field notes from 02/08/23

Sinharaja in January

· Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka · Humid, 74°F at dawn, light rain by late morning · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Flew into Colombo and took the slow road up to the reserve. Sinharaja is a UNESCO rainforest and most of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds live in it. I hired a local guide for three full days. Mixed flocks here move fast and high, and I spent a lot of time listening for the lead species (an Orange-billed Babbler) and then trying to track what was moving through behind it.

Got four endemics in one flock on day two: Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Red-faced Malkoha, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot. That doesn’t happen often.

Blue magpie with red bill in a tree
Electric blue, red bill. Heart-stopper. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie 300mm, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 1000
Red-faced malkoha in canopy
Malkoha at the back of the flock. Brief window. Red-faced Malkoha 450mm, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 400
Laughingthrush in dim understory
Moving fast. Raised ISO. Ashy-headed Laughingthrush 200mm, 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO 400
Tiny parrot on fruiting tree
Smaller than I expected. Neon green. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 150mm, 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Orange-billed babbler on low branch
The flock leader. Orange-billed Babbler 150mm, 1/800s, f/6.3, ISO 400
Sri Lanka junglefowl male
National bird. Cooperative on the trail. Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl 400mm, 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 1000
Langur in canopy
Endemic monkey, purple-faced. Hard to light. Purple-faced Langur 300mm, 1/800s, f/8, ISO 800
Frogmouth sleeping on branch
Day roost our guide knew. Sri Lanka Frogmouth 200mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 400
Wide view of rainforest interior
The standard view when birds aren't moving. Forest interior 23mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 100
Garden lizard on twig
On the trail back to the lodge. Green Garden Lizard 23mm, 1/800s, f/8, ISO 800