I got the opportunity to go to Nilgala and Kumana national parks in the first week of February with my photography couple. I was fortunate to see the painted francolin Jungle bush quail and the yellow footed pigeon that can only be seen there apart from the Sri lanka Spur foul ,banded bay cuckoo and the three toed kingfisher among others. The same day evening we ended up in Panama and did a full day safari the following day and in Kumana and were able to see the rare migrant ; Ruddy shelduck and also the greater spotted eagle though it was far and also the orange headed thrush among many others.
The yellow footed pigeon ; Confined only to Nilgala area
Male crested tree swift
Tawny- bellied babbler
Sri Lanka spur foul
Painted Francolin Male : Confined only to Nilgala
Jungle bushquail
Baronet or the Nilgala utterfly
nesting of the purple sunbird
Uncommon insects
Brown breasted flycatcher
Indian cuckoo
Scarlet minivet
On display
velvet fronted nuthatch
Banded bay cuckoo
Racket tailed drongo
Brown capped babbler
Tree toed dwarf kingfitcher
Indian nightjar on our way to Kumana
Rare migrant and a lifer: Ruddy Shelduckk
Changeable hawk cuckoo
Sambar
Jaya a young male Leopard
barn swallows
Ashy headed sparrowlark
Yellow wattled lapwing
Brahmin starling
The cruel side of nature: This mother buffalo had just lost its calf due to unknown reasons but was not giving up and it was heart wrenching to see it licking the calf as if to give life back and was guarding for a very long time. However the Jackals were waiting patiently unperturbed waiting for the inevitable opportunity.
White bellied sea eagle
Brahmin kite drinking water
Lesser adjutant stork
Curlew sandpiper
Ruddy turnstone
Jaya yet again
Little stint
Pintailed snipe
Stripped - necked mongoose
Migrant : Greater spotted eagle : Unfortunately this was a record shot as it frequents only these Tamarind trees at a distance
Kentish plover
Black necked stork
Female
Male
Common sandpiper
Orange breasted pigeon
Male grey bellied cuckoo
Grey headed fish eagle
lack tailed godwits on a mission
Orange headed thrush
