Ian Lockwood

Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) stepping out of the shadows at Nugegoda Wetland Park (17 March 2019).

During the last three months I have been making frequents visit to Colombo’s urban wetlands, looking to photograph interesting species and build enough material for an article on birding in these sometimes overlooked spots. The visits follow a pattern of exploring the urban wetlands as places for teaching and learning that highlight biodiversity and urban water issues. I started going more frequently when Colombo’s wetlands started to be better protected several years ago (see the list of past posts below).

Bitterns (Ixobrychus sp.) have been the focus of these recent efforts but I have also been looking to see and photograph other wetlands species. The article has now been completed and awaiting publication-recent tragic events in Sri Lanka have regrettably put on hold the publication. This post shares a few samples of some of the avian highlights.

Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (4 April 2019).

Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) at Talangama Wetlands (9 March 2019).

Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (4 April 2019).

Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (17 March 2019).

Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (4 April 2019).

Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (17 March 2019).

There are a variety of other species that are associated with Colombo’s urban wetlands.

Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (4 April 2019).

Stork Billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) at Nugegoda Wetland Park (9 March 2019).

Crimson-fronted barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus) at Talangama Wetlands (9 March 2019).

Striated heron (Butorides striata) at Nugegoda Wetland Park. (3 March 2019).

Black Bittern in viewfinder, Nugegoda Wetland Park

Lenny with Yellow Bittern, Nugegoda Wetland Park.

Information courtesy of FOGSL, Nugegoda Wetland Park.

Colombo’s Nugegoda Wetland Park.

Cinnamon Bittern in viewfinder, Nugegoda Wetland Park.

Colombo’s wetlands and waterways in a map by the author.

PAST COLOMBO WETLAND POSTS

Lockwood, Ian. “Rock Star Crake at Diyasaru” 8 February 2018. Web.

”     . “Striated Heron at Beddagana.” Ian Lockwood Blog. 1 April 2018. Web.

”     . “Teaching & Learning in Colombo’s Suburban Wetlands.” Ian Lockwood Blog. October 2016. Web.

REFERENCES

“18 cities recognized for safeguarding urban wetlands.” Ramsar Secretariat. 18 October 2018. Web.

Amerasinghe , Priyanie. “What’s next now that Colombo’s an official Wetland City?” Sunday Times. 25 November 2018. Web.

Kotagama, Sarath and Gamini Ratnavira. Birds of Sri Lanka: An Illustrated Guide. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, 2017. Print.

Ramsar. Web.

Ranasinghe, Piyumani. “Rebranding Colombo as a Wetland City.” Sunday Times. 18 November 2018. Web.

Rasmussen, Pamela C. and John Anderson. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 &2, Second Edition. Washington DC: Smithsonian, 2012. Print.

Ryder, Craig. “The Growing Importance of Colombo’s Shrinking Wetlands.” Roar. 2 February 2018. Web.

Warakagoda. Deepal et. al.  Birds of Sri Lanka (Helm Field Guides). London: Helms Guides, 2012. Print.

Wijeyeratne, Gehan de Silva. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2017. Print.