The wetlands of Bundala National Park are home to a huge variety of birds.
I must say, Sri Lanka is real birder’s paradise. It gets even better when we visit Bundala National Park, which is an important spot for migratory birds. It is a Ramsar site and a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, so the birds and other animals and plants are well protected in their watery habitat.
Within the space of three to four hours we see no less than 43 different bird species, including crested honey buzzard, rose-ringed parakeet, and open-billed stork.
I manage to take shots of Indian thick-knee (aka stone curlew), painted stork, herons of various sorts and a grey-headed fish eagle at its nest.
And peacocks, of course, mesmerizing in their iridescent beauty. Did you know that a group of peacocks is called an ostentation? That is quite fitting, I think!
We also spot wild buffalo lounging in the water and black-faced grey langurs hanging around in the trees.
At one point we reach the shore and get views of the Indian Ocean. We leave the safari jeeps and wander around on our own.
To my delight I discover different kinds of flowers I have not seen before, such as the squirrel’s tail (first photo below) and crown flower, also known as giant milkweed (second photo below).
The flowering shrub Lantana camara is an invasive species from the American tropics. It attracts butterflies, so here is finally an opportunity to take some proper pictures of the pretty little insects.
