Booted Eagle(Hieraaetus pennatus) is a fairly rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka. It is usually found in open woodlands and forested habitats in countyrside usually seen soring high. But it is seen time to time in skies of adjoining areas of Colombo too. All my sightings in later areas, including my home town- Nugegoda were made when a single bird soring very high up.(But there had been a bird alighted at Talangama Lake seen and captured by bird photographers recently in a prevoius season.) My self and Mekhala visited now so popular migratory bird hotspot Kerawalapitiya marshes for the first time for 2023-24 migratory season on 25.10.2023 and encountered A Booted Eagle in a very close level to the ground. It appeared several times over the marsh, but later it kept flying about 30ft or less over the garbage mound, which becomes my finest and closest observation in Colombo adjoining indutrial areas. I believe this to be an immature bird of pale morph.

We came across a flock of (Numenius phaeopus) (at least 6 birds) at Kosgoda beach (Galle district, southern province, wet zone) on 31.05.2023 while returning home from a trip. I thought of sharing this observation as it is quite interesting to see them at this time of the year after the winter migratory season, though they can be loitering in certain coastal wetlands of the island. Whimbrel is a winter visitor to Sri Lanka mainly to the dry zone coastal areas, as in the wet zone they are rare and seen very locally. Further observations on the populations of this taxon in wet zone as well as populations during off- season should be carried out. [It was sad to see the plastic debris surrounds the bird when I captured it, but the rest of the general beach was clean and fine]

In 2023 also resident BWS population in Pepiliyana wetland kept breeding. I first noted few nests when I visited the site on 22nd April. Visited the site on 25th and 26th April as well where female parent birds were sitting on at least 3 nests. Eggs were also seen time to time what the number I believed to be 4 in each. [observed through the field scope from a distance where I managed to see the eggs only during brief movements of birds. Images are also digi-scoped]. As same as the last years, I learnt from a regular farmer there that they safely restored the nests after they set up the fields using tractors. Luckily with the enthusiasm created farmers would notice these nests before they plough the fields wafter which they restored them upon the completion of setting up the fields. It's amazing that the parent birds return to the nestimmediately after such heavy work is taken place at their nesting sites. This proves the role of awareness and enthusism created in community in conservation while showing evidence of the symbiosis between human and nature as well as the importance of urban wetlands in Colombo.

Pouring rains commenced on 29th April and 1st May as monsoon starts. I wondered whether the nests would have been flushed in the fields and managed to visit the site on 5th May on which I was delighted to see 2 nests remaining safely along with the birds sitting on them. The fields were getting slightly greeny on that day. Mekhala joined me in some of these visits.[please, continue reading below for prevoius sightings and the introduction in the first note]  

[Contd. from my previous observations, which follows next and below]

The Two chicks that I was observing were well grown in my next visit on 10th June 2022 to the site, and were seen being well developed in flying skills as well as some sort of vocalization. They showed a scalloped plumage on upperparts with one individual being darker (I belive it to be a male, which needs further studies). I have seen few individuals in similar stage of development time to time during the migratory season here as well. Today both parent birds were seen in assoociation with the chicks, yet the female adult kept closer taking care of them. Noteworthily another family of Stilts appeared later and joined others that I beleive having been bred in other side of the marsh.  

In 2022 also I was able to see Black- winged Stilts breeding in Pepiliyana wetland as similar as last year (see below description). On 24th April 1-2 pairs were seen selecting nesting sites followed by my next visit on 3rd May, when there were 3 nests with adult birds incubating. Like last year, farmers had left nests undistroyed after setting up the fields. To my excitement on my next visit to the site on 22.05.22 I managed to see two fledged baby birds feeding busily in the late afternoon. A single parent bird was seen taking care of them , but from a distance, leaving them feed alone. In our next visit on 1st June, 2022 we were happy to see the both chicks again who had grown up to about half the size of the adult bird. They were seen in association with the parent bird.  

Black- winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) represents in Sri Lanka as both resident and migratory populations. The breeding population is mainly found in the dry zone while resident birds are local in the wet zone. Overall, the numbers highly increase in the whole range of the island during the migratory season from around October to April, each year. Specially there is a significant increase in Colombo wetlands towards December, proving that the majority of the population is migratory there. Hence, birders believe that BwSs do not breed in the wet zone or only occasionally.

But I keep observing them breeding in small numbers in certain Colombo wetlands from a long time. Pepiliyana is a remarkable wetland regarding this subject too, as it provides habitat for BwS to breed usually each year. But the breeding success is very low.

This year (2021) too at least three nests with birds sitting in each were seen by me on 16th April. At that time fields were abandoned temporily after the paddy harvest was taken, hence a suitable habitat had been created for the BWSs to breed. In my next visit with Tharu on 26th April, the fields were partially ploughed to cultivate the next season. Soon I noticed an active nest very unusually in the middle of a ploughed field and I shared my view with my daughter that I believe that the nest would have been relocated by farmers. Sadly the other nests have gone missing. In between this and the last visit a heavy overnight rain occurred that may have washed the other nests that could have affected by ploughing too. I observed the remaining nest from a distance through a fieldscope and captured several images by digi-scoping. In a moment when the incubating bird stood up to change its sitting position, I managed to see at least 3 pinkish eggs heavily speckled with brown.
[Note: I'm really concerned about active nests as they may easily be disturbed and abandoned. So I observe them from a distance and publish them only after the nesting activity is over, and only if there is an ornithological value.]

Subsequently I spoke with a familiar farmer gentleman who said that they relocated the nest after ploughing the fields and that the bird came back to incubate successfully. Apparently they have saved another nest but were unable to save it from water monitors and crows.

Sadly, on my last visit that was made on 2nd May before publishing this article, the nest was completely vanished. This time too there was a heavy overnight rain on a previous day that may have caused a danger to the nest. On the other hand a group of strangers including kids were planting paddy saplings in the same field at the moment while few BwSs were feeding in other fields.

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus) is a species of dry zone lowland open habitats found locally, and possibly visiting occassionally wetzone (ex- Kerawalapitiya). we saw a flock about 5-6, both male and female birds at Pepiliyana marsh (the first time there) on 28.11.2022. This day myself and Mekhala visited the site (without optics; no photographs could be taken) to follow up the situation of an Indian Pocupine that was stuck in the main canal caused by the gabion wall previous day. The images are ones captured at Kerwalapitiya wetland on 24.12.2021.

A smallish long and pointed winged dark upperparts and streaky underneath falcon appeared briefly in the sky at Kalamatiya during below said family birding trip on 12.11.2022. It gave a general impression that it was a juvanile Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

This species is a winter vagrant to Sri Lanka with only very few records up to date from lowlands.

I was pleased to see an Orange- headed Thrush Thrush (Geokichla citrina) at Diyasaru Park, Thalawathugoda on 19.11.2022. This sighting should probabaly be the first record of this species in the said public park, which comes under Colombo subrban wetlands. Marilyn & Alan Abbott of USA, who were with me enjoyed this nice individual along with me.

This species is an uncommon winter migrant that is mainly seen in dry zone lowland forested habitats. But there are records time to time in Colombo urban and suburban gardens. In this season also it had been found at Thalangama tank as well and few other subruban habitats by others.

We had another fantastic family birding trip on 12.11. 2022 to Kalametiya. Besides all other good birds, the highlight on that trip was a Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus). A unique bird was noted that looked clearly different from other shorebirds that drew my attention. Fortunately we had brilliant prolonged telescopic views of this fascinating bird that gave the impression of mostly a Caspian Plover or an Oriental Plover as I thought. Prolonged and detailed observations were made and features were observed, captured and noted at the field very welI. I studied further at home the observations and the loads of images taken, before I came to a proper and positive identification of it as a Caspian Plover that I believe to be in non- breeding plumage. My studies proved that Caspian Plover is extremely similar to the Oriental Plover in their non- breeding plumages, where latter is a vagrant to Sri Lanka. The Caspian Plover is an extremely rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka. .

It has been an exciting news when heard that a Black- winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) has been sighted in Sri Lanka. This was first noted by Messrs Navodha, Dinidu and Malika Jayathilakes at Kerawalapitiya wetlands from 17th October, 2022 onwards and subsequently some others had also seen this and sometimes had put down as a regular (Oriental) Pratincole. The fascinating occurrence of this species in Sri Lanka is a highlight in ornithology as this is the first record of it even in the Indian Subcontinent.

Kerawalapitiya is an amazing recently popularized wetland located north of capital Colombo, where super interesting species to Sri Lanka are turned up so often. This could be a vital site during the land fall of winter migratory bird species.

Both myself and Mekhala visited the site on 27.10.2022 and managed to observe, interestingly 2 individuals of Black- winged Pratincoles (as in the images) that had been already spotted by other birders there.

Greater Sandplover (Charadrius leschenaultii) is an uncommon winter migrant to Sri Lanka in small numbers. They are by no means seen regularly or grgarious unlike its very common counterpart Lesser Sand Plover. When seen they are generally found in small numbers in dry zone coastal habitats. But we were excited to locate 2 individuals at Kerawalapitiya wetland on 14.02.2021 during one of our usual familly birding trips. Kerawalapitiya is a recently popularized exciting birding site situated in northern outskirts of Colombo commercial urban area. This is only our 3rd visit to the site, where everyday there have been surprises. [In the left image the bird in the front and right is a Lesser Sandplover]

After a quite long break caused by pandemic sutuation we could make a wonderful family trip from 29th December 2021 to 3rd January 2022 where Mannar and Wilpattu were the birding stays with 3 nights in Mannar. Myself Mekhala and Tharu all enjoyed great birding besides some historical monuments.

Mannar & adjoining areas 31.12.2021 to 02.01.2022: I was excited to spot a Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) on the last day of the year- 31.12.2021 that is the highlight of the trip in my view. It was seen along with a flock of Black- tailed Godwits in the beginning, but later isolated. Pied Avocet is a rare winter to Sri Lanka. Among the other large number of shorebirds seen in the trip Great Knots (Calidris tenuirostris), atleast 2 Terek Sandpipers (Xenus cinereus), Few Bar- tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) were noteworthy. 10s of thousands of Ducks including Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) and Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) were spreadout in certain areas were impressive observations. Pintails were in largest numbers while Shoveler was in lesser numbers. Garganey, which is a common and widespread species in Sri Lanka was also present in smll numbers. We were excited to locate and observe a number of Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca) that is an uncommon visitor to Sri Lanka. Most of the above mentioned winter visitors range however in northern coastal dry habitats. Furthermore Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) were found in several places.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) has been an irregular visitor to Sri lanka generally migrating to South Eastern (Bundala) and Northern (Mannar & Jaffna) semi- arid zones. But Bundala brackishwater habitats encountered an issue with salinity decline as freshwater pumped to the lagoon through a development project sometime back. Thereafter Flamingos avoided visiting there and northern coastal wetlands became their main haunts. This season in the end of 2021 flocks were noticed by others and the news spreadout via social media so rapidly. Thereafter photographers rushed to Mannar to capture their subject. Unfortunately some photography groups were seen getting so close to the flocks in an unacceptable distance to get the 'perfect shot' despite they hold heavy tele- lenses. This causes Flamingos to be disturbed and move away or fly off from their usual habitats. Since they are highly gregarious species that are birds of entirely open habitats, a movement and a sign of a single bird leads the whole flock to be disturbed and move off. Very sadly those who are looking for flight shots puposely disturbe birds leading them to take off and soaring above. Apparently the most severe and latest threat is flying drones at waterlevel to capture desired angles !

Please kindly refrain from such destructive acts and please enjoy them from a distance where you can enjoy the real life and behaviour of birds while enjoying the real meaning of bird watching. You even can take photos from a distance that you can capture them while leaving them undisturbed as evidenced by the non- agitated nature of the Flamingos in the images below.

Wilpattu National Park 30.12.2021: It was a good morning at Wilpattu, where I spotted an Ashy Drongo, which is the highlight bird species for the trip. When we stopped for it we could find another individual nearby. Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus ) is a rare winter migratory species to Sri Lanka, which is the only migratory drongo. A male White- naped Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus) is another noteworthy sighting (images appear foggy caused by dampness on scope lense created by the previous slight rain) besides the usual birds of the area.

Status and distribution of Sand Martins (Riparia )in Sri Lanka is interesting and I beliveve it needs more study. I kept seeing them in southern semi- arid coastal areas including Bundala that belived to be Collared Sand Martin (Riparia riparia). This species is known to be found only in the said zone very locally. However this taxon had been conspecific with Pale Martin (Riparia diluta ), but in the latest taxonomy they are considered seperate species.

Interestingly we found atleast 4 Collared Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) at Kerawalapitiya , latest birding hotspot in Sri Lanka on our second visit to it on 24. 12. 21 as a family trip. Being so familiar with sand martins at it's usual range, these ones looked darker. We observed them very well and studied the vocalization also (which are said to be silent in winter as per some literature) and the images here are some just record shots taken using the piont and shoot camera. I believe further studies are needed on said populations in southern Coastal range.

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula ) is a rare winter visitor to Sri Lanka in small numbers locally only to certain dry zone coastal habitats. But interestigly there was an individual at Kerawalapitiya wetland which is an urban wetland in western coast of the wet zone when we visited the site on both 21.12.21 (left image) and 24.12.21 (right image).

Red- throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) is a vagrant to Sri Lanka. Mekhala and myself were excited to find a 1st year winter individual on 21st December 2021 at Kerawalpitiya wetland adjoining the waste disposal plant about 15km north of Colombo. Our keen little daughter Tharulya was also with us as usual and enjoyed the bird very well. This is the 4th record of this species from Sri Lanka.

We visited this particular site for the first time today which has become popular recently as there have been some other very interesting sightings made by birders in last few weeks. Such interesting species were there at the site today as well and will be published soon.

This fine specimen was seen on February 2nd, 2021 at Pepiliyana wetland, Nugegoda. Colombo wetlands serve wonderful habitats for migratory waterfowl, yet finding Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) there, is a surprise at present.But I used to see them occassionally in the same site in mid-90s.

Common Snipe is quite a regular migratory species to certain other parts of Sri Lanka, yet confirmed sightings are rare.

Continued sightings at Pepiliyana; I kept observing them both as pairs or as indivuduals up to 2023 as well reguarly [images on left are of a pair seen on 02.11.2021, and the image on right is of a male on 18.04.2022].

Last visit- 27.05.2023: last sighting- 27.05.2023- a male (Please see below for previous sightings)

I have observed that there are established populations of Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)in almost all prominent wetlands in Colombo as per my observations over the last decades. Similarly I kept watching them in Pepiliyana wetland, Nugegoda quite regularly. The first sighting there, was a female seen by myself and my school birding friends Darshana and Kasun in 1994. Below images of a close encounter were captured on February 1st, 2021 in Pepiliyana wetland.

Other than Pepiliyana wetland, Kimbulawala, Beddagana, Bellanwila Aththidiya and Nedimala are other sites that I had found this elusive species in Colombo Suburbs.

In 2021 also we had a chance to see this migratory rarerity here in Pepiliyana marsh again on 21st October 2021. On this day a new friend Mr. Udara Ratnayake had found this exciting bird and invited us to join with the observation, when we met him at the marsh. This time we all including Mekhala and little Tharu had brilliant views and I even managed to capture images (below). Thanks to Udara

[See next below for the 2020 sighting]

I was thrilled to see A Grey- necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani) at Pepiliyana marsh on 26th December 2020. I found a pipit-like bird on the road that moved subsequantly to the bushes roadside, where I managed to have an excellent view through my binoculars at a distance from about 4m- 5m. Little Tharulya who accompanied me found it two times again when I was trying to take some record shots (I did not have a camera at that time, except for the fieldscope and mobile phone. Sadly that afternoon was so busy with people and vehicles leading the bird to be disturbed easily and to vanish from the sight. Our atempts to find it again in subseuent days were not successful.

Grey- necked Bunting is a vagrant to Sri Lanka with only few records.

We were surprised to see a Brown- breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui) at Thalangama tank on 29.11.20 in a family birding session. It was in the thicket middle of the lake and interestingly it kept chasing its usual counterpart, an Asian Brown Flycatcher.

This species is generally a winter migrant to inland forests and well- wooded habitats and it's unusual in Colombo wetlands. I believe it being using the site after landfall before settling inland. However I remember I saw an individual several years back in Beddagana marsh, when I was visiting it before the improper development project took place.

Regularly seen here in all migratory seasons upto 2022-23 winter. Last seen- 30.03. 2023
[Please scroll down for introduction and previous sightings].
01.03.2021~ More of the Green Sandpipers @ Pepiliyana Marsh. There were atleast 7 individuals

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) is a regular migratory species that arrives in the island annually in northern autumn- winter. But the numbers are less compared to other Tringa Sandpipers making it an uncommon species. In other Colombo wetlands they are rare, but I have been observing them in good numbers over the years in Pepiliyana marsh, Nugegoda. I belive this population has inceased in recent years as there had been only very few individuals in early 2000s. They associate with Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper in this site. I have noticed theier remarkable body size (weight) increase prior to their departure. The individuals here are some of the migrants in 2020- 21 migratory season from November 2020 onwards.

In Sri Lanka, Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is found in Northern dry/ arid zones, except for a very few records elsewhere. It is a resident species in the said range, possibly with increased populations supplemented by migratory birds in the northern autumn- winter. Surprisingly myself along with Mekhala and Tharulya saw a nice specimen that appeared from the southern sky over Pepiliyana marsh and disappered from the western sky at sunset on 11.01.2020. Being very familiar with the speceies both in Northern Sri Lanka as well as in India, where they are very common, I had a great view if this bird through the binoculars. After the positive observation I managed to take few record shots before it disappeared. I belive this to be a migratory straggler. Several years back I have seen a bird of this species unusually in Udawalawe national park too.

Black- tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is a regular migrant to dry zone coastal wetlands to Sri Lanka some times in many thousands. But it is not a bird of inland wetlands of the wet zone (But I have seen them in Kiralakele, Matara which is quite close to one of the species’ main range; southern dry and arid zone).

Interestingly one individual was seen among other waterfowl in Kimbulawala wetlands, Thalawathugoda on 27.11 2016. I have never seen them in Colombo wetlands and unaware about any other sightings. Since this species is found in Sri Lanka as large aggregations, this individual seemed to be a straggler. It joined other waders in feeding as well as in flight.

Since there had been Glossy Ibises sighted by other birders, Mr. Ajantha Palihawadana invited me to join him to visit the site where we were able to see a flock of Glossy Ibises too (lower right image). I thank him with whom the observations were made. There were one adult and juvanile Common Coot as well.

Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) is a gregarious species that is an irregular winter migrant to Sri Lanka, where sometimes they are seen in large numbers while going without any records in some years. When present they are usually seen in open woodlands of dry zone lowlands mainly in large parks and also in coastal areas.

On 22nd November 2016 I Noted a flock of Rosy Starlings that were flittering above busy Katubedda Junction, while I was driving in the traffic. Some were seen sitting in surrounding buildings and hoardings. The brief views were sufficient to identify this familiar species and I belived that the number could exceed 300. Time was around 5 .00 pm and the weather was rainy. I was travelling along the Galle Road between Ratmalana and Panadura daily on weekdays those days. Because of this sighting I took the camera next day (23rd) to study further and to take some images of the flock, if present. I was excited to notice the same behaviour and stopped at the junction around the same time in same whether. Flocks were coming to roost in trees in the central reservation of the Galle road in front of K-zone shopping complex. The noisy Flocks consisted of non- breeding adults and 1st winter birds. I kept an eye in the same area, while driving thereafter at the same time and managed to see flocks flying around, time to time.

Despite they are seen sometimes in certain wetlands in Colombo suburbs (however the species is rare in wet zone), sightings and roosting in such crowded and traffic areas are not recorded in Sri Lanka.

An active nest of Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush/ Arrenga (Myophonus blighi) was found in Horton Plains national park on 26th March, 2016 in the early morning. Surprisingly this nest had been built in a ledge on a top of a wall of a small building in the forested habitat of the park.

The nest was a mound of moss, fine sticks and dead fern leaves. It had a wide base about one foot diameter, gradually narrowing towards the top. When it was seen first, there was no any bird sitting on it and we were curious to know the owner of it. The nest contained 2 eggs, which were speckled faintly with pinkish off- white and greenish brown, as observed with a care given not to get closer. The eggs were more elliptical in shape and light pinkish white, mottled/ speckled with light greyish brown. Since it proved that it was an active nest it was studied further from over a 10m away, leaving it undisturbed using a pair of binoculars. My wife Mekhala and little daughter Tharu were with me during the observation and we were observing it further. Our subsequant observations revealed that the nest belong to Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush ! as a female appeared and was sitting in the nest on an off till we left the site in the afternoon.

There have been only a very few records of nests of this elusive, endangered, and endemic species from historical times up to date. This is a mountain dweller mostly seen around 6ooo feet altitude.

[images were taken from a distance using a digital camera of 32X optical zoom and are highly cropped]

While birding in a safari at Yala National Park along with a british birding group, I managed to see an Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) at Palugaswala in the morning on January 23, 2016. I noticed this unique bird with its unique stance in the thicket across the open area from the safari jeep. It was a brief look before it took off low down further into the woods.

Eurasian Wryneck is a vagrant to Sri Lanka with few records time to time. It is a member of Woodpecker Family(Picidae) and the only migratory species of that family in Sri Lanka.

Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) were found establishing their populations in a wetzone locality in Sri Lanka for the first time in 2015. Myself along with a British birding group including Brian Small and Gary Elton observed a nesting population on 1st December at Kandy Lake. The population contained both nesting adults as well as immature birds while interestingly they were nesting only in a single tree. But in my next visits I observed them spreading further there and are now seen quite commonly even swimming and diving in the lake.

Great Cormorant is an uncommon species in Sri Lanka that is generally found in low country dry zone specially in large tanks and reservoirs. Before the said observation, there have been no records of this species colonizing in the wet zone. But Mr. Upali Ekanayake, a foremost ornithologist in the island told me that he had seen an individual that he thinks to be a migratory straggler, only once at Kandy Lake. In addtion I have seen two times one bird each time at Kelani river in Kitulgala deep in the wet zone that I belive to be stragglers. Other than these there were no records of even occurence of this this species in such inland in the wet zone.

Despite being situated in the middle of the busy Kandy city, the lake has been providing breeding habitat for a large number of waterfowl including other 2 species of Cormorants. But Great cormorant is a new addition to this breeding colony.

A Bluethroat (Cyanecula svecica) was found on March 13, 2014 at Bundala National Park. This is the 3rd record of this species from Sri Lanka.

Bluethroat was known in Sri Lanka only in two records before by historical specimens collected by Layard in 19th Centuary and a specimen collected By E. C. Fernando in 1955. This species used to appear in the region mainly as two forms: Red-spotted & White-spotted, rather than sub species, which are highly variable in plumage. But in historical times these taxa used to be seperate species and has been published as Red- spotted Bluethroat was the one that found first in Sri Lanka. Apart from that, there is nothing written about the sub-species status of this taxon in Sri Lanka.

Although the individual I saw could be identified as a breeding male- according to some literature- of the Red- spotted form, further studies are needed to confirm the identity of the subspecies.

Jo Thomas, Sylvia O'Dell along with a birding party from the UK were watching this bird with me during this observation.

Distribution of Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) ranges in Sri Lanka mainly in low country dry zone, while it prefers arid zones more. However there have been occasional records of this species in certain wet zone lowland areas.

On 25th December, 2013 I was thrilled to see at least 3 Indian Nightjars that flushed and hidden in the foliage at Beddagana marsh, another wonderful Colombo suburban wetland then. This was during one of the field visits I organized for the birds group of Young Zoologits’ Association, when I was voluntarily teaching there.

On 27th I made a quick visit to examine this Nightjar population further and succeeded in discovering the roosting sites by careful examination in the wetland. After finding the first roosting bird, very interestingly, there were three other roosting birds that were hardly visible. I managed to observe them at really close proximity and take close up images without making any disturbance to them.

As I was interested to observe them while they are active I visited the site on 28th at dawn time along with Mr. Niran Caldera, who joined me happily with his keen interest. As expected several active Nightjars were seen making us thrilled. After observing them we left the feeding area and retuned after sun is up. I managed to find 2 rooting birds giving superb views and photographic opportunities.

Bedagana marsh used to be a popular site among keen birders and an often visited site by myself and other birders and never came across any Nightjars before. Hence this looks to be a very interesting population. Further studies were planned to carry out to identify the exact status of this population. But unfortunately this wetland site went under a development project and certain natural habitats are highly destroyed and degraded at present.

We found an individual at Pepiliyana marsh too for the first time there on 13.01.2020 and thereafter kept observing a population further. Mekhala & Tharu found another individual later in a different area linked to the same marsh from the far western side. All observations we made were at the time when birds are active (left).

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a rare migratory shorebird mainly to the northern coastal habitats of Sri Lanka. I came across an individual at Bundala national park in southern province on December 02, 2011. It was feeding alone.

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is a rare winter migrant to Sri Lanka in small numbers, where it is generally confined to northern coastal habitats. But an individual was seen on November 4th, 2010 at Bundala national park. There have been no records of this species in other coastal areas in recent past except for this record.

The bird had a plumage similar to that of a juvenile that supposed to be a first winter bird. It was alone with no any other bird nearby even of any other kind. British birders Geoff and Bev Randall were with me during this exciting observation and the accompanying images were taken by Geoff. As the species’s name implies the bird fed on a mollusk, its favourite diet in its unique manner as captured in the second image by Geoff.

Myself, Mekhala and my good friend Majintha Madawala were birding in 'Gode Kalapuwa' in Yala National park (block 1) area on 10th January 2010 and came across a perfect specimen of a breeding male Marshall's Iora (Aegithina nigrolutea) in the scrub habitat. This individual was in a Maliththan (Salvadoara persica) tree and our attention was driven to it as it looked quite unusual from Common Ioras. (At the same time several Common Ioras were also foraging around and one more individual along with our stranger disappered before we could observe as our attention being paid on this nice male). Marshall's Iora is then the latest addition to the resident birds list of Sri Lanka. Our was the first record of this species in Yala National park.

This species had been overlooked with the plumages of transitional stages of male breeding Common Iora, which is the common counterpart and the only Iora found in Sri Lanka before. But a museum specimen that was believed to be a abberation of a male Common Iora had been re- identified as a Marshall's Iora in 2003 by Wells etal. Thereafter first live specimens and breeding populations were found by Kalutota etal (2007) in Kumana national park in 2006 and again in Lunugamwehera national park.

Marshall's Iora is identifiable from similar Common Iora in all stages by showing white in tail extending from the tips and edges variably. Distinctive white edges on tertials of the former is also noteworthy, but I have seen Common Ioras occassionally showing the same feature. Common Iora is larger and sturdier than the Marshall's with a relatively larger bill. Breeding male Marshall's Iora has black forehead, crown and wings, whereas Common Iora has complete Black upperparts. Females and non- breeding males are similar to those of Common Iora. But overall Marshall's Iora is a beautiful brighter, whiter and more lemoner yellow bird where as Common Iora is more darker and overall chrome yellow species.

[Thereafter I regularly see this still rare species in it's usual range - the south eastern region of the island in particular in environs in and adjescent to Udwalawe and Yala national parks. Nilgala savannah is another wonderful habitat that I will share next.

Way back in 1995, on independance day (February 04th) I was excited to see a strange bird on a roof of a cattle shed in New Zealand livestock farm, Ambewela. I was a school boy of 16 then, who was a keen enthusiast in bird watching always carriyng a pair bins (12 X 50mm) and a field notebook even on family trips with my parents, which are the best opprtunities for long trips at that young stage. This was also a family trip with my parents and some relations as a part of a trip to Ambewela and Nuwara- eliya area. I observed this strange bird extremely well for a prolonged time and took a field note in my field notebook through watching it from a quite close distance, which I still can recall the image of this beautiful bird with its striking plumage. Its distinctive colouration that I enjoyed in detail consisted of pinkish buff upperparts, black mask, contrasting dark brown (I would say coffee brown) flight feathers and upper tail as well as a white rump. Being curious to know what it was, after the trip back at home I refered all bird books available with me in a time when it's a very hard finding references with regard to birdlife of Sri Lanka, and when there is no internet sources.etc. Subsequently I consulted Mr. Jagath Gunawardana as usual, who was my mentor in my natural history studies at that time and further Mr. Deepal Warakagoda for the identification of this unusual bird. After refering relevent pubications I could positively confirm the id of this bird as an adult male Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) as suggested by above messers. It looked exactly same to the illustrations and images on reference publications. It was the second record from Sri Lanka, whereas the first record was mede in 1986 by Dutch birder Leckkerkerk at Bundala. I convey my gratitude to my loving parents and relations for the trip and to above gentlemen for the support in proper identification of the bird.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) used to be a breeding resident in historical times in Sri Lanka, but it had disappered in the country for a long time before it re-appeared as a very rare winter visitor only to few localities some decades ago. Interestingly in early 1990s Bellanvila- Aththidiya sanctuary became popular for Glossy Ibises as a few birds kept visiting it in winter in the said time period. I had a fortune as a schoolboy with my birding buddies Darshana, Sujan and Kasun to visit this site regularly on weekends from 1993 onwards being guided by Mr. Jagath Gunawardena. So all of us were keen in finding Glossy Ibises besides other avifauna of the area and had the success of observing them in details in both breeding and non- breeding plumages and we became so fmilir with this species. In the same time I used to visit Pepiliyana wetlands, which was located in a walking distance from my home. In one of the visits to this site in October 1994 I was thrilled to see a large flock of non- breeding Glossy Ibises that flew in and landed in the paddy fields, which were being set up for the 'Maha' season. I counted the number and found out that it was a flock of 39 !. I took field notes and subsequantly I made some illustrations at home. I got to know that this is the largest migratory flock of this species recorded in Sri Lanka. Later this record was broken by my friend Kasun Amaranayake who observed a flock of 83 flying over in Ja- Ela in Gampaha District at dawn that flew probaby towards Muthurajawela marsh, another large wetland where Glossy Ibises had been recorded. At present this species keep visiting certain Colombo wetlands in small numbers, yet irregularly in some winter seasons.