Last updated: 7th March 2023
Sri Lanka 2017
5th - 28th March 2017
This birding and wildlife photography trip was in reality two trips back-to-back. The first part consisted of an organised ten-field day nature photographing trip with a group of Norwegian photographers arranged by Kina Travel in Oslo. The second part consisted of a nine day custom birding trip with local guide which was arranged directly through Birding Sri Lanka and planned with an emphasis on seeing and photographing as many of Sri Lanka's endemic bird species as possible. Thanks to the Birding Sri Lanka guide, all 33 endemic species and 24 of Sri Lanka's endemic subspecies were seen and photographed. The rarest and most difficult species including Serendib Scops-Owl, Sri Lanka Thrush and Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush would have been impossible to find without the excellent bird guide, who also easily found other rare species including Pied Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher.
A selection of mammal and reptile images from this trip can be found under the Mammals and Reptiles menus.
![]() Indian Peafowl(Pavo cristatus) displaying male - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Peafowl(Pavo cristatus) male - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 | ![]() Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl(Gallus lafayettii) endemic species and Sri Lanka's national bird, male - Singharaja 20th March 2017 |
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![]() Orange-breasted Pigeon(Treron bicinctus leggei) endemic subspecies, female - Yala NP 13th March 2017 | ![]() Green-billed Coucal(Centropus chlororhynchos) endemic species - Singharaja 21st March 2017 | ![]() Greater Coucal(Centropus sinensis parroti) - Kitulgala 19th March 2017 |
![]() Pied Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus jacobinus) - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 | ![]() Asian Koel(Eudynamys scolopaceus scolopaceus) female - Yala NP 13th March 2017 | ![]() Sri Lanka Frogmouth(Batrachostomus moniliger) female - Singharaja 21st March 2017 |
![]() Grey-headed Swamphen(Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Grey-headed Swamphen(Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Watercock(Gallicrex cinerea) - Tissa 22nd March 2017 |
![]() Slaty-legged Crake(Rallina eurizonoides amauroptera) - Singharaja 22 March 2017 | ![]() Great Thick-knee(Esacus recurvirostris) - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 | ![]() Black-winged Stilt(Himantopus himantopus) - Cinnamon Wild, Yala 14th March 2017 |
![]() Yellow-wattled Lapwing(Vanellus malabaricus) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Red-wattled Lapwing(Vanellus indicus lankae) - Yala 23rd March 2017 | ![]() Red-wattled Lapwing(Vanellus indicus lankae) - Tissa 24th March 2017 |
![]() Lesser Sand-Plover(Charadrius mongolus atrifrons) non-breeding plumage - Cinnamon Wild, Yala 14th March 2017 | ![]() Lesser Sand-Plover(Charadrius mongolus atrifrons) non-breeding plumage - Yala 12th March 2017 | ![]() Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus seebohmi) - Yala 13th March 2017 |
![]() Pheasant-tailed Jacana(Hydrophasianus chirurgus) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Pin-tailed Snipe(Gallinago stenura) - Horton Plains 11th March 2017 | ![]() Little Stint(Calidris minuta) non-breeding plumage - Cinnamon Wild, Yala 14th March 2017 |
![]() Marsh Sandpiper(Tringa stagnatilis) non-breeding plumage - Cinnamon Wild, Yala 14th March 2017 | ![]() Wood Sandpiper(Tringa glareola) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Whiskered Tern(Chlidonias hybrida hybrida) non-breeding plumage - Yala 23rd March 2017 |
![]() Whiskered Tern(Chlidonias hybrida hybrid) non-breeding plumage - 9th March 2017 | ![]() Whiskered Tern(Chlidonias hybrida hybrid) non-breeding plumage - 9th March 2017 | ![]() Asian Openbill(Anastomus oscitans) - Yala NP 13th March 2017 |
![]() Woolly-necked Stork(Ciconia episcopus episcopus) - Wilpattu NP 6th March 2017 | ![]() Lesser Adjutant(Leptoptilos javanicus) - Minneriya NP 9th March 2017 | ![]() Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala) - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 |
![]() Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala) - Wilpattu NP 6th March 2017 | ![]() Oriental Darter(Anhinga melanogaster) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Cormorant(Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) adult - Garadu Gaga, Mirissa 15th March 2017 |
![]() Indian Cormorant(Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) juvenile - Garadu Gaga, Mirissa 15th March 2017 | ![]() Spot-billed Pelican(Pelecanus philippensis) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Spot-billed Pelican(Pelecanus philippensis) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 |
![]() Yellow Bittern(Ixobrychus sinensis) - Tissa 24th March 2017 | ![]() Purple Heron(Ardea purpurea manilensis) - Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana 10th March 2017 | ![]() Intermediate Egret(Ardea intermedia intermedia) - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 |
![]() Little Egret(Egretta garzetta garzetta) - near Habarana 9th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Pond-Heron(Ardeola grayii) non-breeding plumage - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 | ![]() Indian Pond-Heron(Ardeola grayii) non-breeding plumage - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 |
![]() Striated Heron(Butorides striata chloriceps) - Garadu Gaga, Mirissa 15th March 2017 | ![]() Crested Serpent-Eagle(Spilornis cheela spilogaster) endemic subspecies - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 | ![]() Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) endemic subspecies, adult - Yala NP 12th March 2017 |
![]() Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) endemic subspecies, adult - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) endemic subspecies, adult with Common Myna pullus - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) endemic subspecies, juvenile - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 |
![]() Brahimy Kite(Haliastur indus indus) - Wilpattu NP 6th March 2017 | ![]() Brahminy Kite(Haliastur indus indus) - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 | ![]() White-bellied Sea-Eagle(Haliaeetus leucogaster) juvenile - Minneriya NP 9th March 2017 |
![]() Gray-headed Fish-Eagle(Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) - Minneriya NP 8th March 2017 | ![]() Gray-headed Fish-Eagle(Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 | ![]() Brown Fish Owl(Ketupa zeylonensis zeylonensis) endemic subspecies - Minneriya NP 8th March 2017 |
![]() Jungle Owlet(Glaucidium radiatum radiatum) - Between Tissa and Nuwara Eliya 24th March 2017 | ![]() Chestnut-backed Owlet(Glaucidium castanotum) endemic species - between Kitulgala and Singharaja 18th March 2017 | ![]() Malabar Trogon(Harpactes fasciatus fasciatus) male with missing tail feathers - Singharaja 20th March 2017 |
![]() Malabar Pied Hornbill(Anthracoceros coronatus) - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 | ![]() Common Kingfisher(Alcedo atthis taprobana) male - Yala NP 13th March 2017 | ![]() Common Kingfisher(Alcedo atthis taprobana) male - Yala NP 14th March 2017 |
![]() Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher(Ceyx erithaca erithaca) - Kitulgala 18th March 2017 | ![]() Stork-billed Kingfisher(Pelargopsis capensis capensis) - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 | ![]() White-throated Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis fusca) - Wilpattu NP 6th March 2017 |
![]() Green Bee-eater(Merops orientalis orientalis) with dragonfly - Yala NP 13th March 2017 | ![]() Green Bee-eater(Merops orientalis orientalis) - Wilpattu NP 6th March 2017 | ![]() Green Bee-eater(Merops orientalis orientalis) - Wilpattu NP 7th March 2017 |
![]() Blue-tailed Bee-eater(Merops philippinus) - Minneriya NP 9th March 2017 | ![]() Blue-tailed Bee-eater(Merops philippinus) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Chestnut-headed Bee-eater(Merops leschenaulti leschenaulti) - Wilpattu 7th March 2017 |
![]() Indian Roller(Coracias benghalensis indicus) - Tissa area 22nd March 2017 | ![]() Brown-headed Barbet(Psilopogon zeylanicus zeylanicus) - Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana 10th March 2017 | ![]() Rose-ringed Parakeet(Psittacula krameri manillensis) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 |
![]() Rose-ringed Parakeet(Psittacula krameri manillensis) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Pitta(Pitta brachyuran) - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 25th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Paradise-Flycatcher(Terpsiphone paradisi) female - Yala NP 13th March 2017 |
![]() Brown Shrike(Lanius cristatus lucionensis) juvenile male - Yala NP 12th March 2017 | ![]() Large-billed Crow(Corvus macrorhynchos culminates) - Negombo 17th March 2017 | ![]() Jerdon's Bushlark(Mirafra affinis) - Yala NP 23rd March 2017 |
![]() Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler(Elaphrornis palliseri) endemic species - Horton Plains 25th March 2017 | ![]() Red-vented Bulbul(Pycnonotus cafer) - Negombo 16th March 2017 | ![]() Yellow-eared Bulbul(Pycnonotus penicillatus) endemic species - Horton Plains 25th March 2017 |
![]() Dark-fronted Babbler(Rhopocichla atriceps nigrifrons) wet zone endemic subspecies - Kitulgala 19th March 2017 | ![]() Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler(Pomatorhinus melanurus) endemic species - Singharaja 20th March 2017 | ![]() Brown-capped Babbler(Pellorneum fuscocapillus fuscocapillus or scortillum) wet zone subspecies of this endemic species - Kitulgala 19th March 2017 |
![]() Yellow-billed Babbler(Argya affinis taprobanus) Singharaja - 19th March 2017 | ![]() Yellow-billed Babbler(Argya affinis taprobanus) juvenile - Negombo 17th March 2017 | ![]() Common Myna(Acridotheres tristis melanosternus) - Yala NP 12th March 2017 |
![]() Pied Thrush(Geokichla wardii) male - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 26th March 2017 | ![]() Pied Thrush(Geokichla wardii) female - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 26th March 2017 | ![]() Spot-winged Thrush(Geokichla spiloptera) endemic species - Kitulgala 18th March 2017 |
![]() Brown-breasted Flycatcher(Muscicapa muttui) juvenile - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 25th March 2017 | ![]() Brown-breasted Flycatcher(Muscicapa muttui) - Singharaja 20th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Robin(Copsychus fulicatus leucopterus) endemic subspecies - near Habarana 8th March 2017 |
![]() Oriental Magpie-Robin(Copsychus saularis ceylonensis) male - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 25th March 2017 | ![]() Oriental Magpie-Robin(Copsychus saularis ceylonensis) female - Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 25th March 2017 | ![]() Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher(Cyornis tickelliae jerdoni) endemic subspecies, male - Kitulgala 18th March 2017 |
![]() Dull Blue Flycatcher(Eumyias sordidus) endemic species - Horton Plains 11th March 2017 | ![]() Dull Blue Flycatcher(Eumyias sordidus) endemic species - Horton Plains 11th March 2017 | ![]() Indian Blue Robin(Larvivora brunnea brunnea) - Horton Plains 25th March 2017 |
![]() Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush(Myophonus blighi) endemic species - near Nuwara Eliya 24th March 2017 | ![]() Kashmir Flycatcher(Ficedula subrubra) adult male - Hakgala Botanic Gardens, near Nuwara Eliya 26th March 2017 | ![]() Paddyfield Pipit(Anthus rufulus rufulus) - near Tissa 23th March 2017 |
![]() Paddyfield Pipit(Anthus rufulus rufulus) - Horton Plains 25th March 2017 |