Sri Lanka - Day Three - journey to Nuraya Elya

Getting up around 6 with the intention of birding round the grounds was sidetracked by the stunning number of birds in the tree outside our accommodation. Between 20 and 30 Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot were feeding on the flowers with Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, Flower Pecker, Golden-fronted and Jerdon's Leaf-bird, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Dull Blue FlycatcherBrown Flycatcher and Flame Minivet. Although some of the birds drifted away we were kept entranced until breakfast.

We left around 9.30 and set off for Nuwara Elya with a brief stop at the swinging bridge for Stork-billed Kingfisher which obligingly flew down the river and Crested Serpent Eagle flying over. We had another short stop at a bridge in the hope of dwarf Kingfisher but no luck. We did see 2 electric green damselflies and a Black Eagle drifted over our heads.

We stopped for a view across to Devon Waterfall and then a stop for a cup of tea at the St. Clair's Waterfall where they have a nice new viewpoint platform, museum and tea room. This is real tea country with every available slope terraced and groups dotted around picking the leaves.

We settled into our new hotel, had a light lunch and then set off to a spot with a path behind an old shed leading to a potato farm. It was a bit of a slippery scramble down to a bridge and then a short walk along the path looking and listening. A couple of Spurfowl flew across the track and then a steep scramble up the hillside and standing very quietly as a mixed flock came by included Dull-blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Bulbul. The track was fairly busy with orkers coming and going but everyone was very friendly. 

A wait for the Whistling Thrush resulted in hearing it call all the way down the valley, passing right under our feet, and catching sight of some movement but frustratingly no proper views.



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