I went to Sinharaja on a weekend in February 2018 after three years or so. Last time the tracker Sunil who is vastly experienced suggested that we go to a well known place in the village which is a left turn off just before the entrance where the chances of seen the Green Billed Coucal/ Sri Lanka Spurfowl are greater than in the forest. As I'am yet to see these birds even after going more than 6-7 times, this time I agreed and he wanted me to be there around 5.30 as due to the demand by the Birders, the place gets filled up fast. As the road leading to the village is steep with rocks jutting out etc,we decided to leave my SUV and go in his motor bike which I thought was a very kind gesture.
By the time we arrived after a grueling ride ,the house on the right hand side was full of some foreigners and locals equipped with advanced cameras and Lenses etc waiting for the birds to come.
I gathered that the back yard of the house which is surrounded by a little open space and the forest from sides to be a habitat of some of the rare endemic birds and over a period of time the house owners would have put coconut waste in the morning on a regular basis thus making them come quite often though naturally there are odd days that it does not happen.
As laid down below, in pictures , I was extremely lucky as I saw many more birds as well thus fulfilling a dream.
The Emerald Dove
Colour changing Lizard
The most sort after Endemic Green Billed Coucal
Pygmy Wood pecker
The Endemic Sri Lanka Spurfowl
Migrant Slaty Legged Crake
Migrant Indian Pitta
Endemic Sri Lanka HornBill
