7th March - Kayeem House, Tangalle, Sri Lanka

The journey this morning went through lots of more paddy fields with the usual birds, Cattle Little and Great Egrets, then inland and re-tracing some of the roads we had taken on our way to Udawalawa.  We arrived at our hotel just after 13:00.  

The road along the beach was a little bumpy.  There was a lagoon on the land side with Black-winged Stilts, Little Stints and Redshank.  On the beach side numerous properties and restaurants.

The hotel was set on the beach once again, with lovely gardens and palm trees lining the pool area.

We were able to check in to our room and found that we had a wonderful one, with views both inland over the jungle and to the beach and ocean, if maybe not so clear.  On the deck we had our own small plunge pool, very similar to the one we had in La Fortuna in Costa Rica last year.  The view looking over the plunge pool and out across the tree tops.

On either side us were palm trees and there were a lot of Sri Lankan Swallows hawking around them and coming over the deck.  After watching tem for a while I just had to have a go at photographing them.  As with all swallows and swifts it was a lot of effort for a small return, but I was pleased with these.

As I said previously they are very similar in shape and jizz to that of the Red-rumped Swallow, but clearly a much different plumage.

Leaving the best to last.

There were distant Blue-tailed and Little Green Bee-eaters, while a Brahminy Kite came overhead.

Rose-ringed Parakeets called from the palm trees and then a bit of a surprise, I noticed a black and yellow bird fly into a tree and fortunately it settled in a gap which allowed me to focus on it.

While I was pleased with the photos in the tree I was thrilled to be able to catch the oriole as it flew away, showing the lovely yellow and black in the wings.

Like the Red-wattled Lapwing, Spotted Doves are everywhere and I have left them alone, but seen up close they are quite a spectacular plumaged bird.  This one came to the plunge pool to drink and I took the chance to photograph it.

As you can see up close a lovely bird.

That was it for the day, House and Palm Swifts flew around palms but were so difficult to catch.  We had dinner and prepared ourselves for another early start tomorrow.