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