Bundala & Hambantota -Day 1

A group of Haritha Diyatha members visited Bundala & Hambantota on a two-day trip. The main objective of the trip was to do the Haritha Diyatha annual bird species count at Bundala, done every year during the Migrating season. It  also was to commemorate the 'World Wetland Day', which happened to be the 2nd of February. Bundala was the first wetland to be named as a 'Ramsar' wetland in Sri Lanka.

The Magampura Port, the Mirijjiwila Botanical gardens, a privately owned Bird zoo, a Solar power generation plant and the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention center (MRICC) were also visited during the tour.

the main building @ the Magampura Port

the cargo-yard ...

The port ....

.....

The Solar Power Generation Plant

an officer explaining about the plant

Mirjjawila botanical gardens

entrance fore-court

plaques

the car-park

The Bird-Zoo

two Fishing cats cadged in the Zoo

Swans

Black Swans

Rear Entrance of the MRICC

The main hall & lobby

the main entrance

entrance to the MRICC

the Lobby & Reception area

the Lobby

The Banquet hall

conference room

the main auditorium

a section of the auditorium

A Tamed Elephant @ MALWANA

After the Bird-watching session at Nugegoda, a tamed elephant belonging to one of Mr, Lalith De Silva's relations was visited. It was having a bath at the river Kelaniya, in the Malwana area.

The Elephant with it's mahout Mr. Gamini

The Elephant ... now 70 years old ....

been fed by Mr. Lalith

enjoying a water-melon

back to the river ....

.. for a bath in the Kelani river ...

into the waters ... &

... cooling-off in the waters ....

The Urban Wetland Park - NUGEGODA

The HARITHA DIYATHA Environmental Organization, organized a  Bird-watching session at the Urban Wetland Park @ Nugegoda. Over 30 Bird species were recorded at this field tour, between 6.30am & 9.30am, on the 26th January 2014.

(Note : special permission from the Ministry of Defense is required to use high-tech cameras within the park)

The Nugegoda Wetland park

Spot-billed Pelican

Little Egret

Great Egret

Asian Open-bill

Little Cormorant

Common Sandpiper  ( ? )

Pheasant-tailed Jacana  ( Juvenile ? )

Indian Pond Heron

Yellow Bittern  ( ? )

Purple Swamphen

Red-wattled Lapwing

Brahminy Kites

Shikra

Rose-ringed Parakeet

White-throated Kingfisher

the group ... after the bird-watching was over ...