Photographed at Nilgala inside the Galoya National Park.
Photographed at Nilgala inside the Galoya National Park.
Photographed at Nilgala inside the Galoya National Park.
Photographed at Nilgala inside the Galoya National Park.
Painted Francolin / Painted Partridge
(තිත් වටු-කුකුලා)
Francolinus pictus
This extremely rare beauty can only be seen at Nilgala inside the Galoya National Park. Very shy and elusive, I was very lucky to capture a photo of a male in the open. As they are ground dwellers, they are very cautious. Critically endangered in Sri Lanka, this beauty made my long trip to Nilgala worth it.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed in Mannar.
Photographed in Mannar.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Grey Francolin / Indian Grey Partridge
(අලු වටු-කුකුලා)
Francolinus pondicerianus
These very shy birds were seen at Mannar and quite by chance. I didn't see them first and after I took the pictures, I tried many more time to get a better image that trip but couldn't as they run into the bush for the slightest movement.
Came across many more of them in Chundikulam, Jaffna where they seem to be much more common than Mannar. Images 4 to 8 are from Jaffna. What beautiful birds who hang-out in small flocks.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Rain Quail
(වැහි පිරිවටුවා)
Coturnix coromandelica
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Blue-breasted Quail
(ළය-නිල් පිරිවටුවා)
Excalfactoria chinensis
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Nilgala forest.
Photographed in the outskirts of Nilgala forest.
Photographed in the outskirts of Nilgala forest.
Jungle Bush Quail
(වන පඳුරු-වටුවා)
Perdicula asiatica
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Small Buttonquail
(පොදු පිරිවටුවා)
Turnix sylvaticus
Yet to capture image
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Barred Buttonquail / Bustard Quail
(බෝල වටුවා)
Turnix suscitator
Photographed first at Bundala National Park, the female in image 1 was very shy as she ran away back into the bushes very fast.
Came across a couple of them later at the outskirts of the Yala National Park. It was at dusk when I saw them and the light was not great. Hence I had to use a defused flasher to take a decent picture.
Photographed on the border of Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Photographed on the border of Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Photographed on the border of Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Photographed on the border of Sinharaja Rain Forest.
After 5 attempts, success at last in photographing these amazing birds. They are notoriously shy and will disappear at the slightest disturbance. Also in the gloom of the rainforest floor, capturing details adds another challenge.
This beautiful male and female were photographed after trying 3 days in the same spot. Then also they were gone within like 3 minutes.
Photographed on the outskirts of Nilgala Forest Reserve..
Photographed on the outskirts of Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Photographed at Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed on the outskirts of Nilgala Forest Reserve..
The national bird of Sri Lanka was first seen at the outskirts of the Sinharaja rainforest. Although normally they are very shy, in villages around Sinharaja, they have got used to human dwellings and can be seen around houses. The female is brown in colour.
Images 5 and 6 are of two males from Bundala National Park. Image 7 is from Nilgala Forest Reserve. Images 8 and 9 are from Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
India Peafowl
(මොනරා)
Pavo cristatus
First seen at Yala National Park where many of the males were putting on this display. The park was in bloom after rains and the mating season had started. More images include ones from Bundala National Park.
Although on books India Peafowl is not expected in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, these guys are superb in adapting to the changing conditions and now are seen all over the country. They have become a pest to many farmers.
Pest or not, one has to admit that these guys are the prettiest around when it comes to putting on a show of colours.