Tuesday, March 12, 2024

VISIT TO MANNAR DURING THE SEASON YET AGAIN.....

 I got a chance to go to Mannar in the 2nd week of March 2024 with a fellow birding friend  and this was my 4th visit . We stayed for 2 nights and did almost 1,200 km in the vehicle. We were quite lucky to get a domiciled guide with whom we got a good opportunity the photograph the very much sort after Greater flamingos as well as many bird species.

It was a very fruitful and an enjoyable long trip with comfort as it was quite warm compared with other times and going in a private vehicle compared with  the train and tri-shaws was a major advantage.

One of the highlights was seeing a Eurasian otter face to face for the first time in Anawilundawa though we couldn't  photograph as we were inside the vehicle and it was a complete surprise and for a second we thought it was a mongoose.



On the way we first stopped in Anawilundawa around 6.45 and tried our luck to see whether the migrant Black naped oriole  had come this time too and it had for our satisfaction.




Blue faced malkoha
Giant squirrel
Brahmin kite

This black bittern hovered around a couple of times before flying away.


Kentish plover







Little stint








In flight
Lesser plover



Common sandpiper


Common redshank
Wood sandpiper

Eurasian curlew




Black tailed godwit



Ruff


Curlew sandpipers
Pacific golden plover

Black kite
Brown headed gull




This grey francolin pair may have been human friendly as they were very calm to our presence unlike the normal times.



Gul billed tern




We did a night stroll looking for owls . We were lucky to see a barn owl also flying around though could not photograph

Collard scops owl

highlight of any birder/ bird watcher visiting Mannar during the season and icing on the cake. We were very lucky to be  at the front as our capable guide located them first.











We were again lucky as when we decided to get up and go as the light was harsh around 8 am, ,someone tried to approach them from another point scaring these sensitive birds resulting all of them to fly away giving us that opportunity as well.











Eurasian spoonbill in flight


Seeing this grey nightjar was quite something.


A pair of Garganey's

Male
Female


Eurasian widgeon
Northern pintail - male


Greater crested terns and brown headed gulls
Indian roller



Oriental skylark


Wimbrel

Caspian tern




Little terns



Rudy turnstone


Terek sandpiper




Lesser crested tern





Hugine gulls

Collard dove
White bellied sea eagle diving in






Northern shovellers in flight


Female


Male


A rare sight - A jackal
Pied Cuckoo


Black drongo




Whiskered tern

Glossy Ibis



Wind turbines in the background


Light house in Thalaimannar

Dilapidated pier- Thalaimannar


Sunset