NOTES ON FIELD TRIPS TO WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK

This is a common breeding resident found throughout the lowlands and ascends the hills up to about 1500 meters. Other than in Sri Lanka this eagle is found in India and from the southeast rim of the Himalaya across Southeast Asia to Indonesia and Philippines. Two sub species are recognized of this eagle S.c.cirrhatus, the nominate race in India and S. c. ceylanensis, which is smaller with a longer crest in Sri Lanka and also possibly in Travancore.

This species is quite common in all the dry zone National parks. I have also found it in most of the wet and intermediate zone forests and plantations. In the north I have observed this species in the Jaffna peninsula, Mannar Island, Kilinochchi and Mulathivu. It is common in the Knuckles Forest Reserve and the Rakwana hills. It is occasionally found at Talangama wetlands just outside the city of Colombo but can be regularly seen at Padukka, Labugama, Bodinagala and Meethirigala forest reserves. This, in my view, is the most fearless of all our eagles. In Udawalawa National Park I once observed one of these eagles attacking a grown Peahen and in June 1999 observe one of them feeding on the remains of a Black-naped Hare. In November 2001 I observed a pair of these raptors building a nest at Dolukanda and had observed nests with adult birding sitting or with chicks at different localities from January to August. My records indicate that these birds begin nest building towards the end or the beginning of the year resulting in most young eagles leaving the nests between June to August.

In Wilpattu the Crested Hawk Eagle can be seen throughout the park. During the second half of the year the loud ringing calls of the young birds of this species can be often heard at most locations in the park. In September 2012 I was parked at the Kombansanchi Pooval water hole, during mid-day observing and photographing the birds that come to drink. The stillness and the calm that prevailed was shattered by the alarm calls of the birds and Indian Palm Squirrels when an adult Crested Hawk Eagle flew in and caught an Emerald Dove with its talons. After a few moments on the ground the eagle flew off with it prey firmly secured in its feet. The next day I observed and photographed at the same locality a Crested Hawk Eagle feeding on a sub adult Ceylon Grey Hornbill. At Wilpattu I have observed these eagles feeding on Chameleons, Slender Loris, Little Cormorants, Jungle Fowl, mid-sized land Monitors, Indian Peafowl, and Indian Pond Herons.

8.31am a Buffalo at Borupan Wila.
8.48am 9 Spotted Deer at Lunu Wewa.
8.49am a Brown-breasted Flycatcher also referred to Layard’s Flycatcher flew across the road and perched an exposed branch. This is a common migrant species that can be seen in suitable habitat during the migrant season from the lowland forests up to about 2000 meters in the hills except in the extreme north. The Layard’s flycatcher breeds in north-eastern India, central and Southern China, northern Burma, and Thailand. The entire population is known to winter in southern India and Sri Lanka. I have always seen this species in localities associated with water in tall forests where there is plenty of shade. In such places it can be seen perched on branches or twigs few feet from the ground. I have found it to be more common in the wet zone than the dry zone. During the migrant season they can be seen even at locations close to Colombo such as such as Meethirigala, Bodinagala and Labugama Kalatuwawa. It has a habit of making short flights and returning to the same perch or to a nearby perch repeatedly. At Udawalawa and Yala National Parks it can be usually seen along the river. It is common in most wet zone forests and even in small, fragmented forests. It is often overlooked and noticed when it makes short flights in pursuit of insects. The highest attitude at which I have seen it so far has been at 1820 meters in the Peak Wilderness. In February 1997 I observed one of these birds catch and swallow a small wet zone Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis wiegmanni at Bodinagala. The lizard was almost the length of the bird, but the little hunter picked it up skillfully and flew up on to a branch in one swift movement. The luckless prey was killed with a few dashes and swallowed, headfirst, without much difficulty. I have never seen this species in the Mannar Island or in the Jaffna Peninsula. This is not a bird, which is easy to see at Wilpattu due to its small size and retiring behaviour. I have seen it in the forest patch just before Percy Bendi Wewa and close to Kuda Boralu Wala. This is a difficult bird to photograph in the park, as most location where it can be seen will be quite dark. However, if you can arrive at a reasonable shutter speed it would usually stay still for long periods affording you to take a good photo.

8.52am a Barking Deer on Lunu Wewa to Ochchappukallu road.
9.08am the sun was covered by a heavy cloud and the butterflies took up resting positions. I located a Blue Wanderer butterfly perched on a Podi Singho Maranag leaf at Lunu Wewa. On such occasions these fast-flying butterflies will stay settled until the sun comes out again.

9.30am Chestnut-headed Bee Eater nesting at Borupan Wila. The bird checks around for any danger and then moves into the nest hole to dig the sand out with its feet. Many pairs were observed nesting on sandy areas of the park.

9.31am an adult male Wild Boar at Borupan Wila.
9.36am 6 Spotted Deer at Demata Wila.
10.12am 2 Spotted Deer on Kokkare Villu upper road.
10.19am 12 Spotted Deer at Nelumm Wila pitiya.
10.41am Sword Bean Canavalia virosa (Mudu Awara) in bloom at Nelum Wila pitiya. The flowers were full of large black ants which are the known pollinators of this species. Some species of beans have tiny leaf like stricture at the base of the leaves that produce a sweet nectar to attract pollinators and many insects feed on this nectar. It is likely that the Sword Bean also produces such a reward for the ants to be present in such large numbers. Such fascinating symbiotic relationships are quite common in the natural world.

10.42am a Brown-capped Babbler that was among the leaf litter between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Villu, flew up on to an exposed branch permitting me to get a few images of this endemic species. Many of the resident bird species, including these babblers are engaged courtship behavior attracting females ahead of the breeding season in April and May. Most species breed during the non-migrant season due to les competition for food.
This is an endemic species. Two races have been recognized in the country. Pellorneum fuscocapillus fuscocapillus is found in the low country wet zone and the hills whereas Pellorneum fuscocapillus babaulti is found in the dry zone, which is paler in coloure. This is a species strictly protected in terms of section 31 read with schedule iv the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009. I have seen the wet zone race of this bird at many locations including Labugama, Meethirigala, Sinharaja, Kitulgama, Bodinagala, Kanneliya, Kottawa, Madakada, Morapitiya and Gilimale. It can be found in all the forested monasteries in the wet zone and the hills. In the hills I have seen it at Morning side at an altitude of 1150 meters, Bandarawela at 1316 meters and at Meemure in the Knukles forest at 1310 meters. It is a common bird in most dry zone forests but usually its heard more than seen due to its skulking habits. In the north I have recorded it at “Devils Point” at Ponnaveli forest and at Omanthai near Mamaduwa tank. I have never seen it in the Jaffna peninsula or the Mannar Island. In September 2010 I found a nest at a Mirissala at Ambatenna at an altitude of 592 meters. The nest was built on the ground at the foot of a tall tree. It was dome shaped with a large opening. There were two eggs the ground colour was off white with large brown blotches at the larger end and smaller ones at the narrower end of the egg.
On 5th April 2015 I observed and photographed another nest at Aalam Villu in Wilpattu National Park, which also contained two eggs. These birds are usually seen in pairs on the forest floor among the leaf litter. While all other species of babblers found in the country would move on the ground by hopping the Brown-capped Baller can be often seen moving my walking and running. This is a very common species at Wilpattu and its call can be heard at most location in the forested areas. Birds belonging to the race P.f. babaulti, which are paler in colour to those in the wet zone and the hills, are found at Wilpattu.