Saturday, November 29, 2008

Birding at Kithulgala forests – A memorable experience


FOGSL members participated in another successful field visit at Kithulgala from 21st to 23rd November. Kithulgala forest is a convenient location for bird watching since it is located in a short distance from Colombo. Being a lowland rain forest, Kithulgala provides an excellent habitat for many birds. Although it was rainy during the period, our members were able to record sixty six species including nine endemics. Visiting the Belilena caves, where fossils of more than 32,000 years old discovered, was an unforgettable experience. The long trek through the jungle to reach this cave provided real outdoor experience as well as opportunity for birding.
Participants: Mr. A.S.M. Rufki, Ms. Indika Amali, Mr. Chandima, Mr. Nirmal Ranasinghe, Mr. Niren Ranasinghe, Mr. P. Fernando, Ms. S. Fernando, Mr. Niranjan Bandaranayaka, Mr G. Herath, Mr. C.R.I. Gomez, Miss. Nimalka Sanjeewanee, Miss. Kashmy Sadanayake, Mr. Sugathsiri Bandara and Mr. Indrika Pradeepa.

List of birds recorded during the visit
Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii)
Indian Pond-heron (Ardeola grayii)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Spotted Dove (Stigmatopelia chinensis)
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Pompadour Green-pigeon (Treron pompadora)
Green Imperial-pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot (Loriculus beryllinus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Sri Lanka Emerald-collared Parakeet (Psittacula calthropae)
Sri Lanka Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus)
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus)
Asian Palm-swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
Little Swift (Apus affinis)
Crested Treeswift (Hemiprocne coronata)
Malabar Trogon (Harpactes fasciatus)
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaultia)
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis)
Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica)
Sri Lanka Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima flavifrons)
Crimson-fronted Barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus)
Rufous Woodpecker (Celeus brachyurus)
Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense)
Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura)
Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Asian Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradise)
Jungle Crow (Corvus levaillantii)
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Yellow-browed Bulbul (Iole indica)
Asian Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
Large-billed Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus magnirostris)
Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus)
Dark-fronted Babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps)
Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens)
Yellow-billed Babbler (Turdoides affinis)
Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera imbricata)
Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)
Brown-breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui)
Tickell's Blue-flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae)
Jerdon’s Leafbird (Chloropsis jerdoni)
Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile)
Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)
Purple-rumped Sunbird (Nectarinia zeylonica)
White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)


Indrika Pradeepa provided the bird list and photos. FOGSL acknowledges Mr. Padmasiri and his staff at the Ceylon Adventure Sports, Kithulgala for facilitate FOSGL team during the period.

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