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NOTES ON A TRIP TO SRI LANKA


by Colin Scott


Until I was asked if I fancied joining an organised trip to Sri Lanka, I had

never given any thought to visiting this tropical island just off the south-east

coast of India. A quick look on the internet revealed that it has just over 400

species of birds - including 26 endemic species and just over 70 endemic

subspecies - a large range of mammals including the Asian Elephant Elephus

maximus and the Leopard Panthera pardus , and is decribed as a “global

hotspot” for reptiles. In addition, it has a rich culture and a long history and

many World Heritage Sites.


Departure day, February 3rd, earlier this year, finally arrived and after

a nine hour delay at Heathrow, we were on our way. Eleven hours later we

landed at Colombo Airport, where we were met by Prasanjith Caldera, our

guide. There followed a five hour drive to Sigiriya Village Hotel, the first of

nine different hotels we stayed at. On the way we saw: Little Egret Egretta

garzetta , Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia , Cattle Egret Bubulcus

ibis , Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii, Asian Open-billed Stork Anastomns

oscitans , White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis, Stork-billed

Kingfisher H. capensis. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus ,

Honey-Buzzard Pernisptilorhynchus , Ashy Wood-Swallow Artamusfiuscus ,

White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens leucopygialis , Spotted Dove

Streptopelia chinensis ceylonensis, Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis ,

Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis. Tri-coloured Munia Lonchura malacca

and Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis melanosturnus . Another species

we saw was the Indian Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri, one

of five species of parrot found on Sri Lanka. We were quite tired by the

time we arrived at the hotel, so took a short rest and had something to eat,

before we took a walk around the garden and in the surrounding woodland

beside a large lake, to which the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress provided

a stunning backdrop. Among the birds we saw over the next few days

were: Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica. Pheasant-tailed

Jaqana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus,

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus. Striated Heron Butorides striatus , Yellow

Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis. Purple Heron Ardeapurpurea. Crimson-fronted

Barbet Megalaima r. rubricapilla , Brown-headed Barbet M. zeylanica,

Coppersmith Barbet M. haemacephala , Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis

tickelliae jerdoni , Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi. White-

rumped Shama C. malabarica leggei , Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

robinsoni, Pompadour Green Pigeon Treronp. pompadora , Indian Nightjar



