SCOTT - TRIP TO SRI LANKA



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Caprimulgus asiaticus eidos, Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura and Alexandrine

Parakeet P. eupatria. We also saw a remarkable bird called the Grey-rumped

Treeswift Herniprocne longipennis , which with its upright crest, grey colour,

orangish cheek patches (of the male) and size - 9in (22cm) - reminded me

of a Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus.


On the second day, our first full day there, we climbed the Rock Fortress

and got stunning views in all directions. On the way up we stopped to

visit the world famous frescoes of the Heavenly Maidens of Sigiriya. We

got great views of Shikra Accipiter badius and Shaheen Falco peregrinus

peregrinator , the latter a subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus.

We also saw a Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus , a species

previously unrecorded in the area.


The next day, after visiting Dambulla Cave Temple, another World

Heritage Site, this one dating from the first century AD, we moved on to

Kinjou Safari Village in Wasgomuwa National Park. During an afternoon

jeep safari we saw: Spot-billed Pelican Pelicanus philippensis , Darter

Anhinga melanogaster, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus , Woolly¬

necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Asian Open-billed Stork, the beautiful

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala. Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus

cirrhatus. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela, Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus , Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayetti , Indian

Peafowl Pavo cristatus and Chinese Painted Quail Coturnix chinensis. Other

birds seen included: European Bee-eater Merops apiaster , Little Green Bee-

eater M. orientalis ceylonicus. Blue-tailed Bee-eater M. philippinus. Streaked

Weaver Ploceus manyar , Baya Weaver P. philippinus. Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus , Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis , Blue-faced

Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris, Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea,

Malabar Pied Hombill Anthracoceros coronatus and Black Drongo Dicrurus

macrocercus minor. We also saw a number of mammals including: Sambar

Cervus unicolor. Axis Deer or Chital Axis axis. Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Black-

naped Hare Lepus nigricollis. Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis. Grey Langur

Semnopithecus entellus and a herd of 60-70 wild Asian Elephants.


On day four we moved to Kandy, travelling there via the Knuckles

Mountain Range, with its breathtaking scenery. In the afternoon we visited

the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kandy, which was a real treat for the green

fingered amongst us. There we saw: Indian Hill Mynah Gracula religiosa.

White-bellied Sea Eagl q Haliaeetus leucogaster. Black Bittern I.flavicollis,

Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica. Long-billed A. /. lotenia, Purple-rumped

Sunbird N. z. zeylonica , Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons and

Spicebird L. punctulata. We also experienced the noise and commotion of

a fruit bat roost with an estimated 10,000 occupants.



