All morning and part of the afternoon was a jeep safari in the Udawalawa NP. Plenty of birds about, but also it was good to catch up with Asian Elephants after missing them elsewhere in Asia. We then drove to Tissamaharama where we will be spending three nights, perfectly situated next to a huge lake/tank where this evening an estimated number of 10,000+ Sri Lankan Flying Foxes left their roost. Not only this, a single flock of perhaps 2000+ Bee-Eaters joined the party. A spectacular sight!! An Owling session after dinner was semi-successful getting Oriental Scops Owl, but missing Jungle Owlet.
Highlighted birds = lifers
Indian Roller - 2
Rose-coloured Starling - ca. 300
Ashy Prinia - 4
Indian Black Robin - 20
Grey-headed Fish Eagle - 1
Small Minivet - 2
Paddyfield Pipit - 15
Green Bee Eater - 50
Malabar Pied Hornbill - 12
Chestnut-headed Bee Eater - 3
Ashy Drongo - 1
Plaintive Cuckoo - 5
Brown Fish Owl - 1
Sirkeer Malkoha - 6
Blue-faced Malkoha - 10
Orange-breasted Green Pigeon - 30
Rufous Woodpecker - 2
Forest Wagtail - 2
Orange-headed Thrush - 1
Indian Pitta - 1
Barred Buttonquail - 1
Lesser Adjutant - 1
Crested Hawk Eagle - 10
Oriental Honey Buzzard - 7
Yellow-fronted Woodpecker - 1
Grey-headed Swamphen - 15
White-winged Black Tern - 4
Cotton Pygmy Goose - 6
Little Grebe - 2
Spot-billed Pelican - 11
Stork-billed Kingfisher - 2
Blue-tailed Bee-Eater - 2000+
Oriental Scops Owl - 2
Sri Lankan Flying Fox - 10000+
Hanuman Langur - 10
Ruddy Mongoose - 1
Asian Elephant - 8
Water Buffalo - 20
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel - 1
Spotted Deer - 30
Soft-shelled Terrapin - 1
Marsh Crocodile - 2
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat - 2
Indian Peafowl
Indian Black Robin - very numerous in the park
Green Bee-Eater
Jungle Prinia
Sirkeer Malkoha
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Crested Hawk Eagle
Oriental Honey Buzzard - one of my favourite raptors
whilst tracking down a Rufous Woodpecker, this chappy clocked onto us and followed us for food. We gave in and Adam fed it some glucose sweets, and what was already a mad Giant Squirrel was probably now a very 'high' Giant Squirrel
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bats
Sri Lanka Flying Fox leaving its roost. An incredible sight was watching these huge bats leave their roost. Absolutely thousands filled the sky from our hotel looking across the lake. Unforgettable!!
Udawalawa NP
the view from our hotel. With night approaching, the Flying Foxes were starting to leave their roost.
a wild Asian Elephant in Udawalawa
