Smaller Herons and Bitterns
Photographed in the outskirts of Matara.
Photographed in the paddy fields near Malabe.
Photographed in the outskirts of Weeravila.
Photographed in the outskirts of Matara.
Indian Pond Heron
(කන-කොකා)
Ardeola grayii
One of the most common herons in Sri Lanka, these guys can be seen almost everywhere in the country.
Image 1 taken at Yala national park. 2nd near paddy fields in Malabe. Next ones at 'Madu Ganga'.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Chinese Pond Heron
(චීන කන-කොකා)
Ardeola bacchus
Yet to capture image
Photographed around Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.
Photographed around Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.
Photographed around Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.
Photographed around Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.
Striated Heron / Little Green Heron
(කඩොල්-කොකා)
Butorides striata
This hunter was seen in the water way next to Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.
Photographed close to the watering hole inside the Dehiwala Zoo.
Photographed close to the watering hole inside the Dehiwala Zoo.
Photographed at Lunugamwehera National Park.
Photographed close to the watering hole inside the Dehiwala Zoo.
Black-crowned Night-Heron / Night Heron
(රෑ-කොකා)
Nycticorax nycticorax
Seen near the water hole inside the Dehiwala Zoo. There is a large colony of these ones inside the zoo. The 3rd picture is of a juvenile heron. It's amazing how they completely change when they become adults.
Images 7 and 8 of juveniles photographed in Diyawanna Oya area. Images 9 and 10 are from Lunugamwehera National Park.
Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Malayan Night-Heron / Malay Bittern
(මලයා තම්බල-කොකා)
Gorsachius melanolophus
This very rare beauty is Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala. It's a very shy bird who was very conscious about me getting closer and the photos had to be taken very far away. What a find.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kataragama.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kataragama.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kataragama.
Yellow Bittern
(කහ මෙති-කොකා)
Ixobrychus sinensis
First photographed at Bundala National Park, this small bittern is a beauty. How he wags his tail when hunting is very amusing.
Images 6 to 8 are from Bundala National Park. Images 9 to 13 are of a juvenile photographed in the outskirts of Kataragama.
Photographed in the Weerawila tank area.
Photographed in the Weerawila tank area.
Photographed in the Weerawila tank area.
Photographed in the Weerawila tank area.
Cinnamon Bittern / Chestnut Bittern
(කහබොර මෙති-කොකා)
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
After waiting patiently for a long time for it to come out, I was able to photograph this shy and rare species in the Weerawila tank area. It was done over 2 mornings. Its a master of staying still so that it gets hidden among the swamps leaf's and debris. What a beauty!
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Black Bittern
(කලු පිලි-කොකා)
Dupetor flavicollis
First seen at a small pond in Kuchchaveli, this beautiful bird took flight as soon as I was a little too close.
Image 4 is from the outskirts of Gampaha.