top of page
Crested Serpent Eagle
(සිලු සරපකුස්සා)
Spilornis cheela

This majestic predator was first spotted at 'Anawilundawa' on a day when I was initially disappointed as there were hardly any birds around to see. This one made my day when he gave me the opportunity to take as many photos as I want.

Images 5 and 6 were taken on the road from Mannar to Jaffna. Images 7 and 8 on the outskirts of Sigiriya forest reserve. the backdrop of 'Pidurangala' provided a different background to the images. Images 9 and 10 Bundala National Park. Images 11 to 13 are from Wilpattu National Park.

Crested Serpent Eagle
Black Eagle
(කලුකුස්සා)
Ictinaetus malaiensis

My first sighting of this beauty was on the outskirts of Kithulgala. (image 2) 

I came across another inside the Eco Park in Habarana. This one was special as it landed on a tree. I assume it tried to catch something on the tree. What a beauty.

Black Eagle
Mountain Hawk-eagle
(හෙල කොන්ඩකුස්සා)
Nisaetus kelaarti

Photographed from far, this solitary photo is all I have of this magnificent bird. Based on the build, crest, iris colour, bands on the tail, I believe this is a Mountain Hawk-eagle.

Doubtful identification
Mountain Hawk-eagle
Changeable Hawk-eagle / Crested Hawk-Eagle (පෙරලි කොන්ඩකුස්සා)
Nisaetus cirrhatus

Seen at Kaudulla National Park this juvenile Changeable Hawk-eagle put up a superb show. I managed to capture photographs on 2 separate days and I believe it's the same bird. For some reason, it seems very familiar with vehicles and stayed close even when many jeeps passed by it. Images 10 and 11 are of another juvenile from Bundala National Park.

Images 12 and 13 are of an adult captured in Yala National Park. What a beauty especially with the crest.

Changeable Hawk-eagle
White-bellied Fish Eagle
(කුස-ඇලි සයුරුකුස්සා)
Haliaeetus leucogaster

First spotted at 'Anawilundawa', I was unable to take a picture while this majestic predator was sitting down high up in the canopy. There were two of them who were having a bit of a fight with crows. What an apex predator.

Image 2 is from Mannar. Images 3 to 4 are from the Inginiyagala water tank. Image 5 is from Yala National Park where it was inspecting a commotion going on between a Leopard and the Wild Bores.

Images 7 to 12 are from Wilpattu National Park.

White-bellied Sea Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
(රජ අලු-හිස් මසුකුස්සා)
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus

The first juvenile fish eagle (Image 1 to 4) was seen at 'Nawandankulama' tank on a gloomy day. As the lake's water has dried out, there were hardly any birds but this majestic predator made my trip to the location worthwhile.

 

I had a more close encounter with another juvenile inside Bundala National Park. This one was practising fishing although he was never any closer to actually catching one. Was totally ok with us being very close. What an encounter.

Images 8 and 9 are of an adult again from inside Bundala National Park.

Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Booted Eagle
(කෙසරුපා රාජාලියා)
Hieraaetus pennatus

Yet to capture image

Booted Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
(බොනෙල්ලි රාජාලියා)
Aquila fasciata

Yet to capture image

Vagrant species
Bonelli's Eagle
Egyptian Vulture
(ඊජිප්තු ගිජුලිහිනියා)
Neophron percnopterus

Yet to capture image

Vagrant species
Egyptian Vulture
Greater Spotted Eagle
Clanga clanga

Yet to capture image

Vagrant species
Greater Spotted Eagle
bottom of page