A Photographic Journey 1 - Wetland birds at Yala National Park and Bundala National Park – Sri Lanka

Yala National Park and Bundala National Park offered excellent photographic opportunities for waders and shore birds around the clock. Whenever I visit these two parks, my prime objective is to photograph wading birds such as Herons, Egrets, Pelicans, Cormorants, spoonbills, Storks and stilts. 

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is located in the south eastern region of Sri Lanka approximately 290km from Colombo along the cost via Galle, Hambantota and Tissamaharama.  The park entrance is located 12km off Tissamaharama – Kirinda road, where a permit and a guide should be obtained before entering the park. The avifauna comprised some 120-130 species. During the north-east monsoon the lagoons are visited by thousands of migrating waterfowls. The palatupana salterns could also be visited in the borders of the park for waders and shore birds.

Bundala National Park

Bundala National Park is located between Hambantota and Tissamaharama about 274 km away from Colombo. This is the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka and it is the most important wetland for birds in the island. The park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons with salt pans in three interconnecting channels and marshes including the adjacent coast.

Eurasian Spoonbill (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Eurasian Spoonbill or Common Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, breeding in southern Eurasia from Spain to Japan, and also in North Africa.

This species is almost unmistakable in most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its dark legs, black bill with a yellow tip, and a yellow breast patch like a pelican. It has a crest in the breeding season. Non-breeders lack the crest and breast patch, and immature birds have a pale bill and black tips to the primary flight feathers. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched.

Flock of Eurasian Spoonbills feeding at Palatupana wewa (Yala NP - April 2011)

Flock of Eurasian Spoonbills feeding at Bundala NP (April 2011)

Indian Darter (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), sometimes called Snakebird, is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. The Oriental Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American (Anhinga anhinga), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australasian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.

A relatively uncommon resident waterbird both photographed in 2003 at Bundala NP

Grey Heron (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is a large bird, standing up to 100 cm (39 in) tall and measuring 84–102 cm (33–40 in) long with a 155–195 cm (61–77 in) wingspan. The body weight can range from 1.02–2.08 kg (2.2–4.6 lb).[3] Its plumage is largely grey above, and off-white below. Adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful, pinkish-yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks. The call is a loud croaking "fraaank". The Australian White-faced Heron is often incorrectly called Grey Heron.

This Grey Heron is about to take off at Yala NP (2002)

Spot-billed Pelican (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Spot-billed Pelican or Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is an internationally endangered (Near Threatened) species found in good numbers in tanks and lagoons around Yala & Bundala. The species is found to breed only in peninsular India, Sri Lanka and in Cambodia. It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes. At a distance they are difficult to differentiate from other pelicans in the region although it is smaller but at close range the spots on the upper mandible, the lack of bright colours and the greyer plumage are distinctive. In some areas these birds nest in large colonies close to human habitations.

Painted Stork (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in South Asia and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink feathers give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. As they wade along they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds.

Painted Stork is the most colourful stork in the island - photographed in April 2011

Lesser Adjutant (Reference from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)

The Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) is an internationally endangered (Vulnerable) species in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related Greater Adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java.

Lesser Adjutant photograph in 2003 at Yala National Park 

To be continued .....