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| Yala National Park |
Saturday 11th, A very early start at 5.00 am getting into the safari jeeps, where I met the same driver, Newton from last year. I felt sure we would not be disappointed as he was excellent before. In my jeep we had Robbie a local guide while Lisle and Ashoka were in the other jeeps.
On the way to the park entrance we stopped several times sighting new birds for the trip, it was far dryer than on my two previous visits with some of the pools dried out. The birds came fast and it was hard keeping up with them. Photos are of just some of them.
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| Small Minivet |
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| Common Iora |
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| Orange-breasted Pigeon |
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| Sri Lanka Swallow (e) |
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| Peafowl |
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| Sri Lanka Woodshrike (e) |
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| Common Myna |
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| Green Forest Lizard |
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| Rosy Starling |
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| Jacobin Cuckoo |
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| Blue-faced Malkoha |
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| Indian Pond Heron |
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| Lesser (Tibetan) Sandplover |
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| Blue-tailed Bee-eater |
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| Chittal |
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| Great Thicknees |
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| Pacific Golden Plover |
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| Jerdons Bushlark |
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| Changeable Hawk Eagle |
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| Golden Jackal |
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| Asian Koel |
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| Malabar Pied Hornbill |
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| Indian Thicknee |
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| Grey-headed Fish Eagle |
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| Whiskered Terns |
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| Water Buffalo |
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| Asian Elephant |
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| Leopard |
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| Eurasian Spoonbill |
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| Oriental Darter |
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| Spot-billed Pelican |
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| Black-necked Hare |
The whole day was spent in the park covering Blocks 1 and 2, we returned to the hotel just as the light went.
Sunday 12th, Another early start and back into the jeeps. Today we went to a different part of the park known as Block 5, Newton was again the driver and Robbie the guide. On the road to the park we came across the elephant that was seen last year trying to hold up the traffic in the hope of food.
Also seen on the way was a point blank view of a Yellow-billed Babler and a Striped-necked Mongoose.
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| Yellow-billed Babler |
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| Stripe-necked Mongoose |
On arrival at the entrance to Block 5 we were greeted by a family of Tufted Grey Langurs
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| Tufted Grey Langurs |
Once inside the park we were treated to plenty of birds and more mammals.
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| Peafowl refusing to turn around |
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| Blue-tailed Bee-eater |
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| Common Lizard |
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| Land Monitor |
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| Painted Stork |
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| Sacred Ibis and Openbill |
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| Pied Kingfisher |
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| Common Kingfisher |
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| Cinnamon Bittern |
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| Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard |
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| Grey-bellied Cuckoo |
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| Barred Button-quail |
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| Coppersmith Barbet |
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| Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker |
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| Jerdon's Bushlark |
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| Indian Robin |
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| Crested Treeswift |
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| Leopard |
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
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| Star Tortoise |
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Yala Safari Jeep
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On the road back to the hotel in a heavy rain shower the elephant was still trying his luck
Monday 13th, another early start with a packed breakfast again. This morning we went to Bundala park. Last year the road was flooded but this year there was very little water with some pools dry so not as many birds as hoped for however we did see:-
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| Purple Heron |
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| Brown Shrike |
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| Plain Prinia |
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| Paddyfield Pipit |
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| Tri-coloured Munia |
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| Green Imperial Pigeon |
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| White-browed Babler |
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| Oriental Magpie Robin |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Tawny-bellied Babler |
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| Grey-breasted Prinia |
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| Great Thicknee |
The highlight of the park was this water hole teeming with birds.
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| Water hole |
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| Brahminy Kites |
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| Osprey |
We returned back to the hotel mid morning, packed our bags and set off for the highlands stopping on the way at the Ravana Ella Waterfall.
Lunch was had at a restaurant in Ella.
Arriving at our accommodation in Nuwara Eliya late afternoon.
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%20Honey%20Buzzard%2012-10-25.jpg)
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