Sri Lanka 2017 (Day 4)

My sincere apologies to anyone following my blog for the delay in updating this trip report.  Day 4 we were brought on an early morning safari to Horton Plain's and World's End.  We spent much of the morning watching for one endemic the Whistling Thrush but had no fortune.  But we did see loads of other good birds that included, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Paddyfield Pipit, Dark-fronted Babbler, Zitting Cistocola, Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Pied Bushchat, Dull Blue Flycatcher, Indian Blackbird, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Oriental Honey Buzzard and lots of Junglefowl along with many more common bird species.

Yellow-eared Bulbul © John N Murphy

Dull Blue Flycatcherl © John N Murphy

Dark-fronted Babbler © John N Murphy

Cattle Egret eating worm © John N Murphy

Oriental Honey Buzzard © John N Murphy

Paddyfield Pipit © John N Murphy

Common Tailorbird © John N Murphy

Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) © John N Murphy

Grey-breasted Prinia © John N Murphy

Sri Lanka Woodpigeon © John N Murphy

Sri Lanka Bush Warbler © John N Murphy

Pied Bushchat male & female © John N Murphy

Ring-billed Gull

This adult Ring-billed Gull was on the railings of the slipway at Ballyallia lake this afternoon.  There have been at least seven of these North American Gulls throughout Clare this winter.

 Adult Ring-billed Gull at Ballyallia Lake © John N Murphy

Waterford Birds

I took a couple of hours off work this afternoon to travel down to Dungarvan and Brownstown Head in Waterford with Paidi Culllinan to look for the Woodchat Shrike at Brownstown Head and two Spoonbills and Cattle Egrets at Dungarvan.  We managed to catch up with all three species.  The shrike was showing well at Brownstown as it caught Beetles and other small insects along the gorse hedgerows near the gully.  Two Spoonbills were close to the west side of Dungarvan Bay late in the afternoon flying around as the tide rose.  The Cattle Egrets were also in the same area as the Spoonbills sitting about in trees close to the shore.  Here are a few shots.

 

Woodchat Shrike at Brownstown Head John N Murphy

 

Spoonbills at Dungarvan © John N Murphy

Common Buzzard

I made my first trip to Wexford this year for a visit to the Saltees and a quick look around Tacumschin and the Carne/Lady's Island area. There were a few nice birds about, but I photographed this pale young Buzzard at the tip of Carnsore Point in the lovely pleasant sunshine.

Buzzard at Carnsore Point © John N Murphy

Sri Lanka 2017 (Day 3)

We departed Kandy City  and the Botanical gardens by early afternoon of 7th February and headed the 3 hour drive to Kitulgala.  At Kitulgala we were booked in for an overnight stay at the rustic Rafters Retreat situated on the banks and edge of the Kelani Ganga River. There was little birding done en route to Kitulgala but once we were checked in a quick walk around the grounds gave species such as Stork-billed and White-throated Kingfishers, Indian Pitta, Brown-capped Babbler, Black Bulbul, Chestnut-backed Owlet.

After a poor nights sleep, there was an early start for first light the following morning, Ashan guided us across the river to a rain forest walk where we clocked up endemics like, Spot-winged Thrush, Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-browed Bulbul, we heard Serindid Scops Owl, Orange-billed Babbler, Indian Blackbird and Green Imperial Pigeons were some of the highlights.
In the afternoon we packed our bags again and this time we were transferred off to Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains, staying for two nights in the comfortable Blackpool Hotel.

 Early morning small boat crossing of the Kelani Ganga River © John N Murphy

Indian Pitta © John N Murphy

 Endemic Brown-capped Babbler © John N Murphy

 Endemic Spot-winged Thrush © John N Murphy

 White-throated Kingfisher © John N Murphy

Endemic Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill © John N Murphy

Scaly-breasted Munia © John N Murphy

Indian Pond Heron © John N Murphy