Trip Report Sri Lanka 2003

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
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Colombo and surroundings


Location: best spot around Colombo is called Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary, a marshy area on the outskirts of the city.

Costs: -

Date(s): 24-02-2003 (2 birding hours)

Notes: The birdlist below is the combination of the drive to Bellanwila and the marsh itself. The marsh can be hard to find and appears to be poorly protected and consequently probably under change. This area is not a must (I've seen all the birds that I found here also at other spots). But it is a good starter or when you have spare time before departure.

Highlights: Black Bittern (2), Pheasant-tailed Jacana (3), Black-rumped (red-backed) Flameback (1), White-bellied Drongo (1).

Pics:

Impression of Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary.
White-throated Kingfisher is common all over the island, not only in marshes but even in roadside verges and towns. White-throated Kinfisher
Purple Heron A Purple Heron showing it's long neck.
Purple Swamphen is omnipresent in these habatats. Purple Swamphen
Yellow Bittern A juvenile Yellow Bittern showing well but rather clumsy in the reeds just besides the road.

Bird List:

Column 1: S= endemic species; R=endemic race/subspecies
Column 2: N=Near-threatened; V=Vulnerable

    Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Indian Cormorant
V
    Phalacrocorax niger Little Cormorant
V
    Ardea purpurea Purple Heron
V
    Ardeola grayii Indian Pond-Heron
XX
    Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret
XX
    Dupetor flavicollis Black Bittern
2
    Egretta alba Great Egret
3
    Egretta garzetta Little Egret
V
    Ixobrychus sinensis Yellow Bittern
2
    Mesophoyx intermedia Intermediate Egret
2
  N Mycteria leucocephala Painted Stork
1
    Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite
1
    Amaurornis phoenicurus White-breasted Waterhen
2
    Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen
V
    Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus Purple Swamphen
V
    Hydrophasianus chirurgus Pheasant-tailed Jacana
3
    Burhinus oedicnemus Eurasian Thick-knee
5
    Vanellus indicus Red-wattled Lapwing
2
    Columba livia Rock Pigeon
X
    Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed Parakeet
V
    Eudynamys scolopacea Asian Koel
1
    Apus affinis Little Swift
X
    Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher
1
    Halcyon smyrnensis White-throated Kingfisher
V
    Merops philippinus Blue-tailed Bee-eater
V
    Coracias benghalensis indica Indian Roller
1
    Megalaima zeylanica Brown-headed Barbet
1
R   Dinopium benghalense psarodes Black-rumped (red-backed) Flameback
1
R   Hirundo daurica hyperythra Red-rumped (Sri Lanka) Swallow
V
R   Pycnonotus cafer cafer Red-vented Bulbul
XX
    Lanius cristatus cristatus Brown Shrike
1
r?   Copsychus saularis ceylonensis Oriental Magpie-Robin
V
    Cisticola juncidis Zitting Cisticola
V
R   Prinia inornata insularis Plain Prinia
V
R   Nectarinia lotenia lotenia Loten's Sunbird
1
    Passer domesticus House Sparrow
XX
R   Acridotheres tristis melanosternus Common Myna
XX
    Dicrurus caerulescens insularis White-bellied Drongo
1
    Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow
V
    Corvus splendens House Crow
XX

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