Woodcock and Snipes
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in the outskirts of Gampaha.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Great Painted-snipe / Painted Snipe
(රජ උලු-කෙස්වටුවා)
Rostratula benghalensis
First seen at a small waterhole next to my hotel in Gampaha, this pair of snipes were out gathering food at the water’s edge. They are very hard to spot among the water weeds and a couple of times I was walking right next to them without knowing they are there before they flew off.
Came across a breeding pair in Bundala National Park in 2018. As usual, they were very shy and remained well hidden among the grass. The female has beautiful colours.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Eurasian Woodcock / Woodcock
(යුරේසියා ඇරතුඩුවා)
Scolopax rusticola
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Wood Snipe
(වන කෙස්වටුවා)
Gallinago nemoricola
Yet to capture image
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Bundala National Park.
Photographed in Chundikulam National Park.
Pintail Snipe
(උල්-පෙඳ කෙස්වටුවා)
Gallinago stenura
Although I couldn't get a clearer image of its body and flight, I believe these are Pintail Snipe's based on its buff eyebrow being broader than other snipes and the central crown strip reaching the beak.
First seen at Bundala National Park (images 1 to 3) it was hiding among the grass and staying very still. Images 4 to 8 are from Chundikulam. This time I managed to wait for one to break cover. Still, they are notoriously shy and hide among the grass which makes identifications difficult.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Swinhoe's Snipe
(ස්වින්හෝස් කෙස්වටුවා)
Gallinago megala
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Common Snipe
(පොදු කෙස්වටුවා)
Gallinago gallinago
Yet to capture image
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Still waiting to get lucky and capture image.
Jack Snip
(හීන් කෙස්වටුවා)
Lymnocryptes minimus
Yet to capture image