 15-20 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Rosy Starling 250+ Little Stint 1 Indian Robin 25+ Gull-billed Tern 9 Purple-rumped Sunbird 10 Caspian Tern 1 Pale-billed Flowerpecker 8 Little Tern 8 Scaly-breasted Munia 6 Whiskered Tern 225+ Black-headed Munia 150-200 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon common Green Imperial Pigeon common Rose-ringed Parakeet 700 – from nightroost Grey-bellied Cuckoo 3 Asian Koel 1 Blue-faced Malkoha 1 Oriental Scops Owl 2 Alpine Swift 1 Palm Swift 5 Crested Treeswift 12 Indian Roller 5-6 Green Bee-eater 50+ Blue-tailed Bee-eater 50+ White-Throated Kingfisher 5 Malabar Pied Hornbill, Udawalawe / Vagn Common Kingfisher 2

February 18th - Esben nightjar was there – not easy to see, but finally everyone got a closer look and pictures – Indian Udawalawe – Tissa transport Nightjar. Tissa afternoon/evening

Weather: Cloudy 23-30 C. Rain evening.

We spent a couple of hours driving from Udawalewe to the coastal area around the town of Tissa. Near the town we stopped at a small house surrounded by palm-trees, rice-fields among others. In the house lived a mother and her daughter. She used to have a Jungle Owlet in the garden, but unfortuantely it was absent (we found it though at a later visit). There were other birds in the garden. Several trees had holes with parakeets and woodpeckers - Rose-ringed Parakeet, Lesser Flameback and White-napped Woodpecker. The Local boys helped us and Chandima finding the latter had been mentioned earlier as the target- Brown Fish Owl, Tissa / Hans and Christian species of the day.

Back at the ponds in Tissa we saw a strange behavior among Purple Swamphens. They stood close together looking to the center. A Great White The professor holds a lecture. Visiting site for owl Egret shared their interest, but we never found out, and woodpecker in Tissa where we had a nice time what was going on and still seek an explanation. with mother and daughter who lived there / Hans

Kenneth also added Watercock as a bonus-species After a late afternoon rest at Peacock Reach Hotel and one hour later we saw it at Tissa ponds as well we visited another area of the Tissa Tank (dammed as Pintail Snipe. However, Chandima got a tip from wetlands). We stopped in an area of very big Rain some local boys, with whom he cooperates, that a Trees. Hanging in the trees were more than Brown Fish Owl could be found nearby. It was still thousand Flying Foxes and many of theese were present, when we got there. Perfect way to protect flying around with a wingspan of up to 1,5 meters birds and nature – and the boys got their tip, and like big birds of prey. When darkness comes they fly continue in this way to find and protect the birds. out and leave the trees to roosting white herons. We also found new tour-species like Clamorous The boys also knew an area, where a nightjar might Reed Warbler and Ashy Woodswallow. be present. So they followed us to an agricultural At this evenings "bird call" we found that 14 new area with thorny bushes, where poorer people had species was seen on this day and that we had now a possibility with support from the government to passed 200 species. However, the next day gave a get a piece of land and a possible income. Well, the major jump in the number of species. 23

Birdlist – 18th Feb

En route Udawalawe-Tissa Indian Peafowl 4 Brahminy Kite 5 Shikra 1 Grey-bellied Cuckoo 1 Asian Koel 2 Palm Swift 20 House Swift 50+ Blue-tailed Bee-eater 25 Black Bittern, Tissa / Christian White-breasted Kingfisher 10-15 Shikra 3 Malabar Pied Hornbill 1 Booted Eagle 1 Greenish Warbler 4 White-breasted Waterhen 25+ Indian Robin 3 Watercock 4 Purple Swamphen 110 Pheasant-tailed Jacana 60 Great Thick-knee 3 Black-winged Stilt 10 Red-wattled Lapwing 10 Pintail Snipe 9 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Redshank 2-4 Swamphens congregating for what? / Christian Marsh Sandpiper 2 Tissa and Tissa Ponds and surrounding areas Green Sandpiper 3 Indian Peafowl 3 Wood Sandpiper 10-15 Lesser Whistling Duck 30 Common Sandpiper 2 Open-billed Stork 20 Gull-billed Tern 10+ Painted Stork 8 Caspian Tern 9 Black-headed Ibis 25 Little Tern 25+ Spoonbill 4 Whiskered Tern 100+ Yellow Bittern 8-10 White-winged Tern 2 Black Bittern 20 Black-crowned Night Heron 1 Cattle Egret 200+ Intermediate Egret 10 Little Egret 3 Purple Heron 15 Spot-billed Pelican 30 Little Cormorant 15 Indian Cormorant 450 Darter 25 Black-winged Kite 2 Brahminy Kite 25+ White-bellied Sea Eagle 2 Whiskered Tern, Tissa / Christian 24

Streaked Weaver 40 Baya Weaver 25 Scaly-breasted Munia 200+ Black-headed Munia 100+

Serious birding in Tissa / Christian

Emerald Dove 5 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet 430 (for night-roost) Brown Fish Owl 1 Indian Nightjar 1 Asian Koel 1 Greater Coucal 2 Crested Treeswift 3

Blue-tailed Bee-eater 25 Crested Treeswift / Anders R Stork-billed Kingfisher 5 White-throated Kingfisher 25+ February 19th – Anders I Common Kingfisher 2 Pied Kingfisher 3 Bundala half day Brown-headed Barbet 3 Kataragama afternoon Coppersmith Barbet 2 Tissa late afternoon

White-naped Woodpecker 1 Weather: Rain early, clearing and 23-26 C. Sri Lanka Lesser Flameback 3 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 6 The alarm woke us up at 5:05 am. Anders R tells Brown Shrike 1 Hans, that he has misunderstood the term Common Iora 2 ‘vacation’, and Hans answers: “Seize the Day!”. We Black-hooded Oriole 1 left the hotel at 5:30 am, in two Jeeps, towards Bundala National Park. We arrived at 6am, where House Crow 100+ we went to a big lookout-spot for watching birds. Large-billed Crow 100+ Because it was raining, we had our breakfast here. Ashy Woodswallow 5 This National Park is really something to Yellow Wagtail 2 recommend, because of the huge variety of Plain Prinia 2 beautiful birds. Also, there were not that many Zitting Cisticola 10 other people, which of course is a plus. Clamorous Reed Warbler 2 The rain stopped but it was a cool day – just around Blyths Reed Warbler 10 25 C. Lots of birds in the park. Not the most Greenish Warbler 4 beautiful but the rarest was a Knob-billed Duck – Indian Robin 2 should be the first sighting in Sri Lanka for eight Lotens Sunbird 1 years. Purple Sunbird 5

Odd-looking Black-winged Stilt, Bundala / Christian

We went to the sea and got permission to go Ceremony at Kataragama / Hans outside the jeeps and walk in an area of saltpans. Birdlist 19th Feb Here were also a lot of birds – terns and waders mainly. Among these Small Pratincoles, an odd- Bundala looking Black-winged Stilt (Australian?) and a very Sri Lanka Junglefowl 10 fine Red-necked Stint. Indian Peafowl 50+ Lesser Whistling Duck 200+ Knob-billed Duck 1 Cotton Pygmy Goose 1 Pintail 120 Garganey 27 Painted Stork 50 Asian Openbill 50-100 Lesser Adjutant 1 Black-headed Ibis 150 Glossy Ibis 10 Spoonbill 1 Yellow Bittern 4 Coastal area of Bundala National Park / Hans Black Bittern 5 Back at the hotel at 1:15 pm everyone got a “Sri Black-crowned Night Heron 5 Lanka Omelet” and a little swim in the pool. Purple Heron 15 Great Egret 5 At 3:15 pm, nine persons of the group went on a Cattle Egret 250 cultural trip instead of looking at birds, to the Intermediate Egret 50 Kataragama Temple. This is an interesting area where different religions share the place with temples - we recommend this visit. The remainder of the group continued finding birds around the Tissa tanks and we all met there to end the day.

After rice ´n curry and some Lion Beer we had bird call at 8:20 pm. Nine new species and the total Knob-billed Duck in Bundala / Christian number of species seen so far was 231.

Little Ringed Plover 4 Kentish Plover 20 Lesser Sandplover 30 Pintailed Snipe 8 Black-tailed Godwit 100 Whimbrel 1 Spotted Redshank 3 Painted Stork, Bundala / Christian

Little Egret 5 Western Reef Heron 1 Spot-billed Pelican 5 Little Grebe 10 Darter 100+ Kestrel 1 Brahminy Kite 20+ Grey-headed Fish Eagle 1 Shikra 2 Besra 1 Crested Hawk Eagle 3 Watercock 1

Great Thick-knee / Anders R

Redshank 50+ Marsh Sandpiper 50+ Greenshank 20+ Green Sandpiper 1 Wood Sandpiper 40 Common Sandpiper 5 Ruddy Turnstone 20+ Rednecked Stint 1 Little Stint 300+ Temmincks stint 1 Pacific Golden Plover / Hans Curlew Sandpiper 75 Ruff 9 Purple Swamphen 150+ Red-necked Phalarope 1 Common Moorhen 10 Small Pratincole 3 Coot 7 Gull-billed Tern 40+ Pheasant-tailed Jacana 500+ Caspian Tern 90 Indian Thick-knee 10+ Sandwich Tern 10-15 Great Thick-knee 8 Greater Crested Tern 12 Black-winged Stilt 200+ Little Tern 50+ Yellow-wattled Lapwing 20 Whiskered Tern 500+ Red-wattled Lapwing common White-winged Tern 15-20 Pacific Golden Plover 20 Collared Dove 2 Grey Plover 5

Jerdons Bushlark 2 Oriental Skylark 4 Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark 10 White-browed Bulbul 2 Plain Prinia 10 Clamorous Reed Warbler 5-10 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1 Rosy Starling 150+ Magpie Robin 5 Indian Robin 5 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Bundala / Christian Streaked Weaver 3 Baya Weaver 10-15 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon 10 Blue-faced Malkoha 5 Greater Coucal 4 Jerdons Nightjar 1 House Swift 10-15 Crested Treeswift 10 Brown Shrike 2 Green Bee-eater 25 Blue-tailed Bee-eater common Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 3 Common Kingfisher 3

Pied Kingfisher 4 Eg-stealing Mongoose, Bundala / Christian Hoopoe 2 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 2 Tissa Ponds and around Common Iora 5 Cotton Pygmy Goose 2 Black-hooded Oriole 2 Spoonbill 2 Sand Martin 20 Yellow Bittern 1 Barn Swallow 2000 Black Bittern 10 Yellow Wagtail 50 Black-crowned Night Heron 1 Citrine Wagtail 2 Grey-headed Fish Eagle 2 Paddyfield Pipit 3 Shikra 4 Watercock 3 Common Moorhen 6 Asian Koel 4 Stork-billed Kingfisher 3 White-naped Woodpecker 1 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 1 Small Minivet 3 Brown Shrike 2 Jerdons Leafbird 1 Black-hooded Oriole 2 Ashy Woodswallow 3 Jungle Prinia 1 Ibisses in Bundala / Christian

Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1 Rain when we leave the hotel, but this stops, when Streaked Weaver 5 we reach the park-entrance. Baya Weaver 10 At the entrance we see that many others are visiting the park. But we go our own ways, after Kataragama having seen a couple of Jackals at the gate, Woolly-necked Stork 2 searching for birds, that quickly turn up in groups of Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill 1 Black- Tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruddy Grey Wagtail 1 Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper and others. It is easy to get very close to the birds, so lots of pictures are Asian Paradise Flycatcher 4 taken. Yala is very welknown for its animals and Brown-breasted Flycatcher 2 along the roads we see lots of Spotted Deer, Water Scaly-breasted Munia 2 Buffalos, Mongoose and suddenly it is announced that a Leopard is nearby. However, when we arrive, we are not the only ones there. Lots of jeeps on the muddy roads create quite a few funny situations. But people pass the leopard (lying in a tree) slowly and everyone gets to see the cat. We turn around and pass the area once more for another view. For people travelling without binoculars, however, views are limited – but everybody in our group got their cat! Nice to have seen this during the morning, so we are more relaxed when we continue our birding, among others seeing a Blue-faced Malkoha.

Watercock, Bundala / Christian

February 20th - Bodil

Yala whole day

Weather: Rain, but quickly dry, 24-32 C

Up at 5 o´clock and departure from the hotel half an hour later towards Yala National Park, where we will stay the rest of the day. We split into two jeeps with walkie-talkies as connection.

Siesta at Indian Ocean, Yala / Hans

Lunch was ”homecooked” by the wife of one of the drivers. Delicious Rice and curry with chicken in a nice setting at the ocean. We cool in the Indian Ocean, but swimming here is to dangerous because of the currents. After a couple of hours ´siesta´ we continue our birding. We see that many of the morning tourists have left the park and the tracks are much more deserted now. We boost our tourlist with Sirkeer Malkoha , two Black-necked Storks (There should only be three birds in the whole of Sri Lanka), three Jacobin Cuckoo, Brahminy Starling, Queueing up for the Leopard / Hans Barred buttonquail and others.

Purple Heron 5 Great Egret 5 Cattle Egret common Intermediate Egret 4 Little Egret 20 Spot-billed Pelican 10 Darter 50+ Little Grebe 2 Kestrel 2 Brahminy Kite 12 White-bellied Sea Eagle 4 Grey-headed Fish Eagle 2 Black-necked Stork in Yala / Hans Shikra 4 Besra 1 A great ending to a great day in Yala. Tired but with Crested Serpent Eagle 6-8 lots of fantastic experiences we return to the hotel Crested Hawk Eagle 3-4 for another great meal. Some even end the day in the swimmingpool with another cold Lion Beer.

Birdlist 20th Feb

Yala Barred Buttonquail 9 Sri Lanka Junglefowl 20+ Indian Peafowl 50+ Lesser Whistling Duck 10 Painted Stork 15-20 Asian Openbill 15 Woolly-necked Stork 1 Black-necked Stork 2 Lesser Adjutant 2 Jungle- and Peafowl in Yala / Hans Black-headed Ibis common Spoonbill 6 White-breasted Waterhen 15 Grey Heron 6 Purple Swamphen common Pheasant-tailed Jacana 100+ Great Thick-knee 15 Black-winged Stilt 15 Yellow-wattled Lapwing 30 Red-wattled Lapwing common Pacific Golden Plover 15 Little Ringed Plover 4 Kentish Plover 3 Lesser Sandplover 35 Greater Sandplover 1 Pintailed Snipe 8 Black-tailed Godwit 40 Redshank 10 Marsh Sandpiper 15 Wood Sandpiper 20 Asian Openbill / Anders R 30

Jacobine Cuckoo 3 Common Hawk Cuckoo 1 Blue-faced Malkoha 1 Sirkeer Malkoha 2 Greater Coucal 4 Brown-backed Needletail 1 Crested Treeswift 100+ Indian Roller 2 Green Bee-eater common Blue-tailed Bee-eater common White-throated Kingfisher 25 Common Kingfisher 2 Marsh Sandpiber / Anders R Pied Kingfisher 3 Hoopoe 7 Green Sandpiper 2 Common Sandpiper 3 Ruddy Turnstone 3 Little Stint 20 Curlew Sandpiper 5 Small Pratincole 3 Gull-billed Tern 35 Caspian Tern 4 Sandwich Tern 1 Greater Crested Tern 10 Little Tern 75+ Whiskered Tern 100+ White-winged Tern 1 Indian Elephant / Bodil Orange-breasted Green Pigeon 100+ Rose-ringed Parakeet 75 Malabar Pied Hornbill 15 Sri Lanka Woodshrike 5-8 Small Minivet 3 Brown Shrike 25 Common Iora 5-10 Black-hooded Oriole 12 Largebilled Crow 25 Sri Lanka Swallow 1 Ashy Drongo 1 Yellow Wagtail 10 Paddyfield Pipit 5-10 Jerdons Bushlark 10-20 White-browed Bulbul 8-10 Plain Prinia common Blyths Reed Warbler 2 White-browed Fantail 12-14 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 4 Brahminy Starling 1 Rosy Starling 50+ Magpie Robin 3 Pied Kingfisher and Little Cormorant / Anders R

White-rumped Shama 2 Indian Robin common Having ticked this owl we continued. On the way we Asian Brown Flycatcher 3 saw some raptors, among others a Black Eagle Thick-billed Flowerpecker 1 eating some kapok, rockwool or was it an animal – Purple-rumped Sunbird 10+ we couldn´t decide. We passed through the Sri Purple Sunbird 20+ Lankan cultural landscape, dominated by tea platations, fruit-trees and rice-fields. In between we Oriental White-eye 3 see small patches of the original nature, but it is a House Sparrow 3 rare sight outside the national parks. Scaly-breasted Munia 8 After we had arrived at Rock View Motel, we had Black-headed Munia 50+ lunch before continuing the main entrance to Sinharaja about 20 minutes from the hotel. Sri Lankan Blue Magpie was quickly seen to the great joy of all of us – John not the least. After this a Sri Lankan Frog-Mouth was found. And easily species number 240 was in the book. A bit tough is was though, as some of us had to remove leeches from the bloody legs and feet. We were not properly dressed – leech-socks was part of the dresscode the next day. After dinner we were entertained at the hotel by local people dancing and singing. A tradition that still lives in the area – among others as part of healing.

Magpie Robin / Anders R

February 21st - Søren

Tissa – Sinharaja transport Sinharaja - entrance afternoon

Weather: Mostly sunny and 25-30 C.

This day we had a slow morning. Some had a long sleep, others were up earlier handling their luggage, as we were moving to Sinharaja this day. After breakfast some had a quick view at a lake behind the hotel, which turned out to be a hotspot for Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sinharaja / Bodil Watercock. We left the Tissa hotel at 9 AM. Birdlist 21st Feb Three hours transport began with Jungle Owlet, a species we missed the other day. The lady who lived Tissa area there, was at home as her daughter was ill. Asian Openbill 10+ However, se was doing her homework lying on the Spot-billed Pelican 25 floor in the kitchen. A high moral seldom seen in Darter 25 our part of the world. Brahminy Kite 5 32

Shikra 6-8 Brown-backed Needletail 2 Asian Koel 2 Sri Lanka Blue Magpie 6 Jungle Owlet 1-2 Square-tailed Drongo 5 Indian Swiftlet 100 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1 Palm Swift 75 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 1 Crested Treeswift 25 Blyths Reed Warbler 1 February 22nd - Kenneth

Sinharaja whole day

Weather: Sunny with a little evening-rain, 23-32 C.

Today was the day we had to round up the last of the endemic species. We sat of just before dawn heading to the most sacred place on Sri Lanka for birders - the Sinharaja Rainforest. On our way up the mountain in our 60 year old jeep we saw the first species including Plum-headed Parakeet which we had missed out on before and the Sri Lanka Hill Myna. After a quick lunch we went into the Square-tailed Drongo, Sinharaja / Christian rainforest.

En route towards Sinharaja Asian Openbill 10 Brahminy Kite 12 White-bellied Sea Eagle 1 Grey-headed Fish Eagle 2 Shikra 7 Oriental Honey Buzzard 1 Crested Serpent Eagle 3 Black Eagle 3 White-throated Kingfisher 10+

Black-hooded Oriole in Sinharaja / Christian

We saw a few Spot-winged Thrushes but apart from that it was surprisingly quiet. Our young but extremely competent eagle eye Park-Ranger very calmly rounded up a lot of the endemic species. Finally we were only missing the Sri Lanka Thrush. During the break at the Education Center in the park, Søren and Kenneth continued birding which payed of. After a lot of hard work they found a beautiful Sri Lanka Thrush inside the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sinharaja / Christian forest. The others were quickly gathered and with expert help from our young Park-Ranger everyone Sinharaja – entrance and hotel got to see the Thrush. On our way out of the Crested Serpent Eagle 1 rainforest we were all happy and satisfied when our Hanging Parrot 15 young Ranger suddenly stroke again very close to Sri Lanka Frogmouth 2 the exit of the forest. He found a couple of very

33 cooperative Red-Faced Malkohas that everyone Black Eagle 1 were able to see very clearly. A great end to an White-breasted Waterhen 9 amazing morning and a huge thank you to the Emerald Dove 3 young Park-Ranger - finally a guide who knew his Sri Lanka Green Pigeon 25+ birds. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 25+ The afternoon included relaxation at the hotel and Alexandrine Parakeet 10 for some a walk down to the local river where they Rose-ringed Parakeet common had a nice experience sailing on a raft made out of Plum-headed Parakeet 4 bamboo. Layards Parakeet 5 Red-faced Malkoha 3 Greater Coucal 5 Green-billed Coucal 3 Sri Lanka Frogmouth 2 Chestnut-backed Owlet 1 Brown-backed Needletail 25 Palm Swift common House Swift 15 Crested Treeswift 10 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 25+ White-throated Kingfisher 3 Malabar Trogon 1 Brown-headed Barbet common Yellow-fronted Barbet common Lesser Yellownape 2 Crimson-backed Goldenback 3 Indian Pitta 1 Black-headed Cuckooshrike 6 Small Minivet 3 Scarlet Minivet 4 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike 1 Brown Shrike 2 Red-faced Malkoha in Sinharaja / Christian Common Iora 5 Golden-fronted Leafbird 2 nd Birdlist 22 Feb Black-hooded Oriole 4 Sinharaja Sri Lanka Spurfowl 1 Sri Lanka Junglefowl 5 Indian Peafowl 1 Cattle Egret 100+ (evening) Great Egret 20 Intermediate Egret 80 Grey Heron 1 Indian Pond Heron 2 Little Cormorant 4 Shikra 3 Crested Serpent Eagle 4 Crested Hawk Eagle 1 Wide-water-rafting or the local ferry / Hans

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie 2 February 23rd - Christian Sri Lanka Swallow 15+ White-bellied Drongo 10 Sinharaja whole day Sri Lanka Drongo 4 Weather: Partly cloudy, 24-30 C. Black-capped Bulbul 4-5 White-browed Bulbul 8 5:30 a.m. – it is still dark outside at Rock View Motel Yellow-browed Bulbul 4 but everybody is ready to sing a song - a birthday- Square-tailed Bulbul common song for John who passes 60 years today. The plan Blyths Reed Warbler 2 for today is a tour up the mountain in Sinharaja NP. Green/Greenish Warbler 1 Our normal bus cannot make the tour and therefore Large-billed Leaf Warbler 1 two jeeps are ready instead, one of the jeeps has Black-naped Monarch 4 been on the road for more than 50 years. It coughs a bit when it starts and thick black smoke from the Asian Paradise Flycatcher 6 exhaust tells that the engine has had better days. Brown-capped Babbler 2 Dark-fronted Babbler 5 Orange-billed Babbler 25 Yellow-billed Babbler 25 Ashy-headed Laughingthrush 25 Sri Lanka Hill Myna 15 White-faced Starling 15 Spot-winged Thrush 3 Sri Lanka Thrush 3 Magpie Robin 2 Indian Robin 2 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 6 Legges Flowerpecker 5 Pale-billed Flowerpecker 10 Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sinharaja / Christian Purple-rumped Sunbird common White-rumped Munia 20 We get well together on the tour up the narrow Scaly-breasted Munia 40 bumpy mountain road; the aim for this tour is Black-throated Munia 5 among others to get the last of the 34 endemic species – the Crimson-fronted Barbet and finding the Spurfowl. The jeeps stop in front of a house where Chandima knows the family and he knows that the family sometimes is able to get Sri Lanka Spurfowl close to the house by feeding the bird. We arrange ourselves inside and outside the house. The owner of the house throws a few handfuls of rice in the little area that is the border to the forest with a little stream in the bottom. There is not much light, one quarter passes and nothing happens. A little bird shows up near the stream, it is a female Indian Blue Robin, not bad, and shortly after is it followed by a Spot-winged Thrush. A bigger bird is coming closer, could it be the Sri-Lanka Spurfowl? No, a hen of Sri Lanja Junglefowl with a chicken enters the Breakfast in Sinharaja / Anders R scene in order to get some of the spread rice – but then something happens. A pair of Sri Lanka Junglefowl comes into sight and the sound of a lot

35 of cameras is heard. The goodies have not finished The temperature has markedly increased and after yet, now both Emerald Dove and Indian Pitta show about one hours walk we return to the jeeps in up – what a tremendous morning. order to go back to the hotel. But before that we will make a stop at Hotel Blue Magpie because Chandima has heard that the shy Slaty-legged Crake might be there.

We arrange so that we have view to what is like a stream for wastewater; but unfortunately, after half an hour we realize that the bird does not intend to come out this time. We leave but decide to try later in the afternoon. We return to the hotel for siesta. When we later in the afternoon return to the crake- place the hotel has got Danish visitors travelling with Viktors Farmor and while we search for the crake we have nice talks and exchange of Sinharaja birding / Anton experiences. The weather is changing and it seems as if it will be raining, but before the rain comes we It is time to enjoy the breakfast packets we have reach to enjoy a couple of very active Chestnut- brought with us. We are invited to enjoy it in the headed Bee-eaters. Some decided to walk and garden and we all got comfortable seats on garden others to go by jeep when we return to the park chairs kindly provided by the owners of the house. entrance where we have a reunion with the very The talking is in high spirits and a Dutch birder who beautiful Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. This is the day is together with us this morning gets a briefing where hundreds of school children in their nice about our observations. We still miss the last of the uniforms are on tour to the park. They are leaving endemics. But suddenly as we are sitting with the and have to find the right bus to take them down breakfast firstly the Yellow-fronted Barbet turns up the mountain. The children are very nice and want and shortly after that the very long awaited to take photos of us with their smartphones. Crimson-fronted Barbet. The plate is full!

We thank the very welcoming family for the experiences this early morning and start walking further up the mountain along the road where we pass more houses surrounded by banana and coconut palms. Above the mountains a couple of Black Eagles is spotted.

John turned sixty / Susanne

In the evening the table is prepared for celebration of John’s birthday and Bodil has arranged that we get wine for the dinner. Anders has brought his okulele and songbook so that we can sing together. But we have hardly started singing the first song before the light is off, bad – but then suddenly the hotel staff enter singing Happy Birthday while they carry a big birthday cake. Indeed, John was celebrated. School-kids in Sinharaja / Hans

Birdlist 23rd Feb

Sinharaja and hotel Sri Lanka Spurfowl 2 Sri Lanka Junglefowl 3 Asian Openbill 4 Painted Stork 1 Black-headed Ibis 1 Shahin (Peregrine) Falcon 2 Brahminy Kite 3 Shikra 3 Oriental Honey Buzzard 2 Emerald Dove, Sinharaja / Christian Crested Serpent Eagle 6 Black Eagle 6 White-throated Kingfisher 4 Rufous-bellied Eagle 1 Yellow-fronted Barbet 15 Crimson-fronted Barbet 3 Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill 2 Lesser Goldenback 3 Indian Pita 3 Small Minivet 28 Scarlet Minivet 14 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 6 Brown Shrike 5 Golden-fronted Leafbird 8 Black-hooded Oriole 10 Sri Lanka Swallow 10 Grey Wagtail 2 Sri Lanka Blue Magpie 4

Rufous-bellied Eagle at Rock View Motel / Anders R

Crested Hawk Eagle 2 Legges Hawk Eagle 3 Oriental Turtle Dove 5 Emerald Dove 20+ Sri Lanka Green Pigeon 5 Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 45 Alexandrine Parakeet 2 Plum-headed Parakeet 4 Layards Parakeet 10 Common Hawk Cuckoo 2 Asian Koel 11 Greater Coucal 3 Indian Nightjar 1 Brown-backed Needletail 60 House Swift 25 Crested Treeswift 7 Blue-tailed Bee-eater 100+ Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike / Anders R Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 5

White-bellied Drongo 10 this morning were Leafbirds, Lesser Yellownape and Sri Lanka Drongo 1 Black-hooded Oriole. Grey Wagtail 3 Black-capped Bulbul 5 Yellow-browed Bulbul 1 Green Warbler 1 Asian Paradise Flycatcher 2 Orange-billed Babbler 30+ Ashy-headed Laughingthrush 10 Sri Lanka Hill Myna 10 Spot-winged Thrush 2 Indian Blue Robin 1 Legges Flowerpecker 10 Oriental White-eye 11 White-rumped Munia 12 The teams from Sri Lanka Birdring and Rock View Motel outside the Motel near Sinharaja / Hans

When the luggage was packed in the back of the bus we said goodbye to the staff on Rock View Hotel and were ready for new experiences on the next destination. Shortly after start we stopped in a small town because someone meant they have seen munias but outside the bus we couldn’t find the birds. This was the only stop for birds on the about three hours’ drive. It didn’t mean that there were no birds on the tour, many raptors were seen in the air from the bus. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Sinharaja / Christian

February 24th - Susanne

Sinharaja – Mirissa transport

Weather: 28 C dropping to 25 C.

Today’s plan was to leave Sinharaja in order to go to Mirissa on the island’s South coast. We planned to leave at 9:30 a.m. so we had time for a last walk in the area for those that didn’t prefer a long morning sleep. Some of us decided to walk up the about 200 steps to the top of the hillside opposite the hotel. There was a small Buddhist temple halfway up the And now to something completely different, the hillside and what looked like a temple school on the Mirissa beach / Hans top. It was a quiet morning. We met no people except a man with his broom. It meant that the Mirissa showed up to be a much busier place than sound of Jungle fowls calling each other was very the other places we have stayed at. Hans had told clear. The finding of the dry skin of an about 2 us this on beforehand and we had to admit that he meter long Cobra snake told us that they can be was right. The first thing that was different was that met in the area. Among other birds on the hill side we saw mosques and Muslim dressed people at the edge of town. Here were Muslims, Buddhists and 38

Hindus living even more mixed than we have seen We were in a hotel on the beach and decided to “go before. In town we could see that the density of all in”. We ended the day with a walk in the sand tourists were much higher than before on our tour. along the beach to a bar where we all got Mojitos The bus took us into a small street and when the as good night drinks. gate in front of Paradise Club Hotel was moved th away we had a fantastic view through the hotel Birdlist 24 Feb lobby right to the beach and the sea. We were surprised – this was very different from what we Rock View Hotel (morning) have tried before on this tour and on previous tours Sri Lanka Junglefowl 3 with this group. Shikra 1 Crested Serpent Eagle 1 Not very long after arrival most of us met on the House Swift 15 beach ready for bathing but we quickly found out Yellow-fronted Barbet 5 that we had to take care of the big waves. They Lesser Yellownape 3 were very high and powerfull so it was easy to get Golden-fronted Leafbird 3 thrown around in the water. When or if we had enough of the waves we continued bathing in the Sri Lanka Swallow 10 pool. The water in both the sea and the pool was White-browed Bulbul 1 warmer than any of us had tried before in sea or Black-capped Bulbul 4 pool. Blyths Reed Warbler 3 Magpie Robin 4

En route to Mirissa Brahminy Kite 4 Shikra 7 Oriental Honey Buzzard 2 Crested Serpent Eagle 7 Black Eagle 3

Mirissa Brahminy Kite 1 Greater Crested Tern 15 Little Tern 20+

February 25th - Esben

Mirissa whole day

Weather: Cloudy with no wind, later showers, 25-28 C.

About seven o´clock we sailed out of the harbour in Mirissa with its colourful fishing boats. In spite of a not too optimistic weather forecast we had The team on Mirissa Beach splendid conditions. No rain and almost no wind. The rest of the day was spent with individual Chadima had booked a boat just for us and with a bathing, shopping or enjoying the pulsating life in very skilled captain. Other whale-tourists were in the little town. The volleyball was aired on the boats that were too filled-up with people and the beach and attacked people from different other boats allmost laid down on one side when countries or parts of the world and made much fun everybody wanted to see something on one side of for all that participated. the ship. The main target was to find a Blue whale.

because it had certain marks on the tail. On the tail we could see some sucking-fish (ramore) and on the small dorsal fin was a Cutter shark. A patrolboat from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard checked that we didn´t go closer than we were allowed. While following the whale we saw some Sooty Terns and on the way back a group of Bottle-nosed dolphins. We were even surprised by the serving of saugeses and an omeletsandwich – nice and tasty. We also spotted several Flying-fish and another group of Spinner dolphins playing around and under the boat. A Common Tern and one more Swordfish were seen before arriving at harbour again at 12 Observation platform / Hans o´clock after what turned out to be an amazing trip.

They are often seen near the slope where the ocean gets deeper about one hour south of the coast of Sri Lanka. On the way scattered shoals of fish made options for some observations. First a group of Whiskered Terns. A bigger shoal was located around four fishing boats and a group of perhaps 100 small but beautiful Spinner dolphins gathered there. Some of the dolphins really made a spin above the surface. Even a Swordfish jumped out of the water. Later we had good views of a Olive Ridley Turtle.

Spinner Dolphins / Hans

The rest of the day we behaved like common tourists around the hotel and visiting the town. We even found out that the prime minister was staying in the same hotel and even dining in the same room as we did. We had a fairly spicy dinner and after this we walked to the last bar on the beach having a late Olive-Ridley Turtle / Christian night drink on the beach surrounded by a lot of Hermit crabs. After one hour we began looking for whales. First th we spotted some Bridled Terns. Short after 8 Birdlist 25 Feb o´clock we saw spout from a whale at a distance. While the other boats went quickly back we stayed Hvaltur fra Mirissa in the area the next three hours watching this Gull-billed Tern 1 whale. After a dive of approx. 15 minutes the whale Greater Crested Tern 15 could be seen for two or three minutes. This we saw Common Tern 1 twelwe times and each time we saw the spouts of Little Tern 25 up to twelwe times. We also saw the poo from the Whiskered Tern 125 whale. This was bright orange, the color probably Bridled Tern 40 coming from crustaceans, it has eaten. That it was Sooty Tern 4 the same whale over and over again we could see,

lot of people – foreigners as well as locals. Many of these come there for weddings and other celebrations. There is a wall all around this original town. We walked this wall and saw different birds here – terns and waders, among others Lesser Crested Tern. We tried to find a gull for our list, but didn´t succeed. We also found a reef-shark, but we had also time for shopping – jewelry and cricket t-shirts among others. A new sport was introduced tuk-tuk-polo. Small tuk- tuk driving around on a field with goals. Really odd and funny, especially when very heavy rain began in the afternoon and made the whole thing a really muddy mess!

Spout from the Blue Whale / Christian Tuk-tuk polo in Galle / Christian

Mirissa Back in Mirissa John discovered that some turtle- White-bellied Sea Eagle 1 eggs have hatched on the beach very close to the Greater Crested Tern 25 hotel. Small turtles were doing their best to reach the ocean. Most succeeded as there are no gulls here. Many people gathered to see this – a great February 26th - John ending to the day. The turtles turned out to be Olive-shield Turtle. Dinner once again as a buffet followed by cold Mirissa and a daytrip to Galle drinks on a bar near the sea. Weather: Showers and later heavy rainfall in Galle. 25 C rising to 33 C in Galle.

After a quick swim either in the pool or the ocean we had breakfast at 8 o´clock. A buffet of different local things – but you could also choose more ”common” stuff like egg and bacon etc. Everything just fine except for the coffee – choose tea instead.

At 9.30 we left for Galle, an interesting town on the southwestern corner of the island built in the 17th century by the dutch and portuguise.

The old fort built mainly by the dutch is what makes Galle an attraction. UNESCO has placed it on the list of “World Heritage Sites”, and it is visited by quite a On the old walls of Galle / Hans

Gull-billed Tern 25 Lesser Crested Tern 2 Greater Crested Tern 10 Little Tern 45 Whiskered Tern 30 White-throated Kingfisher 8 Brown Shrike 1 Black-hooded Oriole 2 Sri Lanka Swallow 3 White-bellied Drongo 5

Bird-watching in Galle / Anders R

Birdlist 26th Feb

Mirissa Striated Heron 1 Great Egret 1 Little Egret 1 Whimbrel 1 Gull-billed Tern 5 Greater Crested Tern 11 Little Tern 50+ Whiskered Tern 325 White-throated Kingfisher 3 Buying and selling –Tuna and Marlin / Hans White-bellied Drongo 2 February 27th – Vagn

Mirissa morning Transport to Colombo Airport

Weather: Sunny, 25-30 C.

A lazy morning where we slept until 07.30 and had breakfast at 8.00. The weather forecast said cloudy but still warm weather. After breakfast we went into "getting ready for travelling home - mood". Getting all the clothes and gear organized and packed. We had one last swim in the Indian Ocean and a last one in the swimming pool. Some visited the harbour where lots of big fish were brought in – tunas, Swordfish and others. So everybody was Gull-billed Tern / Anders R engaged in the following auction.

Galle We had a sandwich and a coke right on the beach Striated Heron 2 and at 12 o'clock we were all set to go. Driving north to Colombo and in Colombo we picked up Brahminy Kite 3 Chandima. He brought gifts for us. We all got a cup Shikra 3 with different pictures of birds on them and a Lesser Sand Plover 6 Common Sandpiper 6 Ruddy Turnstone 2

remember the great nature, the animals and all the lovely birds we saw, not to forget all good food and cold beers. Thank you Sri Lanka, for the birds, the blue whale, the small turtles on our beach and and and. You gave us way more that we could ever imagine.

Birdlist 27th Feb

Mirissa (spredt obs) Striated Heron 6 Brahminy Kite 2 Fishing boats in Mirissa / Christian Shikra 4 Little Tern 10 certificate that confirmed that we had found all the Whiskered Tern 50 34 endemic birds of Sri Lanka. After a warm and Greater Crested Tern 6 long goodby to Chandima and his crew, we were Asian Koel 2 ready to enter the airport at 15.30. Getting the suitcases on their way, then security White-bellied Drongo 5 and we were ready to go back home. Then came the big moment where we have to see who the En route Mirissa-Colombo winner of our everlasting competition was? Who Great Egret 1 had made the best guess about how many species Spot-billed Pelican 1 we had seen? From other reports we could see that Peregrine 1 220 - 230 was a good number of birds and the Brahminy Kite 34 highest number in the group was 245 which was put Shikra 7 in by Bodil. All in all we saw 255 so we have a Crested Serpent Eagle 5 winner - Bodil. Crested Hawk Eagle 2 Another fantastic bird trip is coming to an end. Sri White-throated Kingfisher 30 Lanka was “greater” and more beautiful than we expected. We found and saw all the 34 endemic birds and most of them we saw well, more than Colombo once and by the entire group. Some of the things I Spot-billed Pelican 3 will take with me from lovely Sri Lanka are all the Brahminy Kite 3 nice smiles and "hellos" we got.

Dolphins, Mirissa / Bodil

People in Sri Lanka are very friendly and nice and The Sri Lanka Junglefowl they are always trying to help in a nice way. I will The national bird of Sri Lanka / Anders

Bird List for Sri Lanka Cotton Pygmy Goose Galliformes etc Nettapus coromandelianus | Indisk Dværgand Just three birds, 19/2 Bundala 1 and Tissa 2. Sri Lanka Spurfowl (EN) Galloperdix bicalcarata | Sri Lanka-sporehøne Seen and heard at the classic site in Sinharaja, 22/1 1 heard and 22/2 2 seen.

Sri Lanka Junglefowl (EN) Gallus lafayettii | Sri Lanka-junglehøne The national bird of Sri Lanka. Totally about 50 birds seen: 12/2 2 Kitulgala, 19/2 10 Bundala, 20/2 20+ Yala, 22-24/2 10-15 Sinharaja-area.

Cotton Pygmy Goose, Tissa / Anton Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus | Påfugl Northern Pintail Common and more than 150 birds seen mainly in Anas acuta | Spidsand lowland areas. Highest counts 16-17/2 40 Just seen at Bundala with 120 birds 19/2. Udawalawe, 19/2 50+ Bundala, 20/2 50+ Yala.

Barred Buttonquail Garganey Turnix suscitator | Kampløbehøne Anas querquedula | Atlingand Noted as follows: 17/2 1 ad + 2 pull Udawalawe Just seen at Bundala with 27 birds 19/2. and 20/2 9 Yala. Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos | Knopgås

One bird seen at Bundala 19/2. First time this bird is seen in the country for eight years.

Storks, Ibises and Herons Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala | Indisk Skovstork More than 100 birds seen. Highest numbers 17/2 28 Udawalawe, 19/2 50+ Bundala and 20/2 15-20 Yala. Barred Buttonquail / Christian

Ducks Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans | Asiatisk Gabebæb Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica | Træand Around 150 birds seen. Highest counts 19/2 50- 100 Bundala, 20/2 15 Yala, 21/2 10+ Tissa and 10 Noted as follows: 17/2 45 Udawalawe, 18/2 30 enroute to Sinharaja. Tissa, 19/2 200+ Bundala and 20/2 10 Yala.

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus | Lille Adjudant Five birds is perhaps more than expected, 17/2 2 Udawalewe, 19/2 1 Bundala and 20/2 2 Yala.

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus | Indisk Ibis Common and more than 300 birds seen. Highest counts at Bundala and Yala.

Painted Stork / Bodil

Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus | Uldhalsstork Quite scarce with only five birds seen, 17/2 2 Udawalawe, 19/2 2 Kataragama and 20/2 1 Yala.

Black-necked Stork Black-headed Ibis / Anders R Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | Sorthalset Stork Only three birds are said to be left in the country, Glossy Ibis so two birds seen in Yala 20/2 is a high count. Plegadis falcinellus | Sort Ibis Not common and only seen at Bundala – 10 birds 19/2.

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia | Skestork A total of 32 birds seen with 17/2 20 Udawalewe, 18/2 4 and 19/2 2 Tissa, 19/2 1 Bundala and 20/2 6 Yala.

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis | Okkergul Dværghejre Totally 15 birds noted - 17/2 1 near Udawalawe, 18-19/2 10 Tissa and 19/2 4 Bundala.

Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis | Sort Dværghejre Quite common and more than 40 birds seen as follows: 12-14/2 3 Kitulgala, 16/2 4 near Lesser Adjudant in Yala / Anders R Udawalawe, 18-19/2 30 Tissa and 19/2 5 Bundala.

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus | Østlig Kohejre Very common almost everywhere. Highest counts: Kitulgala 200+, Nuwara Eliya 500+, Udawalawe 75+, Tissa 250+, Bundala 300+, Yala 200+, Sinharaja 100+.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | Fiskehejre A total of 20 birds seen. Highest numbers Nuwara Eliya 6-8, Udawalawe 4 and Yala 6.

Yellow Bittern / Vagn

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax | Nathejre 17/2 12 Udawalawe, 19/2 5 Bundala and a few round Tissa.

Striated Heron Butorides striata / Mangrovehejre Seven birds in Mirissa and two in Galle.

Purple Heron, Tissa / Hans

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | Purpurhejre More than 40 birds noted, Udawalawe 6, Tissa 15, Bundala 15, Yala 5.

Great Egret Ardea alba | Sølvhejre Around 50 birds noted, probably several more seen. Maximum 15 Udawalewe and 20 Sinharaja.

Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia | Mellemhejre Striated Heron / Anders R Common. Highest counts Udawalewe 50, Bundala Indian Pond Heron 50, Sinharaja 80.

Ardeola grayii | Rishejre Several birds (25-30) seen in the evenings at Little Egret Kitulgala and a few at Sinharaja. Egretta garzetta | Silkehejre

Common. Highest counts 15 Udawalewe and 20 Yala.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis | Revhejre One bird seen at Bundala 19/2.

Darter and Little Cormorant in Bundala / Christian

Falcons and birds of prey Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus | Tårnfalk Weatern Reef Heron, Bundala / Hans Quite scarce and six birds noted, 15/2 2 Horton´s Plain, 17/2 1 Udawalawe, 19/2 1 Bundala and 20/2 Pelican, Cormorant and Darter 2 Yala. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis | Grå Pelikan Shahin (Peregrine) Falcon Quite common and more than 80 birds seen - Falco peregrinus | Vandrefalk Udawalewe 8, Tissa 55, Bundala 5, Yala 10, Shahin Falcon (peregrinator) the local breeding Colombo 4. race/species, which is very reddish in plumage was seen on these occasions – 12/2 2 Kitulgala, 23/2 2 Sinharaja and 27/2 1 en route Mirissa-Colombo. Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger | Javaskarv Quite common and 60 birds noted. Nuwara Eliya Western Osprey 25 and Bundala 15 plus others. Pandion haliaetus | Fiskeørn One bird seen east of Udawalawe 16/2. Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis | Indisk Skarv Black-winged Kite Very Common – 500-1000 Udawalewe and 450 Elanus caeruleus | Blå Glente Tissa. 12 birds seen as follows – 14/2 1 from the train towards Nanu Oya, 15/2 1 Horton´s Plain, 17/2 8 Udawalawe and 18/2 2 Tissa. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | Skarv Just this one bird, 17/2 lake near Udawalewe. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus | Brahminglente

Common and around 150 birds seen. Highest Oriental Darter counts Udawalewe 30+, Tissa 30+, Bundala 20+, Anhinga melanogaster | Indisk Slangehalsfugl Yala 12 and 34 en route Mirissa-Colombo. Common, 27 Udawalewe, 50 Tissa, 100 Bundala and 50+ Yala. 47

White-bellied Sea Eagle Scattered sightings of 22-24 birds, half of which Haliaeetus leucogaster | Hvidbrystet Havørn were from the Kitulgala area. Others from Horton´s Plain, Udawalewe and Sinharaja. Quite common and 23 birds seen – apart from two birds around Nuwara Eliya all other sightings was from the lowland. Most birds around Udawalewe Himalayan Buzzard (13), followed by Bundala (4), Tissa and Yala (2) Buteo burmanicus | and single birds at Sinharaja and Mirissa. One bird seen at Kitulgala 12/2.

Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela | Toppet Slangeørn Quite common and a total of 65-70 birds noted. Highest numbers 14-16 Kitulgala, 6-8 Udawalawe, 10 Sinharaja plus several en route.

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis | Indisk Sortørn Surprisingly numerous and a total of 25 birds noted. Theese are Kitulgala 8, Nuwara Eliya 1, Sinharaja 7 and the rest en route mainly close to Sinharaja and Ella and other highland areas.

Booted Eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle / Anders R Hieraaetus pennatus | Dværgørn Two birds – Udawalewe and Tissa Ponds. Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus | Flodørn Eight birds seen with two at Udawalewe, Tissa and Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle en route to Sinharaja plus single birds at Bundala Lophotriorchis kienerii | Rødbuget Høgeørn and Yala. One adult bird in display at Rock View Motel east of Sinharaja. Shikra Accipiter badius | Shikra Common in most areas and almost 70 birds noted. Most birds seen en route with 7-8 birds several days plus 6-8 in Yala.

Besra Accipiter virgatus | Besra Scarce. Single birds in Yala and Bundala.

Oriental/ Crested Honey Buzzard Crested Hawk-eagle, Yala / Christian Pernis ptilorhynchus | Østlig Hvepsevåge

Crested/ Changeable Hawk-Eagle Common with high counts in different areas, 110 Nisaetus cirrhatus | Lysbuget Høgeørn Tissa, 150 Bundala and many birds in Yala. 12 birds seen, Bundala 3, Yala 3-4, 3 Sinharaja plus one en route to Mirissa. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus | Grønbenet Rørhøne 10 at Bundala and 6 at Yala.

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra | Blishøne At Bundala seven birds.

Jacanas Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus | Fasanbladhøne Very common, for instance Tissa Ponds 60, Bundala 500+ and Yala 100+.

Crested Hawk-eagle / Anders R

Legge's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus kelaarti | xxx This species is now separated from Mountain Hawk-eagle. At Kitulgala we saw a nest with a young bird plus two adults and at Sinharaja three birds soaring together on raised wings!

Crakes and rails Jacana / Bodil White-breasted Waterhen Waders Amaurornis phoenicurus | Hvidbrystet Rørhøne Indian Thick-knee/ Stone-curlew Around 70 birds seen. Highest counts 25 Tissa and Burhinus indicus | 15 Yala. 10+ birds seen in Bundala.

Watercock Great Thick-knee/ Stone-curlew Gallicrex cinerea | Skjoldhøne Esacus recurvirostris | Stor Triel Eights bird seen with 7 at Tissa Ponds and 1 26 birds seen – Tissa Ponds 3, Bundala 8 and Yala Bundala. 15.

Purple/ Grey-headed Swamphen Black-winged Stilt Porphyrio poliocephalus | Indisk Sultanhøne Himantopus himantopus | Stylteløber

Common, especially at Bundala with more than Little Ringed Plover 200 birds. At Bundala a bird was seen with Charadrius dubius | Lille Præstekrave characteristics like the Australian Stilt. Seen at Udawalewe (2), Bundala (4) and Yala (4).

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | Hvidbrystet Præstekrave Seen at Udawalewe (1), Bundala (20) and Yala (3).

Odd-loking Stilt, Bundala / Bodil

Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus | Indisk Lapvibe Seen at Udawalewe 2, Bundala 20 and Yala 30 ex.

Lesser Sand Plover / Anders R

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus | Mongolsk Præstekrave Noted as follows – Udawalewe 1, Bundala 30, Yala 35 and Galle 6.

Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Udawalawe / Hans Greater Sand Plover Red-wattled Lapwing Charadrius leschenaultii | Ørkenpræstekrave Vanellus indicus | Indisk Vibe Only one bird noted at Bundala. There could be Quite common. Most birds seen at Bundala and more among distant Sandplovers. Yala.

Pin-tailed Snipe Pacific Golden Plover Gallinago stenura | Sibirisk Bekkasin Pluvialis fulva | Sibirisk Hjejle Seen as follows – Tissa 8, Bundala 9 and Yala 8. Seen at Bundala (20) and Yala (15).

Black-tailed Godwit Grey Plover Limosa limosa | Stor Kobbersneppe Pluvialis squatarola | Strandhjejle Seen as follows – Tissa 1, Bundala 100 and Yala 40. Five birds noted at Bundala.

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia | Hvidklire Nine birds seen at Udawalewe.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus | Svaleklire 12 scattered birds seen.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola | Tinksmed Around 100 birds seen. Highest numbers 25 Udawalewe, Tissa 10-15, Bundala 40 and Yala 20.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos | Mudderklire Black-tailed Godwit, Bundala / Bodil 25 birds scattered. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus | Sortklire Ruddy Turnstone Three birds at Bundala. Arenaria interpres | Stenvender Noted as follows, Bundala 20+, Yala 2 and Galle 3. Common Redshank Tringa totanus | Rødben Little Stint Seen as follows – Tissa 2-4, Bundala 50 and Yala Calidris minuta | Dværgryle 10. Seen at Udawalewe 1, Bundala 200+ and Yala 20.

Marsh Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Tringa stagnatilis | Damklire Calidris ruficollis | Rødhalset Ryle Seen as follows – Udawalewe 5, Tissa 2, Bundala An unexpected find, one bird in summer-plumage 50+ and Yala 15. at Bundala 19/2.

Red- necked Stint Bundala / Christian

Temminck's Stint Marsh Sandpiber / Christian Calidris temminckii | Temmincksryle

At least one bird at Bundala.

Curlew Sandpiper Greater Crested Tern Calidris ferruginea | Krumnæbbet Ryle Thalasseus bergii | Bergiusterne Seen at Bundala 75 and Yala 5. Common with around 100 birds noted, Bundala 12, Yala 15, Around Mirissa 80 and Galle 10.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax | Brushane Nine birds seen at Bundala.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus | Odinshane One bird at Bundala.

Small Pratincole Glareola lactea | Lille Braksvale Three birds seen at both Bundala and Yala.

Greater Crested Tern / Anders R

Little Tern Sternula albifrons | Dværgterne Common and many sightings daily at the coast. Highest counts Tissa 25+, Bundala 50+, Yala 75+, Mirissa 150+.

Small Pratincole, Bundala / Hans Whiskered Tern Terns Chlidonias hybrida | Hvidskægget Terne Caspian Tern Very common and sightings from mountain areas Hydroprogne caspia | Rovterne to the coast. From the highland one bird at Nuwara Eliya should be mentioned. Apart from Around 100 birds seen with one near Udawalewe, this the highest count are Udawalawe 350, Tissa Tissa 9, Bundala 90 and Yala 4. Ponds 100, Bundala 500, Yala 100, Mirissa 500 and Galle 30. All are minimum. Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis | Bengalsk terne White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus | Hvidvinget Terne Two birds seen in Galle. The following - Tissa 1, Bundala 15-10 and Yala 1.

Sandwich Tern Bridled Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis | Splitterne Onychoprion anaethetus | Brilleterne Seen at Bundala 10-15 at one bird at Yala. 52

40 seen on the whalewatch trip from Mirissa. Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica | Grønvingedue

In the field guide mentioned as uncommon. Sooty Tern However we saw between 50 and 60 birds – Onychoprion fuscatus | Sodfarvet terne Kitulgala 20, Nuwara Eliya-area 2, Udawalawe 1, Four birds on the whalewatch trip at Mirissa. Tissa 5 and around Sinharaja 25.

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinctus | Orangebrystet Papegøjedue Quite common, especially in Udawalawe and Yala with up to 200 birds in both areas. Apart from this seen in Tissa and Bundala.

Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (EN) Treron pompadora | Indisk Papegøjedue Almost 50 birds seen as follows – Kitulgala 11-13 and Sinharaja 30+.

Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea | Kejserdue White-winged Tern / Anders Quite common in most areas. Doves and pigeons Parrots Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (EN) Columba torringtoniae | Sri Lanka-due Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala | Blommehovedet Seen at Horton´s Plain with 11 birds and one more Ædelparakit near Nuwara Eliya. Eight birds seen near Sinharaja.

Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis | Østlig Turteldue In Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya seven birds and another five birds at Sinharaja.

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto | Tyrkerdue Uncommon in the southern part of Sri Lanka. Two birds seen at Bundala.

Layard´s Parakeet, Kitulgala / Christian Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis | Perlehalsdue Layard's Parakeet (EN) Psittacula calthrapae | Blåhalet Ædelparakit Very common in most areas. Seen at Kitugala with 15 birds, Surrey 4 and

Sinharaja 15.

Alexandrine Parakeet Asian Koel Psittacula eupatria | Stor Alexanderparakit Eudynamys scolopaceus | Koel Seen at Kitulagala with 35 birds and 12 at Quite common and 26 birds registrated. Highest Sinharaja. count 11 birds in Sinharaja area.

Rose-ringed Parakeet Blue-faced Malkoha Psittacula krameri | Alexanderparakit Phaenicophaeus viridirostris | Brillemalkoha Very common with high counts at Udawalewe with Totally seven birds with one at Udawalawe and 700 birds coming out from night roost and at Tissa Yala and five at Bundala. with 430 birds flying to a night roost.

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (EN) Loriculus beryllinus | Sri Lanka-flagermuspapegøje Locally common with 15 birds in Kitulgala and a minimum of 75 birds around Sinharaja.

Cuckoos Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus | Jacobinergøg Three birds seen in Yala.

Common Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius | Høgegøg

Two birds near Nuwara Eliya and in Sinharaja and single birds at Udawalawe and Bundala. Sirkeer Malkoha in Yala / Bodil

Sirkeer Malkoha Indian Cuckoo Taccocua leschenaultii | Sirkirmalkoha Cuculus micropterus | Kortvinget Gøg Two birds seen in Yala. One bird seen in Kitulgala. Greater Coucal Banded Bay Cuckoo Centropus sinensis | Brunrygget Sporegøg Cacomantis sonneratii | Maskegøg Quite common and between 30 and 40 birds seen. One bird seen in Kitulgala. Highest count 15-20 birds Kitulgala.

Grey-bellied Cuckoo Green-billed Coucal (EN) Cacomantis passerinus | Drosselgøg Centropus chlororhynchos | Sri Lanka-sporegøg Five birds seen, four in Udawalawe and one on the Noted in Kitulgala and Sinharaja. More often heard way to Tissa. than seen. One bird seen in Kitulgala and three in the latter. 54

Red-faced Malkoha (EN) Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus | Rødmasket Malkoha The last of the endemics to be found. At least three birds seen on the last day in Sinharaja.

Frogmouth and Nightjars Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger | Grårygget Bladfrømund Serendip Scops Owl, Kitulgala / Christian Four birds seen in Sinharaja – two pairs. Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia | Halsbåndsdværghornugle Jerdon's Nightjar One bird seen in a local garden in Tissa. Caprimulgus atripennis | Ghatnatravn

One bird seen in Bundala. Chestnut-backed Owlet (EN) Glaucidium castanotum | Sulawesispurveugle Five birds – four near Kitulgala and one in Sinharaja.

Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis | Brun Fiskeugle One bird found by some young boys in Tissa area.

Indian Nightjar near Tissa / Vagn

Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus | Indisk Natravn One bird seen near Tissa and one in Sinharaja.

Owls Serendib Scops Owl (EN) Oriental Scops Owl, Tissa / Christian Otus thilohoffmanni | Sri Lanka-dværghornugle This late discovered owl (2001) was seen in Swifts Kitulgala – after that another guide has found the Indian Swiftlet bird, our guide had some difficulties in relocating Aerodramus unicolor | Indisk Salangan it, but luckily Anton at last spotted it in a tree. Common and on several days more than 100 birds seen.

Brown-backed Needletail Bee-eaters Hirundapus giganteus | Kæmpetornhalesejler Asian Green Bee-eater Quite common and 120-150 birds seen. Highest Merops orientalis | Lille Grøn Biæder counts were Kitulgala 33 and 90 in Sinharaja area. Noted in Udawalewe-area with 30 birds, Bundala 50+ birds and common in the Tissa/Yala area. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis | Asiatisk Palmesejler Five birds in both Kitulgala and Udawalewe. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus | Blåhalet Biæder

Common in lowland areas and several hundred Alpine Swift birds seen. Tachymarptis melba | Alpesejler Seen as follows – Kitulgala 2, Horton´s Plain 5-10 and Udawalawe 1.

House/ Little Swift Apus affinis | Lille Sejler Quite common and more than 200 birds seen.

Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata | Gråtoppet Træsejler

Quite common and around 200 birds noted, of Blue-tailed Bee-eater / Bodil these 150 in Yala/Tissa area. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti | Rustbiæder Rollers Totally 11 birds seen – Kitulgala 2, Udawalawe 1, Indian Roller Bundala 3 and Sinharaja 5. Coracias benghalensis | Blåkronet Ellekrage

Just seen around Udawalawe with 7-8 birds and 2 in Yala. Kingfishers Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis | Blåvinget Storkenæbsisfugl 14 birds seen – Kitulgala 6 and Tissa area 8.

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis | Smyrnaisfugl Common in most areas and around 150 birds seen.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | Isfugl 10 birds seen – Kitulgala 1, Udawalewe 2, Tissa 2, Asian Green Bee-eater, Bundala / Christian Bundala 3 and Yala 2.

Barbets Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus | Brunhovedet Skægfugl Quite common and seen in most areas.

Yellow-fronted Barbet (EN) Psilopogon flavifrons | Gulpandet Skægfugl Common around Kitulgala and especially Sinharaja, both areas more than 30 birds.

Crimson-fronted Barbet (EN) Psilopogon rubricapillus | Rødmasket Skægfugl We had to work a bit for this one. Three birds seen in Sinharaja on the last day there.

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus | Kobbersmed Seen with 20 birds at Udawalawe and 2 at Tissa.

Common Kingfisher, Tissa / Christian

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis | Gråfisker 12 birds seen - Kitulgala 2, Tissa 3, Bundala 3 and Yala 2.

Trogons Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus | Malabartrogon Kitulgala 1 and Sinharaja 1. Brown-headed Barbet / Christian

Hornbills Hoopoes Malabar Pied Hornbill Hoopoe Anthracoceros coronatus | Rajahnæsehornsfugl Common/ Eurasian Hoopoe 20 birds seen in the Udawalawe area and 15 in Upupa epops | Hærfugl Yala. Bundala 2 and Yala 7. Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (EN) Ocyceros gingalensis | Sri Lanka-gråtoko

A total of 13 birds seen, Kitulgala 7, Surrey 3, Kataragama 1 and Sinharaja 2.

Woodpeckers

Lesser Yellownape, Sinharaja / Hans

Passerines Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura | Indisk Pitta Eight birds noted of which several seen – Kitulgala 3, Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya 1, Sinharaja/Rock View Motel 5.

Sri Lanka Woodshrike (EN) Tephrodornis affinis | xxx

White-naped Woodpecker, Tissa / Bodil About 20 birds seen, Udawalawe 2, Tissa 7, Bundala 2, Yala 5-8.

Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus | Gulnakket Grønspætte Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei | Stor Gråfugl Seen at Kitulgala and Sinharaja – five birds in each area. Horton´s Plain 1 and Udawalawe 1.

Red-backed / Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback (EN) Dinopium psarodes | Kitulgala 6 and Tissa 1.

Greater Sri Lanka Flameback / Crimson-backed Goldenback (EN) Chrysocolaptes stricklandi | Sri Lanka-sultanspætte A total of six birds seen, Kitulgala 1, Nuwara Eliya 2 and Sinharaja 3.

Scarlet Minivet / Anders R White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus | Hvidnakket Sultanspætte Black-headed Cuckooshrike Two birds in the Tissa-area. Coracina melanoptera | Sorthovedet Gråfugl

Kitulgala 2 and Sinharaja 6. Marshall's Iora Aegithina nigrolutea | Sortkappet Iora

Three birds seen of this difficult species at Small Minivet Udawalewe. Pericrocotus cinnamomeus | Lille Minivet

Common and a total of 56 fugle seen as follows, Kitulgala 17, Udawalewe 2, Tissa 3, Yala 3, Jerdon's Leafbird Sinharaja and Rock View Motel 31. Chloropsis jerdoni | Tamilbladfugl One bird seen at Tissa Ponds. Scarlet/ Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus | Skarlagenminivet Golden-fronted Leafbird Common and around 50 birds seen, Kitulgala 24, Chloropsis aurifrons | Gulpandet bladfugl Horton´s Plain 3, Surrey 5-8, Sinharaja and Rock 17 birds seen, Kitulgala 4 and Sinharaja and Rock View Motel 18. View Motel 13.

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Black-hooded Oriole Hemipus picatus | Broget Dværgtriller Oriolus xanthornus | Orientalsk Hættepirol 27 birds seen, Kitulgala 8, Horton´s Plain 6, Victoria Four birds seen at Kitulgala. Park, Nuwara Eliya 1, Surrey 2, Sinharaja and Rock View Motel 7. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (EN) Urocissa ornata | Sri Lanka-kitta Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus | Brun Tornskade 12 birds seen in Sinharaja, mainly at the entrance. Common and around 60 birds seen.

Common Iora / Anders R

Common Iora Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sinharaja / Bodil Aegithina tiphia | Iora Common and more than 40 birds seen, highest House Crow counts Kitulgala 7-9, Udawalawe 12, Bundala 5 and Corvus splendens | Huskrage Yala 5-10. Generally common.

Large-billed Crow/ Indian Jungle Crow Ashy Woodswallow Corvus macrorhynchos/ culminatus Artamus fuscus | Brun Svalestær Common, most numerous at Horton´s Plain and Seen in the Tissa area with a total of 8 birds. Tissa area.

Ashy Drongo Sand Martin Dicrurus leucophaeus | Askedrongo Riparia riparia | Digesvale One bird seen in Yala. Horton´s Plain 3 and Bundala 20.

White-bellied Drongo Barn Swallow Dicrurus caerulescens | Hvidbuget Drongo Hirundo rustica | Landsvale Common, especially in Kitulgala and Sinharaja. Very common, especially at Udawalewe and

Bundala. Sri Lanka Drongo (EN)

Dicrurus lophorinus | xxx Hill Swallow Six birds seen in Kitulgala and five in Sinharaja. Hirundo domicola | Sydindisk Svale

Seen at higher elevations, Nuwara Eliya area 10-15 and more than 50 birds at Horton´s Plain. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus | Skovvipstjert

Locally common in highlands – 10 birds seen in Red-rumped Swallow Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya on one day and 5 birds Cecropis daurica | Rødrygget Svale the day after. Apart from these just one bird in Two birds seen at Udawalawe. Surrey.

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava | Gul Vipstjert Different subspecies – 20 Udawalewe, 2 Tissa, 50 Bundala and 10 Yala.

Sri Lanka Swallow, Sinharaja / Hans

Sri Lanka Swallow (EN) Cecropis hyperythra | Sri Lanka-svale Common and 70-80 birds noted. Highest counts Kitulgala 24 and Sinharaja more than 30 birds. Citrine Wagtail / Anders R

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola | Citronvipstjert Three birds in Udawalawe area and another two in Bundala.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea | Bjergvipstjert Quite common and scattered sightings of more than 60 birds. Highest counts were in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya with a total of 45 birds in two days. Jerdon´s Bushlark, Udawalewe / Christian

Paddyfield Pipit Oriental Skylark Anthus rufulus | Asiatisk Storpiber Alauda gulgula | Lille Sanglærke Quite common with more than 30 birds at Two birds seen at Horton´s Plain and four in Horton´s Plain, common at Udawalawe and up to Bundala. 10 in Yala.

Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii | Mongolsk Piber The only other pipit – one seen at Horton´s Plain.

Black-capped Bulbul, Kitulgala / Christian

Black-capped Bulbul (EN) Pycnonotus melanicterus | Sri Lanka-bulbul Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Udawalawe / Christian Seen at Kitulgala (26 birds) and Sinharaja (15 Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark birds). Eremopterix griseus | Gråisset Lærke Very common in Udawalawe with 460 birds noted Red-vented Bulbul there plus another 10 in Bundala. Pycnonotus cafer | Rødgumpet Bulbul Very common in most areas. Jerdon's Bush Lark Mirafra affinis | Tamilbusklærke Yellow-eared Bulbul (EN) Seen in Udawalawe where it is common plus 2 in Pycnonotus penicillatus | Pragtbulbul Bundala and 10-20 in Yala. A highland bird with 3 birds in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya and 10 at Horton´s Plain.

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata | Orientprinia Scattered sightings in Udawalawe, Bundala and Yala.

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius | Indisk skrædderfugl Quite common at higher elevations – Kitulgala 15 and common at Horton´s Plain and Victoria Park.

Zitting Cisticola Yellow-eared Bulbul, Horton´s Plain / Hans Cisticola juncidis | Cistussanger White-browed Bulbul Common both around Horton´s Plain and around Pycnonotus luteolus | Indisk Bulbul Tissa. Around 25 birds seen – Surrey 3, Udawalewe 2, Bundala 2, Yala 8-10 and Sinharaja 9. Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (EN) Elaphrornis palliseri | Sri Lanka-kratsmutte Yellow-browed Bulbul Seen at Horton´s Plain with 6-8 birds. Acritillas indica | Gulgrøn Bulbul Seen at Kitulgala (15 birds) and Sinharaja (5 birds). Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus | Papyrussanger Black-tailed Bulbul/ Square-tailed Bulbul Two birds at Tissa and 5-10 at Bundala. Hypsipetes leucocephalus/ ganeesa | Indisk Sortbulbul Common at Kitulgala and even more common in Sinharaja.

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii | Gråbrystet Prinia Just 4 birds seen at Udawalawe.

Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica | Jungleprinia Two birds – Udawalawe and Tissa. Blyth Reed Warbler / Anders R Ashy Prinia Blyth's Reed Warbler Prinia socialis | Askeprinia Acrocephalus dumetorum | Buskrørsanger Seen at Kitulgala 3 birds, Nuwara Eliya 5 birds and Quite common and more than 50 birds seen with 6 birds at Udawalawe. the highest counts in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya.

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea | Azurmonark Four birds seen in Sinharaja.

Asian/ Indian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi | Asiatisk Paradismonark Quite common and around 30 birds seen, Kitulgala 7, Udawalawe 3, Bundala 1, Tissa 1, Kataragama 4, Yala 4 and Sinharaja 9.

White-browed Fantail, Bundala / Christian

Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama | Steppegulbug Two birds seen at Horton´s Plain.

Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus | Kaukasisk Lundsanger The phylloscopus were as usual not exactly easy to identify, but this species was found in Kitulgala and Sinharaja.

Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris | Langnæbbet Løvsanger One bird seen in Sinharaja.

White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola | Hvidbrynet Viftehale Seen near Nuwara Eliya 1, Udawalawe 3 and Yala 12-14.

Paradise Flycatcher, Sinharaja / Bodil

Brown-capped Babbler (EN) Pellorneum fuscocapillus | Sri Lanka-drosseltimalie Five birds seen at Kitulgala and two in Sinharaja. Black-naped Monarch, Sinharaja / Bodil

Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (EN) Lesser/ Southern Hill Myna Pomatorhinus melanurus | Sri Lanka-segltimalie Gracula indica | Lille Beo Three birds seen at Horton´s Plain and two at Eight birds seen, all in Kitulgala. Surrey.

Common Myna Dark-fronted Babbler Acridotheres tristis | Maina Rhopocichla atriceps | Sorthovedet Timalie Common. 20 birds seen – Kitulgala 8, Horton´s Plain 1,

Nuwara Eliya 6 and Sinharaja 5. Brahminy Starling

Sturnia pagodarum | Pagodestær Yellow-eyed Babbler One bird seen in Yala. Chrysomma sinense | Ildøjetimalie

Udawalawe 6-8 birds. White-faced Starling (EN)

Sturnornis albofrontatus | Hvidhovedet Stær Orange-billed Babbler (EN) Only seen in Sinharaja – 15 birds. Turdoides rufescens | Sri Lanka-larmdrossel

Locally common - Kitulgala 15, Horton´s Plain 5 and more than 50 in Sinharaja. Rosy Starling Pastor roseus | Rosenstær

Surprisingly common. In Udawalewe more than Yellow-billed Babbler 650 birds, Bundala more than 150 and Yala more Turdoides affinis | Lyshovedet Larmdrossel than 50! Very common in most areas.

Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (EN) Ashy-headed Laughingthrush (EN) Myophonus blighi | Sri Lanka-fløjtedrossel Garrulax cinereifrons | Sri Lanka-skadedrossel Five birds seen at the classic site before the Only seen in Sinharaja with a total of 35 birds. entrance to Horton´s Plain National Park.

Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Sinharaja / Bodil Pied Thrush, Victoria Park / Christian

Sri Lanka Hill Myna (EN) Pied Thrush Gracula ptilogenys | Sri Lanka-beo Geokichla wardii | Broget Drossel Only seen in Sinharaja with a total of 35 birds.

Two visits to Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya gave us Indian Robin 11 birds – 6 males and 5 females. Copsychus fulicatus | Hvidvinget Sortstjert Rather common, especially in Udawalawe and Yala. Spot-winged Thrush (EN) Geokichla spiloptera | Sri Lanka-drossel Seen in Kitugala 3-4 birds and Sinharaja 5 birds.

Sri Lanka Thrush (EN) Zoothera imbricata | Sri Lanka-gulddrossel Three birds found by a very skilled local guide in Sinharaja.

Pied Bush Chat, Horton´s Plain / Christian

Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata | Sort Bynkefugl Four birds seen in Nuwara Elyia and common at Horton´s Plain.

Asian Brown Flycatcher Sri LankaThrush, Sinharaja / Christian Muscicapa dauurica | Brun Fluesnapper

Indian Blackbird Nine birds in all – Kitulgala 6 and Yala 3. Turdus simillimus | Sydindisk Solsort Five birds seen at Horton´s Plain. Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui | Brunbrystet Fluesnapper Indian Blue Robin Quite widespred. 20 birds seen, half of which in Larvivora brunnea | Himalayanattergal Sinharaja. Two birds in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya and one in Sinharaja.

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis | Dayal One bird in Kitulagala and 10 in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya.

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus | Hvidgumpet Shama Two birds seen in Yala. Tickell´s Blue Flycatcher, Kitulgala / Christian

Leptocoma zeylonica | Indisk Solfugl Dull-blue Flycatcher (EN) Common and widespread. Eumyias sordidus | Sri Lanka-irfluesnapper

Seven birds seen, Horton´s Plain 4 and Surrey 3. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus | Purpursolfugl Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Common and widespread. Cyornis tichelliae | Hvidflanket Niltava

11 birds seen, Kitulgala 11 and Surrey 3. Loten's Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius | Langnæbbet Purpursolfugl Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Five birds seen – Kitulgala 2, Horton´s Plain 1, Culicicapa ceylonensis | Gråhovedet Fluesnapper Victoria Park 1 and Tissa 1. Not uncommon in the highlands, Horton´s Plain 14-16, Nuwara Eliya 3 and Surrey 3.

Oriental White-eye, Kitulgala / Christian

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Horton / Christian Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus | Brillefugl Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile | Tyknæbbet Blomsterpikker Common in mid and lower elevations. Two birds – Udawalawe and Yala. Sri Lanka White-eye (EN) Zosterops ceylonensis | Sri Lanka-brillefugl Legge's Flowerpecker (EN) Dicaeum vincens | Sri Lanka-blomsterpikker Rather common at higher elevations – Horton´s Plain 50, Victoria Park 2 and Nuwara Eliya 3. Seen at Kitulgala with 8-10 birds and in Sinharaja with a total of 15 birds.

Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos | Blegnæbbet Blomsterpikker Quite common and noted as follows – Kitulgala 7, Horton´s Plain 20, Victoris Park 1, Surrey 10, Udawalawe 8 and Sinharaja 10.

Purple-rumped Sunbird Sri Lanka White-eye, Victoria Park / Christian

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Quite common around Tissa (35 birds) and also Sitta frontalis | Fløjlspandet Spætmejse seen at Bundala with 10-15 birds. Seen at higher elevations – Victoria Park 4, Horton´s Plain 8-10 and Surrey 1. House Sparrow Passer domesticus | Gråspurv

Not common – three birds seen in Yala.

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata | Spidshalet Bronzefinke Seen at Kitulgala (27 birds) and Sinharaja (22 birds).

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Horton´s Plain / Christian

Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus | Grå Musvit Now a separate species from Great tit. Seen at Horton´s Plain 10-15 birds and another three birds in Victoria Park and Nuwara Eliya.

Scaly-breasted Munia / Bodil

Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata | Muskatfinke Common with scattered sightings – especialy around Tissa with more than 200 birds.

Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti | Jerdons Bronzefinke Weaver nests / Anton Two birds at Horton´s Plain and 5 at Sinharaja.

Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar | Stribet Væver Black-headed/ Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca | Trefarvet Nonne Quite common around Tissa (45 birds) and also seen at Bundala with 3 birds. Very common in Udawalawe and around Tissa. Around 200 birds in both areas.

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus | Bayavæver

Mammalia – Mammals Tufted Grey Langur - Semnopithecus priam Common and widespread

Asian Elephant, Yala / Hans Tufted Grey Langur, Bundala / Christian

Asian (Sri Lankan) Elephant - Elephas maximus Purple-faced Langur - Trachypithecus vetulus subsp. Maximus- Just a few elephants seen at Yala The least common Sri Lankan monkey. NP, but this Sri Lankan icon was fortunately more 3 of 4 subspecies seen: numerous at Uda Walawe NP. Bear Monkey - Trachypithecus vetulus monticola Toque Macaque - Macaca sinica Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya (Bomburuella) Common and widespread. 3 of 3 subspecies seen: Dusky Toque Macaque - Macaca sinica aurifrons Purple-faced Langur - Trachypithecus vetulus Uda Walawe vetulus Sinharaja Highland Toque Macaque - Macaca sinica opisthomelas North Lowland Wetzone Purple-faced Langur - Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains Trachypithecus vetulus nestor Kitulgala Dry Zone Toque Macaque - Macaca sinica sinica Galle, Yala etc. Indian Hare - Lepus nigricollis Common at Yala NP and Uda Walawe

Toque Macaque / Anders Leopard in Yala / Christian

Leopard - Panthera pardus ssp. kotiya Common Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus One “Sri Lankan Leopard” seen sleeping in a tree at 3 individuals offshore south of Mirissa Yala NP

Ruddy Mongoose - Herpestes smithii Several seen at Yala NP and Uda Walawe

Stripe-necked Mongoose - Herpestes vitticollis Nice observation of 2 individuals at Horton Plains NP.

Blue Whale, Mirissa / Christian Stripe-necked Mongoose, Horton´s Plain / Vagn Blue Whale - Balaenoptera musculus ssp. Indian Brown Mongoose - Herpestes fuscus brevicauda 1 individual crossed the road near Uda Walawe One adult GIANT of this “pygmy” subspecies seen dive more than ten times offshore south of Mirissa. Golden Jackal - Canis aureus 2 individuals at Yala NP Chital - Axis axis Seen at Yala NP and Uda Walawe.

Sambar - Rusa unicolor Common and “tame” at Horton Plains NP.

Asian Buffalo - Bubalus arnee Seen at Yala NP and Uda Walawe. Somtimes in mixed flocks with domestic buffaloes.

Domestic Water Buffalo - Bubalus bubalis Yala NP and Uda Walawe.

Layard's Palm Squirrel - Funambulus layardi Golden Jackal, Yala / Vagn Two individuals, Nuwara Eliya (Bomburuella).

Wild Boar - Sus scrofa Grizzled Giant Squirrel - Ratufa macroura ssp. Scattered sightings at Yala NP melanochra

Two individuals, Kitulgala. (Gray´s) Spinner Dolphin - Stenella longirostris ssp. longirostris Common Palm Squirrel - Funambulus palmarum Excellent views of a pod of 2-300 dolphins on our Common and widespread. boat trip out of Mirissa.

Indian Flying Fox, Tissa / Vagn Ceylon Pit Viper, Sinharaja / Anton

Indian Flying Fox - Pteropus giganteus 1000+ Deberawewa Lake, W of Tissamaharama.

Bat sp. Quite a lot of different, unnamed Bats Were seen as well.

Reptilia - Reptiles:

Green Vine Snake, Sinharaja / Hans

Com. Rough-sided Snake -Aspidura trachyprocta Small endemic snake seen at Horton´s Plain.

Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish): Croc and ducks, Bundala / Vagn Blacktip reef shark - Carcharhinus melanopterus Saltwater Crocodile 2 adults foraging in tidal pools, Galle Fort Common in Yala and Bundala. Some very big animals. Osteichthyes (bony fish): Istiophoridae (billfish) sp. Olive Ridley Turtle - Lepidochelys olivacea Three unidentified Marlins seen jumping offshore, Two coastal, Galle Fort. One adult offshore, Mirissa. Mirissa. 30-50 young hatching from a nest at the hotel beach, Mirissa. Exocoetidae (flying fish) sp. Several unidentified members of this family seen Green Vine Snake - Ahaetulla nasuta “flying” offshore, Mirissa. 2-3 individuals, Sinharaja.

Ceylon Pit Viper - Trimeresurus trigonocephalus 1 individual, Sinharaja.