Nilgala is a part of the Gal Oya National Park that situated in the Uva Avifaunal Zone. It is one of the best places to watch some bird species which are restricted to the Uva avifaunal zone. Therefore, annual field visit to Nilgala is always a high demand field trip. A team of 25 FOGSL members headed by Prof. Sarath Kotagama participated in the Field visit for 2009 from 3rd to 6th July.
FOGSL team camped at the Nilgala Beat office and had good opportunity to observe birds in several habitat types including dry pathana and riverine forest. Visiting the ‘Makara’, the famous place where Gal Oya River goes underground, was an unforgettable experience to members.
Area was in dry condition due to lack of rain in the recent past. Forest fires in the Pathana area in dry period was a frequent event. It is evident that, due to these forest fires, bird life of the area was affected. However, members were able to record a total of 94 species including five endemics during the four day period. Although some of the ‘most wanted’ species such as Painted Francolin, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and Blue-eared Kingfisher were missed, members got the opportunity to fill the gap by observing many other wildlife including elephants. 
Participants: Prof. S.W. Kotagama, Mrs. Thena Perera, Mr. Chameera Seneviratne, Mrs. Nioli Weerasinha, Mr. Ravi Deraniyagala, Mr. Nanda Siriwardhane, Dr. Newton Jayawardhana, Miss. Madubashini Jayawardhana, Miss. Ayanthi Samarajeewa, Mr. Sanjeewa Ariyaratne, Mr. Mohamad Faris, Mr. Sudarshan Zoysa, Mrs. Cheryl Silva, Mr. Rohan Kaththiriarachchi, Mr. Mahitha Kaththiriarachchi, Mr. Ashoka Jayasekara, Mr. G. Herath, Miss. Yuraji Karunaratne, Mrs. Sujatha Mayadunnage, Ms. H.M.N.G.S.C. Bandara, Mr. Thilantha S. Abesinha, Mr. Sanjeewa Udawatta, Mr. Kusum Fernando, Mr. A. Nashath B. Hafi, Mr. Indrika Pradeepa
List of Birds recorded
Sri Lanka Spurfowl
Indian Peafowl
Cattle Egret
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Crested Serpent-eagle
Shikra
Common Buzzard
Black Eagle
White-breasted Waterhen
Barred Buttonquail
Red-wattled Lapwing
Spotted Dove
Emerald Dove
Orange-breasted Green-pigeon
Pompadour Green-pigeon
Green Imperial-pigeon
Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Sri Lanka Emerald-collared Parakeet
Indian Cuckoo
Drongo Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Blue-faced Malkoha
Sirkeer Malkoha
Greater Coucal
Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
Jungle Owlet
Jerdon's Nightjar
Indian Swiftlet
Crested Treeswift
Malabar Trogon
Stork-billed Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Black-backed Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Little Green Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Brown-headed Barbet
Crimson-fronted Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Brown-capped Woodpecker
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker
Rufous Woodpecker
Streak-throated Woodpecker
Greater Flameback
Common Iora
Common Woodshrike
Large Cuckooshrike
Black-headed Cuckooshrike
Small Minivet
Scarlet Minivet
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Black-hooded Oriole
White-bellied Drongo
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
White-browed Fantail
Black-naped Monarch
Asian Paradise-flycatcher
Great Tit
Red-rumped Swallow
Jerdon's Bushlark
Zitting Cisticola
Grey-breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Black-crested Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
White-browed Bulbul
Yellow-browed Bulbul
Asian Black Bulbul
Common Tailorbird
Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler
Tawny-bellied Babbler
Dark-fronted Babbler
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Yellow-billed Babbler
Oriental White-eye
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Hill Myna
Common Myna
Oriental Magpie-robin
White-rumped Shama
Indian Robin
Tickell's Blue-flycatcher
Jerdon's Leafbird
Thick-billed Flowerpecker
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Scaly-breasted Munia
Paddyfield Pipit
Photos and Bird List: Indrika Pradeepa
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