Birds of Sri Lanka

There are over thirty three endemics on the island of Sri Lanka, and to get to see all of them was a real special treat. Not all were photographed but a goodly few to say the least think I fluffed five shots .
So a few of the got's..



Alexandrine Parrot

                                                      Nice even if not one of the endemics

                                                      The following are a selection of Endemics.


Brown fish Owl




Brown wood Owl




Dull blue Flycatcher




Green billed Coucal




Malabar pied Hornbill




Orange breasted Pigeon

 

Coppersmith Barbet


  There will be more to follow over Xmas, Getting to see these birds was fantastic to say the least, but to get photographs a real bonus, the Green billed Coucal was about the most difficult to find, it is secretive and shy, unlike its close cousin the red faced Malkoha the Greater Coucal and the Sirkeer Malkoha.
Only one other led us a real dance around the jungle, known for the past ten years about and the size of a bamboo leaf it was extremely hard to find but success in the end, stinging trees, thorn palms and a few "Where you going vines" did their best to prevent us but we prevailed in the end.

So to those visiting have a fantastic Christmas and a brilliant New Year, OH! and come back soon..

Paul

PS. To see a larger collection visit PKDigitalWildlife.co.uk



Sri Lanka Leopard Island.

Visitors to Sri Lanka Will most certainly have wildlife on the agenda if not wholly then certainly a wish to see the most popular of the islands big cats, the Leopard in particular is a favourite and with over seventy pairs in the Yala National Park, it is no wonder it is as popular as it is. And so it was a no brainer that it should be included in the trip itinerary. The first encounter was with a large male at first light even before reaching the park, he disappeared into some rocks and we could hear him grunt calling for his or a mate. further sightings were to come.

This Lady was difficult to spot.

She sat for a good while, with a distended belly after what could have been a good feed. but soon she was up and away.

An intent stare , she had something on her mind!

Passing within ten feet WOW!

An amazing animal with such grace and poise, and those eyes seem to look right through you.

At its closest and not bothered at all.

Beautiful eh!

There was to be another encounter with a male in the Wilpattu National Park along with another of the cats the Jungle cat a real rare sighting indeed. So A little to follow in the next Blog.

Cheers
Paul

A few thousand miles south east ish!

 The feet were well itchy, and it was about time for another little trip for some new scenery and some awesome birding. So lets set the scene a little, with a few hints?

Del boy's gone all up market.

An improvement on the old three wheeler!

I think the first one gave it away a bit! the beach is twelve miles long around a fabulous bay and not a tanning person in sight in fact even the fishermen are only allowed here for two months of the year during the Lobster season.

A couple of the mammals encountered on the trip then..

Asian Elephant and baby.

Asian or Black naped Hare

Spotted deer or Chital Stag.

Tawny striped Squirrel.

There is not much that goes to waste here, even Elephant dung is used by a number of insects and birds.

His Mrs is on the other side laying her eggs as they roll



Caught at the tank side or retrieved from under a submerged log ?

A few of the animals seen during my jolly around the island, oh nearly forget there was one other seen.

To see these beautiful cats ten feet away is awesome.

A few more of the Leopard in the next instalment  Sri Lanka or if you are old enough Ceylon.

The place is amazing and the only place to drink tea is in the small homesteads were it is done proper!

Paul

Along the coast a ways!!

The early morning at Titchwell Started with a promising bright sky and little wind, So it was a quick breakfast and kit checked before the move to the entrance and a very nearly second breakfast!!
resist we did and moved out onto the reserve, Cetti's all along the reedbed by the track, doing their damnedest to give you a heart attack with their sudden outbursts. Bearded Reedlings tantalisingly flitting around in the edge of reed beds, there! no! there! no! etc.etc.
And being unable to resist a challenge we took a while.

Sadly no adult males presented themselves.

But an impressive bird all the same.

Trying to get some shots as and when they came into the open, which was not that often. We continued along to the new hides, and impressive they are to, each of the pools being overlooked one over the freshwater pool and the other overlooking the tidal lagoon. One of the impressive items was the method of opening and closing of windows, up or down in and out and they were clean really good stuff.
Anyhow a few of the shots from the rest of the day , including the beach .

Eurasian Curlew.



Spoonbill



Spotted Redshank

Grey Plover

Golden Plover

Bar-tailed Godwit.

That should be enough for the moment and it is getting late.

see you soon I hope.

Paul

September in Norfolk! Cley

For quite some time now I have wanted to get to the east coast for a bit of watching during the September/ October period of movement. And finally managed it toward the middle of the month. Whilst all the reported rarities were on the Irish mainland and north and south of the East Anglian coast it was nice to get out and about in the sea air.
With Cley being the first point of operations, the motor home was parked in a small car park tucked away and really close to the East Bank. And the hunt began, the Sacred Ibis was a welcome sight as looking for the Cettis and Beardlings both got but no pictures unfortunately. Moving along the bank it was Little Egrets, Golden Plovers the odd Marsh Harrier or two and Lapwing , Redshanks and Spotted Redshanks galore.
Along the shingle banks it was Sanderling, Turnstone, Gannets and Red-throated Divers oh! and the odd Seal being inquisitive at times. The two days here were not especially noteworthy but a few shots follow.

Sanderling Low over the sand.

Guillemot.

Redshank

Eurasian Curlew

Juvenile Gannets.

Gannet

Gannet

Preparing to dive.



Gannet

 As we were leaving for the relative calm of Titchwell a Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from Stiffkey. it was decided not to a turn around for it.

Next a few images from Titchwell and Snettisham.

cheers
Paul

THE MAGIC OF THE NIGHT.

Can it really have been so long since I was able to get to this? what with one thing and another time seems to have disappeared, but now it is slowing down, it is time to upload some of the the things I have managed to do.
During this period I decided to put together a very basic Moth trap to see just what was about, and being after dark it did not interfere with other things. So what was about over the last couple of months ?



Angled Shades



Old Lady



Water Boatman




Brimstone




Sliver Y



Pebble Hook




Magpie



Common Marbled Carpet



Poplar Hawk-Moth



Chinese Character



Anania Coronata



Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix



Red Green Carpet





Sexton Beetle

 

Herald



Twenty Plume



Canary Shouldered Thorn




Frogger



Yellow Shell



A selection of the good looking moths so far found in the trap in the morning and at quite low temperatures and even rain. An unending source of wonder at the colours and variation in style.

With the current dearth in birds this could become a mainstay of sanity for a while to come yet.

Hope you like and come back for more.

cheers

Paul