Ranweli to Kitulgala

Day two dawned and we were off on a pre-breakfast cruise on the Gin River (also known locally as Oya Gin or Little Gin River).   Two of us were lucky enough to spot a Slaty-legged Crake as it flew in at the side of the path to the jetty, never to be spotted again, sadly!

The cruise gave us another opportunity to see herons and egrets; Yellow Bittern, Little Egret, Striated (green) Heron and Purple Heron being particular highlights.    A white morph Western Reef Heron was finally identified by photograph - not mine I might add.  

Striated Heron

There were also excellent opportunities to compare Little and Indian cormorant as we drifted along.   Indian Thick-knee shyly moved behind a large bush, but was finally seen by everyone. 

Common Kingfisher gave a great show as it dipped into the river then sat preening on a low branch.   Black-hooded Oriole and Large-billed (Jungle) Crow were also seen in the trees.

Several Common Sandpiper and a Common Redshank were spotted on the return journey.    Lesser Sri Lanka Flameback (endemic) showed off well whilst Purple-rumped sunbird and a pair of Lotens Sunbird were more of a challenge to see.   Hardest though was Blyth's Reed-warbler which skulked in the undergrowth giving the most tantalising of views.

Water Monitor

Raptors seen included Black Eagle, Shikra and Brahminy Kite.   Four Lesser Whistling Ducks flew and Little (House) Swift, were joined by Asian Palm Swift overhead.   Back to the hotel for breakfast - the Sri Lankan curries were fantastic - and for some of us a walk on the beach again.   We wanted to get another look at the waders and see if there were any terns present, as the couple who had stayed at the hotel before we arrived had seen large groups of terns the previous days.

After much debate and many photographs we were still unsure about Little/Saunders Tern, so we settled for Little.   We also saw Common, Greater Crested and Lesser Crested terns.   

White-bellied Sea-eagle soared above us and Plain Prinia was also seen. 

On our journey to the next hotel at Kitulgala we added Ashy Wood-swallow.

Kitulgala

After a beautiful curry lunch, and some early afternoon rain, we set off for a walk where we saw Western Spotted Dove, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon (endemic), Green Imperial Pigeon, Greater Coucal showed well as did Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, we heard Brown-headed Barbet and Yellow-fronted Barbet (endemic) and Indian pitta.

Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot (endemic), Emerald-collard (Lanyards) Parakeet (endemic), Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-vented Bulbul, Yellow-browned Bulbul, Square-tailed Black Bulbul, Oriental Magpie Robin, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Green Leaf-warbler, Orange-billed Babbler (endemic), Yellow-billed Babbler - all came thick and fast. 

Indian swiftlets (of the birds nest soup fame) fed overhead.   

However, Chestnut-backed owlet stole the show late in the afternoon as the light started to fade.

Dinner was another amazing feast of spicy curried delights - we were already getting used to three curries a day!

The hotel we were staying at was set on the bank of the River Kelani Ganga where David Lean set his film Bridge Over the River Kwai.

Non-avian sightings included: 

Torque macaque, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Water Monitor, Palm Squirrel