Sri Lanka July 2017

Following a meeting with Anoma Alagiyawadu, (resident naturalist at the excellent Jetwing Lighthouse hotel, in Galle,) during our February visit and subsequent correspondence with Daniela Noehlen, I found myself heading for Galle again on July 12th. This time, to be involved in the Sri Lanka ExChange, offering English lessons and natural history sessions to children from the Galle region of South West Sri Lanka. A great opportunity!
After the 11 hour flight and 3 hour taxi to Galle, I set up base at the Sanras Rooms and headed over the road to the Lighthouse to meet Anoma and Daniela. Certain plans had been made and after a day to catch up and discuss ideas, have a short bird wander to an area in Mahamodara the locals call The Jungle, I found myself heading in a tree laden tuk tuk, to the Kottawa Conservation rain forest to plant endemic canopy trees with 70 mothers and daughters who had travelled down from Colombo to help with the replanting scheme. This programme has been organised and supervised by Krishan and Sameera, members of BEES, (Biodiversity in Education and Exploration Society) A superb morning was had by all in good temperatures and a fantastic habitat. Basically, the ancient rainforest here was partially cut down for timber and to plant a tea plantation. When this finished, non native pine trees were put in around about 1978. Krishan and his team are now working hard to replant the correct trees to establish the original biodiversity of the forest, to improve the habitat for the resident creatures that would have utilised the rain forest over 100 years ago. On the other side of the road is a preserved area of ancient rain forest, so the expansion of the resident creatures range into the newly planted area should be swift and successful.

White throated kingfisher

Grey Fancy butterfly

Monitor lizard

Red wattled lapwing on the ground where the new test match ground is being constructed

Tiger butterfly

Sailor butterfly

red vented bulbul

white browed bulbul

Bar winged flycatcher shrike: a new bird for me

Giant squirrel

white bellied drongo

Volunteers in the rain forest replanting

Handbags vital for this habitat

Finding the ready dug holes for the saplings

The future view, large canopy trees

Hole digging in 34C

Making sure it is straight

Looking pleased to be here.

snake checking tree holes for frogs and geckos

same snake

A bit closer, probably 5 feet in length.

Following this adventure, we headed off to the centre where I ran a session for a group of children on kite making and flying.

Kite flying

2 of the tree planting party

Kite making

A few more local wanders, plus time spent at the Lighthouse hotel having further discussions and meetings before a 2nd chance to go tree planting. This time, in another area where we first entertained a group of Chinese teenagers and then a group of similarly aged English youths. Here, I planted an endemic mango tree, again, in an area cut back for a tea plantation.

Path to the replanting area

My first oriental white eye, wonderful bird, perpetually moving through the lower branches.

Oriental magpie robin

Sri Lankan drongo

Much better photo of the Oriental white eye

Black hooded oriole

View from the forest across the valley north of Galle

Interested Oriental honey buzzard, another 1st for me.

It circled overhead for a while

Asian palm swift

The best way to photograph these fast flying birds is to find a gap in the canopy and fire off many shots as they zoom through the frame finder.

Another visit to an excellent English Language Centre, run by Anura called the EnglishWay Institute. Here we spoke to teenagers about England, their interests and aspirations before a wonderful meal with Anura and his wife. We were also entertained by Anoma and his wife Anusha and also at Krishan's house. On each occasions, lovely curries, rice and dhall.
On one occasion I took a tuk tuk to Koggala for a meal with Dimuthu whom we met back in February. Again, curry, this time tuna with potato curry and dhall. Dimuthu then returned me to Galle for another evening meeting.
On my last day, some free time before taking the train to Colombo for an overnight stay before a taxi to the airport for a 1pm flight home. I spent time visiting several people including Chaminda, Raja, Nona, Nilantha, all of whom we have met on each visit and also a final trip to The Jungle for more bird shots.

Rose ringed parakeet

White breasted waterhen

Sri Lankan view of the moon, mid morning

a fast flying Shikra, a sparrow hawk type species

Scaley breasted munia

juvenile black hooded oriole

yellow billed babbler

brown headed barbet

One evening was spent a few minutes uphill from my room, where Anoma, Daniela and I wandered around with head torches and net, catching any moths that appeared. We were only there between 6,30 and 8.30 so very few species caught. However, came across a black scorpion, always good when walking around in flip flops, several caterpillar species, frogs on walls and all in all, a great two hours. These insects yet to be identified to species.

Hawkmoth caterpillar, possibly Oleander hawkmoth

Possible mantis species feeding on a grasshopper/cricket species

A superb time and one that I shall be repeating. Thanks to all for the support, hard work, planning, guidance, especially: Anoma, Daniela, Sameera, Krishan, Anura. A wonderful organisation in its infancy. It will surely grow and become a very strong institution that will benefit the children of Galle.