The alarm goes off at 4.45am, time for some extreme birding action at Bundala NP.
Despite not being known for non-bird sightings we still spotted an elephant on his morning stroll and nom,
land monitors and a baby land monitor,
heaps of grey langurs and toque macaques and
crocodiles.
But the birds were where it was at.
Nicola weed a little bit when she saw her first purple marsh hen. "Look, it's a purple marsh hen" she beamed as she just about fell out of the car.
Spoonbills have been declared as soooo 2014 as well - Asian Open-Bills are the bird of 2015.
We also spied our first and only Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl, the country's national bird. Google it, it's like the coolest rooster that you've never seen.
Other bird and scenery highlights were the following.
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| Purple Heron with a fish in its throat |
The early start and breakfast consisting of an omelette in white bread were worth it. Bundala NP was much more peaceful than Yala NP and a nice note to end our run of nationals parks on.
HOWEVER, the animals experiences didn't end there. To access Yala and Bundala NPs we stayed at a super smart little guesthouse called River Face Inn (www.yalariverfaceinn.com) that's set on the river and was essentially a mini national park in itself.
Over breakfast and during the day we spotted heaps of palm squirrels, Sri Lanka's national animal the giant squirrel, tortoises, a snake, land monitors, heaps of birds and at night thousands of fruit bats would fly overhead in search of that night's dinner. The food and staff were also brilliant and made for one of the best accommodations we've stayed at.
Bird Nerd Notes
Asian Open-Bill
Black Headed Ibis
Black-Crowned Nightheron
Black-Winged Stilt
Bluetailed Bee-Eater
Brown-Capped Woodpecker
Cattle Egret
Chestnut-Headed Bee-Eater
Cormorant
Eurasian Spoonbill
Great Thick-Knee
Greater Coucal
Green Imperial Pigeon
Grey Heron
Grey-Headed Fish-Eagle
Indian Peafowl
Indian Pond Heron
Intermediate Egret
Lesser Whistling Duck
Little Green Bee-Eater
Orange-Breasted Green Pigeon
Oriental Darter
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Painted Stalk
Pheasant-Tailed Jacana
Pied Kingfisher
Purple Heron
Purple Swamphen
Red-Wattled Lapwing
Spot-Billed Pelican
Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl
Sri Lanka Spurfowl
White-Throated Kingfisher
Yellow-Wattled Lapwing
