Annotated checklist of vagrant Munias (Family: Estrildidae) recorded in Sri Lanka

Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the family Estrildidae (Munias & allies) in Sri Lanka.

Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

While including this bird to his country list base on a remark made by Layard that he found this Munia at Galle, Legge suspected that its presence in the Galle district must have been owing to a flock escaped from a ship at Galle harbor (Legge 1880 : 850). However during 1977-1981 pest species survey it was seen by Dr Sarath Kotagama in the Hingurana and Udawalawe areas and again recorded at Ridiyagama by A.J. Vincent (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010:.318)

References:
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.

Large Guava Blue (Virachola perse ghela)

A rare butterfly flies in drier parts of the country. This butterfly has a habit of chasing other passing by butterflies, darting out from a particular leaf which it selected to rest during the hottest hours of the day*. Its larval host plant is කුකුරුමාන් (Catunaregam spinosa) and larva feeds on its fruits.

*Same habit has been observed on some other butterflies of widely different families

කුඹුක් [Kubuk] (Terminalia arjuna)

An indigenous large tree found along water courses of dry lowlands and intermediate zone forested areas, marshes, tank edges etc. 

Two-spotted Threadtail (Elattoneura oculata)

An endemic and rare damselfly inhabiting streams and rivers from lowland to mid hill forests in southwestern part of the country. 

හුලංතලා/කඩුපහර[Hulan-tala/Kadupara] (Emilia exserta)

An indigenous herb found on disturbed places, patanas and road embankments from low to middle elevations.

Baronet (Symphaedra nais)

Rather rare butterfly with local distribution in south-central and south-eastern part of the country from Haldummulla to Batticola and there to Trincomalee. Larva feeds on කඩුම්බේරිය(Diospyros melanoxylon) 
.

කැටකෑල[katakela] (Bridelia retusa)

A small tree distributed in dry and intermediate forest subcanopy. Infrequently in wet zone forests also. Roots and barks use in traditional medicine and wood use in construction industry. 

Annotated checklist of vagrant raptors (Family: Accipitridae and Falconidae) recorded in Sri Lanka

    Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrants of the Falconidae (Falcons) and Accipitridae (Osprey, Kites, Hawks & Eagles) families in Sri Lanka.

      1)Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)

Lesser Kestrel was recorded first time in Sri Lanka by Deepal Warakagoda on 7^th February 1995 at Palatupana of Yala National Park (Hoffmann, T. W., 1996). Sight records from Udawalawe on November 2003 and Horton plains National Park on December same year are the 2^nd and 3^rd records of it, for the island (Warakagoda, D., 2004)

      2) Amur Falcon [Red-legged falcon] (Falco amurensis)

First record of this falcon in Sri Lanka is the specimen procured by Legge at Trincomalie in December 1872 (Legge 1880: 160). Another bird in company with kestrels was observed and identified by G.M. Henry from Colombo racecourse in March 1933 (Whistler 1944: 241). Single female was observed in a coconut grove at Thenadi bay, east coast on May 1978 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1979). On 12^th November 1984 single bird observed at Mahasilawa of Yala National Park (Hoffmann, T. W., 1985). Probably the same bird again reported in February 1985 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1986). CBC notes contains single sighting of this Falcon for 1998 and it was reported in the month of December at Udawalawe National Park (Warakagoda, D., 1999). Three sightings were reported during year 1999 including one female from Udawalawe National Park on November (Warakagoda, D., 2000). During 2003 November two sightings were reported, one from Yala National Park and other one near Talladi (Warakagoda, D., 2004). There are a sight records  from Yala National Park in 2005 (Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006) and in January 2006 (Siriwardana, U. 2007). A Sight record at Colombo is given in the Report of CBC for 2008-2011 (Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011.)

     3)Egyptian Vulture(Neophron percnopterus ginginianus)

An immature Egyptian Vulture probably driven to the south by the North-East monsoon from India appeared at Nuwaraeliya in March 1874.  It was shot by Grinlinton of the P.W.D while roaming about bazaar in search of foods (Legge 1880:3). There is another sight record made by Iris Darnton in January 1950 of a single bird from the Jaffna peninsula (Phillips 1978:18).

     4)Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)

A single specimen collected in 1934 from Polgahawela by W.S. Lang and now deposited at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology; University of California is the only record of this species from Sri Lanka. However it is suspected as a specimen of a captive bird (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 194 Quoting Rasmussen & Anderton 2005: 101)

      5)Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus rufinus)

Long-legged Buzzard was first time reported in Sri Lanka at Horton plains on 26^th January 1989 by Ben King, James Clements and Robert Clements (Hoffmann, T. W., 1989). It was again reported from Horton plains in 1994 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1995), November 1997 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1999), February 2002 (Siriwardana, U., 2003) February 2003 (Warakagoda, D., 2004)  and 2005 (Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006). A sight record also available for the year 1995 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1996). 

      6) Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus fasciatus)

Single specimen collected by R. Templeton prior to 1858 and identified by Blyth is the earliest record of the occurrence of Bonelli’s eagle in Sri Lanka (Whistler 1944: 242). Second record of it is the sight record of Deepal Warakagoda at Bundala National Park on December 2000 (Senanayake, N., 2001) while third being at Ratugala in March 2002 (Siriwardana, U., 2003). However there is a reference for another earlier unconfirmed single sight record at Randeniyagala on August 1995 (Hoffmann, T. W., 1996).

Unconfirmed vagrants:

Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.

      7)Back-thighed Falconet [Black-legged Falconet] (Microhierax fringillarius)

W.E. Wait included this falconet to his monograph base on a comment made by E.E. Green of presence of it in Sri Lanka (Wait 1931: 283). E.E. Green’s description of two incidents appeared in Spolia zeylanica vol 8 page 287 is quoted here. “For those who are interested in bird life, I would draw attention to the probable occurrence of an unsuspected bird in the hilly parts of Ceylon. I refer to one of the smallest of the hawk tribe, a falconet, three species of which are found in India. The first suggestion of the presence of such a bird came to me through a planter in Hewaheta, who described to me how he had seen two black birds fighting, and how one of them had killed the other and had flown away with it. I had, later, the good fortune to witness a similar occurrence myself. In this case the victim was a common “bulbul." I was attracted by its cries of distress, and came upon the scene just in time to see it disappearing over the trees in the clutches of a tiny dark-colored hawk that looked no bigger than itself. Naturally, I had no gun with me, and so was unable to verify my observation. If our falconet is identical with one of the Indian species, it will probably prove to be Microhierax fringillarius, the smallest of the three, which ranges through the southern portion of Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. This species is said to feed more exclusively upon birds.” (Green E.E.,  )

      8) Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera chicquera)

Legge included this Falcon to his monograph base on the Layard’s observation of it in the flat country near Pt. Pedro (Legge 1880: 150). Legge further noted that since it is found in the extreme south of the Indian peninsula there is no reason against believing of visiting this little falcon of northern shores of Ceylon. Wait also considered this bird as a possible falcon in our lands referring to Layard’s observation mentioned in Legge’s and also due to its occurrence of practically all over India (Wait 1931: 282). There is a reference in Kotagama & Ratnavira (2010) of a sight record in 1986 quoting CBCN 1986, June: 22 but annual reviews of CBC notes for 1986 doesn't contain such a sight record (Hoffmann, T. W., 1987)

      9) Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus nisosimilis)

Deepal Warakagoda’s sight record of Eurasian Sparrowhawk at Ambawela in 2003 is considered as the first and only record of occurrence of this raptor in Sri Lanka (Warakagoda, D., 2004). However under ‘List of rejections (after 1990) ‘of Ceylon bird club there is a reference of another possible previous sighting of a single bird near Sigiriya on 24^th December 1993, which was  rejected by CBCCRRC as claimed record was not meeting the criteria for the Sri Lanka List or the Appendices by the CBCRRC. (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/List-of-Rejections.pdf)

References:

Green E.E. Some suggestions for members of the Ceylon Natural History Society. Spolia zeylanica Vol 8 p. 287.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1979. Note from the Ceylon Bird club 1978. Loris, 15(1), p 6-8.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1985. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1984. Loris, 17(1), p 10-12.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1986. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1985. Loris, 17(3), 99-101.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1987. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1986. Loris, 17(5), 209-210

Hoffmann, T. W., 1989. The Ceylon Bird Club. Loris, 18(3), 129-131.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1995. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1994. Loris, 20(5), 226-227.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1996. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1995. Loris, 21(1), 16-18.

Hoffmann, T. W., 1999. Ceylon Bird Club Notes, 1997. Loris, 22(1), 57-58.

Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.

Phillips W.W.A., 1978. Annotated checklist of the Birds of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1978 revised edition.

Senanayake, N., 2001. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2000. Loris, 22(5), 43-44

Siriwardana, U., 2003. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2002. Loris, 23(3&4), 36-39.

Siriwardana, U., 2007 Report of the Ceylon Bird Club 2006 Loris, 24(5 & 6), 50-56
Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2005 Loris 24(3&4), 24 - 28

Wait W.E., 1931. Manual of the Birds of Ceylon. 2nd edition. Colombo Museum.

Warakagoda, D., 1999. Ceylon Bird Club Notes,1998. Loris, 22(2), 33-34.

Warakagoda, D., 2000. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 1999. Loris, 22(4), 23-25.

Warakagoda, D., 2004. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2003 Loris, 23 (5&6), 37-41

Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2008-2011, Loris 26 (1&2)

Whistler, H. 1944 The avifaunal survey of Ceylon conducted jointly by the British and Colombo museums. Spolia Zeylanica 23(3&4): 119-321

Torenia cyanea

An endemic herb with creeping stems, occurs between 160m to 1800m elevations from wet lowlands to hills.  Much common in the hill country. Usually found among short grasses in shaded places near streams.  Flowering throughout the year.

පුල්ලි වක්-නිය හූනා /Spotted Bowfinger Gecko (Cyrtodactylus triedrus)

Spotted Bowfinger Gecko is a ground dwelling gecko found under stones, among leaf litter and under decaying logs of forests, plantations and home gardens in wet lowlands and mid hills below 700m elevation and few wet and shaded localities of the dry and intermediate zones. Mainly a nocturnal gecko though juveniles might active even during the day time.

Disperis neilgherrensis

Rather common orchid species found under the shade of trees in the sub-montane forests between 915-1524m elevations.

Small Leopard (Phalanta alcippe ceylonica)

"So far it has only appeared in one valley in the Nitre Cave, surrounded by 6000 feet hills, except towards the north-west and east, where it faces the Bintenna country. The butterflies are found from 2000 to 4000 feet. Principal appearance, May-June. A few at end of the year." - (Mackwood to Ormiston in Ormiston W., 1924)

"I owe my specimens to Mr. MAckwood's generosity. He tells me that it was fairly plentiful at Nitre Cave in May and June, 1918" (Ormiston W., 1924)

"A very local butterfly which can be taken from 2 to 4 thousand feet for most months of the year, but in numbers, from March to May, below Corbet's Gap (near Madugoda), surrounded by 6000 feet hills. It has also been taken, but very rarely, in the Ratnapura District." - (Woodhouse L.G.O., 1950)

"It is by no means common, occurring at elevations of between 1800 and 4500 feet, .......In the four years I spent observing and collecting butterflies in this country, I can only ever remember seeing this butterfly on two occasions; both times in the hills around Kandy, and both times it was travelling very fast, and stopping just long enough to be recognized." (d' Abrera Bernard, 1998)

Small Leopard is a forest dwelling, critically endangered butterfly with local distribution. It appears from March to June months of the year in the hills, primarily in the Knuckles range. Above photograph was also taken in Knuckles range, on the road to Meemure village from Corbet's Gap, near Karambakatiya oya on 17th August 2014. Its only known larval host plant is Rinorea decora.

References:

d' Abrera Bernard, 1998 The Butterflies of Ceylon, WHT Publications : Colombo.

Ormiston  W., 1924 The Butterflies of Ceylon, H.W.Cave & Co., Colombo 1924, AES Reprint New Delhi, 2003

Woodhouse L.G.O., 1950 The Butterfly Fauna of Ceylon, Ceylon Government Press, Colombo, 2nd (Abridged) Edition.  1950.

පුපුල/Pupula (Psiadia ceylanica)

An indigenous shrub common in the hill country grasslands and scrublands. Flowering throughout the year.

Pethiyagoda’s Crestless Lizard/පෙතියාගොඩගේ කොදු-දැති රහිත කටුස්සා (Calotes pethiyagodai)

The Crestless lizard inhabiting Knuckles range has been recently described as a new endemic species base on morphological features (Amarasinghe T. et. al., 2014). It is restricted to the elevations between 900-1400m of the Knuckles range and inhabits forest edges rather than dense forests and found on trees and shrubs. It feeds on insects like dragonflies, moths and butterflies.  

References:

Amarasinghe T. et. al., 2014 A new species of the genus Calotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from high elevations of the Knuckles Massif of Sri Lanka. Amarasinghe A.A.T., Karunarathna D.M.S.S., Hallermann J., fujinuma J., Grillitsch H. & Campbell P.D. Zootaxa 3785 (1): 059–078.

Impatiens truncata

Rather common endemic herb found along paths, stream banks and such damp and shaded places in montane forests. 

Austin's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta austeni [Drepanosticta austeni])

Rare and critically endangered damselfly so far recorded only from few localities in outskirts of Knuckles range, southern to southeastern outskirt of central hills and eastern hills around Badulla and Passara. It is a seasonal insect and occurs from March to November. (Bedjanic, M., K. et. al. 2014)

References:

Bedjanic, M., K. Conniff, N. van der Poorten & A. Salamun, 2014. Dragonfly fauna of Sri Lanka: Distribution and biology, with threat status of its endemics. Pensoft, Sofia. 321pp.

අනෝදා/කොකිස් අච්චු [Anoda/kokis Achchu]/ Indian Mallow (Abutilon indicum)

An indigenous common woody herb found along roadsides and scrub lands of the dry lowlands.

Annotated checklist of vagrant Waders ( Family: Scolopacidae and Family: Charadriidae) of Sri Lnaka

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post summarizes up to date published sight records of vagrant waders (Also known as "Shorebirds") belong to Scolopacidae(Sandpipers and allies) and Charadriidae (Plovers) families in Sri Lanka. 

1) Sociable Lapwing [Sociable Plover] (Vanellus gregarius)

W.A. Cave reported it first time in Sri Lanka in 1907. According to him 7 Black-sided or Sociable lapwings (Chettusia gregaria) observed at racecourse during December 1906 and January 1907. “They were very tame and allowed riders to come quite close before taking wing.” (Cave, W.A. 1907). Since then he had only seen a solitary example at the same place in January of 1911(Cave, W.A. 1912). In 1931 Wait noted that few birds used to turn up nearly every year on the racecourse at Colombo (Wait 1931:338). A flock of 12 birds were reported from Wilpattu National Park during September 1972 (Phillips 1978:25 & Hoffmann, T. W. 1974)

      2)Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola)

Wood Snipe was first recorded as having occurs in Sri Lanka from Nuwaraeliya by Hugh Nevill, of the Ceylon civil service, merely saying that, it is found in the “the country  round Nuwara Eliya” (Legge 880:1065). Nevill found it among low bushes at the edge of swampy Patana lands (Nevill, H. 1867-1870). Then after there were several sightings and some birds shot around Nuwaraeliya Lake and Horton plains were doubtfully identified as Wood snipe (Phillips 1978:31). Such as J. Ryan in 1907 reported a sighting of Solitary or Wood snipe only once at Thalawakele (Ryan, J. 1907). However there is a reference of shooting a Wood Snipe in a flooded uncultivated paddy field near Kekirawa on the 12^th December 1943 by G.H. Villers.(Villiers, G. H. 1944) He further stated that description and measurements of the specimen are exactly match with that given in Waits ‘Ceylon birds’. However Waits’s appeal of sending head and wing to the Museum if any snipe shooter come across a large snipe (Wait 1931: 368),  was never answered and Phillips repeated it in 1950 again (Phillips, W. W. A.  1950). There is a recent sight record of a single bird at Ambewela in December 1982 (Hoffmann, T. W. 1983).

      3) Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala)

A Snipe shot in 7^th April 1934* at Maduramadu tank near the road from Madawachchiya to Mannar by R.H. Spencer Schrader of Negombo and sent to W.E. Wait was identified as a Swinhoe's Snipe and it is the first instance of its occurrence in Sri Lanka though there were some time to time references by snipe-shooters of a snipe larger than Pintail (Wait, W. E., 1936 & Anon. 1946). Second occurrence of it is two birds shot in a paddy field at Bandaragama by E.C. Fernando Jnr. on the 28^th December 1966 (Phillips 1978:32). Another bird was shot by K.F. Dallas in the fields by Periyakulam north of Trincomalee at the beginning of April 1970 (Cameron, R.Mcl.L. 1970.)

* Exact date of shooting is rather confusing. It was 8^th April 1934 according to the Wait (Wait, W. E 1936) but Phillips give it as 12^th April 1934 (Phillips W. W. A. 1940) and again April 1939 and April 1954 (Phillips, W. W. A., 1950 & Phillips, W. W. A., 1978 respectively) While R.H. Spencer Schrader himself given it as 7^th April 1934 (Anon. 1946)

      4) Great Snipe (Gallinago media)

On the evening of 15^th December 1940 E.C. Fernando secured a bird first time from Ceylon a few miles inland from Kalutara south. He shot two but was only able to collect one which was flushed from long grasses (Phillips, W. W. A. 1941). Second specimen of it is also from E.C. Fernando who collected a single bird at a paddy field near Nadimala - Dehiwela on 1^st January 1950. (Norris, C. E. 1950 & Phillips, W. W. A. 1950). Third record is also from west coast on January 1953 (Ebbels, D.L., 1961). Mawell A. Joshep accompanied by Paul M. Modder shot a female bird about a mile from Kurunegala town on 1^st April 1961. T.S.U de Zilva confirmed the identification and latter also by C.E. Norris. (Modder E., 1961 & Ebbels, D.L., 1961). In recent time a possible Great snipe was seen at Sansthapitiya tank in March 1995 (Hoffmann, T. W. 1996)

      5) Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)

It was first time recorded in Sri Lanka in July 1982 by a foreign ornithologist C. Brewster at Hambantota (Hoffmann, T. W., 1983). The second record of it is from Bundala National Park in November 2002 (Siriwardana, U., 2003). 

      6) Red-necked Stint [Rufous-necked Stint/Eastern Little Stint] (Calidris ruficollis)

It is first time recorded in Sri Lanka by Rex I. De Silva in 11^th February 1996 at Bundala salt pans (De Silva, R.I. 2001). Single bird in breeding plumage was observed among large flock of Little stints. Second sight record is from Kirinda Kalapuwa in December 1997 by Deepal Warakagoda (Hoffmann, T. W. 1999). Later on sights records are – Single bird from Bundala National Park on February 1999 (Warakagoda, D. 2000), single bird from Yala Block 1 on February 2002 (Siriwardana, U. 2003) and two From Palatupana on September 2004 (Siriwardana, U. 2005). Another sighting at Bundala salterns by Deepal Warakagoda and John Sutherby posted in CBC web site on 10th February 2013 (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php)

      7) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [Asian Pectoral Sandpiper] (Calidris acuminata)

W.W.A Phillips procured a specimen of adult female on 18^th September 1955*  at Embililala lagoon of Bundala National Park. While collecting it was feeding busily with large flocks of Curlew-Sandpipers, Little Stints and lesser number of Wood-Sandpipers, Marsh -Sandpipers and several other waders in the shallow water. It was the first occasion of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper recorded in Sri Lanka (Phillips, W. W. A. 1956). It was again reported during December 1998 migratory season from Karagan Lewaya by Jagath Gunawardana and from Kirinda by Deepal Warakagoda. Chandra Jayawardana also reported it from Bundala in the same season (Warakagoda, D. 1999 & Maduranga, H. G. S. 2002). Sujan Maduranga Henkanaththegedara reported another sight record of a juvenile bird on 2^nd March 2001 from Maha lewaya - Hambantota (Maduranga, H. G. S. 2002). It was feeding in shallow waters of one of the two canals which bring water to the Maha lewaya from the sea with a group of waders that consisted of Marsh sandpipers, Common Redshanks, Black-winged Stilts and some Little stints. In November 2005 one bird was observed at Wirawila (Sirivardana U. & Warakagoda  D. , 2006). A sighting at the Vankalei Sanctuary is given in the Report of CBC for 2008-2011(Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011), probably the same sighting posted in CBC web site on 28th December 2011 ([http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/the_ceylon_bird_club_news.php]) as reported by Kithsiri Gunawardena, Deepal Warakagoda and Uditha Hettige.

*  1953 - Probably a wrong year is given in Phillip's own later on reference of the same sighting. see Phillips, W. W. A. 1978:33

      8) Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus)

1978 February – Dr. Ben king, an American ornithologist reported a single bird from Bundala National Park for the first time in Sri Lanka (Hoffmann, T. W. 1979). Another bird was observed in the November of the same year at Bentota beach (Hoffmann, T. W. 1979). Kotagama and Ratnavira noted several sightings since 1978 (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 223)

      9) Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)

It was first time collected at Kalamatiya in March 1960 by Dr. T.S.U de Silva (Reported in Loris and JBNH) and another one was observed near Trincomalee in November 1974 by J.C. Sinclair an ornithologist from Durban, South Africa (Hoffmann, T. W. 1975 & Phillips, W. W. A. 1980). Single bird was observed at Embilikala kalapuwa in January 1985 (Hoffmann, T. W. 1986)

Unconfirmed vagrants:

Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included.

      10) Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

Kithsiri Gunawardena observed a Grey-headed Lapwing first time in Sri Lanka at Tirukkovil during the water bird census of 2003 (Warakagoda, D. & Siriwardana, U., 2004). Second record in the country according to the CBC is from Palatupana recorded during 2009 water bird census conducted in January/February (Siriwardana, U. and Senanayake T. 2010). However Kotagama & Ratnawira 2010 noted another sight record from Bundala referring Perera T. 2005.

      11) Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus)

The sight record from the Chilaw sandpits on 10^th January 1993 by Rex I. de Silva and Lester Perera is the only recorded occurrence of this wader in Sri Lanka. (De Silva R.I & Perera l. 1993). However as per Wijesinghe 1991 it is a sight record of inadequate or otherwise problematic (Ranasinghe, D. B. 1997)

      12)Oriental Plover (Charadrius veredus)

First recorded by Deepal warakagoda in 24^th January 1994 at Kirinda lewaya (Hoffmann, T. W. 1995) Second record in Sri Lanka is the single bird recorded with a photograph from Kalametiya by Pathmanath Samaraweera in 2006 (Siriwardana, U. 2007)

     13) Little Curlew (Numenius minutus)  

Single sight record by A.J. Vincent at Hambantota is the only record. (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 214). Probably the same sighting recorded in 12th March 1994 under ‘List of Rejections’ of CBC (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/List-of-Rejections.pdf)

     14) Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

Reported a single bird first time in Sri Lanka on 13^th February 1985 at Koggala. Second sight record is from Ambalangoda-Hungama road, again a single bird on 15^th April 1994. Both reports were categorized under ‘List of Rejections’ of CBC (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/List-of-Rejections.pdf). However Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010 mention about several sight records base on personal communication of Rex I. De Silva and the first sight record published in CBCN 1985, Feb: 13.

     15) Spotted Greenshank [Nordmann’s greenshank/Armstrong’s Sandpiper] ( Tringa guttifer)

It was recorded first time in Sri Lanka from the tidal mudflats off the northern margin of Hevativu Island at the southern end of Puttalam lagoon on 23rd February 1991 by Rex. I. De Silva (De Silva, R.I. 1992).

However CBC decided to remove it from Sri Lanka list as having been accepted on misleading data (Warakagoda, D. 1999 & http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf)

      16) Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

Only record is the observation made by a group of British and American ornithologists at Bundala in December 1979 of 20+ birds of both Solitary sandpiper and Wilson’s phalarope (Hoffmann, T. W. 1980).  Solitary sandpiper breeds in North America and considered as a rare stragglers in Europe. Occurring of them in our region was explained as the result of taking of wrong western route along the pacific in their southward winter migrations. However later on John and Judy banks came up with acceptable evident with field observations that those birds are not Solitary Sandpipers but Green Sandpipers which is very similar in the field and can be easily misidentified by an observer who is not familiar with Green Sandpipers but Solitary Sandpipers as with those American bird watchers (Banks, J. & Banks, J. 1981)

      17) Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Sight record of A.J. Vincent at Yala in March 1993 is the only record so far of the occurrence of Spotted Sandpiper in Sri Lanka (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 219).

      18) White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Sight record at Thennadi Bay in October 1980 is the only record so far of the occurrence of White-rumped Sandpiper in Sri Lanka (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 222 Quoting CBCN 1980, Oct: 50).

      19) Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

Sight record of Alan wheeldon of an adult bird in non-breeding plumage at Weerawila in March 2002 is the first and only record of it in Sri Lanka (Siriwardana, U. 2003 & Kaluthota C.D. & Kotagama S.W. 2009)

      20) Wilson's Phalarope (Steganopus tricoor)

Only record is the observing of 20 + birds of both Solitary sandpiper and Wilson’s phalarope at Bundala by British and American ornithologists in December 1979 (Hoffmann, T. W. 1980). However later on John and Judy Banks suggested with acceptable evident that these birds might be swimming Marsh Sandpipers and it is hardly to be Wilson’s Phalaropes (Banks, J. & Banks, J. 1981). So it is most unlikely that American migrant birds which have never been observed anywhere in Asia would suddenly appearing in Sri Lanka just when a party of American bird watchers are here to identify them (Hoffmann, T. W. 1981)

      21) Red Phalarope [Grey Phalarope] (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Single sight record at Hambantota in November 1985 is the only record available of its occurrence in Sri Lanka (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 225 Quoting CBCN 1985, Oct: 50). This sight record of a single bird at Karagan lewaya on 16^th November 1985 is listed under Appendix 2 of CBC country list (http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/Appendix-II.pdf) since report lacks sufficient diagnostic detail or, where necessary, sufficient comparison with ‘confusion’ species or subspecies; and there is therefore doubt as to the identification of the birds concerned.

References:

Anon. 1946. Bird Notes. Loris. 4(2):330-333.

Banks, J. & Banks, J. 1981. Wilsons Phalarope or Marsh Sandpiper. Loris. 15(6):345-346.

Cameron, R.Mcl.L. 1970  Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club-1969/70. Loris. 12(1):62-63.

Cave, W.A. 1907 Rare Colombo birds. Spolia Zeylanica. 5(17):65

Cave, W.A. 1912 The birds of Colombo. Spolia Zeylanica. 8(30):94-115.

de Silva, R.I. 1992. First Record of Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer from Sri Lanka. Loris. 19(6):195-196.

de Silva, R.I. & Perera, L. 1993. The Long -Billed Plover Charadrius placidus - A first record from Sri lanka. Loris. 20(2):52-53.

de Silva, R.I. 2001. The Rufous - necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) in Sri Lanka. Loris. 22(5):48.

Ebbels, D.L 1961 Notes from Ceylon Bird Club January-June 1961 Loris 9(2) 115-16

Hoffmann, T. W. 1974. Notes From The Ceylon Bird Club 1970-1973. Loris, 13(4), 211-214.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1975. Notes From The Ceylon Bird Club, 1974. Loris, 13(5), 275-276.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1978. Bird Club Notes (1977). Loris, 14(5), 289-290.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1979. Note from the Ceylon Bird club 1978. Loris, 15(1), 6-8.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1980. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1979. Loris, 15(3), 157-159.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1981. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1980. Loris, 15(5), "283-284,292".

Hoffmann, T. W. 1983. Notes from the Ceylon Birds Club. Loris, 16(3), 132-134.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1986. Notes from the Ceylon Bird Club 1985. Loris, 17(3), 99-101.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1995. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1994. Loris, 20(5), 226-227.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1996. Ceylon Bird Club Notes 1995. Loris, 21(1), 16-18.

Hoffmann, T. W. 1999. Ceylon Bird Club Notes, 1997. Loris, 22(1), 57-58.

Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Legge V., 1880. A History of the birds of Ceylon  1983 second edition.

Maduranga, H. G. S. 2002 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (Horsfield) 1821; a sight record at Maha Lewaya, Hambantota District Sri lanka Naturalist 5(1): 08-10

Modder E. 1961 The Great Snipe Loris 9(2) 135-36

Nevill, H. 1867-1870. Description of two birds new to the recorded fauna of Ceylon. J. Roy. Asiatic Soc. (Cey. Br.), 4(14), 138-140.

Norris, C. E. 1950. Migrants, 1949-1950. Loris, 5(4), 171.

Perera T. 2005 Are those birds "Grey Headed Lapwings" ? Malkoha 27(1):3.
Phillips, W. W. A. 1940. The Occurrence of Swinhoe's snipe (Capilla Megala) in Ceylon Loris 2(2) 124

Phillips, W. W. A. 1941. Ornithological observations part 2 Loris 2(4) 234-237

Phillips, W. W. A., 1950. The Mystery Snipe. Loris, 5(4), 174-175

Phillips, W. W. A. 1956 The Siberian pectoral sandpiper Erolia acuminata - A new addition to the avifauna of Ceylon Spolia Zeylanica 28(1)

Phillips W.W.A., 1978. Annotated checklist of the Birds of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1978 revised edition.

Phillips, W. W. A. 1980. The Avifauna of Sri Lanka. Spolia Zeylanica, 35, 155-202.

Ranasinghe, D. B. 1997. Gaps on Field data for Sri Lankan Birds. Loris, 21(4), 170-172.

Ryan, J. 1907. The birds of Dimbulla. Spolia Zeylanica, 5(17), 13-16.

Siriwardana, U. 2003. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2002. Loris, 23(3&4), 36-39.

Siriwardana, U. 2005. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2004. Loris, 24(1&2), 33-35

Siriwardana, U. 2007  Report of the Ceylon Bird Club 2006 Loris, 24(5 & 6), 50-56

Siriwardana, U. and Senanayake T. 2010 Sri Lanka Waterbird census 2009 and 2010 Loris, 25(5), 34-36

Villiers, G. H. 1944 Capella nemoricola. Loris, 3(4), 137.

Wait W.E., 1931. Manual of the Birds of Ceylon. 2nd edition. Colombo Museum.

Wait, W. E., 1936 Occurrence of Capella Megala Swinhoe in Ceylon Spolia zeylanica 19 337-338

Warakagoda, D. 1999. Ceylon Bird Club Notes,1998. Loris, 22(2), 33-34.

Warakagoda, D. 2000. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 1999. Loris, 22(4), 23-25.

Warakagoda, D. & Siriwardana, U., 2004. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2003 Loris, 23(5&6), 37-41

Warakagoda D. & Sirivardana U., 2011. Report from the Ceylon Bird Club for 2008-2011, Loris 26 (1&2)

මයිල [Maila] (Bauhinia racemosa)

Common indigenous tree found in forests and scrub lands of low country dry zone. Fiber of inner bark use to make ropes and gum and leaves have medicinal values.

Blue Admiral (Kaniska canace haronica)

Rather uncommon butterfly occurs in moist areas while more common in the hill country. Often found close to forest streams. It is a migratory species. Larva feeds on Smilax perfoliata (මහා කබරොස්ස) and Smilax zeylanica (හීන් කබරැස්ස).