SRI LANKA: A visit to Mannar

The far north of Sri Lanka is home to many migratory birds. Three of the island's flyways cross through the far north, meaning most migratory birds flying to Sri Lanka stop over in the north. Two places are well-known for birding because of this: Mannar and Jaffna. On this trip we had decided to drive the long way to Mannar, then Jaffna, so we got in the car and went for a drive. I saw my first lifer before we even left the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka.

SANDERLINGS!

As we drove along a beach I noticed terns flying and wheeling overhead, as well as waders on the beach. Thinking they were just little stints (a small wader that is fairly common in Sri Lanka) and redshanks (another common wader) I wandered down to the beach and realised they were sanderlings. They were running away from the waves and into the wet sand, looking for food. As I watched another lifer flew over my head, a gull-billed tern!

The gull-billed tern is a fairly common migrant to Sri Lanka's beaches and wetlands

However, soon we had to leave on our journey.

The whiskered tern is a very common migrant to wetlands throughout Sri Lanka

We kept driving, stopping at a wonderful wewa (a tank or large dam). Whiskered terns flew around us and caught fish, while a little cormorant stood patiently on a branch. As two lesser whistling-ducks landed on the water I saw a flock of spot-billed pelicans resting on a tree in the distance, and a grey heron flying past. 

Another reason many birders visit the north is because some Indian birds that aren't normally found in most of Sri Lanka are residents in the far north. As we neared Mannar we spotted one of these, the black drongo.

The black drongo is rare in Sri Lanka outside of the north, where it is very common

We saw many birds along the road from then. Indian rollers and crested hawk-eagles perched on the wires, while near water we saw little cormorants, spot-billed pelicans, Asian open bills and little egrets. 

The Indian roller is known as the 'dumbonna' or smoke-drinker in Sinhalese because of its habit of flying around fires to eat anything fleeing the flames

The majestic spot-billed pelican, a beautiful sight in one of the many wewas of Sri Lanka

Finally we arrived at Mannar. I could tell we arrived when a flock of northern pintails lifted off the water next to us. Jerdon's bushlarks fed in the grass, while a wood sandpiper fed in the mud. A brahminy kite flew overhead and barn swallows perched on the wires. 

A flock of male and female northern pintails

Barn swallows are common throughout Sri Lanka

Then we entered a causeway over a lagoon. We looked around but saw nothing until my father said 'Stop the car! Stop the car!' The car slid to a halt. We looked out of the window and saw a sight that made this entire long drive seem worth it:

The CRAB PLOVER!

The beautiful crab plover is the only wader known to dig its nest in sand, using the warmth of the ground to incubate its eggs. It is the only bird in the genus Dromas and family Dromadidae. Some consider it related to stone-curlews, pranticoles and thick-knees, while others consider it related to gulls and auks. It is one of the world's greatest birds, and a very, very rare migrant to Sri Lanka. I had come here with only a faint hope of spotting one in the wild, and I saw it.

A pair of common redshanks, a very common migrant to Sri Lanka's coast and wetlands

Of course, crab plovers weren't the only birds around. As Pallas's gulls, brown-hooded gulls and whiskered terns flew above us, a pair of redshanks fed in the mud.
Soon we had to leave for our accommodation in Mannar, and then do some more birding. But I'll leave that to my next post.

SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED IN A WHILE

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, due to high school and the holidays. While I was offline I went on another trip to Sri Lanka, and also a trip to the Little Desert more recently, both of which I'm going to post about here. Thank you for reading this blog.
Chanith

A TRIP TO THE WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT

Some friends from Sri Lanka had arrived, and wanted to see Australia's birds. We gave them a choice of going to Anglesea, or to the Western Treatment Plant. They chose the Treatment Plant, so off we went, showing the friends little ravens, magpie-larks, Australian magpies, house sparrows, spotted doves and New Holland honeyeaters that were near the road as we drove forwards.
Eventually we reached Gate 5 and drove through the grasslands. As house sparrows, superb fairy-wrens and Willie wagtails perched on the fences, crested pigeons, yellow-rumped thornbills and silvereyes were feeding in the trees. The friends had really wanted to see raptors, and soon a swamp harrier flew over the road. We stopped at two dead trees to show the friends a pale phase brown falcon, and a black-shouldered kite. We went further and saw a black kite, as well as three dark phase black falcons and a swamp harrier. All of us carefully approached and photographed these, getting some good shots and views.

A black-shouldered kite perched in a tree

A dark phase brown falcon stretches its wings 

A pale phase brown falcon takes off, photo taken by the friend

A black kite in the distance, photo also taken by the friend

We went on to Lake Borrie, showing the friend some Eurasian coots, hoary-headed grebes and black swans that were in the lake. Several whiskered terns in breeding plumage flew by as we stopped to take photos of some sharp-tailed sandpipers.

A whiskered tern in breeding plumage

A sharp-tailed sandpiper, note the characteristic rufous crown

After some more driving, spotting a yellow-billed spoonbill, Australian pelican, hoary-headed grebes, an eastern great egret and some chestnut teals and Pacific black ducks, we finally reached the hide, and I knew the day would get even better.
Just in front of the hide was a flock of red-necked stints, sharp-tailed sandpipers and curlew sandpipers. We stepped inside the hide, opened the hatch and . . .

TERNS! TERNS! TERNS!

Hundreds of them! Whiskered terns were everywhere. Further out were red-necked avocets and pied oystercatchers, and closer in were a few bar-tailed godwits. Even closer in were many red-necked stints, curlew sandpipers and sharp-tailed sandpipers feeding on the rich nutrients of the Little River. Further out were grey teal and black swans. In the bushes on the beach, just to top it off, were singing white-fronted chats. 

The red-necked stint is one of Australia's commonest waders

We then drove back along the Coastal Road, stopping for another flock of waders which had whiskered terns, silver gulls, Australian pelicans, red-capped plovers, black swans, grey teal, Eurasian coots,  curlew sandpipers, sharp-tailed sandpipers and red-necked stints!

After stopping to see two Cape Barren geese we headed back home.

LIST OF SPECIES SEEN

1. Hoary-Headed Grebe

2. Pacific Black Duck

3. Chestnut Teal 

4. Grey Teal

5. Cape Barren Goose

6. Black Swan

7. Eastern Great Egret

8. Australian White Ibis

9. Yellow-Billed Spoonbill

10. Little Pied Cormorant

11. Australian Pelican

12. Black-Shouldered Kite

13. Black Kite

14. Swamp Harrier

15. Brown Falcon

16. Purple Swamphen

17. Eurasian Coot

18. Bar-Tailed Godwit

19. Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper

20. Curlew Sandpiper

21. Red-Necked Stint

22. Black-Winged Stilt

23. Red-Necked Avocet

24. Pied Oystercatcher

25. Red-Capped Plover

26. Silver Gull

27. Whiskered Tern

28. Common Tern

29. Spotted Dove

30. Crested Pigeon

31. Rainbow Lorikeet

32. Galah

33. Superb Fairy-Wren

34. Yellow-Rumped Thornbill

35. New Holland Honeyeater

36. Red Wattlebird

37. Magpie-Lark

38. Willie Wagtail

39. Australian Magpie 

40. Little Raven

41. Silvereye

42. Welcome Swallow

43. House Sparrow

44. Common Myna

45. Common Starling

TOTAL: 45

LIFERS: 1

WELCOME SWALLOWS AT THE NEST

Ah, the swallow. If it weren't for them, there would be a lot more insects in this world (and since I don't really like insects, I'm glad that swallows exist). Australia has several kinds of swallow and martin, but by far the commonest of them all is the Welcome swallow. This brilliant bird is hard to dislike (unless, of course, you're an insect). Just today, I saw a nest of them at Anglesea. Here are some photos I took of the nest.

The nest was under the right corner of the sign saying JUMS

There were four nestlings in the nest, but you can only see three in this picture

The nest is made up of mud, sticks, leaves and similar, all glued together

The parent bird flew in regularly to bring little bits of food to the nestlings

The parent rests while its partner hunts for something to give to the nestlings

A VISIT TO POINT ADDIS

Today we woke up early in the morning and drove to Point Addis. Some birdwatcher friends of ours were coming over from Sri Lanka, and we were supposed to show them a few birding sites. This was one of the places we chose, but since we had never been there before we decided we would visit before the friends came over just to scout the place out. After a long drive, we finally reached the Point Addis Road.

The Mistletoebird, mainland Australia's only flowerpecker

The silvereye, Victoria's only species of white-eye

Point Addis is one of Victoria's better sea-watching sites, and the carpark is also home to the rare and secretive Rufous bristlebird, which I knew the friends would want to see. We arrived at the carpark, but couldn't see a thing. So we walked down the wooden boardwalk.
There was movement in the bushes. We looked and it was . . . A silvereye. We looked closer at the bushes and realised there were silvereyes, mistletoebirds, superb fairy-wrens and crimson rosellas everywhere. All nice, but where were the bristlebirds?
We searched and searched and searched again, but couldn't find anything. Just when we were about to give up, we looked around the carpark and there, dashing into the bushes, was a pair of Rufous bristlebirds! They chased each other around the carpark, letting me get just one photo before they finally darted into the undergrowth.

Probably the world's blurriest photo of a rufous bristlebird. 

Another lifer on the list!

LIST

1. Crimson Rosella

2. Superb Fairy-Wren

3. Rufous Bristlebird

4. Silvereye

5. Mistletoebird

6. Welcome Swallow
TOTAL: 6
LIFERS: 1 

FAVOURITE BIRDING SITES: Jawbone Reserve

This park is very close to the inner city, situated in Williamstown. It consists of several shallow lagoons, as well as some saltmarsh. A variety of different waterbirds can be found in the park, and it can be accessed by car (parking on one of the many roads overlooking the park) or bike (along the Bay Trail.)

Black-winged stilts are common throughout the park 

From the east of the park, there are several walks going down to the beach. At the far east, there is a short walk going down to a beach that people are allowed to use. Here there are few birds, only grey teal, black-winged stilts, common starlings, house sparrows and silver gulls. This walk eventually joins up to the other boardwalk.  Further west is a much better boardwalk that goes through saltmarsh before stopping at a place where you can see another beach people are not allowed to use. Watch for fairy martins, welcome swallows, superb fairy-wrens, sharp-tailed sandpipers, common mynas, house sparrows, sharp-tailed sandpipers, royal spoonbills, white-faced herons, pied cormorants, black swans, black-winged stilts, common starlings, silver gulls and Australian spotted crakes, among other birds.

A view of the ibis rookery in the evening

A bit further on from the boardwalk is a bird hide overlooking an ibis rookery. There are always a few Australian white ibis at the rookery, along with Australian pelicans, little black cormorants, grey teal, little pied cormorants and the occasional royal spoonbill. The mudflats near the hide can be good for Australian spotted crakes, black-winged stilts, Australian white ibises and red-kneed dotterels. There are also often superb fairy-wrens and New Holland honeyeaters in the bushes around the hide. Finally, a flock of black-tailed native-hens inhabits the area around the hide as well.

One of the black-tailed native-hens that inhabits the area around the hide

If you continue walking west you will pass a large lagoon where a variety of waterbirds can be seen, including little pied cormorants, grey teal, dusky moorhens, purple swamphens, Eurasian coots, blue-billed ducks, musk ducks, whiskered terns, black swans, Australian pelicans, silver gulls, black-winged stilts, little black cormorants, eastern great egrets, royal spoonbills and Australasian grebes. Walk west even further and you will come to Maddox Road. Down the road is a bird hide where a variety of other waterbirds and waders can be seen. While walking to the hide look for yellow-rumped thornbills.
Other birds common in the area include common mynas, common starlings, spotted doves, New Holland honeyeaters, little ravens, silver gulls, red wattlebirds and superb fairy-wrens. 
This is all from a site only a 15-minute drive away from the Melbourne CBD.

A VISIT TO JAWBONE RESERVE

In the afternoon, my dad decided that we should go to Jawbone Reserve and check out this boardwalk we hadn't explored previously. Thinking we might see a lifer, I agreed.

Silvergulls are very common around Williamstown

We parked the car near a playground and looked out at the lagoons. There were many silvergulls hanging around, as well as a black-winged stilt and some Eurasian coots swimming in the water. We walked on until we reached the ibis rookery hide, stopping to look at two black-tailed native-hens. 

A view of the ibis rookery

The hide no longer overlooks a rookery (the rookery is to the side) but it is near some rocks where several birds were resting. I saw many Australian white ibises and Australian pelicans, as well as a few little black cormorants, some chestnut teal and a single royal spoonbill.
We went a bit further on looking for the boardwalk. Unknowingly, we passed the boardwalk and went along this other track instead. The track ended at a beach which I scanned for waders, but there were only common starlings, silver gulls and a few black-winged stilts there.

We got close views of this black-winged stilt on the beach

We headed back and stopped to check a sign, then realising that we had actually passed the boardwalk! We got to the real boardwalk and walked along. The walk headed through a saltmarsh with many fairy martins and welcome swallows flying around. It got close to another beach where people weren't allowed to walk, and where I saw black swans, common starlings and two pied cormorants sitting on some rocks. Then we reached the end of the boardwalk, which looked over some pools of water. In one of the pools was a black-winged stilt, which flew into another pool. As I was photographing the stilt, I noticed a small, dark bird behind it . . .

AN AUSTRALIAN SPOTTED CRAKE!

Not bad, even if it wasn't a lifer. We headed back along the walk and stopped at the beach, where I noticed something. Two light brown waders were looking for food on the ground ...

 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS, A LIFER FOR ME!

Then it was time to go, and we headed back, spotting purple swamphens, little ravens, common mynas, common starlings and all the birds in the ibis colony as we got back to the car.

A little raven, the commoner of Melbourne's two resident corvids

LIST OF BIRDS SEEN

1. Black Swan

2. Pacific Black Duck

3. Chestnut Teal

4. Pied Cormorant

5. Little Pied Cormorant

6. Little Black Cormorant

7. Australian White Ibis

8. Royal Spoonbill

9. Australian Pelican

10. Australian Spotted Crake

11. Dusky Moorhen

12. Purple Swamphen

13. Eurasian Coot

14. Black-Tailed Native Hen

15. Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper

16. Black-Winged Stilt 

17. Silver Gull

18. Spotted Dove

19. Superb Fairy-Wren

20. Red Wattlebird

21. Little Raven

22. Magpie-Lark

23. Welcome Swallow

24. Fairy Martin

25. House Sparrow

26. Common Myna

27. Common Starling

TOTAL BIRDS SEEN: 27

LIFERS SEEN: 1