Nature observations   Sri Lanka - Cylon

Day of excellent bird sightings, a few Darters, interesting ways of movement, Kormorants, one Whitebellied Seaeagle, Roseringed Parakeets, Herons, Pelikans, later the same day Malabar Pied Hornbills in the big trees and below a huge group of Grey Langures not far from the Stupa and a Crested Hawk Eagle in the tree above from 8m, all 2.8.2o18 at Tissam lake and Kataragama, here 6 Malabar Pied Hornbills.

Darter drying its wings in evening sun

EAGLES: Negombo- Greyheaded Fisheagles and Whitebellied Seaeagles, near Badulla- Black eagles, Trincomale- Whitebellieds, Haputale- Rufousbellied and Black Eagles, Polonnaruwa- Whitebellieds,

Monkies: Grey Langures seen in big groups at Kataragama (southeastern race), nice with very dark faces and long tail, in all ages and both sexes. The southeastern race does the biggest troups, it was about 60 Langures and was fascinating to watch them. At Dunhida falls Langures.

Mongoose: a few times a small family at Polonnaruwa lake (Grey Mongoose), at Haputale and surroundings the Brown mong. or Sri Lankan subspecie in dark brown color.

Swamp Crocodiles: One big one at Bundala bird sanctuary and one at the river near Kataragama where people also wash and go with their water buffaloes.

Two different Agamen and a few times a Varanus (Monitors) with nice small spots, many of them at Sella Kataragama, some about 1m long. Backside of Kirinda beach at a pond some sweetwater turtles sunbathing on a rock.



POLONNARUWA:
Over days at Polonnaruwa lake Blackheaded Ibises, Asian Openbills, Little Terns, Little Egrets, Great White Pelicans, Great and little Cormorants, Blackwinged stilts, Pariah and Brahminy Kites and the ultimate skymaster Whitebellied Seaeagles, which are often calling during mornings and usually perform later at sunsets in pair during they often play with things onwing, also present it to each other or drop it to catch it later again.

Blackheaded Ibisses on an island at lake Polonnaruwa. A pair of Whitebellied seaeagles performing during sunset at same lake, playing in sky in strong winds. Many Axis deers at Trincomale beachside, thatfor I named it Bambi beach. Ibiss gets resettled in mid Europe and it is a big story, of course, it got eradicated as many other species there. Snails from the lake which were dieing on mass scale some years ago of some unknown desease.

RAJA VIHARA:
Over the day 20 Malabar pied hornbills, fascinating birds with a huge bill, nice groups of them in the big trees at Raja Vihara (near Maiyangana 7.07). Later the same day 6 MP Hornbills in sunset sky over the lake. Also Black headed Ibis in small groups.

BADULLA:
On way to Dunhida falls a Cylon grey hornbill. At other side of waterfall wild bananas. Got more green over last month, interesting plants and huge trees on way, school kiddies in white dresses.

SINHARAJA:
Six eagles in one day, a family of 4 Black eagles with a Shikra the morning while leaving Sinharaja world heritage.
    Later on way two more, the last a Black eagle near Haputale soaring high in afternoon thermics. The last two elefants from Sinharaja got taken to another wood from there. Most Elefants are showing from temple walls now (4.o6). At arrival to Sinharaja I heared two shots in half an hour fired from forst side, evel.

MATARA:
Purple sunbird couple in a grownover garden, Whitebreasted kingfishers near beach, also Drongos and many swallows and swifts.

KIRINDA: A Portugiesische galeere, one of the dangerouse jellifish, swept on shore, watched it for a while doing its last moves on its heavy poisen, see colour. Whitebreasted kingfishers allday near guest house and Yellowbilled babblers.

BUNDALA BIRD SANCTUARY:
Many Spoonbills, a few Blackheaded Ibis, Great herons, Grey herons in the fields over days near Bundala bird sanctuary. Whitebreasted kingfishers around guest house. A nice Swamp crocodile not far from street, and the Whitebellied seaeagle in noon thermics over lagoon.

KATARAGAMA:
One excellent performing Whitebellied seaeagle over some big lake with Lotos doing curves in doing curves in verticale, too much, big and impressing during noon with strong winds in the sun, ultimate skymaster (28.o6). Before the same day a nice monitor at the Sella Kat. temples, at all many Monitors today, the day of monitors.

Two times allready small groups of Malabar pied hornbills, at some places huge numbers of butterflies, Kohlweissling like.



AKARAZIA:
Fish in the river there Stone sucker (garro cylonensis), Longsnouted barb (Puntius dorsalis) and Wilpita rasbora (Rasbora wilpita) in djungle rivers and rockpools along, Stone suckers also go for sucking on feet when people bath. Elephant shit on way, one Shikra, and a small Snakehead (Channa) in a shallow flooded field. Nice mixed woods, dense djungles and open dry semidecidouse. (not far from Haputale)

HAPUTALE:
A hawklike one followed by crows doing outer wings in the morning form room.

    Purple Rumped and Purple Sunbirds at Haputale, the morning of 15th june a couple of Purple Rumped Sunbirds coming to window later I got to see their nest. Also Purple Sunbirds passing sometimes. Before reaching Haputale a Sparrow hawk (?) fom bus overhead passing, straight and swift. Many swallows allday when there is no mist. (Haputale)

    A Black eagle on way before Hakgalla from bus, big with short tail.



    BADULLA:
On way back from Dunidha falls in the djungle a King cobra 3 m long moving slowly, halting, watching and moving on, fascinating. Taking potential prey in focus over 200m. The queen of the snakes eating other snakes, gettig to 8m long.
    Monkies near waterfall and on way before, makaques quakes with the haircap, quite wicked and agressive checking people on way for foods.

    A big group of medsized white ones on way form bus in rice field, spoonbills or herons.

   

NEGOMBO:
During noon time from beach over strong waves out in covered monsoon sky the Whitebellied seaeagle then dropping sharp down on catch, flying back inland getting mobbed by some crows. Always again Kormorants, 2 species, crossing along the beach short over waves in the winds.

Hundreds of Flying foxes on covered sky form guest house during evening, a few hundred, fascinating all flying the same direction over a stretch of time (24th.may)

The first day after arrival late afternoon a Grey headed fisheagle over the sea doing some turns, seen from beach, later moving inland. Later two of them, big, but in distance to each other. Long wings, long primaries, more straight than the V shape of whitebellied, and not the typical kurzen Keilschwanz as with Whitebellieds, straight tailend. Other seaeagle species are living north India.
Eagle with 2 Kormorants


    First morning during breakfast a nice Besra sparrowhawk passing overhead, in beautifull bright phase, Negombo.
    Many Kormorants, guess all 3 species, doing nice moves in small groups over the beaches. Many herons over the day, from great white to smaller white ones. Funny curiouse and naughty crows, exploring and searching all kind of stuff on beach (may.o18)

        Cylon story,     Mails from way