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
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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment