Larks, Wagtails and Pipits
Photographed in the outskirts of Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Wilpattu National Park.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Wilpattu National Park.
Jerdon's Bushlark
Mirafra affinis
Images 1 to 3 are from Wilpattu National Park during an early morning cross through to get to Mannar.
Last 2 images are from Bundala National Park.
Photographed inside the Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed inside the Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed inside the Chundikulam National Park.
Oriental Skylark / Indian Skylark
(පෙරදිගු අහස් තුලිකාවා)
Alauda gulgula
Seen and photographed first in the 'Bundala' National Park. (images 1 to 5). He is an active bird hopping around the sandbank.
Images 6 and 7 from Chundikulam National Park. Images 8 to 9 are from the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed at Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed at Chundikulam National Park.
Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark / Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (කිරුලලු ගේකුරුලු තුලිකාවා)
Eremopterix griseus
First photographed in Mannar around mid-day that meant the sunlight was really hard. There were a few pairs of them running around near a dried-up lake. (image 1 to 3)
The next images are from Chundikulam National Park where they were many of them in the open plain. (images 4 to 7)
Image 8 is from Bundala National Park.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Greater Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Forest Wagtail
(වන-හැලපෙන්දා)
Dendronanthus indicus
Seen at the Wet Water Resort on two separate dates. There were a pair of them wagging their tail away. Such an awesome sight when they wag their tails as if they are dancing.
Photographed in Kerawalapitiya close to the garbage disposal site.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in Kerawalapitiya at the garbage disposal site.
Photographed in Kerawalapitiya close to the garbage disposal site.
Yellow Wagtail
(කහ හැලපෙන්දා)
Motacilla flava
There are many types of Yellow Wagtails that visit Sri Lanka during the winter months. My first encounter was at Gampaha near a small waterhole. (Image 1) I came across another Siberian Yellow Wagtail in Bundala National Park. (images 2) Images 3 to 5 I believe are of a Grey-headed Wagtail seen in Chundikulam National Park. Based on the grey head and the missing white eyebrow, I make my conclusion.
The next set of images are from Kerawalapitiya garbage disposal site and its surrunding area where wagtails of all kinds have come down in numbers.
Photographed in Kerawalapitiya next to the waste disposal site.
Photographed in Kerawalapitiya next to the waste disposal site.
Citrine Wagtail
(කහ-හිස් හැලපෙන්දා)
Motacilla citreola
This solitary photograph of this beauty was taken at Kerawalapitiya next to the waste disposal site. Although the location was buzzing with Yellow Wagtails, Citrine Wagtails were rare.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Grey Wagtail
(අලු හැලපෙන්දා)
Motacilla cinerea
Yet to capture image
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site.
White Wagtail
(සුදු හැලපෙන්දා)
Motacilla alba
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal site, this beautiful and active wagtail was a treat to photograph. Wagtails of all 3 kinds have come down in numbers to this site.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
White-browed Wagtail / Large Pied Wagtail
(ගෝමර හැලපෙන්දා)
Motacilla maderaspatensis
Yet to capture image
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Richard's Pipit
(රිචර්ඩ් වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus richardi
Seen at the salt flats (under construction) in Kuchchaveli in the hash morning sun. There were a few of them running around in the grassland around salt flats.
Based on the larger size, long and stout bill and long hind claws, I think this is a Richard's Pipit. However, pipits are one of the most difficult birds to distinguish as they look very similar.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal area.
Photographed in the outskirts of Kuchchaveli.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal area.
Photographed at the Kerawalapitiya waste disposal area.
Paddyfield Pipit / Indian Pipit
(කෙත් වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus rufulus
First seen at Kuchchaveli where he was running around the grassland in the morning. (Image 1)
Then came across another at 'Bundala' National Park.
Based on the smaller size and the weak flight it displayed when flushed, I believe these are Paddyfield Pipit's.
Images 5 and 6 are from Horton Plains National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Polonnaruwa.
Photographed in the outskirts of Polonnaruwa.
Photographed in Vankalai Sanctuary, Mannar.
Photographed in the outskirts of Polonnaruwa.
Blyth's Pipit
(බ්ලිත් වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus godlewskii
A winter visitor, this beautiful bird was first seen hopping around near the 'Maha Parakum' statue in Polonnaruwa next to 'Parakrama Samudraya' tank.
Then I came across one in Mannar. Based on the smaller size and the pointier beak, I believe its Blyth's Pipit although cant clearly see the hind claw size in any of these images.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Olive-backed Pipit / Indian Tree Pipit
(ඔලිව්-පිට වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus hodgsoni
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Tawny Pipit
(තනි වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus campestris
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Red-throated Pipit
(රත්ගෙල වැරටිච්චා)
Anthus cervinus
Yet to capture image