Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills
Photographed in Vankalai, Mannar.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Matara.
Photographed in Vankalai, Mannar.
Painted Stork
(ලතුවැකියා)
Mycteria leucocephala
First, this beauty was photographed at Bundala National Park. (Images 1 and 2)
There were many of them in Vankalai as well as in different lagoons in Jaffna. A beautiful stork although quite common in the dry zone lagoons.
Images 6 and 7 are of a parent looking after the eggs in the nest from Yala National Park. Multiple levels of protection by building the nest in the lake among lots of thorns.
Image 8 and 9 are storks soaking in the sun.
Photographed in the outskirts of Colombo.
Photographed in the outskirts of Colombo.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Colombo.
Asian Openbill / Openbill
(ආසියා විවරතුඩුවා)
Anastomus oscitans
First photographed near the Aththidiya wetlands. This bird with its unique bill is quite common in all lowland parts of the country. Image 3 was taken on the road to Jaffna from Mannar.
Image 4 is of a large congregation of these beauties gathered at 'Kala Wewa' National Park. Image 5 is from Yala National Park where it was skillfully eating a snail.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Photographed inside the Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed inside the Yala National Park.
Photographed inside the Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed inside the Wilpattu National Park.
Woolly-necked Stork / White-necked Stork
(පැදිලි මානාවා)
Ciconia episcopus
First seen at Yala National Park and first photographed with my point-and-shoot. I came across another pair again at Yala. (Images 3 and 4)
Images 5 and 15 are from Wilpattu National Park capturted during 2 separate trips.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Juvenile photographed in Yala National Park.
Photographed in Yala National Park.
Black-necked Stork
(අලි-මානාවා)
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
One of the rarest birds in Sri Lanka in terms of population although one can frequently see them at Yala National Park. The adults look so majestic while the juveniles are yet to reach the peak plumage. Managed to photograph them only after many visits to Yala.
Photographed inside the Kawdulla National Park during a late evening.
Photographed inside the Kawdulla National Park during a late evening.
Photographed inside the Kawdulla National Park during a late evening.
Photographed inside the Kawdulla National Park during a late evening.
Lesser Adjutant
(හීන් බහුරු-මානාවා)
Leptoptilos javanicus
Seen at Kaudulla National Park, this weirdo was photographed in low light. Hence the poor quality of the images. It has the most menacing face of any bird species seen in Sri Lanka. Hope to see one again under better conditions for a better photo.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Glossy Ibis
(සිලුටු දත්තුඩුවා)
Plegadis falcinellus
A large number of these beautiful birds have come down this year (2019 January) and they were seen both in Mannar and in Jaffna. Breeding bird has more colour and the blue eye patch while the juveniles are a bit duller. Photographed in Vankalai in Mannar.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the paddy fields near Malabe.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Black-headed Ibis / White Ibis
(ඉන්දු සුදු දෑකැත්තා)
Threskiornis melanocephalus
These are one of the strangest looking birds around. The unique black head with its beak is custom made for his diet in the marshes. Quite common across the country the photographs are from both wet and the dry zone.
Images 5 onwards are from a nesting site in Diyawanna Oya. In one instance, 2 babies fought for food until one was thrown out of the nest. The victor got the food and the loser survived falling into the water below. But I fear the survival prospects for the fallen baby was slim.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed inside the Yala National Park.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Eurasian Spoonbill / Spoonbill
(යුරේසියා හැඳිඅලාවා)
Platalea leucorodia
First seen at Yala National Park and photographed with my point-and-shoot.
I came across a small flock of them resting mid-day in Bundala National Park. The specialist bill stands out.