Trogan, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Rollers and Hoopoe
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja rain forest.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja rain forest.
Photographed in the Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sinharaja rain forest.
Malabar Trogon / Ceylon Trogon
(ලොහවන්නිච්චියා)
Harpactes fasciatus
This handsome male was photographed in the outskirts of the Sinharaja rain forest. He was happily flying around together with a flock of Orange Billed Babblers in the morning. What beautiful colours.
Image 6 is of a female from Makandawa Forest Reserve, Kithulgala.
Photographed at the Thalangama lake.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Photographed at the Thalangama lake.
Stork-billed Kingfisher
(මූනතුඩු මැදි-පිලිහුඩුවා)
Pelargopsis capensis
The biggest of the Kingfishers in Sri Lanka, the Stork-billed is a majestic predator. Image 1 and 2 are from Wet Water Resort in Gampaha where I used to see them often.
Images 3 to 5 are from Thalangama lake. Image 6 is taken at Madu Ganga.
Photographed in the mashes surrounding Thalangama lake.
Photographed at the Kandy Lake.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Photographed in the mashes surrounding Thalangama lake.
White-throated Kingfisher / White-breasted Kingfisher (ළයසුදු මැදි-පිලිහුඩුවා)
Halcyon smyrnensis
This pair of White-throated Kingfishers were seen at Kandy lake. Probably a mom with a little one. Mom captured a small crab and gave it to the offspring. Then she watched over as the offspring learned how to eat the crab one piece at a time.
2nd set of images are also from near Kandy lake. Image 8 from the Valachena area.
Images 13 and 14 are special as it captures a skilful gobbling of a dragonfly. Photographed in the area surrounding Thalangama lake.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Black-capped Kingfisher / Black-capped Purple Kingfisher (කලු එසසි මැදි-පිලිහුඩුවා) Halcyon pileata
One of the most amazing moments of bird watching so far was the photos I took of this beauty. Photographed in Bundala National Park on a early morning, he put on an amazing display for me without flying off at once. I got even more lucky when a Common Kingfisher also came and landed on the same branch as if he was saying hi to the big brother. What an amazing bird and an amazing experience.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher / Indian Three-toed Kingfisher (පෙරදිගු රන්-පිලිහුඩුවා)
Ceyx erithaca
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Blue-eared Kingfisher
(නිල්-කන් පිලිහුඩුවා)
Alcedo meninting
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Photographed at the Kandy Lake.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Photographed in the outskirts of Sigiriya.
Common Kingfisher
(මල් පිලිහුඩුවා)
Alcedo atthis
1st images were taken in Kandy where he caught a little fish from the lake and consumed it. The low light in the shade makes the colour of his blue coat look different.
The next set of images is from the outskirts of Gampaha. He is a frequent visitor to the hotel I used to work and a busy little bird. Next set is from 'Madu Ganga'.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Hambanthota.
Photographed in the outskirts of Thalangama lake.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Pied Kingfisher
(ගෝමර පිලිහුඩුවා)
Ceryle rudis
These Pied Kingfishers hardly settle on the floor as they are frequently airborne and fishing. Image 1 is a picture taken from a distance at Shangri-La Resort, Hambanthota.
I came across 4 of these beauties sitting in a row on an electric wire in Gampaha. I have never seen them in a group so it must be a rare sight. Images 2 and 3 are from there.
Image 4 to 8 are from Bundala National Park where a couple was flying around together.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Weeravila.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Little Green Bee-eater
(පුන්චි බින්ගුහරයා)
Merops orientalis
The first images were taken at Bundala National Park. The next set of images (images 4 to 6) are from Yala National Park. One of the most beautiful little birds who are quite common in Sri Lanka.
Images 7 and 8 are from the outskirts of Kuchchaveli. What's interesting is the rusty crowns on these ones. Image 11 is interesting as it shows a flock of bee-eaters taking a sand bath in the evening.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
European Bee-eater
(යුරෝපීය බින්ගුහරයා)
Merops apiaster
Yet to capture image
Photographed in Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed in Wilpattu National Park.
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
(තම්බල-හිස බින්ගුහරයා)
Merops leschenaulti
1st photographed in Bundala National Park where they have gathered in numbers. In the evening I saw more than 9 of them in one tree but couldn't photograph them as the light was very low. What a beauty!
Images 8-10 are from Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed during river safari in Madu Ganga.
Photographed during river safari in Madu Ganga.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site.
Photographed during river safari in Madu Ganga.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
(නිල්-පෙඳ බින්ගුහරයා)
Merops philippinus
I met them on a beautiful morning in 'Madu Ganga' mangroves. There were many of them basking in the sun in the lagoon. Such beautiful colours.
Images 5 and 6 are from the outskirts of Bentota. Image 7 is from the Giants tank area close to Mannar. Image 8 is from Delft island. Image 9 is from the Kerawalapitiya garbage disposal site.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Chilaw.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Indian Roller
(දුම්බොන්නා)
Coracias benghalensis
First photographed in Chilaw on my way back to the hotel after a disappointing time at 'Anavilundawa' wetlands. It made my birding excursion worthwhile on that day.
I came across this beautiful bird again in Hambanthota inside the Shangri-La Hotel on a cloudy evening. It was quite ok with me hovering around its vantage point. It's even more beautiful in flight.
The last set of images (images 5 to 8) is from Chundikulam National Park where this majestic beauty gave me some perfect shots.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Dollarbird / Broad-billed Roller
(දුම්කාවා)
Eurystomus orientalis
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Jaffna.
Photographed in the outskirts of Jaffna.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Jaffna.
Eurasian Hoopoe / Hoopoe
(පොදු පෝරලුවා)
Upupa epops
First seen at Yala National Park and photographed with a point-and-shoot camera, I was so angry with the stupid vehicle drivers at Yala for chasing it away before I could take a decent picture. I hoped I would get a chance to see one again soon and what a chance I got in Jaffna. There was a pair of them and one gave me some beautiful shots up-close.
What a beautiful bird.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.