Birding at Hiyare forest, Galle

FOGSL organised another successful field visit for its members from 19th to 21st September. Hiyare forest reserve that located close to Galle city was the destination of this trip. A manmade reservoir and the adjacent lowland rainforest create ideal location for bird watching. Accommodation facility was provided at the visitor center managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Galle. Birding at the rain forest and boating in the reservoir made this an unforgettable trip. Members were able to visit Rumassala and Kanneliya forest reserve for birding during the three day period.
Participants: Miss. Ayanthi Samarajeewa, Miss. Madubashini Jayawardhane, Miss. Yuraji Karunaratne, Miss. N.R. Dilani, Doctor Newton Jayawardhana, Mr. A.S.M. Rufki, Mr. Chameera Senevirathne, Mr. C.R.I. Gomez, Mr. Carl Fernando, Mr. Kusum Fernando, Mr. Indrika Pradeepa


The list of birds recorded at the Hiyare forest .

Sri Lanka Spurfowl
Lesser Whistling-teal
Lesser Yellownape
Black–rumped Flameback
Grater Flameback
Brown-headed Barbet
Sri Lanka Yellow-fronted Barbet
Common Kingfisher
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Asian Koel
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Asian Palm-Swift
Crested Tree-swift
Forest Eagle-Owl
Brown Wood-Owl
Sri Lanka Chestnut backed Owlet
Frogmouth
Spotted Dove
Emerald Dove
Pompadour Green-Pigeon
Green Imperial Pigeon
White-breasted Waterhen
Red-wattled Lapwing
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Oriental Darter
Little Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Jerdon`s Chloropsis
Black-hooded Oriole
Scarlet Minivet
White-bellied Drongo
Crested Drongo
Black-naped Monarch
Large-billed Crow
Jungle Crow
Common Iora
Common Myna
Hill Myna
Red-rumped Swallow
Black-capped Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
White-browed Bulbul
Yelow-browed Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler
Sri Lanka Legge`s Flowerpecker
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Purple Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Scaly-breasted Munia


Indrika Pradeepa provided the bird list and photos. FOGSL acknowledges Mr. Madura De Silva, President, Wildlife Conservation Society of Galle and its members for providing facilities at the center and conducting an awareness sessions, and Mr. Uditha Wijesena for helping to organize the trip.

Kassapa Lion’s Rock: Sri Lanka’s latest ‘Bird Friendly Hotel’

Kassapa Lion’s Rock, a hotel situated in the vicinity of Sigiriya rock fortress accepted the Bird Friendly concept recently. This is the latest hotel that joined with the chain of Bird friendly tourism ventures in the island. The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), which introduced the ‘Bird Friendly Concept’ to Sri Lankan hospitality industry, conducted a workshop to introduce the concept to the staff of the hotel. The workshop was held at the Kassapa Lion’s Rock Hotel from 12th to 14th September. The workshop included lectures, field activities, bird watching sessions, video shows, etc. Staff members and also some guests participated in this workshop. Prof. S.W. Kotagama and C.D. Kaluthota conducted lectures on specialized themes to introduce the Bird Friendly Concept. Kasun Dayanada and Indrika Pradeepa assisted FOGSL team to make this event successful. Mr. Rathnayake, who was in the forefront to organise this event did a great task. FOGSL highly appreciates Mr. Nilan Wickremasinghe, chairman of the company, for his willingness to accept the ‘Bird Friendly Concept’.

‘Sri Lanka Birds’ in the month of August

‘Sri Lanka Birds’ web based data entry system for Sri Lanka completed another successful month by the end of August. A short summary of the results obtained during the month of August is given in this report. This analysis is based on the data downloaded on 12th September 2008.

Another five members registered in the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ system during the month of August. Therefore the total membership of the system was grown up to 168 at the end of the month. We warmly welcome new members to the ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ community.

The number of observations for the month of August was 1602. A total of 186 species were recorded in the system during this period. Our members were able to record 23 of the 26 definitive endemic species and all seven proposed endemic species in the system during the month of August. A total of 12 migrant species were recorded although it is very beginning of the migrant season 2008/09.

A total of 18 nesting records were entered in the system during the month. Observations of nesting were of nine species, i.e. Brahminy Kite, Common Tailorbird, Greater Flameback, House Crow, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Yellow billed Babbler, Little Cormorant, Intermediate and Great Egrets.

As in previous months, Red-vented Bulbul (56) was the mostly recorded species during the month of August. Yellow-billed Babbler (47), Spotted Dove (47), Common Myna (47), White-throated Kingfisher (46) and House Crow (46) were the next mostly recorded species (and number of observations).

A total of 43 locations were visited during August by ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ members. Highest number of observations was made at Ragama (206). As in many previous months, Sinharaja forest reserve was the most visited area while a total of 265 observations came from three different locations in the reserve.

Member Rahula Perera made the highest number of Observations (527) as in the last month. Members Newton Jayawardena (427) and Sashi Siriwardena (265) contributed to the system by recording next highest number of observations for the month of August.

Current statistics describing the number of field visits, number of observations and bird species, as well as the number of users registered in the system, are displayed on the login page of ‘Sri Lanka Birds’ - www.worldbirds.org/srilanka .

We would like to thank all the members for entering their valuable observations into Sri Lanka Birds. We highly appreciate the contributions of members towards conservation of birds through this initiative.

Administrator of “Sri Lanka Birds”

Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka