Saturday, March 8, 2025

6 March 2025 Weligama: An Early Morning Walk

 


Our room is on the right hand side and two floors from the top (see above).    We have found that the first night at any new say is the least restful.  As such I found myself awake early in the morning so I popped up and took a walk.  I did wake Leslie up but I hope that she slept deeper without me in the room.  I saw11 different species of birds of which two were new to me.  I wandered down a street towards the river when Amila invited me to come onto his property.  He is building a restaurant, has two rooms that he rents out and also has his own living area,  It is right on the river and the ruins of his grandfathers house are right next door.  We poked around inside there and he was just delightful.



See, hear, say and drink no evil


The Sri Lanka Flag has a 2:1 ratio, very unique among flags of the world


Surfers are out


Inside the large open air bar


Reptilian hellos


Fancy wood accents in our room


A big window


Fishing boats


The gates to a big temple


Stupa!


Big monitor lizard


A bloom and glass shards on the top of the wall


Amila's place


Lifebird #1


The Purple-Rumped Sunbird


Raw wood walls


Lovely lavender flowers


A Dongo


The river is calm


Mangroves


Some very large seed pods


Hey!


Roots growing on the walls of Grandpa's old house


Trees growing in the middle


Porcupines live here


Lots of roots living on the walls


Snail shell


More snails!


Brahminy Kite


Lots of flowers


Bird Buddies


Prayer Flags


More flowers but time to head back


Black Hooded Oriel Lifebird #2



 It has been 2 years and 273 days since we began our Migration

Friday, March 7, 2025

5 March 2025 Colombo to Weligama: Sri Lanka Road Trip

 


I woke up early and decided to walk the grounds of the hotel.  I am so glad that I did because the Vivanta Garden Hotel is actually a garden.  I saw 17 species of birds, four of which are new lifebirds.  After that we had some tea in the room and then went for breakfast even though it was a pretty long walk to get to the restaurant. We headed back to the room to pile everything together and take our ride down south to Weligama.  We were greeted by a pair of dancers and a friendly team.  We were in our room straightaway and the 8th floor room faces the water.  We did not expect the popularity of surfing in this bay.  



White breasted waterhen


Stork billed Kingfisher, I saw this bird in the Philippines but was not able to get a good picture.  


White-Rumped Munia  Lifebird #1


Yellow-billed Babblers lifebird #2


Pale-billed Flowerpecker lifebird #3


Brown-Headed Barbet Lifebird #4


Rose Ringed Parakeet


A glorious morning


Asian Openbill


A brace of House Crows


Little Egret


Brahminy Kite


Red-Wattled Lapwing


Oriental Magpie Robin


Chinese Pond Heron


The pool was right outside the breakfast spot


Nice and cool


We are in the van and headed south


None of these things are allowed on the highway.  I was surprised by the motorcycle, but ,maybe it is just the underpowered scooters


Hills


Temples


The Sri Lankan flag is longer than most other flags


Two hours later


Pond shrine


Rice patties


Schoolkids with matching umbrellas


Mr. Chicken!


A big group of men in traditional clothing


A pilgrimage perhaps?


Heading over to the right side of the tracks


Our welcome to the hotel


Dancing!


Bust the moves!


Up on our 8th floor balcony


Lots of pools 


All these folks are trying to surf


As the sun sets


The clouds take on a pink color


Sweeet


The lights come on beachside




 It has been 2 years and 272 days since we began our Migration