Thursday 16 January 2014

Sri Lanka Part 2: 8th - 10th January. Yala

The big one! Following the long drive we enjoyed an excellent meal in the superb Jetwing Yala. Incredible location. The following morning we were up for our first safari at 5.30a.m. and into the landrover, with our driver, Ari. A great guy to have as driver: knowledgeable, interesting and a patient and good driver, sometimes in very trying circumstances. Ari had picked us up from the airport and been there, on time, each day for our journeys. Our guide, Aloo drove the land rover and was most knowledgeable.
The sun was not up as we headed into the Reserve but we could make out shapes in the early morning mist. A malabar hornbill passed us as we noted good numbers of waders around a waterhole populated by sunken water buffalo. Not many chances to take photos, but we would return this way on our way out.
Basically, the bird life was incredible. Everything I had expected to see was ticked along with all the resident mammals and reptiles apart from the elusive leopard.
Really, all I can do is show the photos and list the stuff as it would be endless recording each sighting. However, a few highlights: the beeaters were spectacular, the elephants with babies were memorable and just the density of birds amazing.

lesser whistling duck, spoonbill, common tern (I think) black winged stilt and marsh sandpiper.

black headed ibis


indian robin

blue tailed beeater

brahminy kite

brahminy kite

brown shrike

another brown shrike

black winged stilt

changeable hawk eagle


chestnut headed beeater

common sandpiper

large croc

even larger croc

green beeater.
Aloo rapidly cottoned on to my interest in trying to see as many birds as possible and also my attempts to get some good snaps. Hence we stopped many times, and surveyed the distant trees for other birds that I couldn't photo. Soon, the sun was up and we enjoyed so many great views, with elephants, mongoose, wild pigs, hares, many lizard/iguana sp, crocodiles, buffalo, spotted deer and silver jackal.
elephant rock, Yala National Reserve

elephant family

 black tailed godwit, spoonbill, black headed ibis

another splendid green beeeater

 


marsh sandpiper

grey langar



hare

house crow

indian hoopoe

indian hoopoes
We left the safari at 11.00 as the heat meant that many of the birds and elephants took cover in the shade. After a few hours back at the hotel pool, we set off again for another visit at 3.30, until dusk (6.15.) More amazing sights as we ventured into the other part of the park that is open to the public. In all there are 5 blocks of which Blocks 1 and 3 are open. We stopped off at the beach where there is a moving memorial to those that lost their lives in the park on 26th Dec 2004, the tsunami. Evidence as to the damage it caused was all over the park, where trees had been snapped  about 5 foot above the ground. Such was the salination damage that little has regrown.
Views of Elephant Rock were had as another highlight occured, 5 indian hoopoes, followed about a minute later by our only view of an indian roller. Excellent stuff.
indian pond heron

indian roller

lesser whistling duck

1st bird in pre dawn mist. Unmistakable malabar hornbill

mongoose

monitor

sri lankan green pigeon

pacific golden plover



Jerdon's bushlark

painted stork

another painted stork

peacock
We eventually returned to the hotel in the dark, very happy with our day. I had taken over 350 photographs,so plenty of editing and some deleting was required that evening. Again, following a wonderful meal we prepared for our final journey, to Galle, Jetwing Lighthouse for our last 6 days.

displaying peacock

purple heron

red wattled lapwing


something large!

scaley breasted munia

silver jackal

solitary bull elephant
great thick knee at sunset


another bull elephant and spotted deer

spot billed pelican

spot the elephant

spotted deer

sri lankan green pigeon
On our drive to Galle, Ari was now pointing out birds as we drove along the coast road. New birds added were black eagle and the rare lesser adjutant stork,
In all, Yala is one of the most fantastic wildlife places I have ever visited and certainly worth the long drive to get there.
malabar hornbill

Sri Lankan junglefowl (The national bird)


Wader competition: name these waders.

water buffalo

wild pigs

yellow billed babbler

yellow wattled lapwing.
paddyfield pipit


Updated list:
barred buttonquail, sri lankan junglefowl, peacock, lesser whistling duck, painted stork, asian openbill, black necked stork, black headed ibis, lesser adjutant, eurasian spoonbill, (10 sp) indian pond heron, grey heron, purple heron, cattle egret, great egret, intermediate egret, little egret, spot billed pelican, little cormorant, indian cormorant,  (20 sp)brahminy kite, black eagle, changeable hawk eagle, white breasted waterhen, pheasant tailed jacana, great thick knee, yellow wattled lapwing, red wattled lapwing, pacific golden plover, kentish plover, (30 sp) lesser sandplover, black tailed godwit, common redshank, common greenshank, marsh sandpiper, common sandpiper, curlew sandpiper, gull billed tern, whiskered tern, little tern,(40 sp) common tern, spotted dove, orange breasted green pigeon, sri lankan green pigeon, green imperial pigeon, rose ringed parakeet, chestnut winged cuckoo, asian palm swift, crested treeswift, house swift, (50 sp) indian roller,blue tailed bee eater, green bee eater, chestnut headed bee eater, white throated kingfisher, indian hoopoe, crimson fronted barbet, sri lankan grey hornbill, malabar hornbill, brown shrike, (60 sp) black headed oriole,house crow, large billed crow, barn swallow, white bellied drongo, richards pipit, paddyfield pipit, Blyth's pipit, red vented bulbul, white browed bulbul ,(70 sp) common tailorbird, white browed fantail, yellow billed babbler, common myna, brahminy starling, oriental magpie robin, indian robin, brown breasted flycatcher, purple rumped sunbird, lotens sunbird,(80 sp)  house sparrow, scaley breasted munia, Jerdon's bushlark, little stint

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jonathan & Wendy this is Ari.Your website is wonderful and you have taken some outstanding captures. Hope you had a wonderful stay at Sri lanka!. Hope to see you soon!.

Jono Forgham said...

Hi Ari,
Glad you had a look and, yes, one or two came out well. Now back to work, but already discussing next January and the possibility of a return visit! We had a most wonderful time throughout. Our stay at Galle was also excellent. Spent a morning with the local buddhist monk who showed us around the statues and art work at his temple and told us how he just sat and watched the tsunami wash over him as he propped himself against a tree. Wonderful experience to talk with him. J and W

This is me

This is me
At the end of another Norfolk Coastal footpath walk. 47 miles, 3 days 99 species of bird. September 2009

Caley Wood view

Caley Wood view
sunshine through the canopy 29.05.08

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007
Best birds on this walk: black and middle spotted woodpecker and short toed treecreeper

About Me

My photo
A primary school teacher for 30 years, I retired from teaching in July 2009 to set up my own science enhancement and communication company. The Primary Works offers science clubs, workshops and staged science shows nationwide. I have always been interested in bird watching since my early years. Apparently my first tick was after inquiring about a chaffinch and then receiving the Observer book of birds. By the age of 9 I had moved on to Tory Peterson's collins guide and was now involved on YOC birding holidays to Northumbria, Essex coast, Slimbridge and Yorkshire. My twitching rule is that I will willingly travel 1km for each gram the bird weighs. However, I have had many rarities just by being in the right place. I have travelled widely throughout Europe and also visited Australia and Sri Lanka. In 2016 I spent time at Portland Bird Obs and two trips to Aviero, Portugal. 2017 found me back in Sri Lanka in Feb/March, then July and back for New Year's Eve celebrations in December. Also returned to The Camargue in May for a 4 day trip. Few plans for 2018, but nothing yet booked apart from a trip to the IOW.

Grey heron

Grey heron
Over the allotment 28.09.08

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker
Ridge footpath 27.08.08

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)
Note the stripes, denoting a bird fledged this year.

common blue

common blue
Ash Valley G.C. 15.08.08

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)
River Ash

azure damselfly

azure damselfly
River Ash 28.07.08

marbled white

marbled white
Discovered at Westland Green 22.07.08

ruddy darter

ruddy darter
Bush Wood 21.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08
growing in hedgerow in Chapel Lane

cinnabar moth caterpillar

cinnabar moth caterpillar
Photographed on ragwort 19.07.08

Bittersweet

Bittersweet
Study of petals 11.06.08

male yellowhammer

male yellowhammer
08.06.08

common blue butterfly

common blue butterfly
06.06.08

River Ash

River Ash
looking south from the bridge at Hadham Ford

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)
in rape field 29.05.08

Caley Wood sunshine

Caley Wood sunshine
29.05.08

Millenium Wood fox

Millenium Wood fox
24.05.08

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)
06.05.08 banks of the River Ash

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)
flowers, leaves and fruit edible . Good in salad and pesto

April showers

April showers
Double rainbow 30.04.08

Caley Wood bluebells

Caley Wood bluebells
22.04.08

Yellow Archangel

Yellow Archangel
Chapel Lane (20.04.08)

sunlight 16.04.08

sunlight 16.04.08
looking south west from Bush Wood

snowy buds

snowy buds
06.04.08 in Bush Wood

Looking north west

Looking north west
05.04.08 evening shower approaching

Back Garden

Back Garden
Easter Sunday (23.03.08)

Brick Kiln Hill

Brick Kiln Hill
Looking east (23.03.08)

No play today

No play today
The 2nd hole at Ash Valley golf course

Teasel head

Teasel head
Bush Wood (21.03.08)

Reflections

Reflections
daffodils at Bush Wood pond (21.03.08)

Swollen River Ash

Swollen River Ash
The river at the bottom of Winding Hill 16.03.08

Daybreak over the chapel

Daybreak over the chapel
Thursday 13th March

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)
growing in Bush Wood

January snowdrops

January snowdrops
Banks of River Ash, north of Much Hadham

Good Moon

Good Moon
From garden 24.01.08

Village Green

Village Green
Looking east towards Acremore Street

Looking south before Hadham Ford

Looking south before Hadham Ford
rare January blue sky

Useful sites

The following are some useful websites that may interest readers of this blog.
Firstly, Bishop's Stortford Natural History Society http://bsnhs.webplus.net/

Fellow birder, Gary Whelan's blog. Gives reports from our trips out together plus reports from his trips abroad. http://hairybirders.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/ The official herts bird club website. Frequently updated, listing bird sightings around the county. Offers links to many other websites. Both of these sites also offer links to yahoo discussion groups.
http://www.birdforum.net/ An international site. You can enter as a guest but become a member( free) to post comments, bird sightings and just about anything to do with wild birds. Good news updates, classified section for binoculars, cameras etc.
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com/ A new site set up where you can contact people worldwide who will help you find good birds in their country. UK section being set up presently.
http://www.britainsbirder.co.uk/
Fellow birders blog. Strtford resident, Graeme Smith regulary birds the area south of Stortford as well as around Spellbrook and the River Stort from Spellbrook to Twyford Locks. Some superb bird photography: Graeme uses a digital camera attached to his powerful telescope to get detailled images of the birds he sees. Well worth a browse.
Two local sites that may be of interest can be found at
http://www.thehadhams.com/ www.thepelhams.net/content/section/12/139/

South Easterly walk

South Easterly walk
black, normal, red extended walk

South Westerly route.

South Westerly route.
Black usual, red extended

North Easterly walk

North Easterly walk
black short, walk. Red, extended

North West Patch

North West Patch
black route regular. Red route the extended wander