While in Udawalawe we stayed at the Grand Udawalawe Safari Hotel. From there we went on two safaris. The first one is the subject of this post.
We left at about 2 in the afternoon. On the drive toward the park entrance (a few kilometres from the hotel) we saw a few water buffalos and the first Asian elephant of the trip, but didn't stop as both those species are common inside the park. I also saw a possible Eurasian hoopoe flying into the forest near the road, as well as some of Sri Lanka's commoner waterbirds in a small marshy area (black-winged stilts, Indian pond herons, little egrets and cattle egrets). Again we didn't stop. On entering the park the birding began.
Almost immediately we noted a variety of birds in the scrub near the gate. Calling from the tops of bushes were many plain prinias and a single ashy prinia. On the ground were camouflaged Jerdon's bushlarks and paddyfield pipits. Several Indian robins were hopping around the gates. Some little green bee-eaters were hawking for insects. A single grey-bellied cuckoo perched on a branch. Finally, some tricoloured munias were drinking from a puddle of water.
These tricoloured munias seemed to be enjoying themselves in the water
The plain prinia is one of Udawalawe's commonest birds
Small Jerdon's bushlarks were feeding just next to our jeep
Little green bee-eaters are common in much of the Sri Lankan dry zone
Both Paddyfield pipits like this and the rare migrant Richard's pipit occur in Udawalawe
The elegant grey-bellied cuckoo is a common migrant to Sri Lanka
As we continued on these birds proved common. Some tall, dead trees further on held a large flock of rosy starlings, as well as two nesting plum-headed parakeets, both species lifers for me. There was also a very distant black-winged kite in a nearby tree, too distant to photograph.
The male plum-headed parakeet
This tired-looking rosy starling was one of the last birds to fly from the tree as we passed
Soon we came to a lake, in the area of scrub before this I saw a lifer barred buttonquail but it darted before I could take a photo. There were many zitting cisticolas around the lake, a single grey heron was on the far shore and some waders (two black-winged stilts, a red-wattled lapwing, a marsh sandpiper and a wood sandpiper) were on a nearby bank. However the most spectacular bird there was a crested hawk-eagle scanning for prey from a nearby tree. Some water buffalo were also present.
A nearby black-winged stilt allowed good photos before finally flying away
The marsh sandpiper looks quite similar to the more abundant common greenshank
Red-wattled lapwings are found commonly throughout Sri Lanka
Wood sandpipers are fairly common migrants to Sri Lanka
This majestic changeable hawk-eagle seemed unfazed by our presence
Zitting cisticolas can be found all the way from Australia to the Middle East
Sadly most of Sri Lanka's water buffalos are hybrids between domestic and wild buffalo
Some trees and scrub further on held a feeding purple sunbird, as well as some orange-breasted green pigeons. Then we hit the jackpot, spotting a sirkeer malkoha feeding nearby. This was one of our main target birds and a lifer for me!
The male orange-breasted green pigeon is one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful birds
This male purple sunbird was drinking nectar from the flowers of this bush
The sirkeer malkoha is a bird easiest seen at Udawalawe or Yala National Parks
As we headed back from the lake we saw our first of many Asian elephants standing atop a rock, while a smaller and younger elephant watched us warily from the safety of a bush.
Udawalawe is probably the easiest place to see elephants in Sri Lanka
We continued on, seeing a few more elephants, until we ended up at a bungalow on the side of the Walawe River. There was a small nature trail here, we walked up it as apparently brown fish owl can be seen roosting at the far end sometimes. We saw a single forest wagtail that was too quick to photograph, two Asian brown flycatchers and an orange-headed thrush before our guide pointed out recent marks from a young buffalo hitting the nearby trees, so we all quickly headed back. There was evidence of the owl's presence (some poo left behind at what were apparently old roosting spots), however we couldn't find it.
Areas of shady forest in Udawalawe are good for the orange-headed thrush
Asian brown flycatchers are also common in those forests
We then headed to a spot where we could see the Udawalawe Wewa (a wewa (tank in english) is a large man-made body of water and often very good for birds). On the way there we saw three coppersmith barbets in a tree. At the wewa itself there were few birds: a single distant yellow wagtail, a common sandpiper, some whiskered terns and an Oriental darter. While heading back from the wewa we heard a calling pied cuckoo but could not find it.
Small and beautiful coppersmith barbets are a common bird in the Sri Lankan dry zone
After that we headed back, stopping to watch a few Indian peafowl settling down in a bare tree.
No comments:
Post a Comment